Skeleton of Dinomis rokustus, (Owen). 
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1141411 . 
IN THE 
MUSEUM OF THE YORKSHIRE PHIUOSOPHICAU SOCIETY. ^ 
The Skeleton of the Moa, shown in the accompanying PhotogTaphs was presented to the Society by 
J. H. Gibson, Esq., M.D., and was obtained by his brother, Edmund Gibson, Esq,, of Oawaru Dunedin, 
from the persons who discovered it. 
It was found imbedded in a drift of almost impalpable sand. The greater portion of the bones are 
absolutely perfect, and as fresh, as if the animal had only been killed a few months; on several of them cartilao-es 
and ligaments, were remaining, while on the sacrum there was a large piece of skin set with feathers ; but all of 
the cervical vertebrse have suffered more or less, the sand above them not being of sufficient depth to protect them 
from atmospheric injury. The Skeleton is nearly perfect; the parts wanting are a few of the upper cervical 
vertebras, including the atlas ; the first pair of dorsal ribs ; the fii’st pair of sternal ribs ; the thii’d left sternal rib, 
the right anterior limb, the left zygoma, and three out of the fom- bones of the left middle toe. 
The Skeleton was accompanied by several bones of the young bird, and by fragments of the shell of the 
egg; thus indicating that the parent bird was brooding over its young when overwhelmed by the sand-drift. 
The bones of the young shew the presence of not less than four chicks. 
The detached bones were exhibited and described by Thos. Allis, Esq., F.L.S., at a meeting of the 
Linnean Society, held the 16th June, 1864, and the skeleton of the adult has since been articulated by him 
(assisted by Mr. Dallas), as shewn in Nos. 4 and 5. 
No. 1. This Photograph shews the bones as they came into the possession of the Society. 
1. Sacrum, the slnn and feathers adherent. 3. Tarsus. 5. Head (under side) 
2. FemuT, (this bone is 12 in. long, 4. Sternum (front Tdew). 6.- Lower Mandible. 
No. 2 also shews the bones as received. 
1. Sacrum (under side). 3. Fibula, with adherent cartilage and 6. Toe, with sole of Foot. 
2. Sternum. outer sldu. 7. Head. 
4. & 5. Eibs and Vertehrse. 
No. 3. Bones of the Young Bird. 
1. Eium. 3. Ischium and Os pubis. 5, 6 & 7. Eibs. 
2. „ reverse. 4. Sternum (one half of). 
No. 4. Skeleton of Moa, as it stands in the Museum of the Yorkshire Philosophical Society, height 7 ft. 7 in. 
No. 5. Skeleton of Moa (New Zealand) Dinornis robustus. 
„ Ostrich (South Africa) Struthio Camelus, height 7 ft. 2 in. 
The side shown of the Skeleton of the Ostrich has only four- sternal ribs, instead of five, which is the normal number. 
No. 6. Skeleton of Rhea (South America) Rhea americana, height 5 ft. 9 in. 
„ Cassowary (Indian Archipelago) Casuarius galeatus, height 4 ft. 5 in. 
„ Emu (New Holland) Droinaius Novie Ho-llandim, height 6 ft. 3 in. 
The skeletons of the four living generic types of Struthious Birds are given for the purpose of comparison 
with that of the extinct (?) Moa. Its nearest allies are the Emu and the Cassowary. 
THOMA8 BRADY, YORK. 
