PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE GENUS DINORNIS. 347 



and of Dinornis giganteus the right and left fibulre, the proximal end of a left tibia, and 

 both proximal and distal ends of a right tibia of apparently the same bird. In one of 

 the specimens, which is nearly full-sized, the distal epiphysis of the tibia is ununited. 



Of the numerous series of vertebrse (250 in number) seven were referable to Dinornis 

 giganteus, four to Palapteryx ingens, eighteen to Dinornis camarinus, together with 

 twelve others, forming a continuous series of the neck-bones, corresponding with the 

 vertebrtc referred to Palapteryx ingens in my former Memoir'. 



There are still more complete series of cervical and dorsal vertebrae referable by their 

 size to Dinornis didiformis, Din. curtus, Palapteryx gerano'ides, and to the species indi- 

 cated in the Memoir of 1843 as Dinornis otidiformis. 



There are, also, sixteen more or less perfect pelves, referable to at least five species, 

 together with numerous ribs and fragments of ribs. 



Amongst the rarer and more instructive parts of this collection are some portions of 

 a sternum of a small species of Dinornis or Palapteryx, and two nearly entire sternums 

 of the new genus Notornis, which belongs to the same family (Rallidee) as the rare 

 Brachypteryx or short-winged Rail of New Zealand. 



There are not fewer than 190 phalanges of the toes referable to five or six species of 

 Dinornis, Palapteryx and Notornis ; and there are eight tarso-metatarsal bones, with 

 the articular surface for a very strong hind-toe, and of a conformation more nearly 

 resembling those of the Dodo than those of the Dinornis or Palapteryx, but shorter 

 and thicker in proportion than in the Dodo, and appertaining to the same bird as the 

 tibijE and femora described in my Memoir of 1843 under the name of 'Dinornis 

 otidiformis.' The proximal articulation of this remarkable form of tarso-metatarsal 

 exactly fits the distal end of the tibia figured in pi. 2G. fig. 5. vol. iii.; and also that of 

 a corresponding fractured tibia in Mr. Mantell's collection, which also contains the 

 proximal end of another tibia, a fibula, an entire femur and distal ends of two other 

 femora of the same species. 



The large surface for the hind-toe ; the strong calcaneal process, perforated by a 

 complete bony canal for the tendon at the back part of the proximal end of the tarso- 

 metatarsal ; the perforation above the interspace between the condyles for the middle 

 and outer toes ; and the more posterior position of the condyle for the inner toe, — 

 all concur to indicate the generic distinction of the bird to which it belonged from 

 either Dinornis or Palapteryx ; and I propose to indicate the new genus by the name of 

 Aptornis^. The present species, Aptornis otidiformis, resembles the Apteryx in the 

 shortness of the metatarsal as compared with the length of the tibia. Amongst all 

 this collection there is but one bone of a wing— a humerus— which bears the same 

 proportion to the femur referred to Notornis Mantelli, which the humerus of the little 

 existing Brachypteryx does to its femur. 



' (Part II.) p. 314. pi. 40. figs. 1 & 3. 



« By syncope for ' Aptcrjgiornis," from a priv., rripv^ wing, opyts bird. 



3 B 2 



