CASCTAEIIDiE. DINOKNITHIDjE. 



Casuarius bennetti, Qould. 



Casuarius bennetti, J. E. Oray, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 271, Aven, pi. cxliv. ; 

 Bartlett, P. Z. S. 1860, p. 205, Aves, pi. clxii. ; Gould, Handb. Birds 

 Austr. ii. p. 561 (1865) ; Sehalow, J. f. O. 1894, p. 20 ; Salvadon, 

 Cat. Birds S. M. xxvii. p. 601 (1895) ; Sharpe, Sand-l. i. p. 4 

 (1899). r X /, z', V 



The shell of the eggs of Bennett's Cassowary is of a pale buff or 

 grey colour. The raised lines and granulations on the shell vary 

 in tint. In one example they are 'of a pale dull greenish ; in 

 another they are extremely coarse, prominent, and of a greenish- 

 brown colour. In two others the lines are very feebly developed 

 and they are pale greenish-buff. Four eggs measure respectively : 

 5-55 by 3-5 ; 5-05 by 3-4 ; 5-75 by 3-55 ; 5-4 by 3-55. 



2. New Britain {Stevens). Old Collection. 



1. New Britain (e. £en?2eW). Sal vin-Godman Coll, 



1. New Britain. Admiral A. H. Hoskins [P.]. 



Order D I NO RNITH I FO EMES. 



Family DINOENITHID^. 



Genus DINORNIS, Owen. 



Dinornis, Lydehker, Cat. Fossil Birds B. M. pp. 222, .349 (1891) ; Sharpe, 

 Hand-l. i. p. 4 (1899). 



The eggs of the extinct Moas of New Zealand are found in caves 

 and in the burial-places of the Maoris. The specimens contained 

 in the National Collection * are imperfect, but the fragments of 

 three have been restored in plaster, the contour of each being 

 determined by the curvature of the fractured pieces. As thus re- 

 stored, the eggs are nearly perfect ellipses, and three specimens 

 measure respectively : 7-25 by 6 ; 7'75 by 5-25 ; 8-1 by 5-9. 



The shell is strong, being about one-twelfth of an inch in thick- 

 ness. In colour the existing remains are of a pale grey, Owen 

 thus describes the shell : — " The shell in Dinornis is not only 

 absolutely thinner, but relatively much thinner than in the Ostrich, 

 and, d fortiori, than in the JEpyornis. The air-pores also have a 

 different form, being linear, not rounded ; and the external surface 

 is smoother. In the smoothness and thinness of the shell, the egg 

 of Dinornis resembles that of Apteryx." 



* These are exhibited in the Geologioal Galleries. 



