1894.] IN THE BRITISH MUSEUM. 121 



usual, but show scarcely any curvature from above downwards. 

 There is, moreover, a lateral fossa in the centrum separated from 

 that in the arch by a nearly horizontal plate of bone. 



The specimen which agrees most closely with the first of the 

 larger ones just described has a centrum measuring 4 cm. long, 

 3 cm. high, 2'5 wide in the middle. 



Another specimen gives the following measurements : — 



cm. 



Length of centrum 3*5 



Height of centrum at hinder end 2-7 



"Width of centrum in middle 2*0 



From the above descriptions it will be seen that the iEpyornithidae 

 must have included a large number of forms differing greatly in 

 size and proportions ; indeed, in a very recent paper (4) Milne- 

 Edwards and Grandidier have given names to no less than seven 

 new species, three of which are referred to a new genus, Muller- 

 ortiis, and it seems probable, as was shown above, that a third genus 

 at least will have to be established. It is to be hoped that the 

 authors just mentioned have taken some particular bone as the 

 type specimen of each species, and that names have not been 

 given to miscellaneous collections of conjecturally associated bones. 

 If it should unfortunately prove that this precaution has been 

 neglected, then it seems probable that confusion in the nomen- 

 clature of the iEpyornithidae will result. 



It is greatly to be desired that collectors should, whenever 

 possible, mark in some distinctive manner such bones as occur 

 together and appear to have belonged to one individual 1 . But 

 even when this is not done, it is still possible to avoid confusion 

 to a large extent by applying specific names to some definite bone, 

 preferably the metatarsus, as the type specimen of the species. 



The Affinities of ^Epyomis. 



Concerning the affinities of JEpyorriis the most divergent views 

 have been held. Isidore Geoff roy in his original paper (6) referred 

 it to the Brevipennes (Eatitae), an opinion now universally accepted. 

 Valenciennes (9) considered it to be a diving bird, related to the 

 Auks and Penguins. Bianconi (1) in a long series of papers strove 

 to show that Jfcpyomis was the " Boc " of Eastern fable, and that 

 its nearest liviug relative is the Condor. Milne-Edwards and 

 Grandidier (3) confirmed Greoffroy's original opinion and considered 

 that Gasuarius and Dinomis are the nearest allies. VouHaast(7), 

 on the other hand, opposed this view and asserted that the resem- 

 blances with Dinomis are superficial. Recently this opinion has 

 been endorsed by Fiirbringer (5) and B. Burckhardt (2), both of 

 whom, after an elaborate comparison of the jiEpyornithidse with 

 the other Batite families, come to the conclusion that such resem- 

 blances as exist between JEpyornis and Dinomis are merely the 



1 In the present instance this appears to have been out of the question, the 

 bones occurring scattered at random. 



