IMPORTANT FIND OF MOA BONES AT FOXTON.

Manawatu Herald, Volume II, Issue 279, 16 July 1889, Page 2

IMPORTANT FIND OF MOA BONES AT FOXTON.

'■** ■ ♦ . „....., r .. t Yesterday its' Mr Robinson w*s walking: along a sand hill oil ihe Hwrington estate, Foxton, hecameacros* A heap of^boneß^. lying over a lump of pebble*, tit a point lW the hill where the sand had bteyra the-* upper portion »way. The, cb&f >ora* i were taken- home and . we were askefi ,to> sea them this morning; Upon due exanfr .'• nation we feel assured that they undbubf^ " edly are the bones of the Moa. ; rThethw* •:< . bones of each leg are perteeti the baok .tfy > : i the tail is sound, and a portion, of the neck,,. • and also- the. two small bones • djoining the centre boneß of the legs. The lower feg. ' J • bone ia rounded in three p*oes to' receiTte l 5 • the three toeß, which however %.frp $t -|MW-'fl sent missing, The ItegttK^gjfljgAqMTifcg- -L*. ing fourteen^ ; V^ a * r ,,«°* Thecant«~-«« bone measure* iwo feet one ; 1 nna a quarter inches, and the^opper bone ... I thirteen inches. The small bone. Ajptadhed . | to the centre leg bone measured ' fifteen 'f j inches. Tlie back having a portion of the j main bones measures only fifteen inches. V jA. further seavch will be- maide to "flnd .the , ; remainder of the -^kaleUm. The bones ' now secured are in good condition, .sound and very little cracked. We do h'pY^kntferf ' whether any skeleton of this^ hd^riettmo^^ bird has ever been found 'ln the Nor^^j Island, and if not, this find opens up ,aip . large field for speculation. The Moa is described as having been' a .large. wingJeflff or struthious bird, and the bones hate be>fei:i i found in the sands of the sea shore** tyv •' ...swamps, forests, riverbeds, /and limestone | caves. It is generally supposed thatnolarge ! jVloas have been seen alive since aiioutfi6sO. I They are represented., as haviijg been, ,•' stupid, fat, indolen birds, living ib forests and mountain 'fastriessei, >'an(4 , ftfsV%;-P$ r A , , vegetable food. Theirfeet are said to nave I been adapted for digging. The leg bones t \iere filled with marrow, and not with air, ' Kb those of other birds. ; >- ; ; " ■;:.•: to A