92 
Account of some Fossil Bones 
perfect, measures in length 13 inches ; in girth, at the 
one end over the head of the femur, 11J inches; at the 
thickest end, 12^ inches; and in the smallest part 5£ 
inches: the reticulated muscular impressions on this 
bone are very numerous and well defined. I have seen 
a portion of a femur the small part of which measured 
in girth 8 inches. The one, however, from which the 
drawing was taken, though not so large, was more per¬ 
fect ; and it was in consequence of its being so that it 
was selected for the purpose. 3. The tarsus (a small 
one), nearly perfect, measures in length 10 inches, and 
in girth at one end 9 inches, and at the opposite end 8 
inches, and in the smallest part 4 inches : this bone is, 
comparatively, very short and flat, and has articulations 
for only three toes. 4. The portion of the bone of the 
back and pelvis is not so perfect, being a very much 
broken fragment, comprising from the upper and outer 
edge of the acetabulum to the lower joint of the dor¬ 
sal vertebree, in which the canal for the medulla spinalis 
is perfect. This bone, or rather fragment, measures 
from the outer edge of the articulation of the head 
of the os femoris , to the outer broken edge of the bone 
(which is that portion approaching towards the upper 
part of the bone of the pelvis), 11 inches; and across the 
inner and smallest part of the bone, immediately beneath 
the last of the dorsal vertebree, where it was most per¬ 
fect, 7 inches : a correct idea cannot, however, be given 
of such a fragment as this through the medium of a 
written description. This bone evidently differs very 
considerably from such bones in other birds in its pecu¬ 
liar carinated shape in that portion of it which must 
have formed the highest part of the lumbar region: it 
vessel sailing from Turanga for Port Nicholson, by which opportu¬ 
nity they were sent, was the reason of my not seeing them. 
