EXTINCT MONSTERS. 
230 
them, that they were satisfied with looking at the bird, when, 
after a little time it took alarm, and strode off up the side of the 
mountain. 
“This incident might not have been worth mentioning, had it 
not been for the extraordinary agreement in point of size of the 
bird ” — with his deductions from the bones. “ Here are the bones 
which will satisfy you that such a bird has been in existence ; and 
there is said to be the living bird^ the supposed size of which, 
given by an independent witness, precisely agrees.” In spite, 
however, of several tales of this kind, it is almost certain that 
these birds are now quite extinct. 
The leg-bones sent to London greatly exceeded in bulk those 
of the largest horse. The leg-bone of a tall man is about i ft. 
4 in. in length, and the thigh of O’Brien, the Irish giant, whose 
skeleton, eight feet high, is mounted in the Museum of the Royal 
College of Surgeons, is not quite two feet. But some of the 
leg-bones (tibiae) of Moa-birds measure as much as 39 inches. 
In 1846 and 1847 Walter Mantell, eldest son of Dr. 
Mantell, who had resided several years in New Zealand, explored 
every known locality within his reach in the North Island. He 
also went into the interior of the country and lived among the 
natives for the purpose of collecting specimens, and of ascertain- 
ing whether any of these gigantic birds were still in existence; 
resolving, if there appeared to be the least chance of success, to 
penetrate into the unfrequented regions, and obtain a live Moa. 
The information gathered from the natives offered no encourage- 
ment to follow up the pursuit, but tended to confirm the idea 
that this race of colossal bipeds was extinct. He succeeded, 
however, in obtaining a most interesting collection of the bones 
of Moa-birds, belonging to birds of various species and genera, 
differing considerably in size. This collection was purchased by 
the trustees of the British Museum for £200. Another collection 
was made by Mr. Percy Earle from a submerged swamp, visible 
