Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-11-15

Of them, and satisfied himself that the
region occupied by primeval forests be-
fore the advent OF Europeans was that
Z in which moa bones did not occur. His
conclusion is, that the birds lived in the
open and low scrub, in which they could
walk: in all this region, the moa bones
are extremely abundant in the South
Island. In the enormous extent OF sub
alpine country in the South Island,
which is covered by only a light vegeta-
/ ton, large quantities of well preserved
moa remains are found associated with
remains of natives. Ii seemed rs if the
natives had pressed up into the country
for the purpose of capturing,
killing and eating the moas, and rs the
latter could not be followed through the
sharp bayonet-grass and other under
scrub, their pursuers would appear TO
have got at them by setting portions of
it on fire, which collected the creatures
together, often killed them and account
ed for so many of their bones being ac-
cumulated in particular spots. The
height of the mOa is estimated at about
ten feet: it appears, also, from the foot
prints found in stone slabs-very plainly
indented and following each other in
regular succession-that the length of
the foot-mark, from the heel to the tip
Of the center toe, was nearly eight
inches
Among the wonders of the Southern
seas the penguins rank conspicuous in
the feaihered class, and on some of the
islands constitute most extraordinary
t,r1af In of
Nightingale Island, under the direction
of Wyrille Thomson, the prodigious
numbers and strange habits of these
birds excited special observation and in
terest. They had millions of nests I'M
der the long grass, and kept the ground
constantly wet, a strong smell of am
monia also proceeding from it. 1t was
impossible to pass single yard along
the grass without crushing the young
birds or nests, while the old .penguins
all around made the most fright
full din, and jagged the leg of the
traveller, their long, sharp bcaks draw
ing blood at every stroke. They are
perfectly tame--in the first place, be-
cause they did not know any reason for
fear from proximity TO man; and sec
means of escape they stand from one
and one-half TO two and one-half feet in
height, and their nests are little flat
clay erections, about two inches high,
the bird laying one and sometimes two
eggs, to hatch which she sits upright on
the nest; acres are sometimes thus COW
cred by them, and again, as many rs
thousand of them will be seen deliber-
ately walking to the sea. On getting in
to the water, they act just as if they
were fishes; the gray groove in their
backs is occasionally seen above the
surface, but il is scarcely possible TO
imagine them to be birds. Having fished
for a short time, they return to their
nests by a regular path; the whole is
carried, out by most orderly system;
the birds going to sea by one path and
returning by another. Sometimes they
will stand and have talk for while, q
regular chattering going on among
them; then, all of sudden.they will
tand AT attention and each one. of the !
great multitude proceed to its own par
ticular nest
Of :: very different class Is the world /
famous bird of PARADISE great.
fiocks of which are found in some Of the (
Islands Of the Southern seas, and the
hunting OF which, in certain neighbor-
hoods, constitutes principal occupation
Of some of the inhabitants. Even by /
these semi-savage. tribes, this bird is
much ADMIRED Tor its exquisite appear
ance, having, as ii does, a most mag
ni1ieent plume of feathers, of a delicate /
yellow color, coming up from under the 1
wings and falling over the back like a
JET OF water. the breast showinga beau
tiful emerald green. and The body "A 4
charming yellow. They are about the 4
size OF 4 small pigeon, and have voice
not very unlike the jackdaw; they are
rnsilnsS na1nHar III ri, ,.i,, nr an.,r alo