1843-44 DR. BUCKLAND AND DINORNIS 
211 
bones, and from three additional specimens con- 
fided to me, evidence has been obtained of six 
distinct species of the genus, ascending respec- 
tively from the size of the great bustard to that 
of the dodo, of the emu and of the ostrich, and 
finally attaining a stature far surpassing three of 
the once-deemed most gigantic of birds.’ 
Dr. Buckland writes thus to Owen from 
Oxford on the subject of the dinornis bones : — 
‘. . . I am now going to write to Mr. 
Williams, which I have waited to do until the 
arrival of the second box in its full amplitude 
of gigantic proportions, which has at length 
happily taken place, and will, I trust, afford ma- 
terials for a volume that shall be a fit pendant 
to your “ Mylodon robustus.” The Premier and 
his royal guest were astounded at the height 
of dinornis. “Exactly,” said Sir Robert, “the 
height of this library,” so he had a standard at 
^nd whereby to get an idea of sixteen feet, 
hiappy dinornis, whose bones and giant-strides 
^ill not be unknown to posterity, carent quia vate 
^cicro. I think it right to desire you to select for 
^he College museum the most perfect and best 
ones from the second box as from the first ; but 
ofore I make over my property in the said bones 
reserve to myself the power to take such of 
^hem as I may wish, either to Oxford to exhibit 
a meeting there, or to show them to Prince 
■'Albert at any place he may wish to have them 
