PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE GENUS DINORNIS. 327 



Indications that Dinornis incjens and Bin. dromioides belong to a distinct genus, cha- 

 racterized by a back-toe, for which the name of Palapteryx is proposed. 

 EstabHshment of the additional species — 



7. Dinornis crassus. 



8. — casuarinus. 



9. curtus. 



Evidence of weli-marked varieties of Dinornis gigas and Din. ingens, those of the 

 Middle Island presenting more robust proportions than those of the North Island of . 

 New Zealand. 



The three smaller species, Din. didiformis, Din. curtus and Din. otidiformis, have 

 hitherto been found only in the North Island ; the Din. crassus seems to have been 

 peculiar to the Middle Island ; the other species are common to both Islands ; but it 

 would be premature to enunciate any absolute propositions respecting tlie relations of 

 species to the two chief divisions of New Zealand in the present early period of the 

 inquiry into its extinct Fauna, whilst the evidences appear to exist in such vast abun- 

 dance and are likelv so richlv to reward the zeal of future collectors*. 



* The Rev. Mr. Taylor has favoured me, through Capt. Sir Everard Home, Bart.. R.N., with the following 

 note respecting the Dinornis and Apteryx of New Zealand : — 



" Whanganui, February 14th, 1844. 



" During a journey to Turakina last summer, I was led to the discovery of a large number of the Moa's 

 bones, by accidentally observing a small fragment of a large bone, which, from its extremely cellular structure, 

 led me at once to think it might belong to the Moa. I made tlie inquiry of a native, who not only confirmed 

 my conjecture, but in reply to the further inquiry, whether such bones were frequently found, told me to look 

 around, and see whether I could not perceive any others. Upon turning a little aside from the path, I noticed 

 several little hillocks formed of bones scattered over the valley ; I hastened to them, and so numerous were 

 they that a few minutes sufficed to fill my food-box with choice specimens, emptying out my provision for that 

 purpose, much to the astonishment of the natives, who could not imagine what was my object in loading them 

 with these dry bones : at last they concluded it must be for medicine. 



•• I found these bones at the mouth of the Whaingaihu, where the sand had drifted over the valley, and I 

 have no doubt there are still many similar heaps covered up by it ; each heap was composed of the bones of 

 several kinds of the Moa, as though their bodies had been eaten, and the bones of all thrown indiscriminately 

 together ; but such was the friable state they were in, that it was only the larger ones which would bear 

 removal ; the bones of the smaller kinds pulverized in the hand, and upon searching below the surface I found 

 the whole one jumbled mass of decomposed bone : the subsoil was a loamy marl, beneath which was a stratum 

 of clay, which chiefly forms the cliffs of this part of the western coast ; it contains numerous marine shells, and 

 very closely resembles the gault formation of the east coast of England. I have no doubt it was when that 

 loamy marl was the surface-soil that the Moa lived ; although by the river-side it is laid bare, in other parts it 

 is covered by several strata of marine and freshwater deposit. I have found the bones of the Moa in this stra- 

 tum not only in other parts of the western, but also on the eastern coast at the East Cape and at Poverty Bay, 

 from whence in 1839 I procured a toe of tliis bird ; but I have not heard of its being found north of Turakina. 



■' 1 have met with the remains of at least four varieties of the Apteryx family, of which it is highly probable 

 three kinds are still in existence ; the Kiwi, which is the smallest, being rather larger than the domestic cock, 

 the male bird having a claw at the termination of its embryo wings ; the Kakapo or Tarepo, which is about 

 VOL. III. PART IV. 2 Y 



