MOA SKELETON

Hokitika Guardian, 23 September 1927, Page 4

MOA SKELETON

PRESENTED TO MUSEUM.

AUCKLAND. Soot. 21. Through the kindness of Dr D. A. Batllgato, of Ashburton, and formerly of Thames, Auckland Museum has become the possessor of a wonderfully well-preserved moa skeleton, eleven feet high. The Curator (Air Gilbert Archev) this morning said the important thing was that it was an individual skeleton. The bird was found ali over New Zealand and there are several skeletons in different- museums, hut most of them are made up from the bones of several birds found in swamps. The skeleton that lias just boon given to the museum was found in a cave near the Takalta River, Nelson. The discoverer was a farmer, from whom Dr Bathgate obtained it. This is the second recent gift of a moa skeleton to the museum, the first I icing that of a smaller species than Diuornis jngens, presented last year by Ah' S. C. L. AUCall, after being found near Amodeo Bay.

A peculiar feature of Diuornis ingens is the absurd disproportion between the. immense leg and thigh hones and the skull. The leg bones look to a layman verv much like those oi a bullock, hut the skull would not weigh more than a few ounces, and would go into a decent-sized tobacco tin. Perched up on top of the immense body and long neck such a headpiece must have looked ridiculously inadequate. Scientific men seem agreed that the great birds hail a singularly poor mental equipment. If Diuornis ingons had 110/ more intellect than his tiny skull suggests it is no wonder he became extinct. A sitting wild pigeon would have been a more sporting bird compared to this member of the moa family. If. however, he managed to get his kick in before the Maori landed a decisive blow with his mere/ the tribe would have had to send out invitations for a' fangi.