299 



name of P. major is still very appropriate. Our mutilated bone 

 is just fifteen inches long, just the length of the perfect bone of 

 P. ijigens ; but at least one and a half inches (or the true tar- 

 sus, separated as an epiphysis in this immature bone) is wanting 

 in P. major^ which will give a length greater than any described 

 species of Palapteryx, and nearly equal to the largest Dinornis. 



The proportion of the circumference to the length of the bone 

 is in D. giganteus less than one third ; in P. ?nojor one third, in 

 P. in gens and P. rohistus, more than one third ; as this ratio 

 gradually increases to one half in the smaller species, we have 

 an indication that P. major belongs to a larger species than P. 

 ingens, and nearly equal to D. giganteus. 



The proportion of the breadth of the lower or distal extremity 

 to the length gives a similar indication in regard to the size of 

 P. major ; this ratio in D. giganteus is a little less than one 

 third, in P. major one third, in P. iiigens and P. rohustus con- 

 siderably more than one third ; as this ratio also gradually in- 

 creases to one half in the smaller species, P. major must have 

 been greater than any other described species of the genus. 



For these additional reasons, he was confirmed in the opinion, 

 that the specimen in the- cabinet of the Society belongs to the 

 genus Palapteryx^ and to a new species, P. major. 



Rev. Zadock Thompson exhibited a mass of debris from 

 the interior of a Swallow Tree in Vermont. It contained 

 the feathers of several wings and tails of the former tenants 

 of the tree lying in the proper relation to each other, but 

 without any trace of the skeleton, beaks, or claws of the 

 birds. It was difficult to explain how all these parts could 

 have disappeared without any destruction of the feathers. 

 These birds now rarely inhabit trees, but have adopted for 

 their residences the hospitable chimneys of man's dwellings. 

 Occasionally a Swallow Tree is found in the depths of the 

 forest. In the spring, before pairing, it is quite common 

 for two or three hundred chimney swallows to occupy tem- 

 porarily, a single chimney. The same takes place in the 

 autumn, before their southern migration. 



Dr. Kneeland read an extract from a letter from Manilla, 



