PHTLOG-ENY OF THE PAL^EOGNATILE AND NEOG-NATH.E. 101 



Apieetgidj. 

 Apteryx australis mantelli. 



Apteria : — 



A. spinale. — This is wanting. 



A. mesogastrcei. — This is a well-marked space, extending forwards from the cloacal 

 aperture, along the middle line, as far as the base of the neck, to a point corresponding 

 to the interclavicular region of the Neognathw. Its greatest width (1 in.) is on 

 the abdomen ; in the middle of the sternum it is nearly ^ in. 



A. trunci laterali is of very considerable extent. It runs from a point immediately 

 over the head of the femur downwards and forwards as a conspicuously broad bare 

 space of about 1 in. in width ; terminating at the base of the neck. At the wing it 

 gives off a branch downwards and backwards between the thigh and the pteryla 

 ventralis as usual, and terminates about 2^ in. from the cloacal aperture. 



Pterylce : — 



Pt. capitis. — This is very dense, and bears numerous rictal bristles of great length. 



Pt. spinalis. — Forms a broad saddle-shaped tract blending posteriorly with the 

 femoral tract, and anteriorly passing into the pt. colli. 



Pt. ventralis is well defined. Anteriorly it blends with an incipient pt. colli ventralis, 

 and is continued backwards as a sharply defined tract bounded on the one side by the 

 apterion trunci laterale and the other by the apt. mesogastrcei. 



The pt. colli is almost divided into a dorsal and ventral tract by the forward extension 

 of the apt. trunci laterale. 



Pt. alaris (PI. XLV. fig. 13). — Remiges 13. Cubitals 9. Metacarpo-digitals 4 = 

 metacarpals 1 ; addigital 1 ; mid-digitals 2. 



The innermost cubital is very weak, and is counted a remex solely on account of its 

 position. Yet I think that most would agree with me in this decision. The 3rd 

 metacarpal remex (I mid-digital) is cramped in position, and forced dorsal wards almost 

 into the position of a major covert. The calamus of these quills is very long in pro- 

 portion to the length of the whole feather, and is fusiform in shape. The form of 

 these quills is exactly reproduced, as will be seen in the figure (PL XLV. fig. 15), in 

 the first quills of the nestling Cassowary (see p. 165). 



The proximal end of the forearm, over the region of the elbow-joint, is bare, as in 

 many Neognathce. 



The arrangement of the coverts is that of obliquely-transverse rows, as in Neo- 

 gnathce. Only tectrices majores, however, can be certainly made out. There appears 

 to be but one major covert on the manus. 



The index-finger bears a large claw. There is no pollex. 



Pt. femoralis. — Uniformly feathered, passing forwards iuto a sharp, cone-shaped 

 point. 



