818 SLUDIES FOR SERODENTLS 
The divisions Ratite and Carinate are assigned different 
values by the various writers on the subject, some considering 
them as orders and the other groups of the birds suborders, 
while others regard them as divisions of their class and all the 
other groups as orders. Probably the latter has the greatest 
following among zodlogists. It will be possible here to consider 
only those groups that are of importance in geological history. 
Aipyormthes: extinct, gigantic birds represented by fossils 
from the post-Pleistocene of the island of Madagascar. They 
resembled the living Apteryx of New Zealand. £fyornts is the 
most typical genus. It was of great size, the long bone of the 
leg, tibio-tarsus, was about two feet and a half long. In general 
form the members of this and the succeeding order resembled 
the modern ostriches. 
Lmmanes.—The ‘‘Moas”’ or Dinormthide, were gigantic forms 
that existed as late as historical time, they were hunted by the 
natives of the island of New Zealand, where they were developed. 
They are not known from formations earlier than the Pleistocene, 
with the possible exception of a few fragments from what may 
be the Pliocene. They closely resemble the living Apzeryz, and 
are sometimes grouped with it and the Emus and Cassowaries in 
an order Megistanes. 
’ 
Dinornis is the best known of the genera; the scapular arch 
was almost entirely atrophied and the sternum was entirely 
without a keel; the hind legs were very stout and strong; the 
largest known species stood a little over ten feet high. 
Pachyornis was remarkable for the massive nature of the hind 
limbs ; as a whole the animal was smaller than the Dznornizs. 
Most of the existing Ratite birds are known from the superficial 
deposits of the countries where they are now found ; an extinct 
Emu is known from the eastern part of Australia; remains of 
Rheas are found in South America and the Ostriches are repre- 
sented by remains from the Siwalik Hills of India and from the 
Island of Samos in the Mediterranean. : 
Carinate.—Next to the Archeopteryx, probably the most 
interesting group of birds that is known are the peculiar toothed 
