8 
less is it one of the bones of the ostrich, its three 
pulleys being separated from each other by distinct 
intervals; whereas the pulleys of the ostrich have 
only one such separation, constituting two distinct 
eminences. 
M. Geoftroy St. Hilaire considered himself justified, 
from these and other facts, in deciding this bone to 
belong to a bird of a new genus, to which he gives 
the name of Epyornis, from aixic, high, tall, and spre, 
bird ; and, as probably it is a specimen of the largest 
animal of the family, he affixes the specific name of 
maximus. 
The size of this bird, inferred from that of its egg, 
would be vastly superior to that of the ostrich. But 
if we notice the comparative size of the trochleated 
extremity of the tarso-metatarsal bone, we shall see 
that its height would be greatly exaggerated by adopt- 
ing such a basis for its establishment; in fact, it would 
not probably exceed a height double that of the ostrich. 
And, though it must have been superior to that of the 
Dinornis maximus of Prof. Owen, it might perhaps 
excel it only by the difference of two or three feet. A 
bird of twelve or thirteen feet in height would, how- 
ever, if we stood in its presence, appear enormous, and 
must have greatly astonished and terrified the natives 
of Madagascar. Whether it now exists is uncertain, 
