211

181

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.

Upwards of one hundred phalanges of the toes were referable to five or six species of
Dinornis, Palapteryx and Notornis.

Of the numerous species 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 at p. 121, Pl. XXXII. figs. 1, 2 & 3.

There were still more complete series of cervical and dorsal vertebrae referable by their
size to Dinornis didiformis, Din. curtus, Parapteryx geranoides, and to the species indi-
cated in the Memoir of 1843 as Dinornis otidiformis. There were, also, sixteen more
or less perfect pelves, referable to at least five species, together with numerous ribs and
fragments of ribs.

Amongst the rarer specimens in this collection were some portions of a sternum of a
small species of Dinornis or Palapteryx, and two nearly entire sternums of the Ralline
type, and by size referable to the new genus Notornis, which, as we have seen, belongs to
the same family (Rallidae) as the Ocydromus or short-winged Rail Of New Zealand.

Eight tarso-metatarsal bones (Pl. L. figs. 5-8), with the articular surface for a very
strong hind toe, and of a conformation more nearly resembling those of the Dodo than
those of the Dinornis or Palapteryx, but shorter and thicker in proportion than in the
Dodo, appertained to the same species as the tibia and femora described at pp. 85, 137,
under the name of 'Dinornis otidiformis'. The proximal articulation of the remarkable
form of tarso-metatarsal exactly fits the distal end of the tibia figured in Pls XXV. &
XXVI. figs. 5 & 6 ; and also that of a corresponding fractured tibia in Mr. Mantell's
collection, which also contains the proximal end of another tibia, a fibula, an 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*. The present species, Aptornis otidiformis, resembles the Apteryx in the
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, which the humerus of the little
existing Ocydromus does to its femur.

With the bones of the birds were associated fragments of large birds' eggs ; some

*By syncope for 'Apterygiornis,' from a priv., *repuE wing, opvis bird.