2 



They were both full grown and in good condition, the male being rather 

 taller and fatter than the female. The integument, when removed, 

 does not present the remarkable series of cutaneous muscles seen in the 

 Apteryx ; but a large number of superficial veins are discernible pass- 

 ing around the roots of the feathers. The skin varies in thickness in 

 several localities, but in general is strong and dense ; on the neck it is 

 tough and thin ; on the breast and pubis it presents two callosities of 

 considerable size, on which the animal was in the habit of resting ; on 

 the dorsal aspect the tegument is thick and strong, and clothing the 

 metatarsal bones it presents a series of large flat scales. Beneath, on 

 the sole of the foot, the surface of the skin presents a series of closely set 

 bristle-like processes, invested with a hard horny epithelium ; these are 

 about one-fifth of an inch in length, and would seem to serve in facili- 

 tating the transit of the animal over the sandy soil of the desert. 



Under the skin is a fatty superficial fascia of very great thickness 

 in some situations ; over the abdomen in the female this adipose layer 

 was two and a half inches thick, diminishing in thickness over the thorax, 

 and ceasing altogether downwards on the thigh. The integuments and 

 fat are closely connected to the bone over the sternum, in the region of 

 the callosity, where the fatty matter has a granular appearance, similar 

 to that on the sole of the human foot. This fatty layer is permeated 

 by many very large veins, some of which can be traced to the pulp of 

 the feathers. A thin and distinct layer of fascia separates the adipose 

 structure from the muscles underneath, which were three in number — 

 external oblique, internal oblique, and transversalis. The former arises 

 from the lower borders of the ribs, and from a fascia which extends 

 upwards to the vertebral column, and backwards to the brim of the 

 pelvis ; the fibres pass downwards and inwards to the mesial line, into 

 which they are inserted for its whole length. The internal oblique, 

 underneath the last, arises from the borders of the pelvis and lumbar 

 fascia, runs forwards and inwards to the same insertion. The transver- 

 salis commences by a strong flat aponeurosis from the spine and lower 

 border of the last two ribs. This structure becomes fleshy for about two 

 inches, and then forms an anterior tendon, which is inserted into the 

 linea alba as far down as the symphysis pubis. The expanded tendons 

 of these muscles attached to the spine form a strong lumbar fascia. 



Beneath these muscles lies an enormous fatty cushion, an inch and a 

 half in thickness, and highly vascular ; Perrault describes this as inter- 

 vening between the abdominal muscles, but in reality it lies posterior 

 to them, and immediately over the peritoneum, which in our female 

 bore the marks of inflammatory action, and exhibited extensive subja- 

 cent ecchymosis. 



On the wall of the thorax are found two layers of intercostal muscles, 

 separated by the intercostal vessels ; the external run downwards and 

 forwards, and cease at the spurs of the vertebral ribs; the internal pass 

 in a contrary direction, and only extend for three inches behind the spur 

 on the vertebral ribs. A series of triangular levatores costarum pass 

 from these spurs to the ribs below, extending as far forward as the arti- 

 culation between the sternal and vertebral ribs ; these and the internal 



