Hovrrox.— On Dr. von Haast's Classification of the Moa. 365 
that of D. elephantopus in miniature. Dr. von Haast also gives the exist- 
ence of two sternal ribs only as a character of elephantopus and crassus; but 
the Waitaki skeleton, which certainly belongs to one or the other, has three 
sternal ribs articulating with the sternum on each side, like all the other 
Moas. 
Again, Dr. von Haast has included D. rheides in his genus Euryapterya, 
of which he tells us the metatarsi are short and broad; but the metatarsi of 
D. rheides are proportionately longer than those of D. casuarinus or D. didi- 
formis. 
It is hardly necessary to remark that no difference in structure, such as 
Dr. von. Haast supposes to exist between the bones of what he calls Palap- 
terygide and Dinornithide, can be made out. The differences mentioned by 
Dr. von. Haast are found among all fossil bones. 
It is evident, therefore, that if the Moas are to be divided into two or 
more genera, Dr. von Haast's classification will have to be modified. His 
genus Huryapteryx is quite unnecessary, as D. rheides should go with D. didi- 
formis, and D. gravis with D. crassus. If the Moas are to be classed by the 
relative proportions of their metatarsi, then perhaps the three other genera 
of Dr. von Haast might stand, but the name Palapteryv must, according to 
the rules of zoological nomenclature, be given to the ingens group, that of 
Dinornis to the elephantopus group, while Meiornis will remain for rAeides 
and didiformis; but this appears to be hardly necessary. If, however, the 
shape of the bill be taken as the more important character, then Palapteryx 
would remain as before; but elephantopus, rheides, and didiformis would 
have to be brought into one group, and crassus, casuarinus and gravis into 
another. On the whole, I am inclined to agree with Professor Owen that 
one genus is sufficient for our present information. * 
Art. XLVI.—On a second discovery of Moa-bones at Hamilton. 
By Mr. B. S. Boorn. - 
[Read before the Otago Institute, October 24th, 1876.] 
Moa-BowE Pit, No. 2—on the Cornishman's Claim, Hamilton—was dis- 
covered in August, 1875. It was situated about thirty yards from the 
first pit, and laid six feet deeper. It was sixty feet long by an average 
width of twelve feet. 
The bed of clay in which the basin of the first pit was formed, over-laid 
* See ** Trans. Zool. Soc.,” Vol. VIL, p. 145; and Vol. VIIL, p. 3 
+ In continuation of the description of the Moa nomp, Hamilton, published i in the 
“ Trans. N. Z. Inst.," Vol. YLIL, p. 12. 
