360 HISTORICAL PALAEONTOLOGY. 



which fly. The largest species is the Dinornis giganteus, one 

 of the most gigantic of living or fossil birds, the shank (tibia) 

 measuring a yard in length, and the total height being at least 

 ten feet. Another species, the Dinornis elephant opus (fig. 257), 

 though not standing more than about six feet in height, was 

 of an even more ponderous construction " the framework 



Fig. 257. Skeleton of Dinornis elephantopus, greatly reduced. Post-Pliocene, 

 New Zealand. (After Owen.) 



of the skeleton being the most massive of any in the whole 

 class of Birds," whilst " the toe-bones almost rival those of the 

 Elephant" (Owen). The feet in Dinornis were furnished with 

 three toes, and are of interest as presenting us with an un- 

 doubted Bird big enough to produce the largest of the foot- 

 prints of the Triassic Sandstones of Connecticut. New Zea- 



