263 Transactions. — Zoology/. 



prominences in quincuncial arrangement, separated by flat smooth interspaces 

 about a tenth of an inch wide. There is no appearance of its having been 

 covered with horny scales as in Apteryx. In colour the integument is 

 yellowish brown, getting paler on the posterior surface ; while the bones, 

 including the last (ungual) joint of the hind toe (pi. XIX., e), are bleached 

 quite white. 



Left Metatarsus. 



Of this bone only a portion of the posterior half of the distal end 

 remains, the rest having entii-ely decayed away. 



Right Tibia. 



Length 



Breadth at proximal end 



„ distal end 



Circumference at middle 

 Fibular ridge extends down 



The cartilage still extends over the lower epiphysis; but the upper 

 articular end is quite decayed and rotten. Small lichens and Metzgeria 

 furcata grow on the anterior surface close up to the cartilage. 



In. 



Lines. 



... 27 



8 



6 



1 



4 



1 



5 



9 



... 11 



5 





Left 



Femur, 





In. 



Lines. 



Length 



. 



• • • 



• • • 1 



.. 14 



5 



Breadth at proximal end 





• • • 



... 



.. 



? 



„ distal end 



. 



• • • 



... 



5 



8 



Circumference at middle . 



■ 



... 



... 



7 



3 



TI«T» T 1 



1 1 



. -1 _ 





? - -• 1 - _ 



•ii _ 



This bone is much decayed, and covered on its anterior side with small 



lichens. 



Sternum. 



A fragment of the right upper corner remains, showing an apparently 

 small costal process, a rather shallow coracoid gi'oove, and with the lateral 

 process but slightly diverging. The whole bone seems to have been very 

 small for so large a bird, as it by no means equals that of Dlnomis 

 elepliantopus. 



In conclusion I would remark that the extraordinary juxtaposition of 

 decayed and lichen-covered bone with well-preserved skin and flesh seems to 

 me to point to some peculiarity in the atmosphere which enables flesh to 

 resist decay when shaded from the rays of the sun, and by no means to prove 

 that the bird to which this skin and flesh belonged lived at a later date than 

 those whose bones we now find buried under the soil. 



For the following valuable notes I am indebted to my friend Dr. Millen 

 Coughtrey. 



