225 



AEPYORNIS MAXIMUS GEOFF. 



Aepyornis maximus I. Geoffrey St. Hilaire, Ann. Sci. Nat. ser 3, vol. XIV, p. 209 (1851). 

 Aepyornis ingens Milne- Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVIII, pp. 122-127 (1894). 



THIS is the stoutest and bulkiest species, though not so tall as 

 Ae. titan. All the largest eggs next to those of Ae. titan must 

 belong to this species. It will be argued that I have no right to use 

 the name maximus for this form, but the name of maximus is based on one 

 of the eggs in the Paris Museum, and as these evidently belong to this 

 form and not to the form subsequently called maximus, I must apply to that 

 the name of grandidieri, given by Mr. Dawson Rowley in 1867 to a portion 

 of eggshell of the lesser form. 



The measurements of the limbs are as follows : — 



Femur. 



Total length 



440 



mm. 



Width at proximal end 



190 



>> 



Width at distal end 



200 



)> 



Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 



265 



>? 



Tibio-tarsus. 







Total length 



780 



mm. 



Width at proximal end .... 



180 



>> 



Width at distal end 



160 



>j 



Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 



210 



» 



Tarso-metatarsus. 







Total length 



420 



mm. 



Width at proximal end .... 



170 



>> 



Width at distal end 



160 





Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 



200 



if 



The description of the foot in the diagnosis of the family is based on 

 the pes of this species. It is true that the two mounted skeletons in the 

 British and Tring Museums of Aepyornis hildebrandti show a larger number 

 of phalanges ; but as neither is composed of the bones of a single individual 

 it is more than likely that the articulator made a mistake. 



The dimensions of the type egg are as follows : — 



Large diameter 340 mm. 



Small diameter 225 „ 



Large circumference .... .... .... 850 ,, 



Small circumference .... .... .... 710 ,, 



Habitat: S. W. Madagascar. 



There are about 16 eggs known of this form, varying from 854 mm. 

 to 816 mm. in large circumference, and from 743 mm. to 715 mm. in small 

 circumference. 



