94 PETRIFACTIONS AND THEIR TEACHINGS. CHAP. II. 



size and strength of the Moa, which they affirmed was still 

 living ; and they alleged in proof of the accuracy of their 

 statements, the enormous bones occasionally discovered in 

 the neighbouring river-channels. After much labour and 

 research, Mr. Colenso at length procured a few specimens, 

 and subsequently a considerable number were collected by 

 the Rev. W. Williams, a masterly account of which was 

 drawn up by the former gentleman, and published in the 

 Tasmanian Journal. 1 



HISTORY OF THE DISCOVERY. In November, 1839, British 

 naturalists were first made acquainted with the discovery of 

 bones of colossal ostrich-like birds in New Zealand, by the frag- 

 ment of a thigh-bone of a bird much larger than that of the 

 Ostrich, which had been brought to England by a Mr. RULE, who 

 lent the specimen to Professor Owen, by whom it was described 

 in the "Zoological Transactions." This bone was part of the shaft 

 of a femur, with both extremities wanting ; it was about six 

 inches in length, and five and a half inches in its smallest 

 circumference. From the form and structure of this frag- 

 ment, it was inferred that it belonged to a struthious bird, 

 heavier and more sluggish than the Ostrich, with thighs 

 and legs shorter and thicker ; its proportions mor,e nearly 

 resembling those of the Dodo, than of any of the existing 

 Struthionidee. "The discovery of this relic of a large 

 struthious bird in New Zealand," observes Professor Owen, 

 "is one of peculiar interest on account of the remarkable 

 character of the existing fauna of that island, which still 

 includes one of the most extraordinary and anomalous genera 

 of the order the Apteryx ; and because of the close analogy 

 which the event indicated by the present relic offers to the 

 extinction of the Dodo of the islands of the Mauritius and 

 Rodrigue." 2 



In Dr. Dieffenbach's "Travels in New Zealand," (1843,) 

 under the article Apteryx Australis, there is the following 

 notice: "To this order (Struthionidse) probably belongs 

 a bird, now extinct, called Moa or Movie by the natives. The 



1 See Appendix A. Mr. Colenso's Memoir. 



2 "Zoological Transactions," Vol. 111. Part I. It is much to be 

 regretted that this first specimen was not preserved in the College of 

 Surgeons ; but Mr. Rule informed me the purchase of it was declined, 

 and he afterwards sold it for 3Z. to Mr. Bright, of Bristol. 



