408 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON SOME LARGE [May 20, 



Taking it for granted that these cervical vertebrje are referable to 

 the same species as the limb-bones described above, they afford 

 conclusive evidence that the large Accipitrine bird of the Maltese 

 caves belonged to the genus Gyps and not to Vultur. 



The specimens described above afford therefore conclusive evidence 

 of the former existence in INIalta of a Vulture considerably larger 

 than any existing species, but apparently very closely allied in 

 osteological characters to the large Griffon Vulture of Southern 

 Europe. The existence of such a large raptorial bird in compauy 

 with the " Pigmy Elephant," of which the height is estimated at 

 three feet, is certainly suggestive that the old fable of the " Roc " 

 carrying off the Elephant may possibly have had a foundation in 

 fact. 



I observe that remains of a species of Gyps have been recently 

 described from volcanic deposits in Italy\ but these have not re- 

 ceived a distinct name. 



Grus melitensis, n. sp. 



The evidence showing the existence during the Pleistocene period 

 of a large species of Crane in the Maltese Islands is afforded by 

 certain specimens (represented in Plate XXXVI, figs. 2, 4 and 5) all 

 of which are portions of very characteristic bones. 



The specimen first represented (Plate XXXVI. fig. 4) is the prox- 

 imal half of the right coracoid, the entire right coracoid of Grus 

 cinerea being drawn for comparison (in fig. 3). The coracoid of a 

 Crane is a bone which cannot be mistaken for that of any other bird ; 

 the chief features of the proximal portion being the strongly-marked 

 crest extending on the ventral surface from the head (a) to join the 

 intermuscular ridge of the lower part of the bone, and the deep 

 channel, with a large pneumatic foramen, separating the body of the 

 bone from the subclavicular process (c). The elongated form of the 

 glenoidal surface, of which the lateral border is seen at b, is also 

 characteristic. Now in all these respects the fossil coracoid agrees 

 with the recent one, to which it also approximates very closely in size. 

 The head of the fossil coracoid is, however, smaller and relatively 

 narrower than in G. antigone, a character which affords a well-marked 

 distinction from that species. 



Equally characteristic is the distal extremity of the left tibio- 

 tarsus (represented in figs. 5, 5 a, 5 b, of Plate XXXVI.). This bone 

 in the Cranes (as is shown by that of G. antigone drawn in fig. 6) is 

 characterized by the wide anterior intercondylar interval, and by the 

 bony bridge (a) over the groove for the extensor tendons being sunk 

 below the level of the lateral borders of the bone and carrying a 

 low tubercle (6). A comparison of the figures will show such a 

 close resemblance between the recent and fossil bones as to leave no 

 doubt of the generic identity of their owners. The fossil is, however, 

 readily distinguished by the bridge over the extensor groove being 

 much shorter than in G. antigone ; a feature in which it resembles 



' R. Meli, Bull. Soc. Geol. Ital. vol. viii. p. 490 (f890). 



