690 



PaOF. OWEN ON THE STERNUM OF NOTORNIS. [NoT. 28, 



the Rallines here compared, that as the wings decrease and the legs 

 increase in size the sternum becomes shorter in proportion to the 

 femur, I am inchned to believe that the smaller sternum (pi; 4. 

 figs. 5-8) has belonged to Aptornis otidiformis rather than to 

 Notornis. This view derives further support from the fact that, 

 with the decreasing relative size to the femur, there is a progressive 

 simplification of the sternum in the recent Rallines (Tribonyx, Ocy- 

 dromus), by which the still more simple type of the bone in Aptornis 

 defossor is approached" ^ 



Aground for excuse in reproducing this passage is the notice above 



Fig. 1. 



Sternum oi Notornis mantelli, under surface; nat. size. 



cited in the Society's ' Proceedings' in relation to the subjects of 

 Prof. Parker's memoir. 



In this there is no concurrence with the accomplished Cambridge 

 Professor as to "the total difference of form of the sternum of 

 Notornis from that of Aptornis ; " and the divergence is not only 

 " zoological " as regards the " form," " family," or " genus " of bird's 

 which Notornis most resembles, but is "critical" in relation to the 

 earlier author and his contributions on the subject. 



As to the history, Professor Parker writes : — " The genus Notornis 



Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. viii. 1871, p. 120. 



