Haast.—On the Extinct Genus Harpagornis. 65 
metatarsus, it will be seen that in Zarpagornis the former is longer than the 
latter limb bone, in this respect resembling Aguila, whereas in Circus the 
opposite is the case, the metatarsus being longer than the femur. This, to a 
minor extent, we observe also in Hieracidea. However, when we take the 
united length of the three principal leg bones into consideration, and compare 
them with the three principal wing bones, the result is quite different. 
Thus, whilst the wing bones of H. assimilis are only 1:52 inches longer than 
the leg bones (20:88 inches to 22-40 inches) in Aguila, they are, notwith- 
standing their smaller dimensions, 5:28 inches longer (16:57 inches to 22.03 
inches); Harpagornis here again agreeing more with Circus (10:52 inches to 
- 11:34 inches). 
According to their different tions, the wing bones of H. assimilis, when 
compared with Aquila audax, DAN to be 27-53 inches, instead of 22-40 inches 
their actual size; and, with Circus, 22-50 inches, a result which closely agrees 
with the above measurement. Of H. moorei we possess only the ulna, the length 
of which, 10:06 inches, compared with the same bone in the smaller H. assimilis, 
9:35 inches, would give for the whole wing bones a total length of 24-10 
inches, instead of 29:62 inches, as calculated коше {о the measurements of 
Aquila audax. 
T wish also to point out that in Hieracidea the united length of the wing 
bones is actually less than that of the leg bones (7:38 inches to 6:61 inches), 
although this little bird is remarkably strong on the wing. 
. FEMUR. 
Harpagornis moorei. Trans., Vol. iy PL A FM L 
In my former notes on Harpagornis I offered a short description of the 
femur (vol. iv., p. 193), comparing it at the same time with the corresponding 
limb bone in the skeleton of Palioaëtes leucogaster, the white-bellied Sea-Eagle 
of Australia, and of Circus assimilis, the New Zealand Harrier ; but I shall, 
in the following notes, compare all the principal bones of Aquila audax, the 
largest Australian species of Diurnal m with those of the extinct New 
Zealand bird. 
Harpagornis assimilis. 
Inches. 
Total length of femur . 
Circumference of proximal MED. Ye 5c S9 
Circumference of distal extremity . Tm ^ 489 
Circumference of shaft where vem à 22 T7 
This bone, besides being of smaller dimensions, 18 ssh slighter in its 
form, otherwise the description as given of that of Harpagornis moorei closely 
corresponds in all its principal points. There is no doubt, judging from the 
insertion marks of the muscles and the inter museular linear ridges, that this 
1 
