86 
with which his name is now associated *, I cannot better describe this interesting ornithological 
event than by quoting Dr. Mantell’s announcement of it in his address to the Zoological Society on 
the 12th of November, 1850: — 
“ Amongst the fossil bones of birds collected by my eldest son in the North Island of New Zealand, 
which I had the honour of placing before the Zoological Society in 1848 in illustration of Professor 
Owen’s description of the crania and mandibles of Dinornis, Palapteryx, &c., there were the skull, 
beaks, humerus, sternum, and other parts of the skeleton of a large bird of the Rail family, which, 
from their peculiar characters, were referred by that eminent anatomist to a distinct oi Pallidw 
allied to the SrachyjiteTyx, under the name of Notovnis^ — a prevision, the correctness of which is 
confirmed by the recent specimen that forms the subject of the present communication, lowards the 
close of last year I received from Mr. Walter Mantell another extensive and highly interesting collec- 
tion of fossils, minerals, and rock-specimens, obtained during his journey along the eastern coast of 
the Middle Island, from Banks Peninsula to the south of Otago, in the capacity of Government 
Commissioner for the settlement of native claims. This series comprised also a fine suite of birds 
bones from Waingongoro, the locality whence the former collection was chiefly obtained; and among 
them were relics of the Notornis, and crania and mandibles of Palapteryx. The results of my son s 
observations on the geological phenomena presented by the eastern coast of the Middle Island are 
embodied in a paper read before the Geological Society in February last, and published in vol. v. of 
the ‘Quarterly Journal.’ It will suffice for my present purpose to mention that they confirm in every 
essential particular the account given of the position and age of the ornithic ossiferous deposits in my 
first memoir on this subject J. The only fact that relates to the present notice is the nature of the 
bone-bed at Waikouaiti, whence Mr. Percy Earl, Dr. Mackellar, and other naturalists procured the 
first relics of the gigantic birds, sent by those gentlemen to England, and which are figured and 
described in the ‘ Zoological Transactions.’ This so-called tertiary deposit is situated in a little bay 
south of Island Point, near the embouchure of the river Waikouaiti, and is only visible at low water, 
w'hen bones more or less perfect are occasionally observable projecting from the water-worn surface of 
the bog. This deposit is about 3 feet in depth and not more than 100 yards in length ; the extent 
inland is concealed by vegetation and a covering of superficial detritus, and is supposed to be very 
inconsiderable. This bed rests upon a blue tertiary clay that emerges here and there along that part 
of the coast, and which abounds in shells and corals, of species existing in the adjacent sea. Thi^s 
bone-deposit was evidently a morass or swamp, on which the New-Zealand flax {Phormmm tenax) 
once grew luxuriantly. Bones of the larger species of Moa have from time to time been obtained 
from this spot by the natives and European visitors ; and, as in the menaccanite sand-beds at Wai- 
ngongoro, they are associated with bones of one species of dog and two species of seal. My son also 
collected crania and other remains of a species of Apteryx Ap. austrahs), Albatros, Penguin, 
* At a Meeting of the Wellington Philosophical Society on September 3, 1881, after the reading of a paper by the Author on 
the capture of another example, as narrated on p. 89, during the discussion that followed, Mr. Mantell disclaimed any credit for 
the discovery of the original bird with which his name had been connected. He observed it hanging in a wharo at a native 
settlement in Otago, along with Kakapos and Kiwis that had been brought from the west coast, and, recognizing it to be new, 
obtained it from the owner. The second specimen was sent to him by Captain Howell of lliverton. 
The Author, in reply, vindicated the name by which this bird was now distinguished {Nofornis mantelli), and stated that 
more than a year before the discovery of the bird itself on Hesolution Island, Professor Owen had drawn the generic characters 
of a large brevipennate Hail, then supposed to be extinct, from the fossil remains collected by Mr. Mantell, and had named it 
N'otornis, dedicating the species to the discoverer of the bones. It was somewhat curious that it should have fallen to the lot of 
the same scientific explorer to discover the living bird itself ; and although Mr. Mantell now modestly disclaimed any merit, it 
seemed peculiarly fitting and right that, in commemoration of his services, his name should be permanently associated with the 
species. (See Eeport of Proc. W. P. S.) 
t Zoological Transactions, vol. iii. p. 366. 
t Geological Journal, vol. iv. 
