OCR Text |
Show 1870. J PROF. OWEN ON THE EXTINCTION OF DINORNIS. 53 Siberian Lark (Alauda sibirica, Gmelin ; the Alauda leucoptera of Pallas). It was caught near Brighton, November 22, 1869, out of a flock of about two dozen of Emberiza nivalis, and is a female. This is, as far as I know, the first of this species ever captured in Great Britain. " I also place before the Meeting a Wild Canary (Fringilla canariensis), taken in a clap-net November 20, 18G9. How such a bird arrived in this country I cannot say. " The third bird which I have to show is a Lapland Bunting (Emberiza calcarata). " These three birds are recorded in the January number of the ' Zoologist' this year as Fringilla nivalis, Emberiza rustica, and Fringilla citrinella. With the aid of Professor Newton, when we saw the Lark on the 1st of January, I assigned to it its true designation. Various Northern species have lately occurred at Brighton, in addition to Alauda sibirica, such as Emberiza pusilla, Emberiza rustica, Turdus atrigularis, and Pyrrhula erythrina, all of them of considerable interest." The following papers were read :- 1. Letter on the Discovery of Cooking-pits and Kitchen-middens in Canterbury Settlement, Middle Island, N e w Zealand. By Dr. J U L I U S H A A S T , F.R.S. Communicated, with Remarks, by Prof. O W E N , F.R.S., F.Z.S., &c. As most of the information on record respecting Dinornis is to be found in the publications of the Zoological Society of London, I use the liberty given me by my esteemed correspondent Dr. Haast, F.R.S., to submit to the same Society the accompanying letter of October 20th, 1869, received January 8th, 1870:- " Canterbury Museum, Christchurch, N. Z., October 26, 1869. " M Y D E A R P R O F E S S O R O W E N , - I have to thank you very much for your kindness in sending me Parts XI. and XII. of your Memoirs on Dinornis, which I received by last mail, and which I have read with great interest. Concerning the age of remains of the Dinornis robustus, described in the first, I have not visited the locality where they were found, but am certain that they must have been buried in very dry sand, because I have no doubt that the species of Dinornis have been extinct many hundreds of years-an opinion which I formed some years ago from the manner of their occurrence, as well as from the fact that the Maories, the present inhabitants of New Zealand, have no traditions about them. Some time ago I sent a paper on some prehistoric remains of New Zealand to Sir Charles Lyell, in which I have treated of the subject. Since then I have been so fortunate as to find a large Moa-hunters' encampment, with |