COL OS SAL BIRDS. 3 69 



which must have been truly colossal. One of these eggs was equal 

 to at least six ostrich eggs, and its capacity more than fifteen pints. 

 M. Isidore Geoffroy de Saint- Hilaire, who gave it the name of 

 Epiomis, reckoned that its height could not be less than ten or 

 twelve feet. 



In 1867, M. Joly, Professor of the Faculty of Sciences at Tou- 

 louse, published some very interesting observations on the structure 

 and probable habits of this gigantic bird. 



It cannot yet be asserted that this bird has altogether dis- 

 appeared. The inhabitants of Madagascar state that, although very 

 rare, some few representatives of it still remain. The e is an ancient 

 tradition among this people relative to a colossal bird which could 

 knock down an ox and then make a meal of it. This tradition, 

 however, is deficient in anything like evidence of its truth, for an 

 examination of the pieces of bone found proves that the Epiomis 

 possessed neither talons to seize nor wings with which to pursue its 

 prey ; it must, therefore, have fed chiefly upon vegetable diet. 



In New Zealand also some bones have been lately brought to 

 light, which must have belonged to a species of bird allied to the 

 ostrich, but so superior to it in size, that it attained some thirteen 

 feet in height. This bird has been designated the Dinornis. Some 

 of them probably still exist in that country ; at all events, its dis- 

 appearance must be very recent, for the bones which were discovered 

 still contained a large proportion of gelatine. Rumour states that a 

 Dinornis more than thirteen feet in height was seen by two English- 

 men in one of the marshy forests, but they did not venture to 

 approach near enough to kill it. We give this tale with all due 

 reserve, as its authenticity does not appear to be satisfactorily 

 established. 



