SKELETONS OF MOAS

Evening Post, Volume CXVI, Issue 145, 16 December 1933, Page 11

SKELETONS OF MOAS

ALMOST PERFECT EXAMPLES

Tho discovery of a number of moa bones, including a practically complete skeleton of an intermediate-sized species, was made in a cave in the Te Kuiti district last week by Mr. P. C. Mappin, of Auckland (states the "New Zealand Herald"). At the time, Mr. Mappin was engaged on an expedition with Mr. Gilbert Archey, director of the Auckland War Memorial Museum.

The skeleton was brought to Auck-! land, and will be set up in the museum, where it will assist in making an improved display. -Its value lies, in its comparative completeness, which will help more closely to' define the species than would a. skeleton assembled from bones found in a mixed,deposit. With, tho skeleton was found a number of mixed bones of moas of different species, all being in the one cave. It is not unusual for the bones to be found mixed in this way, but it is not so usual to find almost complete skeletons, although they have been discovered in tho past. »

A fortnight ago, when searching the Mount Arthur tableland, Kelson, with some friends, Mr. Archey .found in some limestone caves partial skeletons of a number of moas, and on this occasion also, a nearly perfect, skeleton was dis-: covered. It was that of a moa of a smaller, slender, South Island type-, but was not in such good condition as the skeleton found at Te Kuiti..

In the Nelson caves there were bones also, of moas of the large, heavy South Island type. In one cave the bones of three birds were found, the remains being separated and each maintaining its individual identity. One of these sets was the almost perfect skeleton.

The Nelson bones have been, brought to Auckland, and with the remains from Te Kuiti, will mako a^ notable addition to the museum co-llecetion.