82 ON THE FORM AND STRUCTURE OF 



following table shows the dimensions of both 

 compared with those of an ostrich's egg : 



Did egg. 



ft. in. li. ft. in. li. ft. in. li. 



Longer circum. 2109 296 160 



Shorter 243 256 146 



Extreme length 108 105 064 



The fragments of bone indicated a bird of the same 

 natural affinities as the New Zealand colossi and 

 of dimensions not widely remote from theirs. 

 Professor Owen thinks that it did not exceed in 

 height or size Dinornis giganteus, and there is a 

 probability that it was slightly smaller. The 

 Madagascar bird has been named (Epiornis maximus. 

 The willing fancy suggests the possibility that in 

 an island of such extent as Madagascar, possessing 

 lofty mountain ranges, covered with the most 

 magnificent forests, where civilised man has only 

 yet touched one or two spots on the seaward borders, 

 but where those slight explorations have educed so 

 many wondrous animals, so many strange forms 

 of vegetable life the noble (Epiornis may yet be 

 stalking with giant strides along the fern-fringed 

 hill sides or through the steaming thickets ; while 

 in the more contracted area of New Zealand the 

 Moa still maintains a precarious footing, almost 



