82 Transactions. — Zoology. 



in the weka {Ocydromus), and bears almost the same proportion as in tliat bird 

 to the length of the humerus, or about two-fifths of the length of that bone. 



I should state that this bone has been found in several instances in 

 Canterbury by Dr. Haast associated with fragments of a similar humerus, and 

 rightly assigned by him to Gnemiornis. A fragmentary skull, in which the 

 basal, posterior, and nasal portions are wanting, and several leg bones, in the 

 Colonial Museum — some found by Mr. W. D. Murison, in Otago, and others 

 from the Wairarapa, in Wellington — must also" be referred to this species, 

 and prove that it was widely dispersed over both Islands of ISTew Zealand. 



As the leg bones of Cnemiornis ai-e not infi'equent in collections, especially 

 from the most recent turbary and cave deposits, this bird must have been 

 of common occxirrence, and the foregoing details afford conclusive evidence 

 that it was a gigantic bird, probably allied to and of similar habits to the 

 Cape Barren Goose of Australia {Cereopsis''^'), but in which the power of 

 flight had become obsolete. 



From the size of its pelvis, ribs, and sternum, the bulk of its body must 

 have greatly exceeded in proportion any of its existing congeners, while its 

 lower extremities were not less remarkable for their massive development. 

 The height of its back above the ground exceeded 2 feet, and the length of the 

 body from the beak to the tail was at least 32 inches. 



Table of Admeasurements, in Inches. 

 Skull. Weight, 535 grains (with lower jaw). 



Length ... ... ... ... ... ... 4-5 



Breadth across paroccipitals ... ... ... ... 2-0 



„ „ post-frontals ... ... ... ... 2-0 



„ ,, temporal fossa ... ... ... 1-5 



„ „ middle of upper mandible ... ... 1-5 



„ „ tip „ _„ ... ... 1-0 



Length from condyle to pre-sphenoid ... ... ... 2-1 



„ of palatines ... ... ... ... 1-4 



,, of pre-maxillary ... ... ... ... 1-5 



„ Irom point of external nostril to end of pre-maxillary 1 -0 



,, of nasal aperture ... ... ... ... 0'8 



Width of nasal aperture ... ... ... ... 0*4 



„ of internasal septum — anterior ... ... 0'4 



Supra-occipital tuberosity to post-nasal suture, following the 



curve ... ... ... ... ... 2"6 



Supra-occipital tuberosity to external basilar process ... 1-6 



Length of vertical basilar area ... ... ... 0-3 



,, horizontal ,, ... ... ... 0-5 



Width of „ „ ... ... ... 1-3 



* Having procured a skeleton of this species for comparison, tkrough the kindness 

 of Professor M'Goy, I am able to confirm this surmise. Among the chief structural 

 differences, I notice the presence in Cnemmiiis of an extra i^re-sacral vertebra, so that 

 two, instead of three, ribs articulate with the sacrum, and au elevated pent-roof 

 arrangement of the ossa innominata, which indicate more decided cursorial habits. 



