442 
is 7 inches in length, and gradually widens from + inch at the base to rather more than 
is # inch at the tip, where it is broadly rounded off. 
rptet The lower half is downy, the barbs haying uncon- 
| nected barbules, and is of a brownish grey colour. 
In the upper half the barbs are rather distant, un- 
| connected, and without barbules. The brownish grey 
| of the lower part passes here gradually into black, 
Black. which colour it keeps as far as the rounded tip, 
which is pure white, forming a narrow segment of a 
| circle. ‘The shaft is not produced. 
| ‘In the double feather the tube is + of an inch 
long, and narrow; the main shaft is broken off at 
2? inches from the tube, before it has arrived at the 
) black colour. The after-shaft is 43 inches in length, 
| and nearly 4.an inch broad at the tip. It is coloured 
exactly like the feather just described. I judge from 
| this that the main shaft must have been about 6 
inches in length, and therefore an inch longer than the 
momma ervey.  4tter-shaft. The annexed sketch of one of the single 
! feathers may assist you in understanding my descrip- 
| tion’. It is of the natural size. 
** | remain, 
** Yours truly, 
(Signed ) “FLW. Hurron.” 

N 
Vi, } 
Feather of Moa. * Prof, Qwen, FLR.S.” 
This letter was speedily followed by confirmatory intelligence from Dr, Hector, 
F.R.S., of the finding of both skin and feathers of a Moa in another locality, the part of 
the bird retaining the tegumentary structures being the neck. 
‘© Geological Survey, 
Wellington, October 28, 1871. 
* DEAR PROFESSOR Owen, 
‘| have just received Dr. Thomson’s account of his exploration of the cave 
where the Moa’s neck was found. It is not very satisfactory ; but there appears to have 
been many birds in such a position that their bodies must have slid down into a fissure. 
He appears to have secured a fine collection, among them being a complete skull 
with trachea attached, also fragments of skin and muscular tissue. He also sends me a 
few Moa-feathers, which were found bya digger, 18 feet from the surface, in alluvium. 
I enclose two of these feathers for you. 
* Capt. Hutton has since published a more careful figure of a better-preserved feather, which is copied in 
Plate CXIV, fig, 11, 
