( 271 ) 

 The dimensions of the bones of the leg are : — 



Femur : 

 Length 



Width of lower t'n<l 

 „ shaft . 

 Tibia : 

 Length 



Width of lower end 

 shaft . 

 Mi'tatarsits : 

 Length 



Width of upper end 

 „ lower end 

 „ shaft . 



Nesolimnas 

 difffenbachii. 



<iO mm. 

 11 •, 



79 

 8 

 4 



46 



Hypotaeniilia r\ i 

 cllebemis. Ocjdromu,, 



Cabalvii (?) 

 gylvcxtrts. 



63 mm. 

 11 „ 



**7 , 



10 , 



4 . 



51 , 



10 . 



10 , 

 4-5, 



If the length of the tibia be reiire.'iented by 100, the femur will be 76, the 

 metatarsus 58. Again, if the length of the leg be taken as 100, the length of the 

 wing will be about 53. In Hyjjotaeriidia and Ocydromus numbers arri\ed at by 

 the same method are 63 * and 46'5 respect ivel}', so that in this case also XesoH/iiims 

 is intermediate between these two genera. 



The toes are more slender than in Ocydromus, approaching those of Hypo- 

 taenidia. 



P'rom tlie above description it will be seen that in Nesoiimnas we have an 

 annectant form linking the flying to the flightless rails. In its plumage, in the 

 condition of its sternum, and in many other points, it reminds us of HypoUtenidia, 

 while, on the other hand, in the reduction of its wings and the consequent modi- 

 fication of its hind-limb it approaches Ocydromus. Tlie existence of such an inter- 

 mediate type seems to give strong support to the opinion e.xpres.^ed in Part I., that 

 the Ocydromine rails have originated from forms capable of flight at a comparati\ely 

 recent date and in the islands they now inhabit. 



* In Part I. this proix)rtion was slij^btly underestimatetl owing to the imperfection of the specimens 

 measured, and was given as 59*5. 



