RALLID.T,. 147 



32245. The distal extremity of the right femur, with the anterior 

 surface slightly imperfect. 



32245 a. The terminal phalangeal of the third digit of the pes. The 

 form of this specimen agrees in every respect with that of 

 the corresponding bone of the recent skeleton. 



Genus APTORNIS, Owen '. 



Includes very large Rails allied to Ocydrohius, with abortion of the 

 wings and the carina of the sternum. The skull is highly convex, 

 with a beak of moderate depth, long slit-like nares, a very wide 

 brain-case, large and deep temporal fossae, and the basioccipital much 

 produced downwards. The cervical vertebra3 are short, with ex- 

 tremely complex lateral arches ; the anterior ones having the neural 

 surface much expanded, while in those of the middle region the 

 lateral arches unite beneath the centrum. 



The coracoids are very narrow and may be anchylosed to the 

 sternum ; the latter being also narrow, without a distinct cai'ina, 

 and the coracoidal grooves merely occupying the antero-external 

 angles. The tarso-metatarsus is very short and stout, with the talon 

 forming one very large tube for the passage of two of the extensor 

 tendons. The terminal phalangeals of the toes are nearly straight. 



The sternum has the extremely narrow form and long distal lateral 

 processes characteristic of the suborder. The quadrate is characterized 

 by the extremely large size of its distal articular surface. 



Aptornis otidiformis, Owen*. 

 Syn. Dinornis otidiformis, Owen '\ 



The type species. Skull with the temporal f ossse of median depth, 

 and the middle line of the supraoccipital not forming a distinct 

 prominence. Total length of cranium about 0,165. Length of type 

 tibio-tarsus 0,225. Coracoids distinct from sternum. The skull is 

 referred to this species as being a smaller form than A. defossor. 



Hub. Xcw Zealand (North Island). 



The following sjiccimens ivcre ohtai ned from siiperjlcud deposits 

 yieldimj remains of Dinornithidie. 



21684. The slightly imperfect cranium ; from the menaccenite 

 {Fig.) beds * of Te Rangatapu, near Waingongoro, Xorth Island. 



• Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. iii. p, 347 (1848). 



- IbUI. p. 247 (ISii).— Dinornis. ^ Loe. eit. 



' See Manteli's ' Petrifactions and their Teachings,' pp. 101, 103. 



l2 



