145 



APTERORNIS SELYS. 



DIFFERED widely from Didus and Pezophaps in its long beak, which 

 resembles a little that of a woodcock, but is much stronger. These 

 birds were high on the leg, ran swiftly, and were far removed from 

 pigeons like the Dodo and the Solitaire, but to which they had a certain 

 resemblance, owing to their rudimentary wings, apology for a tail, and the 

 disposition of their digits." 



The above is a translation of de Selys-Longchamps' diagnosis of the 

 genus, but owing to his inclusion therein of Didus solitarius and Aphanapteryx 

 bonasia, it does not fit when restricted to the " Oyseau bleu "of Le Sieur 

 D.B. It might be described as : Resembling Aptornis, but with shorter bill 

 and feet, thus more approaching Notomis. 

 One species. 



APTERORNIS COERULESCENS selys. 



(Plate 32.) 



" Oyseaux bleus" Le Sieur D.B., Les Voyages aux Isles Dauphine and Bourbon, 

 pp. 170, 171 (1674). 



Apterorms coerulescens Selys-Longchamps, Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 294. 



THE original description of the Sieur D.B. (Dubois) is as follows 

 (translated) : — " Oyseaux bleus : As big as the Solitaires ; they have 

 the plumage entirely blue, the beak and the feet red and made like 

 those of fowls; they do not fly at all, but run extremely quickly, so that a 

 dog can hardly catch them ; they are very good." 

 Habitat : Bourbon or Reunion. 



Dubois gives the size of these birds as the same as that of a big 

 goose and the feet as being like those of a fowl : I have, therefore, in 

 reconstructing the plate of this bird, had it made intermediate in structure 

 between the New Zealand Notomis and Aptornis, which were evidently its 

 nearest allies. 



