1885.] MR. E. T. NEWTON ON A GIGANTIC KOCENE BIRD. 415 



diminutive uterus can be made out, and in this case the calf most 

 resembles a cow-calf. Between these two extremes there is every 

 gradation and variation. Similar cases occur in fishes, reptiles, 

 amphibians, birds, &c. I have seen many cases, and numberless 

 instances have been recorded out of curiosity. 



These cases show most conclusively how impossible it is for both 

 sets of reproductive organs to attain a functional condition in the 

 same individual. Hypertrophy of one set must arise and establish 

 pre-eminence over the other. 



The facts on which the argument rests, that hypertrophy is one 

 of the causes of division of sexes, may be summarized as follows: — 



(1) In the lowest forms of animal life, hermaphroditism is the 

 prevailing condition. 



(2) Cross-fertilization in hermaphrodites is the rule, and may, as 

 in some of the Myzostoniata, lead to a division into sexes within the 

 limits of a single group. 



(3) Sporadic cases of hermaphroditism are far more common in 

 the lowest forms of life. 



(4) If in mammals both sets of organs grow concurrently, the 

 individual is sterile. 



(.t) Jioth sets of organs grow equally to a definite period in em- 

 bryonic life. 



(6) Reproduction in Vertebrata, so far as is known, is impossible 

 unless hypertrophy of one set of organs occur. 



In conclusion let me point out, that my object in writing this 

 paper is to endeavour to substantiate tiie doctrine that pathological 

 processes do not exist per se, liut that in all c;ises they are to be 

 regarded as physiological processes in excess- I trust the view 

 has been clearly expressed so far as concerns the very important 

 piocess, hypertrophy. 



Lastly, let me emphasize my meaning, that in many cases where 

 organs or sets of organs have undergone hypertrophy to such a 

 degree that pathologists would regard them as abnormal, these 

 exceptional conditions have been inherited, and in this sense palho- 

 lugy may be assumed to have played a part among the ordinary 

 processes of evolution in producing race peculiarities. 



3. On tlie Remains of a Gigantic Species of Bird from 

 Lower-Eocene Beds near Croydon, By E. T. Newton. 



[Abstract. 1] 



This paper describes certain bones of a large size obtained by Mr. 

 H. M. Klaassen from the Lower-Eocene strata near Croydon, which 

 are referable to a bird as large and heavy in build as the extinct 

 Dinornis crassus of New Zealand. 



After a detailed account of each of the specimens, which include 

 parts of three or four tibio-tarsi, and a femur, they are compared 



^ This paper will be published entire in the Society's ' Transactions.' 



