CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 1. GRALLATORES. 



271 



interest ; found in New Zealand, that strange land which is said to have but two indigenous quad- 

 rupeds — a rat and a badger — but which produces several very original and remarkable birds. 

 We have already spoken of the Diornis giganteus of this island, nearly twice as large as the ostrich. 

 The bones of this, as well as of some smaller species, had been found, but they were sup- 

 posed to be extinct. In 1849, however, a party of seal-hunters, who were pursuing their avo- 

 cations in Dusky Bay, having observed the trail of a bird in the snow with which the ground was 

 then covered, determined to give chase. Proceeding in the direction of the footsteps, they at 

 at last caught sight of the object of their pursuit. Their dogs gave chase, and finally, after a 

 lontr hunt, the bird was captured alive, in the gully of a sound behind Resolution Island. It ran 

 with great speed, uttered loud cries, and violently attacked the dogs. But, notwithstanding the 

 lon<T struggle, it was caught uninjured and taken on board ship, where, after having been kept 

 alive for three days, it was at length killed and eaten, the sailors who partook of the meal de- 

 scribing the bird as most delicious food. Fortunately, these nautical epicures, who certainly were 

 no great naturalists, did not pluck their bird, but skinned it, and Mr. Walter Mantell, son of 

 the celebrated geologist, Dr. Mantell, being there, procured it, and thus we have a tolerably cor- 

 rect account of the bird. It was evidently a species of Rail, somewhat larger than a common 

 fowl ; the head, neck, breast, and flanks were of a brilliant purple ; the back of a dark olive. It 

 could not flv, but ran with great swiftness. This proved to be one of the smaller species above 

 referred to, and received the name oi Notornis 3Iantelli. 



Probably the race is nearly extinct. Nay, Dr. Mantell believed this bird to be the last of its 

 tribe. We are familiar with the fact that in remote eras, races have existed and have passed 

 away ; but to be in at the death, as it were, of a species, is somewhat startling, and naturally sug- 

 gests curious, if not painful inquiries, as to the purpose of creations which are thus left to perish. 

 So far as we know, creation has ceased upon this earth ; there is no renewal of races that have 

 died out, as there is no production of new ones that have never existed. We can see reasons for 

 the disappearance of the ignanodon, the megatherium, the icthiosaurus and the mastodon, for they 

 were gio-antic and oppressive dispropoitions to the average of animal life ; but why a gentle and 

 beautiful and useful soecies like the notornis should be permitted to perish, is beyond the scope of 

 human reason. 



TUE JACANA. 



Genus PARRA : Parra. — To tnis belongs tae Jacana, P.jacayia, which is very numerous in 

 Brazil. It has the wings armed with spines ; the legs are long ; the body light ; the toes and 

 claws exceedingly large, so that the bird can run with great ease on the floating leaves of aquatic 

 plants. The claw of the hind toe resembles the blade of a lancet, whence this bird is called 

 the surgeon. In running upon the leaves its feet sink a little, and hence it is said to have the ap- 

 pearance of walking on the water. Its food consists principally of vegetable substances. Other 

 species are found in India and Africa. Another genus, analogous to the gallinules, is that of the 



