ROOM II. FOSSIL EGG-SHELLS OF MOA. 121 



with the enormously developed occipital region, and adze- 

 like upper mandible delineated in Lign. 26, and which devi- 

 ates so remarkably from all known ornithic forms, the name 

 Dinornis was transferred to this type, and the former cra- 

 nium was assigned to the new genus named Palapteryx. 



The bones of the hinder extremities referred to this genus 

 are characterised by their nearer approach to those of the 

 Apteryx, than is preserved by the analogous parts in Dinornis. 

 The tarso-metarsals, which belonged to a colossal tetradactyle, 

 or four-toed bird, as shown by a posterior articular depression 

 for connexion with a hind toe, are ascribed to Palapteryx ; 

 only one metatarsal of a fourth toe has been observed among 

 the many hundred specimens of bones of the feet that have 

 been collected. Until other series of bones are found collo- 

 cated in their natural positions or relations, like those of the 

 pair of feet of D. robustus (ante p. 116), the ascription of 

 isolated bones to definite species, and the restoration of thoir 

 several members, however skilful the adaptation, must be 

 received with due caution and regarded only as provisional. 

 In many instances, Prof. Owen's application of the Cuvierian 

 principles of correlation of structure, has, however, been sig- 

 nally successful, and warrants full confidence in his general 

 deductions. 



Bones of the wings. Notwithstanding the great number of 

 bones of the hinder extremities and of other parts of the 

 skeleton that have been sent to England, one fragment only, 

 of the humerus, has been detected, that could have belonged 

 to any of the large struthious birds of New Zealand ; it is sup- 

 posed to be referable to a species of Palapteryx, and indicates 

 as rudimentary a condition of the wing as in the living 

 species of Apteryx. 



FOSSIL EGG-SHELLS OF THE MOA. Table-Case 16. In the 

 deposit of menaccanite-sand at Waingongoro, so rich in the 

 osseous remains of the extinct birds of New Zealand, Mr. Walter 

 Mantell discovered the only vestiges of eggs hitherto obtained. 

 They are small fragments ; the largest specimen is four inches 

 long and two wide, and the chord it describes shows it to be 

 part of an egg very much larger than that of the ostrich. 

 These precious relics are relatively thin, of a pale cream 

 colour, and of three distinct types. In one species the ex- 

 ternal surface is smooth ; in another, the surface approaches 



