334 
The illustrations are reduced one fourth, the dimensions of the metatarsus being as follows 
Length 
. 9 inches. 
Transverse breadth of proximal end . 
. 4 
5) 
Transverse breadth of distal end 
. 5 
Least breadth of shaft ..... 
. 2-25 
59 
Eore-and-aft breadth of proximal end 
o 
. O 
59 
Circumference of proximal end 
. 12 
95 
Least circumference of shaft .... 
. 6-25 
39 
Breadth of middle trochlea .... 
. 1*9 
99 
Length, following the curve .... 
. 4 
95 
The proximal phalanges of the inner and middle toes are still firmly attached to the distal trochlefs 
by means of a tough ligament, and a small portion of the sole is still present. 
The astragalus-Yik.e bone to which I have specially referred is well shown, in its natural position, 
in Plate XLIX. It measures 2-5 inches in width, with a vertical thickness in front of fully an inch, 
tapering off on the sides and wedge-shaped behind, with a uniform depth of l'2o of an inch. 
Professor Owen in his minute description of the tarso-metatarsal bone of Dinornis elepJianto^us, 
says (Extinct Wingless Birds of New Zealand, vol. i. p. 227): — 
“I had, hitherto, regarded the metatarse of Dinornis crassiis, described and figured at p. 137, in 
pi. xl. figs. 4 & 5, as presenting the most extraordinary form and proportions of all the restored 
species of huge wingless birds of New Zealand ; it is strikingly surpassed in robustness and in great 
relative breadth and thickness by the same bone of the present species, which chiefly on that account 
I have proposed to name elejghantoims. Only in the great Maccaws and Penguins do the proportions 
of the metatarsus resemble those in this most robust-legged of birds ; but the Parrot-like tribe present 
those peculiar modifications of the distal trochlem, with the strong articulation for the back toe, 
which relate to the Scansorial modifications of the bird’s foot ; and the Penguins associate with their 
broad and short metatarsus a characteristic retention of much of the primitive separation of the three 
constituent bones. In Dinornis elefliantopus these elements have become as completely coalesced as 
in any other species, and the general characters of both proximal and distal ends accord with those in 
previously described species From the metatarsus of Dinornis rohustus that of the Dinornis 
elephantopus difiers, most strikingly, in its proportions of length to breadth, being little more than 
half the length, but of nearly equal breadth ; the distal trochlese, however, being relatively less 
expanded than in Dinornis robnstns Equalling, or nearly equalling, the phalanges of that bird 
in breadth and thickness, the bones of the foot differ chieffy in shortness, but in a less degree than the 
metatarsi differ.” 
Professor Owen’s figure of this bone {op. cit. vol. ii. pi. Ivii.) shows the proximal articular surface 
of the metatarsus; but in the specimen under notice this is partly covered by the interarticular bone 
already described ; whilst the ectocalcaneal and the mesocalcaneal processes are completely hidden by 
the dried integument, or heel-pad, which, as already mentioned (Introd. p. xxxii) and as shown in 
the Plate, is still adhering to the base. 
I have already discussed fully (Introd. pp. xviii to xxxv) the controversial question of the antiquity 
of the Moa, and I do not think it necessary to add anything further on the subject except to mention 
