95 



CENTRORNIS ANDREWS. 



ALLIED to Chenalopex and Chenopis, but differs from Chenalopex in the 

 form and proportion of its metatarsus, and from all other Anserine 

 forms by the extreme length and slenderness of the shaft of the tibio- 

 tarsus and the relative shortness of the fibular crest. From Chenopis it 

 differs in several respects, and the very long fibular crest of the latter at 

 once separates them. 



CENTRORNIS MAJORI ANDREWS. 



Centromis majori Andrews, Ibis 1897, p. 344, pi. VIII. 



THIS species was discovered by Dr. Forsyth Major and Monsieur 

 Robert in the bed of an old lake at Sirabe, Central Madagascar, 

 in 1896-1897. It was similar in many respects to Sarcidiornis 

 and Chenalopex but differed in its large size and the great length of its 

 legs. Indeed, judging from the slenderness of the metatarsus and femur 

 and the slight degree of inflection of the lower end of the long tibia, it seems 

 probable that this bird was ill adapted for swimming, though a good runner. 

 The wings were long and powerful and armed with a long spur. I must 

 refer my readers for a fuller description to Mr. Andrews, as quoted above. 

 The measurements are: — 



Tibia. 



Length (exclusive of cnemial crest) .... 213 — 215 mm. 

 Width of upper articular surface .... 20 — 21 „ 



Width of middle of shaft 11— 11 -5 



Thickness of shaft 8*5 — 9 



Width of distal extremity .... 20 — 21 



Femur. 



Length 



Width of proximal extremity 

 Width of distal extremity .... 

 Width of shaft 



103—107 mm. 

 25- 26 „ 

 .... 26 „ 

 .... 11 „ 



