CHAP, xvm.] BIRDS. 3C9 



main-land of Australia (Plate XIT. Vol. I. p. 441). Casuarivs 

 (9 sp.) inhabits the islands from Ceram to New Britain, with 

 one species in North Australia ; it is most abundant in the 

 Papuan Islands. 



Family 128.— APTEPtYGTD^.. (1 Genus, 4 Species.) 



Genkual l)ih.Ti;iiiuiiux. 



Nkockopiual 



SUB-UEtjilONS. 



Nkarctic 



Suii-UEGION'.S. 



Pal.bauctic 

 Sub-hegions. 



Ethiopian 

 sub-uegio.ss. 



Oriental i Alsikalias 

 Sub-regions. Slb-ri3i;ions. 



Tlie species of Apteryx are entirely confined to the two larger 

 islands of New Zealand. They are supposed to have some 

 remote affinity witli Oci/dromus, a genus of Kails peculiar to 

 Australia and New Zealand ; but they undoubtedly form one of 

 the most remarkable groups of living birds (Plate XIII. Vol. I. 

 p. 445). 



Struthious Birds recently extind. 



A number of sub-fossil remains of birds, mostly large and 

 some of gigantic size, having affinities to the Aptcrij.c and, less 

 closely, to the Cassowaries, have been discovered in New 

 Zealand. These are all classed by Professor Owen in the 

 genus Binornis and family Dinoi^nithidcc ; but Dr. Haast, from 

 the study of the rich collections in the Canterbury (New 

 Zealand) Museum, is convinced that tliey belong to two distinct 

 families and several genera. His arrangement is as follows, 

 (See Ibis, 1874, p. 209). 



Family 129.— DINOKNITHID/E. (2 Genera, 7 Species.) 



Dinornis (5 sp.) ; Meionornis (2 sp.). 



These had no hind toe, and include the largest species. Pro- 

 fessor Newton thinks that they were absolutely wingless, being 

 the only birds in which the fore limbs are entirely wanting. 



VOL. II. B B 



