MOA BONES FOUND

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 63, 26 December 1935, Page 2

MOA BONES FOUND

AT DOUBTLESS BAY. ALMOST COMPLETE SKELETONS. (Special to the “Guardian.”) KAITAIA, Dec. 21. The remains of several species of moa have been uncovered on the east coast at Doubtless Bay as a result of recent heavy gales which have been instrumental in displacing some large sand dunes. In some cases the skeleton is almost complete, the head and' beak being in an excellent state of preservation, while in one instance the delicate rings of the windpipe were found intact. As many as six heads were found within a space of a few square yards, indicating that a number of birds were probably overwhelmed when incubating. This theory is borne out by the fact that the remains of the broken eggs were found scattered oyer the area where the bones were uncovered. An interesting feature of these finds is the fact that in all cases remains of the tuatara are to be found mingled with them, and some excellent specimens of their jaw bones were picked up. In some places remains of seals were found, also the bones of the Maori dogs. Mr E. T. Frost, of Lake Ohia, who found the collection of bones, is collecting and classifying them.