80 ON THE FORM AND STRUCTURE OF 



body, and the whole frame heavier and more mas- 

 sive. These particulars I have been enabled to 

 gather from the specimens at the College of Sur- 

 geons, and from the information kindly afforded 

 me by Professor Owen and Mr. Buckland. The 

 most interesting point in the history of this bird 

 is, however, in the probability of its existence at the 

 present time. Many of the bones brought to this 

 country were comparatively fresh, and had evidently 

 lain in the earth for no long space of time. More- 

 over, tales arte heard from the natives concerning 

 a huge bird, called by them " Moa," said to exist 

 still in the mountain ranges of the interior. It is 

 described as being nocturnal in its habits, and 

 feeding on the roots of the ferns that grow so 

 abundantly ' along the wooded gullies. Now a few 

 observations on the localities in which the bones 

 have been found may tend to throw some light on 

 the subj ect. In the first place, none of these remains 

 have been found on dry land, but all are from the 

 banks and beds of fresh-water rivers, buried only 

 a little distance in the mud ; and it must also be 

 borne in mind that these streams flow from hills of 

 considerable height. Besides, the bird is known 

 perfectly to the inhabitants, many of whom declare 

 they have seen it, and none of the bones seem to 

 have been brought into their present situation by 

 the action of any violent rush of water. We may 



