Cotenso.—On the Moa. - 69 
race, particularly to those of the larger kinds. One of the bones, a tibia,* 
measured two feet ten inches in length, and was proportionably thick. Two 
others measured, each, two feet six inches in length. Another, a section of 
a femur, measured eight inches in circumference in the smallest part. On 
putting together the bones of the leg and thigh (although none of them 
exactly fitted), and making the necessary allowance for the portions deficient 
of the processes of the joints, the intermediate cartilages, and lower tendons 
and integuments of the foot, we obtain, at least, six feet of the lower 
extremities of a bird; which, supposing its upper parts to accord in size 
with the lower ones, must have measured in altitude when alive, at the 
lowest rate of calculation, from fourteen to sixteen feet—an enormous 
feathered monster, well worthy, from its gigantic size, of being classed with 
the Megalosaurus of Buckland and the Mastodon of Cuvier. 
It so happened that about this time a mechanic, who had been living 
at Cloudy Bay, in the Middle Island, came to reside at Poverty Bay. He 
stated that this bird now existed in the high hills near Cloudy Bay ; and 
that two Americans, residents at that place, hearing from a native that 
such a bird lived on the mountainous and snowy heights, provided them- 
selves with arms, and, thus equipped, went in high expectation of shooting 
one, taking the native with them as their guide. They ascended the moun- 
tain to the place where these birds resort, where, at the native’s request, they 
hid themselves behind some bushes. Presently they saw the monster majes- 
tically stalking down in search of food; they were, however, so petrified. 
with horror at the sight as to be utterly unable to fire on him. Had 
they commenced the combat, it is, I think, highly doubtful how it might 
have terminated. I think it very probable that they would have found 
themselves in a much worse situation than the Trojan chief and his followers 
did in their celebrated conflict with the harpies; so energetically and 
Sopioringiy described by the poet in these lines : — 
Ære cavo: invadunt socii, et nova prælia tentant, 
Obsccenas pelagi ferro fedare volucres. 
Sed neque vim plumis ullam, nee vulnera tergo 
Aecipiunt." 4 — Zin. lib. iii., 238. 
* This has been sent by Mr. Williams, with several others, to Professor Buckland. 
T For the benefit of the English reader, I give Dryden's translation of the passage 
m thi lah r SE i 4 . 
* 
_ 
. 
.* Then when along the crooked shore we hear 
Their clatt’ring wings, and saw the foes appear, 
Misenus sounds a charge: we take th’ alarm, 
And our strong hands with swords and bucklers arm. 
In this new kind of combat, all employ 
Their utmost force the monsters to destroy.— 
In vain : —the fated skin is proof to wounds ; 
And from their plumes the shining sword rebounds.” —Book iii., 311, 
