MOA BONES.

Globe, Volume IV, Issue 441, 12 November 1875, Page 3

MOA BONES.

m Ah the recent meeting of the British at Bristol, Dr. Hector read a paper " On the modes of occurrence of the moa bones in New Zealand." The following report of the discussion is taken from the Bristol Times, of September Ist:—Dr Hector, F.R.S., on this subject, gave a most interesting account of the places and the manner in which the remains of the moas were found in New Zealand. The bones were still discovered on the plains, in swamps —desiccated swamps, and in caves, as well as occasionally, though very rarely, on the high mountain ranges. The learned gentleman pointed out on a geological map—in the construction of which it had been his duty to go into every part of the country, and, indeed, he might say he had been within at

f unosl ten miles of any spot that might be na i'.l Hie distribution of the moa remains, ami by meansof diagrams sketched on a black boi -1 illustrated the modes in which it was ronj'cfured they had been lodged where tl)<\ vv< re discovered. The President said he wi'S sure. Ihey would all agree with him in returning Dr 1 lector their thanks for the very interesting paper he had read, and he(Dr Scla'er) was (specially bound to be thankful to hi no, because it was at his suggestion that j Dr Hector had devoted part of his short holiday from New Z aland to coming there and giving them that aceount. He (the speaker) had a pretty good knowledge of the various papers thai had been presented from time to time on t 1 at subject, but he must say he had never before understood how these remains occurred, and how thej were scattered about the land. He trusted Dr Hector's remarks would be put before the public in a more permanent form. [Hear, hear.] Mr Charlesworth referred to the great public interest felt with regard to the moa, and read a letter from a friend of his in New Zealand, which stated that Dr Hector had seen what were thought to be traces of a living moa. He would like to know the learned gentleman's opinion as to the historical time occupied by the moa. Mr Moore said he had had some some bones sent him from thrjneighbourhood of Christchurch, New Zealand, and he would like to show them to Dr Hector. Professor Williamson spoke of the arduous labours and privations Dr Hector must have undergone in his scientific pursuits, and thought he fully deserved their warmest tribute of thanks. [Hear, hear. | Professor Balfour bore testimony to the high fame attained by Dr Hector while he was a student at Edinburgh. The president asked if Dr Hector knew where the original bone brought to this country now was. Dr Hector was not aware; he supposed it would be at the College of Surgeons. Mr Charlesworth said it was ultimately purchased by Mr Bright, of Ham-green, near Bristol, who recently presented the whole of his collection to the British Museum ; and it was in that institution. Dr Hector thanked those present for their kindness, and, in replying to Mr Charlesworth, stated that very interesting footprints of the moa had been discovered at Poverty Bay, at the very spot where Captain Cook first landed in New Zealand—at the exact spot, in fact, according to the natives, where Cook's men beached the boat in which they landed. At that spot they were now excavating a soft pumice sandstone, in ordar to get slabs which showed where the moa had walked across the sandy layer, and left impressions with its feet. The speaker believed no submergence had occurred since those impressions were made.