1848.] MANTELL ON FOSSIL REMAINS FROM NEW ZEALAND. 233 
they are referable to six or seven species, respectively named from 
their size and osteological character, D. giganteus, D. robustus, 
D.-ingens, D. casuarinus, D.*geranoides, D. curtus, D. didiformis. 
Among the bones of the extremities of the large species, I would 
especially direct attention to the femur, tibia and fibula of a young 
bird. The femur is 14 inches long, 9 inches in circumference round 
the shaft, and 16 inches round the condyles. The tibia, in which the 
union of the epiphysis of the proximal extremity is still incomplete, 
is 30 inches long, 6 inches in circumference at the shaft, and 14 at 
the condyles. The tibia of a much younger bird gives still more 
colossal proportions ; for it measures 12 inches in circumference at 
the condyles, and yet the distal epiphysis, which is always rapidly 
anchylosed to the shaft in birds, is still distmct. The proximal 
extremities of other tibize are 17 inches in circumference ; and there 
are fragments of shafts 8 inches round. 
2. Palapteryx.—In this genus the skull differs essentially from 
that of the Dimornis; the occipital region is narrower ; the foramen 
magnum is situated in the centre, which in the Dinornis is occupied 
by the condyle; the basi-occipital is not so much developed ; and 
there are other osteological peculiarities which I need not detail. 
The rostral part of both mandibles is preserved, and shows an ap- 
proach to the Dromaius or Emeu. The ethmoid cavities, or upper 
nostrils of the skull, are very large, as in the Apteryx, a peculiarity 
denoting a remarkable development of the organs of smell. 
Of this genus there are imperfect crania, mandibles, vertebre, 
bones of the extremities, &c. 
3. Aptornis.—Among the bones of small size, those for example 
that are comparable in magnitude to the skeletons of the Bustard and 
Apteryx, there are several tarso-metatarsals, femora, tibiee, pelves, 
&c., which indicate a new tetradactyle. genus, very closely allied to 
the livmg struthious bird of New Zealand, the Apteryx. Some of 
these bones are referable to the D. otidiformis, or Bustard-like Moa, 
of Professor Owen’s second memoir : I believe the name of Aptornis 
will be assigned to this genus. 
The other birds’ bones belong to genera and species of which 
-there are still livmg forms in New Zealand and Australia. 
4. Notornis.—This genus is established by Professor Owen from 
the skulls, and upper and lower mandibles, vertebree and bones of 
the extremities, of birds belonging to the Rallide or Rails; and 
closely allied to the living Brachypteryz, a species of Coot or Water- 
hen peculiar to New Zealand. The mandibles are sharp like those of 
the Raven, but are more compressed laterally ; the cranium presents 
some interesting anatomical characters. The original was of the 
size of a bustard. 
5. Nestor.—The collection contains two upper mandibles of a 
species of Nestor, a genus of nocturnal owl-like parrots, of which 
only two living species are known. One of these (Nestor hypopolius 
of Mr. Gould) is restricted to New Zealand ; and the other (NV. pro- 
ductus) to Philip Island, which is not more than five miles in extent ; 
and Mr. Gould remarks that “ so exclusively is the Nestor productus 
