312 GEOLOGY. 
exposed rocks were covered with detritus resulting from a disin- 
tegration of the higher peaks by atmospheric agencies.— Ricnagp 
Buss, JR., Cambridge. pupae 
Discovery or an Extinct Gicantic Birp or PREY IN New Zea- 
LAND. — Mr. F. Fuller, while directing some excayations in 4 
marsh on the Glenmark estate, province of Canterbury, South 
Island, New Zealand, by permission of G. H. Moore, Esq. (whose 
researches have added so greatly to the evidences of the extinct 
birds of New Zealand), found, among remains of- Dinornis es: 
humed at a depth of five or six feet from the surface, afew smaller 
bones, including claw-phalanges, which Mr. Fuller recognized as 
belonging to a large bird of prey. With two claw-phalanges wett 
found a left femur, a vertebral rib with its anchylosed * epipleural 
appendage ;” and, in a watercourse about two miles from Glew 7 
mark, a mutilated right humerus was subsequently. discovered: 
and pronounced by Dr. Haast to be raptorial, and, as well 8 
_ other and better preserved bones, most nearly resembling the ọ 
responding bones of the New Zealand harrier (Circus assii i 
Jardine). Dr, Haast, F.R.S., the accomplished, state geologi 
of the province of Canterbury, has communicated an- shay 
and interesting memoir on these remains to the Transacom® j 
Philosophical Institute of Canterbury. He refers the gigan 
torial bird of New Zealand, which was twice the size oF bul tothe 
great wedge-tailed eagle of Australia (Aquila audas Gould), 4 
genus Harpagornis, Haast, giving it the specific name Moores” i 
the liberal partner of Kermode and Co., owners of the na 
property. He conjectures, on good grounds, that this huge PF 
rial bird preyed upon the young or feeble individuals of “= 
Dinornis, and, with them, became extinct. Dr. Haa ay 
from this discovery an additional confirmation of his & 
. the present aboriginals of New Zealand do not possess: 
tions about the gigantic Moas, and writes, “ that, pi 
traditions about the Dinornis had been handed down ™ 
still more alarming existence of this gigantic bird of prey 1 
poraneous with the former would most certainly have: 29. 
recorded.” I may remark that the individual who, U 
mitted to me, with other New Zealand rarities, the 
5 
