209

* handwritten note at top right of page: 1848 "On Dinornis, pt. III"
Trans Zool. Soc. Land. 3:
345
PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE GENUS DINORNIS. 347

and of Dinornis giganteus the right and left fibulae, the proximal end of a left tibia, and
both proximal and distal ends of a right tibia of apparently the same bird. In one of
the specimens, which is nearly full-sized, the distal epiphysis of the tibia is ununited.

Of the numerous series of vertebrae (250 in number) seven were referable to Dinornis
giganteus, four to Palapteryx ingens, eighteen to Dinornis casuarinus, together with
twelve others, forming a continuous series of the neck-bones, corresponding with the
vertebrae referred to Palapteryx ingens in my former Memoir 1.

There are still more complete series of cervical and dorsal vertebrae referable by their
size to Dinornis didiformis, Din. curtus, Palapteryx geronoides, and to the species indi-
cated in the Memoir of 1843 as Dinornis otidiformis.

There are, also, sixteen more or less perfect pelves, referable to at least five species,
together with numerous ribs and fragments of ribs.

Amongst the rarer and more instructive parts of this collection are some portions of
a sternum of a small species of Dinornis or Palapteryx, and two nearly entire sternums
of the new genus Notornis, which belongs to the same family (Rallidae) as the rare
Brachypteryx or short-winged Rail of New Zealand.

There are not fewer than 190 phalanges of the toes referable to five or six species of
Dinornis, Palapteryx and Notornis ; and there are eight tarso-metatarsal bones, with
the articular surface for a very strong hind-toe, and of a confirmation more nearly
resembling those of the Dodo than those of the Dinornis or Palapteryx, but shorter
and thicker in proportion than in the Dodo, and appertaining to the same bird as the
tibiae and femora described in my Memoir of 1843 under the name of 'Dinornis
otidiformis.' The proximal articulation of this remarkable form of tarso -metatarsal
exactly fits the distal end of the tibia figured in pl. 26 fig. 5 vol. iii.; and also that of
a corresponding fractured tibia in Mr. Mandell's collection, which also contains the
proximal end of another tibia, a fibula, and entire femur and distal ends of two other
femora of the same species.

The large surface for the hind-toe ; the strong calcaneal process, perforated by a
complete bony canal for the tendon at the back part of the proximal end of the tarso-
metatarsal ; the perforation above the interspace between the condyles for the middle
and outer toes ; and the more posterior position of the condyle for the inner toe,-
all concur to indicate the generic distinction of the bird to which it belonged from
either Dinornis or Palapteryx ; and *I propose to indicate the new genus by the name of Aptornis n. gen. (handwritten note)
Aptornis *2. The present species, Aptornis otidiformis, resembles the Apteryx in the *-* underlined by hand
shortness of the metatarsal as compared with the length of the tibia. Amongst all
this collection there is but one bone of a wing - a humerus- which bears the same
proportion to the femur referred to Notornis Mantelli, whih the humerus of the little
existing Brachypteryx does to its femur.

1 (Part II.) p. 314. pl. 40. figs. 1 & 3.
2. By syncope for 'Apterygiornis,' from a ptiv. nrepuE, wing, opvis bird.

3 B 2