338 PROCEEDINGS OF THE GEOLOGICAL SOCIETY. [Feb. 27, 



18 inches long. Several femora of the young of this gigantic species 

 were collected ; in these the epiphyses are wanting, and the walls of 

 the shaft are in an immature state, the entire bone being very light 

 and porous. 



There are no portions of the skull sufficiently large for the 1). gi- 

 ganteus ; but there is one very large os tympanicum or quadratum — 

 the bone articulating the lower jaw with the skull — which, according 

 to the proportions of this element in the ostrich, indicates a cranium 

 from 14 to 16 inches in length. From the activity of research my 

 son has excited, there is reason to hope his efforts to obtain a perfect 

 skull of the most colossal Moa will at no distant period be successful. 



Feet of Binornis robiistus. — As the structure of the feet of the 

 largest species of Dinornis is for the first time demonstrated by the 

 pair of tarso-metatarsals, with the entire series of the bones of the 

 corresponding toes in natural apposition, now before the Society, and 

 which were dug up at Waikouaiti, as previously mentioned, the prin- 

 cipal dimensions of the several parts are subjomed, that a record may 

 remain for reference. 



Tai'so-metatarsal : — . , 



inches, lines. 



Length 17 



Proximal end, circumference of 11 9 



, transverse diameter 4 6 



, antero-posterior 2 6 



Circumference of the middle of the shaft 6 3 



Antero-posterior diameter of ditto 1 8 



Transverse diameter of shaft 2 6 



of distal extremity 6 3 



Circumference of ditto 15 6 



Antero-posterior diameter of the middle trochlea 2 9 



Phalangeal hones of- — Outer toe. Middle toe. Inner toe. 



inches, lines, inches, lines, inches, lines. 



First or proximal phalangeal : length 3 2... 4 3... 4 9 



Circumference of proximal end 5 9 ... 6 9 ... 6 6 



Second phalangeal : length 1 9 ... 2 6 ... 1 9 



Circumference of proximal end 4 9 ... 5 3 ... 3 



Third phalangeal : length 1 ... 1 9 ^g [3 



Circumference of proximal end 4 6 ... 4 6 ==^3 14 



Fourth phalangeal : length 11 jig/S 



Circumference of proximal end 4 ^2)14 2 



Ungueal: length 2 6 



Circumference of proximal end 3 9 



Total length 9 4 11 6 9 6 



The length of the toes when the bones are in close contiguity is 

 about one inch less than the above measurements. 



The transverse diameter of the expanse of the foot from the distal 

 end of the outer toe to that of the inner one is 15^ inches. From 

 the back of the trochlear extremity of the tarso-metatarsal to the 

 extremity of the middle toe, 13 inches. 



If to the actual measurements of the bones be added the propor- 

 tional thickness of the cartilaginous coverings of the joints, and the 

 callous integuments, the length of the foot of the lining bird may be 



