157 



Genus NOTORNIS, Owen'. 



This genus presents the general characters of Forphyrio ; but the 

 occiput is wider and the temporal fossa; are deeper, the wings are 

 smaller and useless for flight, the leg-bones relatively shorter and 

 stouter, and the toes much shorter. Cervical vertebrae shorter and 

 wider. 



Porphyvio is characterized by the short and stout beak, the small 

 oval nares, and rounded brain-case, in which the temporal fossae, 

 although long, are not deep. The tarso-metatarsus is long, with a 

 sharp internal border and a flattened posterior aspect, the second 

 trochlea being only slightly shorter than the fourth. The replace- 

 ment of the inner surface of this bone by a sharp ridge is character- 

 istic of Porphyrio, Notornis, and the Jacanas. 



l^otornisi mantjllt, Owen -. 

 The type species ^. Considerably larger than any of the species 

 of Porphyrio. Doubtful if still existing *. 



Hah. New Zealand (North and South Islands). 



The foUowhifj specimens, which include the types, ivere obtained from 

 superficial deposits containing remaiiis of Dinornithidse. 



21695. The imperfect cerebral region of the cranium ; from Wain- 

 (Fig.) ganui. North Island. One of the types ; figured by Owen 



in the ' Trans. Zool. Soc." vol. iii. pi. Ivi. figs. 7-11, and 

 also in his •' Extinct Birds of New Zealand,' pi. xlvii. figs. 

 7-11. Mantell Collection. Purchased, 1848. 



21698. The imperfect rostral portion of the cranium, and the asso- 

 {Fig.) ciated mandible, wanting the left ramus ; from Waingon- 

 goro. North Island. Two of the types ; figured by Owen 

 (in conjunction ■with the preceding specimens) in the ' Trans. 

 Zool. Soc' vol. iii. pi. Ivi. figs. 7-13, and in the ' Extinct 

 Uirds of New Zealand,' pi. xlvii. figs. 7-13. There are 

 but slight characters by which these and the preceding 

 specimens can be distinguished from Porphyrio. 



Mantell Collection. 



21696. The imperfect left half of the cerebral region of the cranium ; 



from AVaingongoro. Mantell Collection. 



1 Proc. Zool. Soc. 1848, p. 2. - Loc. cif. 



^ The so-called Gallinula alba, of Lord Howe, and probably Norfolk Island, 

 is also a species of Notornis. See Owen, Proc. Zool. Soc. 1882, p. 694. 

 ■* See Owcu, ojj. cit. 



