Bevieivs — Prof. F. W. Hutton — -On the Dinornithida\ 125 

 12, E ^V I IB -^AT- S. 



I. — Classification of the Moas (Dinoknithid^) of New Zealand, 



WE have received from Prof. F. W. Hutton, F.G.S., an abstract of 

 a paper read by him at the Canterbury Philosophical Institute 

 on Oct. 1st, 1891, in which the classification of the extinct flightless 

 birds of New Zealand is discussed. Mr. Lydekker having recently 

 treated the subject at length in the British Museum Catalogue of 

 Fossil Birds, from an examination of the material now in the 

 Museums of London, Capt. Mutton's work is especially opportune ; 

 and it is to be hoped that before the printing of this memoir, based 

 upon the unrivalled specimens in the New Zealand Museums, tha 

 author will have the opportunity of incorporating the results of his 

 British co-labourer. Both Mr. Lydekker and Capt. Hutton recog- 

 nize several new specific types, and it is especially desirable that 

 the forms just determined by Mr. Lydekker should not be re-named 

 in the forthcoming work. 



Captain Hutton regards the known Dinornithidce as divisible into 

 seven genera and twenty-six species. " The genera are founded 

 chiefly on the skulls, but also have characters derived from the 

 sternum, pelvis, and the robustness of the leg-bones. The species 

 are distinguished almost entirely by size, but sometimes characters 

 derived from the skull can be given. In many cases the species run 

 one into the other, and the lines between them are drawn so as to 

 give about an equal range in variation to each species." 

 The generic diagnoses are as follows ; — 



Genus Dinornis. Skull depressed, the lambdoidal ridge flattened and the 

 parietals hardly rising above it ; the breadth at the squamosals greater than 

 the length from the supra-occipital to the nasals. Beak rather longer than 

 the head, depressed and obtuse at the tip ; the lower jaw much curved. A 

 scapulo-coracoid without any glenoid cavity. Including sub-genus Dinornis 

 (" Top of head flattened ") with s^Kiies alttis, maximus, giganteus, rohustus, 

 ingens, and four new species; also sub-genus Tylopteryx ("Top of head 

 elevated ") with species gracilis, stricthioides, and one new form. 

 Genus Palapteryx. Skull depressed ; the breadth of the squamosals less than 

 the length from the supra- occipital to the nasals. Beak about as long as the 

 head, more compressed than in Dinornis ; the lower jaw nearly straight. 

 A scapulo-coracoid with a glenoid cavity and probably a wing. Including- 

 P. dromioides and one new species. 

 Genus Anomalopteryx. Skull very convex, the maxillo-jugals curved. Beak 

 short, slightly compressed and rounded at the top ; the lower jaw strong and 

 nearly straight. A small scapulo-coracoid. Including A. didifo)-mis ( = A. 

 parvus), and one new species. 

 Genus Cela. Skull convex. Beak short, slightly compressed and rounded at the 

 tip ; the lower jaw nearly straight and rather slighter than mAnomaloptergx. 

 No scapulo-coracoid. Including C. geranoides and G. curtus {= Dinornis 

 Oweni, Haast). 

 Genus Mesopteryx. Skull convex, angled behind. Beak shorter than the head, 

 moderately curved, much compressed and pointed at the tip ; the lower jaw 

 slender. No scapulo-coracoid. Including if. didinus {= Dinornis Huttoni). 

 Genus Syornis. Skull convex, rounded behind. Beak shorter than the head, 

 moderately curved, much compressed and pointed at the tip ; lower jaw 

 strong. No scapulo-coracoid. Including S. rheides, crassus, and easuarinus. 

 Genus Euryapteryx. Skull moderately convex. Beak very short and stout, 

 slightly compressed and rounded at the tip ; the lower jaw moderately curved. 

 No scapulo-coracoid. Including E. elephantopus and H. gravis, with two 

 new species. 



