DINORNITHID.^. 



27S 



Anomalopteryx didiformis (Owen '). 



Syu. Dinornis didiformis, Oweu ^. 



Anoiiialopteri/.c didiformis, lleicheubacli •*. 

 Meionornis didiformis, Haast ■•. 

 Dinornis geranoides, Owen {in parte). 



The typo of the genus and also of Meioiwniis. Typically some- 

 what smaller than A. dromceokles. Founded upon tho tarso-meta- 

 tarsus, which has a length of 0,172 (6-8 inches). Assuming the 

 undermentioned skeleton (of which the tarso-metatarsus agrees in 

 size with the type) to be rightly referred, the species will be charac- 

 terized by the cxtromely small skull ', which has a flat surface 

 between tho small temporal fossse and the occiput, and is inferior in 

 size to that of the smaller A. parca ; and also by the smallness of 

 the hallux. 



The tibio-tarsus in the above-mentioned skeleton has a length of 

 0,335 (13-2 inches), and a distal width of 0,053 (2-1 inches), the 

 width thus being rather more than one sixth of the length. This 

 type of tibio-tarsus is more slender than that of the smaller ex- 

 amples of Emetis gravipes. There appears, however, to be a com- 

 plete gradation in point of size from the tibio-tarsus of the skeleton 

 of A. didiformis to that of A. didina, so that it is often quite 

 impossible to refer isolated bones to one or the other species, and 

 they are accordingly catalogued together on pp. 267-269. The tibio- 

 tarsus referred by Owen to A, didiformis is too large for the type 

 tarso-metatarsus, and accords in relative size with the type femur 

 of A. dromieoides. The femur of the present species appears to be 

 relatively stouter than the latter. It is probable that some of the 

 smaller specimens of the tarso-metatarsus entered under the head 

 A. casuarina (p. 261) are referable to this species. 



Tho sternum is of the same general type as the one referred to 

 A. citsuarina (lig. 62, A, p. 2.54). 



Hab. Typically the Xorth Island, but also found in the South 

 Island. 



a. Tlie Skeleton. 



A. 129. A nearly entire skeleton, apparently referable to this 

 species ; from the South Island. The skull is imperfect, 



' Trans. Zool. Soe. vol. iii. p. 242 {\?A^).— Dinornis. ^ Luc. uir. 



^ Nat. Syst. Vogel, p. xxx (^1852). 



' Ibis, ser. ■^, vol. iv. p. 212 (1S74). 



' See Hiiasi, Tr.iiis, Zool. Soc. vol. xii. p. 174. 



•x2 



