244 THE EXTINCT GIGANTIC BIRDS OF 



Moa. The one of D. ingens (Plate CXIV.) is the unique specimen, now in 

 ray collection, Avhich I purchased for £100. The other lithograph, of Dinornis 

 crassus (Plate CXV.), has been kindly presented to me by Professor Owen, 

 for the purpose of this article. Both are of the actual size. These will be 

 published in the quarto work, in two volumes, by the Professor, ' Memoirs 

 on the Wingless Birds of New Zealand ' *. 



My own egg has a hole on the underside, made by the pickaxe of the 

 finder, which does not much injure its appearance. The following account 

 was in the ' Times,' October 17, 1865 : — 



" Curious Ornithological Relic. 



" Mr. G. D. Lockhart's ship ' Ravenscraig,' Captain D. B. Inglis, of 

 London, just arrived from New Zealand, reports having brought home a 

 curious relic of the ancient ornithology of those islands, in the form of an 

 egg of the Moa, or Dinornis, of New Zealand. 



" The egg is alleged to have been discovered under somewhat singular 

 circumstances. While some labourers were marking out a site to build 

 upon, in the Wairakie district, a pick struck upon a cave. On opening it, 

 it was found to contain the skeleton of a Maori, in a crouching position, 

 holding with both hands the egg, and in such a manner as if death came 

 upon the unfortunate native while in the act of partaking of the contents of 

 the egg. 



" Although the shell is slightly broken, the gigantic proportions of the 

 egg yet remain perfect. It measures about 9 inches in length and 7 inches 

 in diameter. 



* ' Memoirs on the Wingless Birds of New Zealand/ 2 vols., 4to, with 124 plates (4to and 

 folio) and numerous woodcuts, published by J. Erxleben, 2 Henrietta Street, Brunswick Square, 

 London. 



