Ornithic Fossil Bones from New Zealand. 171 



the emeu, and the length of the spinous process, with its in- 

 clination forwards, where it abuts against the compressed iliac 

 bones, render it probable that this vertebra had a similar posi- 

 tion in the skeleton to which it belonged. 



The length of the nine anchylosed sacral vertebra is four 

 inches ; the height of the anterior sacral vertebra, measured 

 from the base to the upper part of the coalesced spinous ridge, 

 is three inches. The bodies of the first two sacral vertebrre 

 are partly separate, the rest are completely anchylosed. The 

 first five sacral vertebrae are furnished with upper and lower 

 transverse processes. The last four are destitute of a lower 

 transverse process. There is a distinct foramen for the exit 

 of the sensory and motor nerves, as in other birds ; the ostrich 

 is the only exception to this rule with which Professor Owen 

 is acquainted. The broken portion of a rib measures 3| 

 inches, and If^th inch transversely, at the broadest part. 

 From analogy with those in the skeleton of the emeu, it 

 appears to have been broken off below the head and tubercle 

 of the third or fourth rib on the right side. The two pha- 

 langeal bones are each nearly two inches in length, some- 

 what compressed laterally, and rounded above. There is a 

 longitudinal groove at each side of the ungual phalanx, and a 

 well marked impression at each side of the anterior articulat- 

 ing surface of the penultimate phalanx. The phalangeal 

 bones are double the size of those of the middle toe in the 

 skeleton of the emeu, but less than those in the ostrich. The 

 bone, which I assume to be a scapula, is 9 inches in length, 

 with a circumference of 6^ inches at the articulating extre- 

 mity, where it was incrusted with a layer of calcareous sta- 

 lagmite, characteristic of limestone-cave specimens. The cir- 

 cumference at the middle is 3 inches, and l T 7 oth inch at the 

 free end. The surface of the bone is marked with oblique 

 longitudinal striae, decussating in a somewhat irregular manner 

 from its posterior to its anterior extremity. There are two dis- 

 tinct impressions at the larger extremity, which may corre- 

 spond to articulating surfaces for a double condyle of the 

 humerus, and a broad transverse impression for the articula- 

 tion of the caracoid in front. This is an interesting addition 

 to the remains of these extinct birds, as there is no scapula 



