224 EXTINCT MONSTERS 



as we shall see, his estimate was a most moderate one, for the 

 extinct bird turned out to be considerably larger than the ostrich. 



Later on he received from a friend in New Zealand news of the 

 discovery of more bones. In 1843 a collection of bones of large 

 birds was sent to Dr. Buckland, Dean of Westminster, by the 

 Rev. William Williams, a zealous and successful Church mis- 

 sionary, long resident in New Zealand. 



The leg- bones sent to London greatly exceeded in bulk those of 

 the largest horse. The leg-bone of a tall man is about 1 foot 

 4 inches in length, and the thigh of O'Brien, the Irish giant, whose 

 skeleton, eight feet high, is mounted in the Museum of the Eoyal 

 College of Surgeons, is not quite two feet. But some of the leg- 

 bones (tibiae) of Moas measure as much as thirty-nine inches. 



In 1846 and 1847 Mr. Walter Mantell, eldest son of Dr. 

 Mantell, who had resided several years in New Zealand, explored 

 every known locality within his reach in the North Island. He 

 also went into the interior of the country and lived among the 

 natives for the purpose of collecting specimens, and of ascertaining 

 whether any of these gigantic birds were still in existence ; re- 

 solving, if there appeared to be the least chance of success, to 

 penetrate into the unfrequented regions, and obtain a live Moa. 

 The information gathered from the natives offered no encourage- 

 ment to follow up the pursuit, but tended to confirm the idea that 

 this race of colossal bipeds was extinct. He succeeded, however, 

 in obtaining a most interesting collection of the bones of Moa, 

 belonging to birds of various species and genera, differing con- 

 siderably in size. This collection was purchased by the trustees 

 of the British Museum for 200. Another collection was made by 

 Mr. Percy Earle from a submerged swamp, visible only at low water, 

 situated on the south-eastern shore of the Middle Island. This 

 collection also was purchased by the trustees for the sum of 130. 



