MOAS. 11 



Order III. DINORNITHIFORMES. 



Family DINORNITHID^. MOAS. 



[Case 3.] 



New Zealand was formerly inhabited by a gigantic race of birds 

 called Moas, some species of which considerably exceeded in size the 

 modern Ostriches. The situation and state of preservation of the 

 abundant remains which have been found indicate that they existed till 

 comparatively recent times, and were probably exterminated by the 

 present Maori inhabitants of the islands. Feathers which have been 

 found associated with the bones show the presence of a large after- 

 shaft, as in the Emus and Cassowaries ; but some of the species 

 resemble the Kiwis (Apteryx] in possessing a hind toe. Wings were 

 absent, and the shoulder-girdle was only represented by a vestige. 



The Moas are represented by several genera, the largest member 

 being Dinornis maximus (7), a gigantic bird, of which a skeleton is 

 exhibited. Some of the species seem to have survived until about four 

 or five hundred years ago, or even later in the South Island, but being 

 flightless, their extinction by the natives, who hunted them for their 

 flesh, was an easy task. 



Besides large quantities of bones, some of which have been obtained 

 from native cooking-places, portions of the skin and feathers have 

 been discovered, as well as pebbles used to aid digestion, and eggs both 

 whole and fragmentary. For further particulars the visitor is referred 

 to the ninth edition of the " Guide to the Fossil Mammals and Birds," 

 p. 92(1909). 



Order IV. ^PYORNITHIFORMES. 

 Family ^EPYORNITHID^:. MADAGASCAR MOAS. 



Fossil remains from superficial deposits in Madagascar show the 

 existence, in a very recent geological period, of several species of Ratite 

 birds, which bear much resemblance to the Dinornithida. One of their 

 most striking characteristics was the enormous size (both absolute and 

 relative) of the egg, in which respect they resemble the Kiwis (Apteryx) 

 of New Zealand rather than the.M-oas. The largest species, ^Epyornis 

 titan (8), of which a cast of the leg is exhibited, stood about 10 feet 

 high, and its eggs exceed all others in size, some of the shells containing 

 from two to three gallons of liquid, or an amount equal to the contents 

 of about one hundred and fifty hen's eggs. An example exhibited 

 measures : long circumference 2 ft. 9 ins., girth 2 ft. 5 ins. These 

 birds are believed by many to be identical with the famous "Hoc" 

 mentioned by the traveller Marco Polo, and it is supposed that some of 

 the species were in existence not more than two hundred years ago. 

 [<7/. Fossil Guide, p. 92 (1909).] 



