FEATHERED GIANTS 143 



geologists deduce that at some early period in 

 the history of the earth the two islands formed 

 one, that later on the land subsided, leaving 

 the islands separated by a strait, and that since 

 this subsidence there has been sufficient time 

 for the development of the species peculiar to 

 each island. Although Moas were still nu- 

 merous when man made his appearance in this 

 part of the world, the large deposits of their 

 bones indicate that they were on the wane, and 

 that natural causes had already reduced the 

 feathered population of these islands. A gla- 

 cial period is believed to have wrought their 

 destruction, and in one great morass, abound- 

 ing in springs, their bones occur in such enor- 

 mous numbers, layer upon layer, that it is 

 thought the birds sought the place where the 

 flowing springs might afford their feet at least 

 some respite from the biting cold, and there 

 perished miserably by thousands. 



What Nature spared man finished, and 

 legends of Moa hunts and Moa feasts still lin- 

 gered among the Maoris when the white man 

 came and began in turn the extermination of 

 the Maori. The theory has been advanced, 



