On the former and present distribution of the so called 



Ratitae or Ostrich-like birds with certain deductions and 



a description of a new form by C. W. Andrews. 



By the Hon"e Walter Rothschild, Tring. 



Although at first sight it seems an eas}^ task to write upon 

 the Ratitae and their distribution owing to the small number of 

 species, yet it is really a difficult one. The reason for this is 

 that there are very diverse views as to what ought or ought not to 

 be included in the Ratitae. The genera EremopeziiSj, Psammornis, 

 Struthio, Rhea, DromaiuSj, Casuarius, Dromornis, Oenyomis, 

 Hypselornis, Aejjyornis, Mullerornis, Aptéryx, Metapteryx, Pseud- 

 apteryx, Dinornis, Megalapteryx, Anomalopteryx, Cela, Emeus,- 

 Pachyomis, and Palaeocasuarius have been admitted to belong to 

 the Ratitae by most of the present day Zoologists and Palae- 

 ontologists. It is however very different with the genera 

 Barornis, Laopteryx, Gastornis, Dasomis, Remiornis, Macrornis, 

 Megalornis, Diatryina, Hesperorvis, Baptornls &c. Although 

 acknowledging that some of these genera are founded on material 

 insufficient to accurately determine if they are Ratitae or Carinatae, 

 Fürbringer includes them all in the Ratitae in the main body 

 of his work; I will revert to his later conclusions further on. 

 Mr. Lydekker includes Gastornis, Remiornis, and Dasomis in 

 the Ratitae. Professor D'Arcy Thompson declares and Mr. 

 L.ydekker supports him that, in spite of the teeth and other 

 fundamental differences, Hesperornis and Baptornls are closely 

 related to the Colymbidae. Dr. Gadow has treated all the birds 

 I have mentioned as follows: 



Division I. 



I. Ratitae. 



Section Genus 



I. Struthiones . . Struthio. 

 II. Rheae Rhea. 



III. Casuarii .... Dromaius, Casuarius, Hypseloniis, Droni- 



omis, and Genyornis. 



IV. Apteryges . . . Aptéryx, Metapteryx, and Pseudapteryx. 



V. Dinornithes . . Dinornis, M egala pteryx. Anomalo pteryx,C eia. 

 Emeus, Pachyomis, and Palaeocasuarius. 

 VI. Aepyornithes . Aepyornis, and Mullerornis. 

 VII. Eremopezinae , Eremopezus, and Psammornis. 



