25 
unmixed with the bones of any other skeleton, excepting those 
of its own young, thereby so much increasing its value as a 
typical specimen. 
While no one can do otherwise than admire the acumen 
which enabled Professor Owen to determine the character of 
the bird from the bones he at first possessed, it can be no sur¬ 
prise that, from the imperfect state in which they were found, 
he made the mistake as to the number of sternal ribs, nor can 
we blame Dr. Haast for having followed so high an authority. 
In a letter received last week from Dr. Haast, he says, “ I have 
lately made some extensive excavations in an old encampment 
of moa hunters, and obtained some very interesting results, also 
some excavations for moa skeletons were pretty successful. I 
obtained, among other portions of the skeleton, that of a 
gigantic eagle, showing that the moa had also its ^ winged ’ 
enemies.” 
T 
