410 ON SOME LARGE EXTINCT BIRDS FROM MALTA. [May 20, 



aspect by the outer trochlea which are features absolutely charac- 

 teristic of the family to which the genus Ci/gnus belongs. The 

 figured phalangeal of the extinct species has a length of 0,046, with 

 an antero-posterior diameter of the proximal articular surface of 

 0,017 ; the corresponding dimensions in tlie homologous bone of O. 

 olor being 0,060 and 0,014. The lateral phalangeals of the proximal 

 row have similar proportions. Thus in the second digit the proximal 

 phalangeal has a lengtli of 0,0.37 against 0,048 in C. olor; while in 

 the fourth digit the lengths are respectively 0,045 and 0,061. 



Fig. 3. 



Anterior and distal aspects of tlie first phalangeal of the third digit of the right 

 pes of C'l/gnus falconeri (A) and C. olor (B). \. 



A second phalangeal of the third digit exhibits the peculiar oblique 

 proximal articular surface characteristic of the A/iaiidcE, so that its 

 reference to the present form is undoubted. It has a length of 

 0,025 against 0,043 in the corresponding bone of C. olor. 



This remarkable shortness and stoutness of the phalangeals of the 

 pes in Cygniis falconeri leaves no doubt as to its distinctness from 

 all other species. The diflfereuce is indeed sufficiently great to afford 

 grounds for generic separation ; but since the multiplication of generic 

 terms is to be avoided as much as possible I prefer to let the species 

 remain in the genus to which it was referred by its original describer, 

 who remarks that in the shortness of its toes and the length of its 

 legs this species seems to connect the modern Swans with the 

 Geese. 



