FOSSIL MOA EGG

Grey River Argus, 23 October 1936, Page 4

FOSSIL MOA EGG

Pieces Reassembled SIX INCHES (IN LENGTH. WORK OF NAPIER SCIENTIST HASTINGS, October 20. The moa egg which was recently found in a cave at Craggy Range, by a workman employed by Lime Hydraters. Limited, has now been reassembled as much us is possible by Dr. K. E. Crompton, and is on exhibition at the Napier Museum. Careful and painstaking work was necessary before the result was achieved. As will as rebuilding the egg, Dr. Crompton also carried out exploratory work in the eave in which it was found. “There was a small gave or alcove in a low cliff facing west, just below the enve which many residents have visited,” Dr. Crompton said. “It was in this alcove that the egg was found. The alcove was 3ft. or 4ff, deep, and about 3ft wide and had evidently been used for cooking in by the. Maoris. The floor which dug out, was Sin. to 10in deep in burnt earth, containing the remains of several ducks, a pigeon am l another small bird. “There was also the dessicated (not mineralised rind of a gourd. The egg was evidently placed there by hand. 'Nt did' not fall from above on to the ledge where it was found as no moa’ could have laid it in this position.” Dr. Crompton stated that there, were about .100 fragments of the egg of ad sizes, and the- largest piece had an area of about two pennies. To. piece them together was a real jig-saw puzzle. He fitted together the fragments that fitted exactly and kept them in place with stanip collectors’ gum tpgs. He was -then able from the natural curves of the. shell to form an idea of the size and shape of itio

fgg. A mould was then made by Dr. ■Crompton from the shell of tt snuul coconut on the surface of which were placed liiyers of surgical cotton. From this he could make a model of any size o r shape and as the surface was soft it would not c rttfk the frail egg-shell.

After many hours of work Dr. Crompton was able to assemble tho egg to its present shape, whieh, although not entire, is complete enough to enable its me-asurments to be a w'Tttiined The moasurments are; Overall length, (iin.; breadth, 4Jin.; circumference, 41.5 centimetres and 37.5 centimetres.

“The surface of the shell is v.ir'ed,” said the doctor. “In one part it is pitted rind in another it is smooth. The inside of the shell is smooth and clean. From its size it appears to be. the egg of one of the smallest moas, almost certainly of one (‘riled ,he Anomnloptry Parvus, which was very common in Hawke’s Bay. Scientifically it is interesting, for as far as 1 can find, not other egg of this small moa has been recorded. “Unfortunately there is no way of deciding whether the- egg is contem poraneous with the remains of the duck and the gourd. Tho egg had been put on the shelf by someone and it had been emp'tiiod of i'ts contents. Whether a Maori found it fresh and sucked it or whether it was found empty and kept as a curio, no one can sav.”