Charles Smith — Moa Bones in Neiv Zealand. 129 



The correctness of this theory is attested by the concurrent eleva- 

 tion of the principal mountains, as the Alps, the Andes, and the 

 Himalayas, at the close of the Miocene, and of its continuance, 

 with some variations probably," through the Pliocene into the Pleisto- 

 cene periods, when the climax was reached. 



A no less strong proof is afforded by the return of a warmer 

 climate and coincident change of animal and vegetable life on the 

 subsidence and partial wearing down of the mountain-i-anges. 



Besides the above, no other cause has been assigned, which, in 

 respect of power, or time, seems to be admissible. 



The Precessional orbit has revolved for ages without any signs of 

 striated and glaciated rocks being left, which was pointed out in my 

 former paper as its relics, and the necessary accompaniments of the 

 elevatory process of mountain ranges. 



The Perihelionic orbit consists merely in the repetition of five 

 Precessionals, and mainly acts upon the earth by reducing the length 

 of the Precessional. 



With respect to the larger compound orbit, which requires millions 

 of years for its completion, it is obviously too lengthened and exten- 

 sive to fall in with, or to act upon, the shorter and more limited 

 changes that have been brought under our notice. 



In regard to the views of those who would confine the agency 

 of all the causes of glaciation to the annual revolutions of our Globe, 

 they appear to be scarcely less extravagant, than the having recourse 

 to the most extended orbit of the Heavenly bodies that astronomy 

 can supply, in order to account for the Great Ice Age or Glacial Epoch. 



On these grounds I humbly submit that the elevation of mountain- 

 ranges, from whatever source they may arise, and their alternate 

 subsidence or depression, offer, in conjunction with the Precessional 

 movements, the most probable solution for the changes of Climate 

 and of the Fauna and Flora. 



VIII. — Notes as to Position of Moa Bones in New Zealand. 

 By Charles Smith, Esq. 



[The following list of localities in New Zealand where the 

 remains of the Dinornis have been discovered has been most oblig- 

 ingly drawn up for me by Mr. Charles Smith, an old resident in 

 New Zealand, and I gladly publish it as a useful list for reference. 

 —Edit. G. M.] 



NoKTH Island, West Coast. 



A few bones have been found on the coast at Awitu, about six 

 miles south of Manukau Harbour. They were six feet from the 

 surface, and belonged to Dinornis giganteus. 



Moa bones are continually found in many places on or near the 

 shore from about the Waingongoro Eiver southwards, especially in 

 the sand flat Te Eangatapu near the mouth of the Waingongoro. At 

 the Awamoa Creek and about the Wanganui Heads. Thej"^ are in 

 the sand hills, often in little heaps which are noticed when partly 

 uncovered by the wind. 



DECADE III. — VOL. I. — NO. III. 9 



