40 MR. ST. GEOEGE MIVAET ON THE 



able, the ischium being much broader relatively than in any other existing genus of the 

 iamily (though Casicarhis is the nearest in this respect), and exceeding the pubis in 

 breadth probably more than in any known form whether living or fossil, the pubis in 

 Apteryx bejng very slender. The very faint development of the processes which tend 

 to separate off the more preaxial part of the obturator foramen is also remarkable. 

 These are more marked in A. oioenii than in A. austmlis. There may be a small notch 

 just postaxiad to the more or less slight interobturator process. The pubis and ischium 

 may or may not unite distally ; if ending freely the pubis extends very slightly postaxiad 

 of the ischium ; and both may extend a little postaxiad of the distal end of the ilium. 



Viewed dorsally the same characters are to be noticed, and, in addition, the fact that 

 the ilia do not quite meet together dorsad behind the acetabula, though they are not so 

 open as in Bromceus and Casuarius. 



Viewed ventraUy the proportion borne by the breadth of the pelvis to its length is 

 seen to be greater than in any other living genus of the Struthiouidse, though it exceeds 

 the relative breadth found in them less than it falls short of the relative breadth found 

 in Binornis. The descent of the sacro-caudal vertebrae gives this part of the pelvis a 

 peculiar appearance. The lateral fossa formed by the absence of transverse processes 

 in the posterior lumbar vertebrae (fig. 41) may extend somewhat considerably in front of 

 the acetabula or but very slightly so. The ilio-pectineal processes are very long. 



The Ilium (fig. 41, il). 

 The ilium extends over about fifteen vertebrae, namely from the twenty-second or 

 twenty-third to the thirty-eighth vertebra. Its main peculiarities are its rounded dorsal 

 margin, its descent postaxially, and the absence of a supratrochanteric process and the 

 notable length of the ilio-pectineal process (fig. 41, Ip). 



The Pubis (fig. 41,^^). 

 This bone in Apteryx is more slender (even relatively) than in any other genus of 

 Strnthiomdce. It may or may not unite postaxially with the ischium, and it developes 

 an interobturator process. 



The Ischium (fig. 41, i). 

 This bone is remarkable for its exceptional relative breadth and wide divergence 

 distad from the ilium, in both which points it resembles Binornis. It may or may not 

 develop a rudimentary interobturator process. 



THE VERTEBRAL RIBS. 



These ribs are nine in number ; the second, third, fourth, and fifth are united to the 

 sternum ; and the sixth may also be so united. They differ from the ribs of every 

 other genus of the Struthionidse by their enormous relative width, as also in the short- 



