 |
|
THE Pleistocene Period
was
the time when the remarkable flightless moas roamed
over a great part of New Zealand in large numbers. Fossil remains are
found in the loess, in sand-dunes, in caves, and in greater abundance,
in swamps, particularly along the foot-hills of Canterbury. They varied
greatly in size, and since they had no mammalian enemies, they
flourished exceedingly. They survived until the Recent
Period, but authorities differ
as to the reasons for their extinction.
Some claim, on the evidence of recent excavations that they were
finally killed out by Maori hunters only a few centuries ago.
The moas were the dominant
land-dwellers of this period, but they shared the country with several
other species now extinct. Of these the most notable are the Notornis,
or takahe, and a gigantic eagle,
Harpagornis, of which fossil remains are also found in
swamp-deposits.
Tuis, which are still found in bush areas in both
islands. The songs of these birds have a wonderful musical quality.
Tuis probably came to New Zealand from the north a long time ago. The
lithograph was taken from Sir W.L. Buller's history of New Zealand
Birds.
A lithograph of 'Notyornis Mantell,' or 'Takahe,'
from Professor R. Owen's 'Memoirs of the Extinct Wingless Birds of New
Zealand' (1879)
|
|
A moa. this
illustration of 'Dinornia ingens' was taken from Walter Rothschild's
'Extinct Birds' (1907)
A cartoon of the
discoveries of moa bones by W.B.D. Mantell, a well-known geologist.
|
![[Company Logo Image]](_borders/New%20Image.JPG)
.htm_cmp_ricepapr110_hbtn.gif)
