xxxii 
INTRODUCTION. 
extent, reddish brown in their apical portion, with whitish tips. It is probable that all these feathers 
belonged to Dinornis casuarinus, bones of which species were found in association with them in the 
Wakatipu cave, together with fragments of egg-shell of a pale green colour. The feathers fiom 
the Queenstown cave are of an entirely different type, and these may perhaps have belonged to 
Dinornis didinus. They measure from four to five inches in length ; from the base foi moie 
than two thirds of their extent they have thick downy webs, of a uniform width of half an inch 
and of a greyish-brown colour, darker towards the shaft, the barbs having minute, thick-set 
barbules ; then follow long, unconnected filaments, of a still darker brown, which run into a compact 
apical web of dark purple-brown, tipped with yellowish brown. Many of these feathers have an 
accessory plume, but this is always downy in its whole extent, which scarcely exceeds half the length 
of the main shaft. On placing a number of these feathers together they present a soft, glossy 
appearance and look as fresh as if plucked yesterday from the body of a living bird. 
But a still more recent instance is afforded by the very interesting specimen of the Moa s foot in 
the University Museum at Cambridge, obtained in the Hector Ranges, Otago, in 1884. It was 
brought to England by Mr. W. J. Branford, who stated that he had himself found it in a cave where, 
as he believed, there was the entire skeleton of this bird and some more beside. 
Professor Newton having kindly lent me this unique specimen for the purpose of having it 
photographed, I submitted it to Sir Richard Owen, who unhesitatingly pronounced it the metatarsal 
of Dinornis elephantopus *. 
The bone is in a perfectly fresh condition, with about four square inches of dark brown integu- 
ment, having a tuberous sui'face and with underlying dried tendons of a maximum thickness of 
1-5 inch, adhering to the proximal extremity and representing the true heel; the astragalus (or a 
bone that performs the same function in the Apteryx, though not hitherto recorded in Dinornis) is in 
position, two of the phalanges are still articulated to the metatarsal by means of dried ligament, and a 
portion of the tough covering of the sole, nearly half an inch in thickness and of a yellowish-brown 
colour, is still attached to the lower surface. 
Another piece of concurrent testimony was afforded by the discovery, about the year 1860, of a 
perfect Moa’s egg, from which the contents had been extracted through an artificially bored hole on 
one side. It was found in an ancient Maori sepulchre at Kaikoura, and in such a position, in relation 
to the skeleton, as to suggest the idea that it had been placed in the hands of a corpse buried in a 
* In the foregoing pages I have made free use of Sir Richard Owen’s name in connection with the successive discoveries 
of the Dinomithidffl ; I have stated his views as they were developed from time to time, and I have given publicity to one of 
his letters to myself. Under these circumstances, I thought it right to submit the proof-sheets to him before going to press. 
The learned Professor returned them to me without a single alteration, but accompanied by a letter which I am glad (with his 
permission) to place on permanent record, the more so as he assures me that the active work of his life is ended and his last 
contribution made to the Royal Society, of which body he has been so distinguished an ornament for upwards of half a century. 
“ Sheen Lodge, Richmond Park, 
,, ,, 22nd March, 1888. 
“ Mr dear Buller, 
“ Seldom have I enjoyed a morning more, in the quiet period of my existence, than during the perusal of the sheets of 
your ‘ Introduction,’ so kindly submitted to me. 
“ Conclusions and inferences which had escaped my memory have been brought back, and I seem to be repeating or living 
again an active period of my zoological life. 
“ The Moa-bone from Hector Ranges, Otago, is a metatarsal of Dinornis elephantopus 
“ I do not recall anything that I could add which would heighten the pleasure your friendly visit has given me. 
“ Ever yours, 
“ Sir Walter Buller, K. C.M.G., F.B.S .” “ ^chard Owes.” 
