58 



the tibise of other species of Dinomis, are so inferior in degree le 

 those wliich I have ibund in closely allied genera, and even in dif- 

 ferent species of the šame genus, of otlier large land- and vvading- 

 birds, as e. g. in species of Ciconia, and in the existing Struthious 

 genera, as to leave a strong impression on my mind of the generic 

 affinity of the species which I have referred to Dinomis and Pala- 

 pteryx, and which species have been divided, with a more liberal 

 imposition of terms, by Dr. Reichenbach into the nominal genera 

 Anomalopferijx, Movia, Emeus, Syornis, &c., no additional facts or 

 characters being given by that nomenclator than are to be found in 

 the pages or platės of my own memoirs. 



The fibula of the Dinomis elephayitopus remains, as in other 

 Dinornithes, and as in the existing struthious genera, permanently 

 distinct from the tibia ; as a general rule in birds, it soon becomes 

 anchylosed to that bone. In the species now defined it is a straight 

 styliform bone, 14 inches 6 lines in length. The head is subcom- 

 pressed and produced, as if slightly bent backwards ; the upper arti- 

 cular surface is convex from before backwards, almost flat trans- 

 rersely. The head of the bone is flatteued on the inner side, almost 

 flat, but a little convex on the outer side. The fore-and-aft dimen- 

 sion is 2 inches 9 lines, the transverse diameter 1 inch 3 lines. Be- 

 low the head the bone assumes a trihedral fonn, with the sides 

 convex, gradually tapering, and blendiug into a shape elliptic in 

 transverse section, and ending in a point about 9 inches above the 

 ankle-joint. The outer surface of the shaft of the fibula is impressed 

 by two oblong rough surfaces for the iusertion of museles, the upper 

 one 2 inches 9 lines in length ; the inner part, which is ridge-like, 

 dividing the fore from the back surface of the bone, presents a rough 

 surface with a median interruption, for the ligamentous attachment 

 to the fibular ridge of the tibia. 



Dimensions of the Metatarse of B.gignn- D.robustus. D.elephan- d. crasms. 



teus. topus. 



In. Lines. 



Length 18 6 



Transverse breailth of proximal end ... 4 3 



Transverse breadth of (hstal end 5 4 



Least hreadth of shaft 2 3 



Fore-and-aft breadth of proximal end... 3 2 



Circuraference of ditto 12 O 



Least circuraference of shaft 6 3 



Breadth of middle trochlea 1 10 



Length of do. following the curve 5 9 



In. Lines. 



15 9 



4 6 



5 3 



2 O 



3 2 

 12 9 



5 3 



2 3 



5 4 



In. Lines. 



9 3 



4 5 



5 4 

 2 5 

 2 10 



12 O 



6 6 

 2 2 

 5 3 



I had hitherto regarded the metatarse of the Dinomis crassus 

 (Zoological Transactions, vol. iii. pi. 48, figs. 4 and 5), as presenting 

 the most extraordinary form and proportions of all the restored 

 species of huge wingless birds of New Zealaud ; but it is strikingly 

 surpassed in robustness and in great relative breadth and thickness 

 by the šame bone of the present species, which chiefly on that 

 account I have proposed to name elephantopus. Only in the great 

 Maccaws and Penguins do I know of a metatarse with similar pro- 

 portions to that of this most robust-legged of birds. But the Parrot 



