52 ME. T. ALLIS ON THE SKELETON OE A DINOENIS. 



of its ribs attached by cartilage, the other detached ; the next 

 two have ribs anchylosed to them. Of the nine left dorsal ribs, 

 seven retain their cartilaginous attachment to the vertebrae just 

 as they w^ere when the bird was alive, and one of the nine is 

 missing. The posterior limbs are perfect, except in the loss of the 

 middle toe of the left foot. 'When all the bones had been placed 

 in proper order on the table, one was left for which no place 

 could be found, the unusual shape of which rendered it difficult 

 to form an opinion as to what it was ; it was evident, however, 

 that it belonged to an adult bird ; and Mr. Allis soon convinced 

 himself that it was the rudimentary wing-bone for which he had 

 before sought in vain ; it was less than an ounce in weight. 



The most striking peculiarity of this skeleton is its great 

 strength, especially in the neck. The cervical vertebrae want 

 those acicular processes which are found on the under side of 

 those bones in the Ostrich, and bear in this respect a closer 

 resemblance to those of the Emu. 



The bones wanting to complete the skeleton are the left 

 zygomatic, the atlas, two or more of the upper cervical vertebrae, 

 the first pair of dorsal ribs, the first pair of sternal ribs and the 

 third left sternal rib, one of the rudimentary anterior limbs, and 

 the left middle toe. 



"With respect to the species of JDinorms to which these bones 

 belong, Mr. Allis is uncertain. Looking at the general character 

 of the skeleton, no more appropriate name could be found than 

 " rohusta ;" but whether it be D. rohusta of Prof. Owen is doubtful. 

 Dr. Gribson has carefully measured the leg-bones, and does not 

 find them agree in all respects with any described by Prof. Owen, 

 though the difference, Mr. Allis suggests, may possibly be only 

 sexual. 



It appears that the skeleton was discovered by some persons 

 who were on a " prospecting " expedition in search of gold, 

 almost completely buried in a heap of sand, and having beneath 

 it the bones of the four young ones. Judging from the condition 

 of the cervical vertebrae, Mr. Allis is of opinion that the bird was 

 buried with its body and head bent dovni, vs^hilst the neck, arch- 

 ing upwards, was more exposed, — all the bones of the trunk and 

 limbs, and of the head itself, being perfectly preserved, and appa- 

 rently in a quite fresh condition, with their articular cartilages 

 entire, and ligaments flexible and strong; whilst the middle 

 cervical vertebrae were much weather-worn, and evidently had 

 suff"ered from exposure above the surface of the groimd. 



