182

alluding to the still more remarkable evidence of preservaton noticed by Dr. Hector,
made mention of "a considerable portion of the skin, studded with the quill-parts of
the feathers, which are bifid as in the Emu: some of the feathers preserve a portion of
the web" (loc. cit. p.51).
I have been favoured by Mr. Allis with copies of the photographs exhibited by him
to the Linnean Society, in one of which the bone (fig.1 of photograph) is described as
the "anterior limb of adult." All are referred to the Dinornis robustus, although in the
text (Proc. Linn. Soc. p.52) this determination of the species is accepted with doubt.
"Dr. Gibson has arefully measured the leg-bones, and does not find them agree in all
respects with any described by Professor Owen, though the difference," Mr. Allis sug-
gests, "may possibly be only sexual" (ib.p.52). Mr Allis adds the following par-
ticular to the history of the finding of this series of bones given by D. Hector, viz.,
"It appears that the skeleton was discovered by some persons who were on a 'pro-
specting' expedition in search of gold, almost completely buried in a heap of sand, and
having beneath it the bones of four young ones."
It does not appear that any portions of the egg-shell were obtained or noticed by the
finders.
With the concurrence of Mr. Allis I wrote to the Council of the "Yorkshire Philo-
sophical Society," of which he is Honorary Secretary, requesting the loan for description
of certain parts of the skeleton, the discovery of which had been notified to me by
Dr. Hector; and I was favoured with the transmission of the skull (Pls. LXIV. & LXV.)
the supposed 'anterior limb' or 'rudimentary wing-bone' (Pl. LXIV. figs. 2,3,4), and
the portion of the foot, with the ligaments, tendons and tegument.
In the present communication I propose to describe the skull and so-called 'wing-
bone.'
Skull of Dinornis robustus, from Manuherikia.
This is a little smaller than the one from 'Timaru,' the lower jaw being 7 inches in
length, as against 7 inches 6 lines; and this may be accounted for by difference of sex,
if not by the range of size of individuals of the same sex. The present skull, like the
rest of the skeleton, bears all the marks of mature age.
It supplies the following deficiences in the skull first described: -- the paroccipital,
mastoid, and postfrontal processes; the basisphenoid complete, with the pterapophyses;'
the presphenoid; the prefrontals and anchylosed ossified parts of the olfactory capsules;
the laycrymal, nasals, premaxillary entire to the tip, the maxillary, and malosquamosal
zygomatic arch of one side.
The occipital condyle (Pl. LXV figs 1 & 2, 1) is of a full reniform figure, slightly
notched above, and with a shallow groove extending therefrom to the middle of its con-
vexity; the breadth is 5 1/2 lines, its height 3 1/2 lines; it is supported on a short pedicle,
contracting below as well as laterally, then quickly expanding to its attached base; its