8 DlNOENITfllD^. ^PTOENITHID^. 



The structure of the shell has been well investigated bj' W. v. 

 Nathusius, and the results published in the ' Zeitscbrift fiir wissen- 

 schaftliche Zoologie,' vol. sxi. p. o30, pis. xxv. & xxvi. (1871). 



Sir Eichard Owen has figured two eggs of these birds in his 

 ' Memoirs on the Extinct Wingless Birds of New Zealand,' p. 317 

 (1879). Plate cxv. represents an example which he assigns to 

 D. crassus: this is in the B.M. Collection, bearing the registered 

 number A. 222. Plate cxvii. represents an egg which is referred 

 to B. ingens. 



1. New Zealand (A. 222). ? Mantell Coll. 



Restored in plaster. 

 1. New Zealand (A. 222 a). ? Mantell Coll. 



Restored iu plaster. 

 1. New Zealand (A. 222 b). ? Mantell Coll. 



Restored in plaster. 

 1. Several fragments (21807). Mantell Coll. 



Order ^PYORNITHIFORMES. 



Family ^PYOKNITHID^. 



Genus .ffiPYORNIS, Is. Geoff. 



.(Epyornis, Lydekker, Cat. Fossil Birds B. M. pp. 213, 214 (1891) ; Sharps, 

 Hand-l. i. p. 6 (1899). 



The eggs of ^pyornis are found in recent alluvial deposits, near 

 the surface, in the south of Madagascar, especiallj'in the neighbour- 

 hood of Cape St. Marie. They are iu an excellent state of 

 preservation, and usually quite intact. 



AV. v. Nathusius in the ' Zeitscbrift fiir wissenschaftliche Zoologie,' 

 vol. xxi. p. 330, pis. xxv. & xxvi., has fully dealt with the structure 

 of the shell of the egg of ^pyornis. 



Professor G. Capellini has written an elaborate memoir on the 

 egg in the ' Memorie della R. Accademia delle Scienze dell' Istituto 

 di Bologna,' series iv. vol. x. p. 16 (1889). 



Mr. G. Dawson Rowley has published an interesting essay on the 

 egg of ^pyornis in the ' Proceedings ' of the Zoological Society of 

 London for 1867, p. 892. 



Other papers on the same subject will be found fully noticed in 

 Prof. Capellini's memoir above mentioned. 



The shell is about one-tenth of an inch in thickness. Portions of 

 its surface are generally extremelj^ rough, resembling the texture 

 of a coarse file, while other portions have been worn quite smooth, 

 like the shell of an Ostrich's egg. The eggs are of a pale yellowish 

 or buff colour. In shape thoy are true ellipses. 



