MOA LEG-BUNE FOUND

Opotiki News, Volume II, Issue 261, 20 November 1939, Page 1

MOA LEG-BUNE FOUND

GOOD 'Pit KISER V ATI ON GISBORNE DISCOVETY A leg-hone of a moa in a remarkable degree of preservation was found in Gisborne recently and left with 'the Government veterinary officer, Mr. R. 10. Alexander, who forwarded it to the museum authorifies. Mr. Alexander stated that the hone was left in his office during his absence. ami he does not know who discovered it or where tho find was made, hut he had never seen a moa hone in such a good degree oi preservation. Me believed that the bone was found in Gisborne. It was the right leg-hone, I com the leg downwards, the scientific term being the Tarso metatarsus of the dinornis Novae ,Zelaiul!ae. ‘-‘This: specimen is the third largest in size of the genus dinornis,'’ states the museum report. The hones ol this species are long and slender. Twenty kinds of moa were known to have existed in New Zealand. The hone in. question >va s immature, although almost the size of that from an adult bird.