86 llev. W. Colenso 07i some enormous Fossil Bones 



alive, at the lowest rate of calculation, from 14 to 16 feet ! ! An 

 enormous feathered monster, well worthy, from its gigantic size, 

 of being classed with the Megalosaurus of Buckland and the 

 Mastodon of Cuvier. 



It so happened that about this time a mechanic, who had 

 been living at Cloudy Bay in the INIiddle Island, came to reside 

 at Poverty Bay. He stated that this bird now existed in the 

 high hills near Cloudy Bay ; and that two Americans, residents 

 at that place, hearing from a native that such a bird lived on the 

 mountainous and snowy heights, provided themselves with arms, 

 and thus equip{)ed, went in high expectation of shooting one, 

 taking the native with them as their guide. They ascended the 

 mountain to the place where these birds resort, and, at the 

 native's request, hid themselves behind some bushes. Presently 

 they saw the monster majestically stalking down in search of 

 food ; they were, however, so petrified with horror at the sight 

 as to be utterly unable to fire on him. They observed him for 

 near an hour, ere he retired, and were glad enough at last to 

 make their escape. They described this animal as being about 

 14 or 16 feet in height. 



The bones from which the annexed drawings* were made, 

 w^ere all found at Turanga (Poverty Bay). They comprise a 

 tibia, a femur, a tarsus, and fragments of a pelvis and dorsal 

 vertebra of a Moa. They are very stout, are deeply marked 

 with muscular impressions, and are in a good state of preserva- 

 tion. 1. The tibia, v/hich is nearly perfect, measm-es 30 inches 

 in length, and in girth, at the largest end, (where it was much 

 broken away at the edges of the processes, and consequently re- 

 duced in size,) 16| inches ; at the smallest end 12^^ inches, and 

 in the smallest part, near the middle of the bone, 5| inches. 

 There are not any remains of a fibula, however rudimentary, 

 attached to the tibia, nor is there any a])parent mark of attach- 

 ment to indicate that such formerly adhered thereto. The largest 

 tibia yet found in nearly a perfect state, measured 4 inches more 

 in length than thisf. 3- '^\ie femur, which also is nearly per- 

 fect, measures in length 13 inches; in girth, at the one end over the 

 head of the femur, 11 j; inches, at the thickest end 13^ inches, 

 and in the smallest part 5^ inches : the reticulated muscular 

 impressions on this bone are very numerous and well-defined. I 

 have seen a portion of a femur, the small part of which measured 



* Drawings of these l)ones were sent to tlie Tasmanian Society, together 

 with the original monographs. 



f I much regret that 1 had not an opportunity of inspecting the largest 

 and most perfect bones ere they were sent to England. A vessel sailing 

 from Turanga for Port Nicholson, by which ojtportunity they were sent, 

 was the reason of my not seeing them. 



