GIANT BIRDS. 



23* 



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. Mr. Walter Mantell, who described 

 this locality, near Waikouaiti, seventeen miles north of Otago, 

 thinks it was originally a swamp or morass, in which the New 

 Zealand flax once grew luxuriantly. The appearance and position 

 of the bones are similar to those of the quadrupeds embedded in 

 peat-bogs, as, for instance, the great Irish elk (see next chapter). 

 They have acquired a rich umber colour, and their texture is firm 

 and tough. They still contain a large proportion of animal 

 matter. Unfortunately, even when Mr. Walter Mantell visited 

 this spot, the bed containing the bones was rapidly diminishing 

 from the inroads of the sea, and perhaps by this time is entirely 

 washed away. Mr. W. Mantell, however, obtained fine specimens 

 and feet of a large Moa-bird (Dinornis) in an upright position ; 

 and there seems to be little doubt that the unfortunate bird was 

 mired in the swamp, and perished on the spot. 



The bones which he obtained from the North Island presented 

 a different appearance, being light and porous, and of a delicate 

 fawn-colour. They were embedded in loose volcanic sand. 

 Though perfect, they were as soft and plastic as putty, and 

 required most careful handling. They were dug out with great 

 care, and exposed to the air and sun to dry before they could 

 be packed up and removed. 



The natives were a great source of trouble to him, for as 

 soon as they caught sight of his operations they came down in 

 swarms men, women, and children, trampling on the bones 

 he had laid out to dry, and seizing on every morsel they could 

 get. The reason of this was that their cupidity and avarice 

 had been excited by the large rewards given by Europeans in 

 search of these treasures. Mixed with the bones he found 

 fragments of shells, and sometimes portions of the windpipe, 

 or trachea. 



One portion of an egg which he found was large enough to 



