372 PROFESSOR OWEN ON THE GENUS DINORNIS. 



form, its seeming solidity, pierced by small subcircular nostrils (n) close to its base, and 

 impressed by the transverse articular fossae behind the palatine plate of the premaxillaries 

 for the true palatine bones, attests the family character ; whilst the proportional length 

 as compared with the depth, the narrow upper surface to where it suddenly expands 

 above the nostrils to join the cranium, the oblique depression on the outer surface of the 

 beak leading to the external nostril, the very narrow elongated triangular palatal surface, 

 with the median linear notch at its base, — all demonstrate that in this characteristic part 

 of the skull, the New Zealand bird represented by it most resembled the genus Nestor, 

 a singular nocturnal Parrot, at present only known. as a denizen of that island ; where 

 it is represented by species not inferior in size to the one indicated by the bony portion 

 of the upper beak. By the kindness of Mr. Gould I am enabled to give figures of the 

 upper mandible (figs. 14, 15, 16) of the Nestor hypopolius. 



Thus then it appears that the indications in my former Memoir (Part II.) of two 

 genera with several species of terrestrial birds of large or gigantic size afforded by bones 

 of the legs, discovered in New Zealand, is most fully and satisfactorily confirmed by the 

 evidence of the subsequently received bones of the head and beak. 



The form and structure of these characteristic parts in one of the specimens are so 



peculiar, that I am at present unable to refer the genus to any known natural family of 



birds. If I am correct in associating this form of head and beak (P1..LII.) with those 



bones of the leg referred to the genus Dinornis as at present restricted, that genus, indeed, 



may be referred to the section of Cuvier's Gralla which the great Naturalist has called 



' Brevipennes,' but which Vigors has sunk to a mere family of GallincE, which he called 



Struthionidee, and which lUiger made the type of his distinct order Cursores : but the 



reference to that section or order must be understood to be made only by reason of the 



extraordinary development of the legs and the very restricted development of the wings, 



of the Dinornis : for neither the proportions of the metatarsi, the form of the pelvis, nor 



that of the beak as represented by the skull first described in the present Memoir, would 



indicate any very close or natural affinity with the existing brevipennate or struthious 



birds. With these the Dinornis, like the Apteryx, the Brachypteryx and the Dodo, 



agrees in the strength of leg and the weakness of wing, with the total abrogation of the 



power of flight : but these are by no means the characters of a natural order or family. 



As regards the Apteryx, I have before shown that its elongated Ibis-like beak is 



essentially a modification of the struthious structure of that part, and both sternum and 



pelvis, as well as certain parts of its internal anatomy', concur in manifesting its true 



struthious affinities. 



With respect to the Dodo, the idea entertained by Dr. Reinhardt^ and by Mr. 



' Zool. Trans, ii. p. 296. 



• In a letter to Professor Sundevall, written, aa the Doctor informs me, during the circumnavigatory voyage 

 from whinh he has lately returned. 



