316 DR. H. GADOW ON THE SPECIES OF RHEA. 



Measurements of the Limbs. 



[Mar. 17, 



The conclusions whicli might he drawn from the above tables are 

 few, and even these are not very reliable because of the different age 

 of the specimens examined, as is apparent from the various discre- 

 pancies between the two specimens oi Rh. darwini- Witli regard to 

 the hand, Rh. darwini possesses the longest, Rh. americana the 

 shorter, Rh. macrorhynclm the shortest hand ; and ifwecomhine 

 this result with the fact o^ Rh. americana having the longest humerus 

 in proportion to the other two species, we may fairly conclude that 

 the wing is least rudimentary in Rh. darwini, in spite of its whole 

 wing being surpassed in length by that of Rh. americana by about 

 .50 miUim. But of course- we must bear in mind that the reduction 

 begins at the distal end. 



Again, Rh. darwini possesses the longest, Rh. americana the 

 shortest hind limb in proportion ; the weakness of the wings of the 

 other species is therefore not compensated by a stronger develop- 

 ment of the hinder extremities. 



Concerning the toes, Rh. maerorhyncha agrees witli the female 

 specimen of Rh. darwini, l.'otli having. longer toes than Rh. americana, 

 whilst the male specimen of Rh. darwini, although not quite adult, 



