180 DR. J. VOJN HAAST ON A NEW SPECIES OE DINORNIS. 



marked peculiarities of the large species are, as it were, exaggerated in this tiny repre- 

 sentative of a family of giants. 



This is principally observable in the proximal end of the bone, which in proportion 

 to its size is more developed than in any of the larger species. Owing to the large size 

 of the ectocondylar cavity, the intercondylar rising (or process as it may be called here) 

 is shifted considerably towards the entocondylar side. The entocondylar cavity has the 

 usual oval form with the longest diameter fore-and-aft, is deeply excavated, and advances 

 considerably beyond the entocondylar side of the shaft. In this respect Dinornis curtus 

 approaches most nearly Dinornis oweni. The ecto- and entocalcaneal processes on both 

 sides of the calcaneal groove are strongly developed ; the latter is the longer and more 

 prominent. The ectocalcaneal exists only in the form of a round tuberosity without 

 any sign of the shallow longitudinal groove on it, as it occurs in the larger Dinornithidae. 

 The antinterosseal depression is deeply excavated, and the entrances of the ect- and ent- 

 interosseal canals are here close together. While the former has a distinct opening on 

 the posterior side of the shaft on the outer side of the ectocalcaneal process, the latter 

 ends below the entocalcaneal process almost on the same line. This character, however, 

 is not constant in the Dinornithidae. I have examined specimens belonging to Dinornis 

 curtus and oiveni in which the posterior opening of the ectinterosseal canal lies nearly 

 half an inch lower. In some other metatarsi of Dinornis oweni from the same locality 

 there exists only the entinterosseal canal, the wide posterior orifice of which is divided 

 by a bony bridge. This is different from the observations of Sir Eichard Owen on that 

 bone of Dinornis gravis (' Memoirs on the Extinct Wingless Birds of New Zealand,' 

 page 348), in which only the ectinterosseal canal possesses a posterior orifice. 



Owing to the small size of the species the entogastrocnemial surface is not so promi- 

 nent as it is in the larger species of the Dinornithidae, but it has in proportion the same 

 length and breadth. It is broadest where the hallucial surface is situated. The same 

 may be said of the ectogastrocnemial tract and surface. The ectometatarsal rough 

 surface, however, is well indicated. The trochleas are large and strong, the hind part 

 being comparatively narrow compared with the fore part, so that the two interspaces 

 between them are widest near the shaft. The roundish depressions for muscular 

 insertion, especially on the ecto- and mesotrochleae at their junction with the shaft, are 

 well excavated, in this also resembling the larger Dinornithidae, though we possess 

 some bones in which the depression on the entotrochlea is the deepest and most con- 

 spicuous. The depressions on the sides of the trochleas are deeply excavated : this is 

 especially the case on the ecto- and meso- and the inner side of the entotrochleae ; in 

 fact the depressions on the mesotrochlea are so deep, that they almost meet in the 

 centre. Altogether, as before observed, the whole bone impresses the fact upon us 

 that, notwithstanding the small size of the bird, nevertheless it possessed great power 

 and strength. Unfortunately no phalanges of any kind seem to have been collected, 

 as none were with the skeleton sent me, so I am unable to offer any description of 

 them. 



