316 DR. H. GADOW ON THE SPECIES OF RHEA. 



Measurements of the Limbs. 



[Mar. 17, 



The conclusions which might be drawn from the above tables are 

 few, and even these are not very reliable because of the different age 

 of the specimens examined, as is apparent from the various discre- 

 pancies between tbe two specimens of Rh. darwini- With regard to 

 the hand, Rh, darwini ftossesses the longest, Rli. americana the 

 shorter, Rh. macrorhnncha the shortest hand ; and if we combine 

 this result with the fact of Rh. americana having the longest humerus 

 in proportion to the other two species, we may faiily conclude that 

 the wing is least rudimentary in Rh. darwini, in spite of its whole 

 wing being surpassed in length by that of Rh. americana by about 

 .50 millim. But of course we must bear in mind that the reduction 

 begins at the distal end. 



Again, Rh. darwini possesses the longest, Rh. americana the 

 shortest hind limb in proportion ; the weakness of the wings of the 

 other species is tlierefore not compensated by a stronger develop- 

 ment of the hinder extremities. 



Concerning the toes, Rh. macrorhyncha agrees \vitl» the female 

 s\)ec\m^\\ of Rh. darwini, botli having longer toes than i2/«. americana, 

 whilst the male specimen of Rh. darwini, although not quite adult, 



