1807.] DR. HECTOR ON THE EGG OF GREAT MOA. 991 



standing that it is the true oxyptera of Meyen, who obtained his spe- 

 cimens in the highlands of Southern Peru, the same locality as that 

 of Frobeen's specimens, and of the bird now before us. Q. Jlavi- 

 rosfris is the oldest name for the species better known as Q. crec- 

 coules (King). Its synonyms are correctly given by Burmeister (La 

 Plata-Reise, ii. p. 516), if we strike out ''■Anas oxyptera, Meyen." 



.58. Larus belcheri. Vigors. 



Leucophoeus belcheri, Bp. Consp. ii. p. 232. 



Skins of this species from the coast near Islay. A female is 

 marked " bill at the base light yellow, at the point black tipped with 

 red ; eyes dark hazel ; legs and feet yellowish green." 



6. Notice of an Egg of the Great Moa {Dinornis gigantea) ^ 

 containing remains of an embryo, found in the province 

 of Otago, New Zealand. By Dr. Hector^ F.R.S., Go- 

 vernment Geologist. 



This highly interesting specimen was discovered last year by a 

 party of workmen when excavating the alluvium of the Upper Chitha 

 Plains, near the township of Cromwell in Otago, and was secured by 

 Mr. Charles O'Neal, who transmitted it to the Colonial Museum. 



When found the egg is reported to have been perfect, but was ac- 

 cidentally broken in the process of removal from the sandy loam in 

 which it was imbedded at a depth of 2 feet below the surface. 



At about 1 foot distant and 3 inches deeper was discovered another 

 egg of equal size, but too far decomposed to admit of its removal. 



Many of the fragments, both of the shell and of the contained 

 bones, were unfortunately lost in consequence of the friable nature of 

 the specimens, not more than half the shell having been preserved. 

 The fragments, about twenty in number, when fitted together, com- 

 prised nearly one complete side of the egg. Its dimensions (as 

 restored) are as follows : — 



Long diameter 8-9 inches, short diameter 6"1 inches. 



The texture of the shell is chalky and pulverable, the external 

 surface having been a good deal eroded by the solvents in the soil, 

 so that it has a rough granular surface, but still showing distinctly 

 the characteristic linear pores of the Moa egg-shell. 



A portion of the shell was analyzed, and was found to contain only 

 0"9 per cent, of organic matter, while a fragment of a recent Emu's 

 egg-shell analyzed at the same time gave /"Sy of organic matter, 

 thus showing approximately the changes which the Moa's egg has 

 undergone in the soil. 



The bones of the chick, which were contained in the egg, are of a 

 rich brown colour, and have an extremely light spongy texture ; 

 tliey adhere to the tongue, and are completely free from traces of 

 membranes, ligaments, or other attached organic luatlers. 



