MOA 577 



was promptly (14th Feb. 1843) substituted for it and has ever since 

 held ground (Proc. Zool Soc. 1843, pp. 1, 2, 8-10, 19). In due 

 time these specimens with others, subsequently received from the 

 same quarter (torn, cit. pp. 144-146), and referred to five, or rather 

 six, distinct species of the genus x were fully described and figured 

 (Trans. Zool Soc. iii. pp. 235-275, pis. 18-30), forming the first 

 of that incomparable series of memoirs continued over nearly forty 

 years which will always be associated with the author's name, 2 but 

 cannot be here further particularized, though mention must be made 

 of the assistance rendered by Mr. Percy Earl and by Mr. Walter 

 Mantell. 



The Moas inhabited both the North and South Islands of New 

 Zealand, where they were represented by a considerable number of 

 species, of which the smallest was scarcely larger than a Turkey, 

 while the largest had a tibia of more than a yard in length. We 

 are inclined to estimate the number of species at about 20 ; Capt. 

 Hutton (N. Zeal. Journ. i. pp. 247-249 ; Trans. N. Zeal Insl 

 xxiv. pp. 93 - 172) admits, indeed, 26 species, but some of 

 these we should prefer regarding merely as varieties or sexes. 

 Certain species were peculiar to the North, and others to the South 

 Island, while some were common to both. A femur described 

 under the name of D. queenslandise 3 appears to belong to a Moa, and 

 if its reputed place of origin be correct, shews that the Family 

 extended to Australia ; a fact in distribution which, if true, is of 

 extreme importance. 



When New Zealand was first systematically explored by 

 Europeans, Moa-bones were found lying on the surface of the ground 

 in many districts in great profusion, being especially abundant near 

 the old cooking-places of the natives, and often shewing traces of 

 the action of fire. They also occur in the most superficial and recent 

 deposits, such as blown sands, as well as in caves and swamps. 

 Many of the latter, such as that of Glenmark, near Canterbury, 

 when drained have been found to be full of Moa-bones, frequently 

 in all conceivable positions. In one particular district of the South 

 Island, where climatic conditions appear to be peculiarly favourable, 

 skeletons have been found with the bones connected by dried 

 muscles, ligaments, and integument with the cuticle and feathers. 

 Fragments of egg-shells, as well as pebbles swallowed by the birds 

 and contained in their stomachs at their death, together with impres- 

 sions of footprints, have likewise been discovered. The discovery of 



1 Namely D. giganteus, ingens, struthioides, dromseoides, didiformis and otidi- 

 formis. The original specific name novas-zealandise was tacitly dropped. 



2 This series was issued in 1879 in a separate form under the title of The 

 Extinct Birds of New Zealand. 



3 De Vis, Proc. R. Soc. Queensl. i. p. 27, pis. iii. 17. (1884). Etheridge, Rec. 

 Geol. Surv. N. S. W. i. p. 128 (1889). 



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