80 Transactions. — Zoology. 



of the Mararoa river, about 3-J miles east of Whitestone river, 

 a tributary of the Mararoa, and 9 miles south-east of the 

 extreme south end of Lake Te Anau. The name, "Bare-patch," 

 applied by Dr. Buller to the locality,* does not seem to be in 

 general use, since it is unknown both to Mr. Melland and to 

 Mr. Henry, both of whom have known the district for several 

 years. 



The Dresden and Dunedin specimens of Notornis were there 

 found, not more than 8 or 9 miles apart. 



The skeleton, as it reached the Museum, consisted of the 

 following bones : — 



The skull and lower jaw. 



The sternum. 



The left coracoid and both 



scapula?. 

 Both humeri. 

 The right ulna. 

 The coalesced 2nd and 3rd 



metacarpals of the left side. 



Both femora. 

 Both tibiae. 



Both fibuLt (one broken). 

 Both tarso- metatarsi. 

 One of the proximal phalanges, 

 probably that of the 3rd left toe. 

 Six cervical vertebra?. 

 Seven thoracic vertebrae. 



The pelvis. Five ribs, more or less broken. 



The skull is the most interesting part of the skeleton, since 

 in the North Island fossil the brain-case and beak were separate, 

 and both of them more or less broken, while in the Dunedin 

 specimen the occiput was completely destroyed to allow of the 

 removal of the brain. In the present specimen both quadrates 

 and pterygoids are missing, and the left jugal arch is broken, 

 but in other respects the skull is perfect. 



The mandible is also quite perfect, and the sternum and 

 pelvis nearly so. The right fibula is broken, only the proximal 

 half being left, but the other limb bones are quite uninjured, 

 as also are the scapula 3 , the coracoid. and the vertebras. 



From an examination of the Dresden specimen, Meyer has 

 concluded that the Notornis of the South Island, represented 

 by the stuffed specimens in the British Museum and by the 

 Dresden skin and skeleton, is specifically distinct from the 

 North Island form, represented by the original fossil bones. 

 As it was upon these latter that the species X mantelli was 

 founded, Meyer proposes to form a new species, .V. hochstetteri, 

 for the Southern form. The differences relied upon are in the 

 proportions of the leg bones, which are as follows : — 



Judging from the minute differences of plumage, etc., which 

 are considered to be of specific importance by ornithologists, 

 one is disposed to concur in the formation of the new species, 



* '• Manual of the Birds of N.Z.," p. 65. 



