60 Zoological Society. 



affinities of the apparently extinct Dinornis, and also to distinguish 

 remains of five species of that genus. 



The bones of the foot, and especially the tarso-metatarsal bone, 

 established three distinct species, the largest of which the author 

 proposed to call Dinornis gicjanteus ; the next in point of size he 

 termed Din. struthioides, and the third Din. didiformis. The com- 

 mon generic characters of the tarso-metatarsi of these species were 

 first pointed out, and then their specific differences of proportion and 

 figure. The maturity of the different- sized bones indicating the 

 above species was demonstrated by reference to the long retention 

 of immature characters in the same bone of existing Struthionidce, 

 and by the fact of a tarso-metatarsal bone of a half-grown Dinornis 

 giganteus manifesting the same incomplete coalescence of its primi- 

 tively distinct elements ; showing that the Dinornis, like the Ostrich, 

 had a tardy ossification of the skeleton, as compared with birds of 

 flight. The tibise were next described ; one of these, belonging to a 

 mature bird, established a species smaller than the Din. didiformis, 

 and which, from its similarity of stature to the great Bustard {Otis 

 tarda), Prof. Owen proposed to call Dinornis otidiformis. The 

 largest tibia, belonging to the Din. giganteus, presented the extra- 

 ordinary dimensions of two feet eleven inches. The shaft of a 

 smaller tibia, about two feet long when entire, was referred to the 

 Din. struthioides, and there were four entire tibise of the Din. didi- 

 formis. In the series of femora, after the description of the generic 

 characters of the bone, the specimens were pointed out which be- 

 longed to the Dinornithes giganteus, struthioides, didiformis, and oti- 

 diformis, and two other entire femora were described and their di- 

 stinctive characters shown, which indicated, unequivocally in the 

 author's opinion, a fifth species of Dinornis, of the size of the Emeu, 

 and which was, therefore, named Din. dromceoides. 



Three pelves, more or less perfect, and portions of two others, 

 were described, and were referred to the Din. giganteus, dromceoides, 

 and didiformis . Three cervical and two dorsal vertebrae also indi- 

 cated three distinct species of Dinornis, and all of them presented 

 the common character of unusual strength of the spinous and trans- 

 verse processes. Comparative dimensions of most of the bones ex- 

 hibited were given. No part of the skull, sternum, ribs or wing- 

 bones had been transmitted, but Prof. Owen proceeded to point out 

 the i)liysiological grounds for concluding that the development of 

 the anterior extremities must have presented in the Dinornis an in- 

 termediate condition between that in the Emeu and that in the 

 Apteryx. 



The author then gave his calculations, from the analogies of 

 existing Struthious birds, of the height of the different species of 

 Dinornis. The largest. Din. giganteus, according to the proportions 

 of the Ostrich, must have stood ten feet five inches, but according 

 to those of the Cassowary, nine feet five inches ; its average stature 

 might be taken at ten feet. A diagram of the great extinct bird, 

 restored according to these proportions, was exhibited. 



The Dinornis struthioides was seven feet high, which is the average 

 stature of the Struthio Camehis. 



