72 MR. W. YARRELL’S DESCRIPTION OF APTERYX AUSTRALIS. 
The specimen of the Apteryx, which formerly belonged to Dr. Shaw, and was sold 
after his death with his other effects, was purchased by Lord Stanley. Doubts having 
been thrown on the existence of such a specimen, it was sent by His Lordship for 
exhibition at the Zoological Society; and the materials with which it was stuffed 
having been previously removed, by his directions, the skin was exposed to a close 
examination. 
The figures of this bird in the ‘ Naturalist’s Miscellany’ being but little known, and 
those of some of the minor parts deficient in character, it has been considered that a 
second representation of the bird, and a more detailed description, might be acceptable 
to zoologists. 
The whole length of the bird from the point of the beak to. the end of the body 
(for there is no tail,) is 32 inches; the beak is of a light yellow brown colour, long, 
slender, smooth and polished, in form resembling that of an Ibis, but rather more 
straight and depressed at the base; length from the gape to the point 6 inches and 
three quarters ; the upper mandible is grooved on each outer side, near the margin, 
throughout its whole length; at the end of this groove on each side the nostrils are 
pierced, the apertures elongated, and covered by a membrane so suspended on the out- 
side of each of them like a valve, that the slightest pressure against the outer surface, 
when flexible, as during life, would render the nostrils impervious, and effectually defend 
and cover them. A bristle introduced into the nostril, under and behind this defending 
membrane, passes up the whole length of the beak. The upper mandible terminates in 
a blunt truncated knob, projecting a little downwards, behind which, on its under sur- 
face, the end of the lower mandible ranges when both are closed. The lower mandible 
is also grooved slightly near the outer edges throughout its whole length. Both man- 
dibles are broad and flat at the base, measuring full 1 inch across at the gape, and 
only 7 lines in height. The breadth of the upper mandible at the point is 2 lines, the 
under mandible still more narrow. 
Throughout the whole length of the upper mandible and the distal three fourths of 
the under one, the inner or opposed surfaces of both are perfectly flat, producing when 
pressed together uniform and entire contact, and well adapted for compressing or 
crushing such substances as may be selected for food. The proximal fourth of the lower 
mandible is concave on its inner surface, affording space for the tongue, which must, in 
proportion to the beak, be small and short. 
The form of the body in this preserved specimen is that of an elongated cone placed 
nearly upright over a pair of short and stout legs, and the bird is thus made to resemble 
a Penguin. In the plate annexed to the present description, the position and character 
assumed for it is that of the Struthious birds, in accordance with its real systematic re- 
lations. 
From the crown of the head to the lower end of the body, the length is 24 inches, 
