136 M. de Quatrefages on 



To show how the question has become elucidated, and 

 justify the point of view which I have adopted, it is neces- 

 sary to enter into some details. 



The bones of Moas have been met with under the most 

 different conditions of deposition. Sometimes they simply 

 rest upon the suface of the ground, or are scarcely covered 

 by a few centimetres of sand*. But usually they are found 

 buried at various depths in the sands of the seashore, in the 

 alluvia of the rivers, in the marshes, and also in caves. The 

 quantity of these remains accumulated in restricted spaces is 

 sometimes very remarkable. 



In digging canals for the drainage of a marsh at Glenmark 

 there were obtained the remains of 144 adult and 27 young 

 birds f. I might cite many other examples, but I confine 

 myself to a summary of the details given by Mr. Booth of 

 the discovery made by him at Hamilton, in a small half-dried 

 lagoon I. 



Having been informed of the discovery of a few bones, lie 

 opened a first pit of 4 feet square, and obtained from it 

 fifty-six femora with a proportionate quantity of other bones. 

 Regular diggings were then organized. It was ascertained 

 that the deposit to be worked formed a sort of irregular 

 crescent, measuring 40 feet from one point to the other, and 

 18 feet across at the middle, with a depth of from 2 to 4 feet. In 

 this restricted space were collected about 3^ tons (more than 

 8500 kilogrammes) of bones, and those who took part in the 

 work estimated the number of Moas accumulated in this 

 estuary at more than 400. 



These bones were very unequally perserved. A great 

 number fell into paste at the least contact. Hence they had 

 not all been deposited at the same period. But in consequence 

 of the conditions of interment the Hamilton swamp could not 

 furnish certain data as to the relative age of the deposits. It is 

 otherwise with the caves, which were scientifically excavated 



* Dr. Hector, loc. cit. p. 115; Dr. Haast, loc. cit. p. 103 ; Rev. J. W. 

 Stack, loc. cit. p. 109 ; Rev. K. Taylor (' Transactions ' &c. vol. v. p. 97). 

 Those bones which were seen in <^reat numbers scattered over the ground 

 have rapidly disappeared. Mr. Stack endeavours to explain their per- 

 sistence for centuries by saying that the Maoris carefully preserved the 

 jungles, whicli, on the contrary, the European colonists have caused to 

 disappear. The latter, by destroying this shelter, have facilitated the action 

 of atmospheric agents and have thus brought about the disappearance of 

 these bones, which had hitherto remained intact. I think it useless to 

 point out what, in this interpretation of the facts, has but little foimda- 

 tion and is opposed to daily experience. 



t Haast, loc. cit. p. 89. 



[ "Description of the Moa-swamp at Hamilton," bj B. S. Booth 

 (' Transactions ' &c. vol. vii. p. 123, pi. v.). 



