BY C. W. DE VIS. 445 



rapidly converging edges to the plantar surface, in the large 

 elongately oval foramen opening on the plantar surface in a 

 hollow formed by the convergent roots of the lateral trochleas, 

 and on the dorsal surface at the end of a long deep sulcus in the 

 body of the shaft, in the large depression for the first metatarse 

 at the root of the inner trochlea, in the shape of the shaft in 

 section, in the sharp narrow ridge descending upon the middle of 

 the plantar aspect of the shaft and diverging outwards to the 

 proximal end of the outer trochlea, and finally, in the faint groove 

 impressed by the internal digital branch of the tibial artery, 

 commencing at the dorsal end of the foramen and winding 

 inwards and downwards to the interval between the middle and 

 inner trochlese. In recent Australian pelicans the groove is some- 

 times faint, and its presence seems to be a rare peculiarity among 

 birds in general. 



The width of the trochlear expansion in the fossil is 16 '5 mm. ; 

 in P. conspicillatus it is, between the same points, 20 mm. ; the 

 length distad from the proximal end of the hallucal depression is 

 26*5 mm., against 32-3 in the recent bird. In proportions the 

 two are therefore nearly identical, but in size the living species 

 exceeds the extinct by one-fourth of the latter. 



Though it may fairly be doubted whether difference of size, 

 even though accompanied by somewhat brighter or duller tints, as 

 in our pittas and megaloprepias, is a sufficient mark of specific 

 distinction between existing birds, it can hardly be refused dis- 

 tinctive value in the present case. 



Proximal end of a metacarpal, with a large pneumatic foramen 

 placed as in Pelicanus; the bone is too much crushed and distorted 

 to allow of a description of any value. 



Dromaius gracilipes, n.s. (PI. xxiii., fig. la and 7b). 



Though desire for more ample knowledge of the bird-life of the 

 past naturally seeks indulgence in the cognition of new kinds, it 

 may be content if the rare objects it delights in serve only to 

 confirm previous interpretations and yield further elucidation of 



