1890.] EXTINCT BIRDS FROM MALTA. 409 



G. aitstraUaca\ The transverse diameter of the fossil bone is 

 0,025, against 0,0255 in G. antigone. 



The imperfect distal extremity of a left tarso-metatarsus (repre- 

 sented in Plate XXXVI. figs. 2, 2 a, as being considerably larger 

 than the corresponding bone of G. antigone, fig. 1) indicates a 

 Crane larger than the individuals to which the preceding specimens 

 belonged, although not necessarily specitically distinct. It exhibits 

 the relative shortness and backward position of the trochlea for the 

 second digit characteristic of the Cranes. Its greatest transverse 

 diameter is 0,032, compared with 0,026 in G. antigone. 



Taking the coracoid and tibia alone into consideration these bones 

 indicate the specific distinctness of the Maltese Crane from G. anti- 

 gone, and therefore from the smaller G. communis; and its distinction 

 from G. australiaca (the coracoid of which I have not had an 

 opportunity of examining) may be regarded as pretty certain. 

 Several species of fossil Cranes have been described. Of these the 

 so-called G. primigenia, from the caverns of the Dordogne, agrees 

 with G. antigone in the length of the bridge over the extensor groove 

 of the tibia", and I believe that both this form and the Italian 

 G. turfa, Portis, are indistinguishable from G. antigone. The geo- 

 logical horizon of G. excelsa, from the Lower Miocene of AUier, in 

 which the tibial bridge is short ^ is alone sufficient to indicate that 

 the present form is in all probability distinct from that species. 

 With G. pentelici, of the Lower Pliocene of Greece, the present 

 specimens do not admit of comparison. 



Under these circumstances I propose to regard the Maltese Crane 

 as belonging to a new species, for which the name G. melitensis may 

 be adopted. It may be defined as agreeing typically in size with G. 

 antigone, but distinguished by the smaller and narrower head of the 

 coracoid, and the shorter bridge over the extensor groove of the 

 tibio-tarsus. If the above-mentioned tarso-metatarsus also belonged 

 to it, some individuals of G. melitensis will have considerably ex- 

 ceeded the dimensions attained by G. antigone. 



CyGNUS FALCONER!. 



The specimens of this species to which I desire to draw attention 

 are the phalangeals to which allusion has been already made, and 

 one of which has been figured by Prof. Parker in the ' Trans. Zool. 

 Soc' vol. vi. pi. XXX. figs. 20-23. Of these bones the Museum 

 possesses ten examples. In their stoutness and shortness these 

 bones are so utterly different from the phalangeals of existing 

 Swans that it is at first sight difficult to believe that they belonged 

 to a kindred bird. Closer examination shows, however, that the first 

 phalangeals of the third digit (fig. 3, A, p. 410) agree in the form of 

 their proximal articular surface with the corresponding bone of Color 

 (fig. 3, B, p. 410) ; while the distal articulation of this bone has the 

 peculiar obliquity and the prominent ridge formed on the posterior 



^ See Milne-Edwards, ' Oiseaiix Fossiles de la France,' pi. Ixxiii. fig. 5. 

 ^ See Milne-Edwards, op. cit. pi. Ixxvi. fig. 8. ^ Ibid. pi. Ixxv. fig. 5. 



