DINORNITIIlDJi). 279 



distribution) is, however, too large to havo been the female of the 

 latter. The sternum (fig. oi>, B, p. 254) has small coracoidal facets, 

 and much sliorter xiphisternal and costal processes than in A. didl- 

 formix. 



The length of the tibio-tarsus is 0,327 (12-0 inches), and the 

 width of its distal extremity 0,040 (1-8 inch). In the tarso-meta- 

 tarsus the length is 0,160 (G-.3 inches), and the width at the middle 

 of the shaft 0,0205 (1-05 inch). 



Hah. South Island. 



A. 3. The nearly entire skeleton, with numerous rings of the trachea ; 

 {Fig.) found in a cave exposed during the construction of a road 

 about forty miles north-west of Nelson. The type ; de- 

 scribed and figured by Owen in the ' Trans. Zool. Soc' 

 vol. xi. pp. 233-250, pis. li.-lviii. The only missing 

 portion of the skeleton is the right hallux ; and, owing 

 to the state of preservation of the bones, the specimen is 

 the finest known example of the family. The number of 

 free pre-sacral vertcbraj is 27, of which 21 may be reck- 

 oned as cervical. The sternum (fig. 62, B), which is 

 attached to the ribs by three intercostal ossifications, is 

 characterized by the shortness of the lateral and xiphi- 

 sternal processes, and also difi-ers from that of the more 

 . typical members of tlie genus by the j^resence of coracoidal 

 facets. The pelvis (fig. 63) shows the sharp descent of 

 the lateral borders of the postacetabular portion of the 

 Uium below the sacral vertebra', Iry which it is at once 

 distinguished from the nearly equal-sized pelvis (fig. 61, 

 p. 250) referred to Mefjalapteryx liectori. The femur has 

 the same proportions as in the type of ^. dromaoides ; while 

 the proportions of the tarso-metatarsus are similar to those 

 obtaining in the corresponding bones of that species and 

 A. didiformis. The bone described and figured by Owen, 

 op. cit. p. 251, pi. Iviii., as the pateUa is a sesamoid 

 intervening between the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus. 

 The skull, in which the palatines and pterygoids are 

 wanting, exhibits the narrow beak, slightly developed basi- 

 occipital tubercles, and pointed paroccipital processes charac- 

 tenstic of Ammalopteryx ; although diff'ering from typical 

 representatives of that genus by the narrow ridge separating 

 the large temporal fossa from the occiput, the slight develop- 

 ment of the supraoccipital tubercle, and the larger anterior 

 process of the i|uadrate. The mandible (fig. 55, B, p. 220) 

 shows the slight infiection of the angle, and the distinct 



