Two other views have been put forth, each of which has had its adherents and must, therefore, be noticed here: according to the first, it has been suggested that, had any Moas existed in what may be called “Modern” times, some of the earlier European navigators, as for instance, Captain Cook, * Haast, Dr., Moas and Moa-hunters, “Trans. N. Z. Inst.,” Vol. IV., p. 77. who, during his several visits to these islands, spent over 350 days here, must certainly have heard of or recorded them; according to the second, that, if any of them had died in the open plains, all traces of them would have disappeared in a space of time comparatively short, as the bones of even horses or of other large cattle are known not to resist exposure to the weather for more than 20 or 30 years; the inference being, that all the remains which have been discovered, owe their preservation to the silt and mud in which they have been very generally found embedded. It was, besides this, averred by some that so ancient, indeed, was the period of the final disappearance of the Moa, that its life probably preceded more than one great geological change, such as that which created Cook Strait; while the occurrence of many species of Struthia as well of the Dinornis suggested, at least to these reasoners, the probability of a former vast Antarctic continent, † Admiral Dumont D'Urville in the “Voyage of the Astrolabe” has held this view. connectiilg Australia, through New Zealand, with America and perhaps, even with Africa; the whole of this continent, with the exception of Madagascar, Australia, and New Zealand having been since submeyged for countless ages. The smaller groups, more strictly known as Polynesia, weye not, I believe, included in this grand conception, as being when not volcftnic for the most part of coralline formation. But, apart from other considerations, it is clear that such a, speculation requires an enormous amount of evidence to render it at dl probable; nor, indeed, am I aware that it has been in any way confirmed by competent geologists; moreowr, so far as the present enquiry goes, by siiuplifying, it may be, but, in a very doubtful manner, the problem to be discussed, it looks to me very much like cutting the hot, we ouglit rather to atteinpt untying. Of conrse, if there were any real evidence (such as me see in channels so narrow as tlhat between England and France) that, Within a tolerably recent period; and Australia on the one aicie, and with India, via the Malay Peninsula, ctc., on the other, we should have the chance of solving many difficulties, which now beset the enqniry into the origin of many races, whose languages, so fay as they can be trusted, certaidy shew considerable signs of affinity. Late reseascies have, however, shewn, conclusively, that the idea