﻿9 8 Transactions. ^ — Miscellan eous. 



specimen except those of Dinornis giganteus and robustus, so tliat I almost 

 despair of ever obtaining this bone from the smaller species. 



Amongst other specimens of interest, I obtained a great quantity of bones 

 of the New Zealand dog, of which one kitchen-midden below the terrace 

 contained a considerable number, besides a great quantity of broken moa 

 bones. We made at that spot quite a collection of lower jaws and fragments 

 of skulls and of limb bones, having belonged to numerous specimens mostly of 

 the same size. 



The examination of the lower jaw shows that this dog had a very narrow 

 muzzle, with powerful teeth for its size, resembling the dingo and jackal in 

 that respect, although smaller than these animals. In one of these lower jaws 

 I observed that one proimolar existed above the usual number. I also 

 obtained a great quantity of the bones of the leg, but mostly broken in two or 

 moi'e fragments. 



A considerable number of bones of seals were also dug up, including 

 portions of the skull and lower jaw, but they invariably belonged to an Otaria 

 (fur seal). Tympanic bones of whales, either entire or broken, were again 

 found in considerable numbers, but without offering any clue as to their use. 



Besides the numerous flakes of flint and obsidian, I obtained a few more 

 well-worked flint implements, of which the principal ones are figured as 

 illustrations to this paper. 



With one exception they also exhibit the same peculiarity of being only 

 chipped on one side ; some of them vfere evidently used as knives. Amongst 

 the larger pieces is a block of flint of a yellowish colour, about five inches long 

 and four inches broad and thick, and another flat piece eight and a half inches 

 long by five inches broad and two inches deep. 



The former shows clearly, and this I think is very important, that it was 

 used merely for the chipping of flakes whenever they were wanted, and not 

 for the manufacture of larger knives or hatchets. 



A fine block of obsidian, six inches long, four and a half inches broad, and 

 three inches deep, shows the same marks of small chips and flakes having 

 been broken ofi" in a similar manner, and evidently for the same purpose. 



Thus, from the appearance of these blocks, we may safely deduce that the 

 moa-hunters were in the habit of breaking off" small chips for their daily use, 

 perhaps being compelled to do so by custom or superstition, not being allowed 

 to use the same cutting edge to two animals ; such an explanation, which I 

 admit is very hazai'dous, might account for the enormous quantity of small 

 cliips and flakes found amongst the kitchen-middens. 



IsTumerous sandstone knives were also obtained, turned up by the plough, 

 some of them clearly showing thac the cutting edge had been sharpened by 

 additional blows all round. I was also fortunate enough to find during my 



