Re: MORE ON MOAS!

[ornstn@inforamp.net (Ronald Orenstein)]

>Something I've been itching to talk about since I read about it is the
>life appearance of _Dinornis_ moas. We've all seen pictures of these
>animals - they're brown ostrich-type things with long necks and legs.
>Such artistic renditions stem from Burian's pieces, and are largely
>unchallanged. BUT there apparently exist Maori legends where they state
>that moas were bulky, shaggy, and with a head crest! Apparently the
>males were brightly coloured. Moas restored with this info in mind are
>bizarre looking, with 'booted' legs, very thick necks and bodies, and
>peacock-type crests. At least one moa species is actually known to have
>had a crest, BTW.

For an impression of this see the sketch in Huevelmans' "On the Track of
Unknown Animals" [the cryptozooolgist's bible, despite the fact that not one
of its "unknown" animals has turned up in the forty years since its
publication while all sorts of other things have!]

 If all this was good info, those long-limbed,
>slim-necked animals you've seen masquarading as moas could be
>innaccurate. But I have my doubts, as Maori cave art *does* depict
>_Dinornis_ as the conventional, slim-limbed ratite. Basically, then,
>soft tissue is needed to endorse either interpretation (e.g. to assess
>extent of feathers on leg).

IF the legends are true they could easily apply to some of the other moas.
Although most restorations give all moas the same plumage, surely there is
no reason to assume that they all were the same colour or had the same
plumage structure!  They were a pretty diverse lot.

PS: What is the best source for reproductions of these cave paintings?  And
which moa was crested?

>
>The Maoris also said that some of the big, robust moas (_Pachyornis_?)
>ate fish!!!

Which may give you an idea of how reliable these legends are....

>
>Anyone aware of any sources figuring Lascaux cave paintings?

Of what?  Surely not moas!!!

--
Ronald I. Orenstein                           Phone: (905) 820-7886 (home)
International Wildlife Coalition              Fax/Modem: (905) 569-0116 (home)
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