DINOENITHID^f;. 221 



bone ; there is a well-defined intercondj-lar tubercle ; the inter- 

 condylar gorge is deep ; and there is no deep pit on the lateral 

 surface of the entocondyle. The femur may be either slender or 

 stout (figs. 57, 60), bat is not markedly curved forwards ; the pop- 

 liteal depression is deep ; and the summit of the great trochanter 

 rises considerably above the level of the head. The pelvis (figs. 61, 

 63) approximates to that of the A^dtn/gidce, but the pectineal pro- 

 cess of the pubis is less developed, and the ischium and jiubis may 

 bo longer and more slender. The coracoid and scapula are aborted 

 and may be absent. The sternum (figs. 5(5, 62, 64), which may be 

 either long and narrow, or broad and short, differs from that of the 

 Apteryr/idiB by the absence of the superior notch, the divergent 

 lateral processes, and the reduction of the coracoidal grooves to 

 small facets, or their total disappearance. The cervical vertebrae 

 are relatively short, an expanded neural platform continuing as 

 far as the sixth. 



In the skeleton of Anomalopteryx parva (the only one in which 

 the number of vertebra3is authenticated) there are 21 cervicals and 

 6 free dorsals. Detached vertebras are enumerated according to 

 this standard ; although it is quite possible that the number may 

 have varied in some of the other forms. None of the other mounted 

 skeletons in the Museum are authentic in regard to this point. 



The feathers have aftershafts. 



There has been considerable divergence of views as to whether 

 the members of this family should be included in a single or in 

 several genera ; but there appears to be no doubt that Haast is 

 right in adopting the latter course, the difference between Dinornis 

 proper and Paclnjornis being extreme. It is, indeed, true that 

 Anomalopteryx and Emeus connect the two ; but even so all the 

 genera admit of more or less complete definition. 



The question of the number of species to be assigned to the 

 difEcrent genera is one of more difficulty ; and the materials in the 

 Museum are not sufficient to allow of a decisive opinion to be formed. 

 Certain bones presenting transitional characters between those of 

 forms usually distinctly recognizable suggest that some members of 

 the various species, if not of the genera, may have occasionally 

 interbred. 



From the affinity of the Dinornithida; to the Apterygidce it is 

 inferred that the females were larger than the males. 



llah. New Zealand and ? Australia. 



The remains of Dinornithidce occur chiefly in superficial deposits, 

 some of which are evidently of very recent origin. Feathers re- 

 ferred to this family have, however, been recently recorded from 



