126 



THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 



[June 



big or little, Avere remarkable for the diminution of the wings and the 

 relatively large size and strength of the legs. The cause of the 

 extinction of most of these curious birds was the advent of man, 

 before whom the large Moas disappeared and the only existing 

 representatives of the great running birds of New Zealand are the shy 

 and pigmy Ki-wis. It is probable that the extinct running birds such 

 as the Indian ostrich (Struthio Asiaticiis) and the CEpyornis of 

 Madagascar were also victims of that higher animal, whose power 

 consists, not in the strength of his limbs, so much as in the develop- 

 ment of his brain. 



As more recent instances of the destruction of birds which were 

 used as food for man, we may mention the Dodo and the Great Auk. 



(To he continued.) 



DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT OF LITTLE AUK. 



A male specimen of the Little Auk was caught in the Harbour 

 here, on the 28th November last. It was very thin, the following are 

 its dimensions and weight : - 



Weight ... 



Total length 



Expanse of Wings 



Length of wing from 

 carpal joint 



Length of tail ... 



Length of head .. 



3f oz. Length of bill, base to point ^ in. 

 16I „ 



4i 



2- 



gape ... 

 tarsus 



toes, middle 

 inner 

 outer 

 Irides, dark brown 



T. Kerry, Harwich. 



1 ? 



? 5 



8 " 

 8 " 



■4 " 



Gleanings. 



A Trap for Capturing Coleoptera. —The Entomologist News 

 for May gives a figure and description of a trap for Capturing Cole- 

 optera, devised by Mr. T. D. Ashton, Tonganoxie, Kansas. It 

 consists of a wide funnel — two feet diameter, and three feet high is re- 

 commended. There is an opening on one side for about half the' 

 height. The small end of the funnel rests in a cyanide jar — a two 



