1873.] DR. J. HECTOR ON CNEMIORNIS CALCITRANT. 769 



Metacarpus. 



The metacarpal is made up of the first and second digits, which 

 are completely fused at both extremities, leaving a narrow interspace 

 for less than half the length of the bone. It resembles closely 

 the corresponding bone in the Weka (Ocydromus), and bears about 

 the same proportion as in that bird to the length of the humerus, 

 being about two fifths of the length of that bone. 



I should state that this bone has been found in several instances 

 by Dr. Haast associated with fragments of a similar humerus, and 

 rightly assigned by him to Cnemiornis. A fragmentary skull in the 

 Colonial Museum, in which the posterior and nasal portions are 

 wanting, found by Mr. Murison in Otago, must also be referred to 

 this species. 



As the leg-bones of this bird are not unfrequent in collections, 

 especially from the most recent tertiary and cave-deposits from the 

 interior of Otago, this bird must have been of common occurrence ; 

 and the foregoing details afford conclusive evidence that it was a 

 gigantic bird, probably of similar habits to the Cape Barren Goose 

 of Australia (Cereopsis novce hollandite), but in which the power of 

 flight had become obsolete. 



Judging from the size of the pelvis, ribs, and sternum, the bulk 

 of the body of this bird must have greatly exceeded in proportion 

 anv of its existing congeners, whilst its lower extremities were not 

 less remarkable for their massive development. The height of its 

 back above the ground probably exceeded 2 feet ; and the length of 

 its body from beak to tail must have been at least 3 feet. Mr. Man- 

 tell informs me that there is a traditional bird among the southern 

 Maories answering to this description, named by them " Powhangai." 



Table of Admeasurements. 



Skull. in. li. 



Total length 4 5 



Breadth (across paroccipitals) 2 



„ ( „ postfrontals) 2 



,, ( „ temporal fossa) 1 5 



„ (middle of upper mandible) 1 5 



„ (tip of upper mandible) 1 



Length from condyle to prsesphenoid 2 1 



„ of palatines 1 4 



,, of praemaxillae 1 5 



„ from nostril to tip of beak ... 1 



„ of nasal aperture 8 



Width of „ „ 4 



„ of internasal septum 4 



Occipital tuberosity to postnasal suture, following the 



curve 2 6" 



Occipital tuberosity to external basilar process .... 1 6 



Length of vertical basilar area 3 



„ of horizontal basilar area 5 



Width of horizontal basilar area .... 1 3 



Proc. Zool. Soc— 1873, No. XLfX. 4<) 



