BONES OF THE MOA

Southland Times, Issue 19546, 9 May 1925, Page 8

BONES OF THE MOA

AN INTERESTING DISCOVERY. ALMOST COMPLETE SKELETON FOUND. Some interesting discoveries have been made in the remarkably fine limestone cave which was recently opened at Te Pahu by a resident of Pirongia, near Te Awamutu. In an old quarry at the mouth of the cave an almost complete skeleton of a large moa was unearthed. Parts of the skeleton were in perfect order, while others were scattered as if they had at some time been disturbed. The bones included the upper and lower main bones of both legs, a complete series of bones for one foot, several ribs, and smaller bones. The bonesof the neck and major part of the skull were missing. Underneath the moa bones were a number of smaller birds’ bones about the size of those of the kiwi. The bones, which were found in a mixture of clay and limestone, are in places coated with lime deposit, and in some instances several of them are cemented together in grotesque angles. The land in the vicinity appears to be rich in fossils, as a barbed dart such as is found in the tail of the stingray was also discovered embedded in a piece of limestone found near the place where the skeleton was unearthed. Traces of fish bones and shells have also been found in limestone in the vicinity.