1899.] TEMPERATUBE OP THE RATITE BIRDS. 789 



of the three specimens now in the Gardens, and I wish to place 

 on record in the ' Proceedings ' of the Society that the Apteryx 

 is the lowest in temperature of all birds, so far as yet has been 

 recorded. 



The following were the rectal readings : — 



Mantell's Apteryx, male, 37°-4. 



„ „ young male, 38°'2. 



Haast's Apteryx, male, 38°"1. 



The average is 37°-9 C. (100°-2 P.). 



Next to the Apteryx in rank comes the Order Casuarii, com- 

 prising the Emus and the Cassowaries. Of the former I secured 

 the temperature some years ago in Melbourne, through the 

 kind assistance of my friend Mr. Ernest Le Souef. The two 

 specimens on which observations were made stood at almost the 

 same level, 39° C. (102°"2 E.), I was very anxious to see how the 

 temperature of the Cassowaries compared with this. The Hon. 

 Walter Eothschild very readily and cordially granted me permis- 

 sion to make observations on three specimens which belong to 

 him in the Society's Gardens. The largest (Casuarias intensus), 

 a species, I believe, newly named by Mr. Eothschild, showed a 

 temperature of 38°-8 C. The bird of medium size (C. heccarii) was 

 at 39°*2 C. ; and the smallest, the specific name of which, on 

 account of its immaturity, had not been determined, indicated 39*^. 

 The average of the three was 39° C. (102°-2 E.), which is identical 

 with that of the Emu. 



Eor the Order which stands next (Struthiones), observations are 

 as yet wanting, except two on the Ostrich, which are inconsistent 

 and, as I think, not to be relied on. 



But I have been more interested in going a step higher, out of 

 the sub-class of the Eatitae into the great sub-class of birds in 

 general, called by Huxley the Carinatse. The lowest order of the 

 Carinatse consists of the Crypturi, for which there existed no 

 temperature records. By the courtesy of Mr. Bartlett, I was able 

 to make observations on those in the Gardens and found a very 

 decided step in advance. 



Eufous Tinamou. 40°-8 C. 



Spotted Tinamou. 39°-2 C. 



„ „ Another specimen. 41°"3 C. 



„ „ Third specimen. 41°-1 C. 



These give an average of 40°*6 C. (105^ E.), which brings them 

 up to the lower limit of the range of temperatures usual for 

 Anseres, Grallse, and Gallinse. Eor instance, in the case of fowls, 

 I found that, over a long series of observation, their temperature, 

 when they were lifted quietly off their perches by night, was on 

 the average just at that level, 40°' 6 C, but when lifted by day from 

 the nests whereon they sat brooding their temperature averaged 

 41°-7 C. (107°E.). 



There is another decided advance when we cross over among 

 Proc. Zool. Soc,— 1899, No. LI, 51 



