casuarhd.t:. — dinornithid^e. 7 



Casuarius bennetti, Gould. 



Casuarius bennetti, J. E. Gray, P. Z. S. I808, p. 271, Ave^, pi. cxliv. ; 

 Bartlett, P. Z. S. 18dO, p. 205, Aves, pi. clxii. ; Gould, Handb. Birds 

 Austr. ii. p. 561 (I860) ; Schalow, J. f. O. 1894, p. 20 ; Salvadori, 

 Cat. Birds B. M. ixvii. p. 601 (1895) ; Sharjje, Hand-l. i. p. 4 

 (1899). 



The shell of the eggs of Bennett's Cassowary is of a pale buif or 

 grey colour. The raised lines and granulations on the shell vary 

 in tint. In one example they are of a pale dull greenish ; in 

 another they are extremely coarse, prominent, and of a greenish- 

 brown colour. In two others the lines are very feebly developed 

 and they are pale greenish-buff. Four eggs measure respectively : 

 5-55 by 3-5 ; 5-05 by 3-4 ; 5-75 by 3-55 ; 5*4 by 3-55. 



2. New Britain (Stefews). Old Collection. 



1. New Britain ( G. 5e?i«<;«). Salvin-Godmiin Coll. 



1. New Britain. Admiral A. H. Hoskins fP.!. 



Order DINORNITHIFORMES. 



Family DINORNITHID^. 



Genus DINORNIS, Owen. 



Dinornis, Li/dekker, Cat. Fossil Birds B. M. pp. 222, .349 (1891) ; Sharpe 

 Hand-l. i. p. 4 (1899). 



The eggs of the extinct Moas of New Zealand are found in caves 

 and in the burial-places of the Maoris. The specimens contained 

 in the National Collection * are imperfect, but the fragments of 

 three have been restored in plaster, the contour of each being 

 determined by the curvature of the fractured pieces. As thus re- 

 stored, the eggs are nearly perfect ellipses, and three specimens 

 measure respectively : 7"25 by 6 ; 7"75 by 5-25 ; 8-1 by 5-9. 



The shell is strong, being about one-twelfth of an inch in thick- 

 ness. In colour the existing remains are of a pale grey. Owen 

 thus describes the shell: — "The shell in Dinornis is not only 

 absolutely thinner, but relatively much thinner than in the Ostrich, 

 and, a fortiori, than in the J^!pyornis. The air-pores also have a 

 different form, being linear, not rounded ; and the external surface 

 is smoother. In the smoothness and thinness of the shell, the egg 

 of Dinornis resembles that of Apteryx." 



* These are eiihibitcd in llic Geological Galleries. 



