1894.] m THE BRITISH MXTSEirM. Ill 



It seems possible that these bones must be referred to ^. mul- 

 leri, a species recently named by Milne-Edwards and G-randidier (4), 

 but tUl a description and further measurements of the limb- 

 bones are published it is impossible to be certain. The tibio-tarsus 

 is, however, slightly smaller, and the tarso-metatarsus slightly 

 larger, than those of which the above-mentioned authors give the 

 dimensions. 



At first it appeared possible that these bones might be referred 

 to ^. medius, Milne-Edw. & Grand., since the femur on which 

 that species is founded is, like the bones in question, intermediate 

 in size between the femur ascribed to -^. maximus and that of 

 ^. hildebrandti. Closer examination, however, renders it evident 

 that the femur referred by Milne-Edwards and G-randidier to 

 ^. maximus is too large in proportion to the metatarsus on which 

 that species must be regarded as based, and that it pi'obably belongs 

 to the larger form described below under the name ^. titan. On 

 the other hand, the type of ^. medius agrees fairly well in relative 

 size with the other limb-bones of .^. maximus and may belong 

 to that species. If this is the case, then the name -^. medius 

 becomes a synonym, and, as was remarked above, the remains here 

 described must be referred to another species, possibly xE. mulleri. 



The phalangeal bone appears to be the first of the inner toe of 

 the left foot. It measures 5"1 cm. long; 2*7 cm. from side to 

 side and 2*4 cm. from above downwards at the proximal end ; 

 2*4 cm. from side to side and 1"7 cm. from above downwards at 

 the distal end. The proximal articular surface is slightly concave ; 

 its upper and outer borders are convex, the inner flat and the 

 lower concave. It is more compressed from above downwards 

 than the corresponding bone of Dinornis ; and its distal articular 

 surface, the groove of which does not extend on to the dorsal 

 surface, is rather wider in proportion to the length. The shortest 

 vertical diameter is 1"1 cm. 



Bemaitis of ^pyornis from the South-west Coast. 



The chief localities in which these were collected are Itampulu- 

 Ve, near Murderers' Bay, and Amboulisatra. 



All the bones present a very fresh appearance, and some have 

 evidently been rolled on the beach. At least three species are 

 represented, ranging in size from a form much larger than 

 JS. maximus to one which is probably identical with the ^. modestus 

 or the MuUerornis agilis of Milne-Edwards and Grandidier (4). 

 The specimens include more or less perfect femora, tibio-tarsi, 

 tarso-metatarsi, a fibula, several vertebrae, and a fragment of a 

 pelvis. 



In the collection from Itampulu-Ve occur some tibio-tarsi and 

 femora of gigantic proportions ; some of these have already been 

 briefly noticed in the ' G-eological Magazine,' January 1894, where 

 they are referred to a new species, ^pijornis titan. 



There are two specimens of the tibio-tarsus, right and left 



