soind 
IV. Oa Drnornts (Part V.): containing a Description of the Skull and Beak of a large 
species of Dinornis, of the Cranium of an immature specimen of Dinornis giganteus (?), 
and of Crania of species of Patapreryx. By Professor Owen, F.R.S., F.Z.S. &c. 
Read November 12, 1850. 
IN a former memoir on the cranial organization of the wingless birds of New 
Zealand’, I pointed out four distinct generic types of that part of the skeleton :—one 
referable to an existing genus of Parrot (Nestor), peculiar to New Zealand; a second 
to a bird most nearly allied to the Purple Coots, but of a distinct genus (Notornis), 
represented by a species about the size of a goose: the other two types belonged to 
much larger birds; one, from its nearer approach to the Apteryx and Emeu, I referred 
to the genus Palapteryz ; the other, which was different in the structure of the back part 
of the cranium and in the greater extent of the ossified portion of the bill, I referred to 
Dinornis proper. 
I have now the pleasure to submit to the notice of the Society a still larger and more 
complete skull than any previously described, which in the greater extent of its ossified 
and deflected upper mandible approaches the Dinornis and deviates from the Palapteryz, 
but in the structure of the back and under part of the cranium more resembles the 
type referred to Palapteryz. In regard to its size, as compared with that cranium 
described and figured in vol. iii. pl. 38, and referred to the Dinornis struthioides, the 
present cranium would, at least, merit reference by its size to the species called ingens, 
the second in point of stature of those that have hitherto been found in the North Island 
of New Zealand. 
_ The circumstances under which this at present unique specimen came into my hands 
are as follows :— 
In March 1850 I was favoured by a letter from His Excellency Sir George Grey, 
Governor-in-Chief of New Zealand, dated Auckland, November 29th, 1849, informing 
me that he had been ‘“‘ able to procure a number of bones of birds, which were found 
in a cave in the district which lies between the River Waikate and Mount Tongariro: ” 
and intimating his liberal intention of transmitting them to me. They arrived soon 
after: and in this collection, which included remains of various species of Dinornis and 
Palapteryx, and the cranium of a Notornis, I had the extreme pleasure to find, with 
several smaller crania, the remarkably fine specimen, with the bone of the upper man- 
dible, which forms the subject of Pl. XXIII. of the present memoir. The following are 
some of the dimensions of this cranium :— 
! Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. iii. p. 645. 
VOL. 1V.— PART II. ; L 
