30 



NEBRASKA ORNITHOLOGISTS' UNION 



the Pleistocene cave deposits of Brazil. Of the Struthiones, or os- 

 triches, remains occur in the lower Pliocene of the Siwalik Hills of 

 India and in the lower Pliocene of the island of Samos in the Turkish 

 archipelago. 



STEREOBNITHES — PHOEORH ACOS 



The next group, Stereornithes, is of such doubtful relationship that 

 one feels disposed to admit it to the Ratitae chiefly on the ground 

 of size. But its structure seemingly militates against this assign- 



Fig. 86 — Dinornis {Palapteryx) elephantopus Owen. 

 With powerful legs and feet. Pleistocene of New 

 Zealand. 



Fig. 87 — Leg of the giant Moa 

 bird, Dinornis maximus {gi- 

 (lanteus), compared with 

 ithat of the full-sized horse. 



ment, for it is settled that some of its members give positive evidence 

 of having keeled sterna while others furnish negative evidence. Though 

 recognizing that the group is carinate rather than ratite the best 

 taxonomists place them provisionally with the Eatitae, though acknowl- 

 edging their probable relationship to the cranes. Until further dis- 

 coveries make final decision possible it is convenient to follow author- 

 ity; at any rate this arrangement, which has much to warrant it, admits 

 of grouping all the giant birds together. In this connection must be 

 mentioned Phororhacos, which is destined to become a landmark in the 



