431 
The metatarse, though shorter than the shortest variety of the compound bone 
which I have referred to D. elephantopusin my ‘Table’ (p. 356), nearly equals in some 
dimensions, and exceeds in proximal breadth, the metatarse of D. elephantopus. 
The rich collection of limb-bones of Moas in the Otago Museum appears to exemplify 
a course of variation from my type of Dinornis crassus through the D. crassus, var. major, 
of Hutton to D. elephantopus. 
It remains to be seen whether the femur follows pari passu the variations of the 
tibia, and especially of the metatarsus; above all, whether the dimensions of the 
trunk-bones, as exemplified in Plates LX. and CVIIL., vary in the ratio of those of the 
metatarsi referred to D. erassus, D. crassus, var. major, and D. elephantopus. 
The opinion of an observer who has “ made 2000 measurements” in the rich series 
under his care ought to carry weight ; and his conclusion on the species in question is 
thus given :—* Still, notwithstanding all that I have said, I am conyinced that it will 
be necessary to retain the names both of erassus and elephantopus to mark both ends of 
the series as characterized by the proportions of the metatarsus, the length of which 
in D. crassus is more than four times the breadth of the middle shaft, while the length 
is less than four times the breadth in D. elephantopus and D. gravis”, 
We have been accustomed to associate with the idea of a bird lightness, grace, swift- 
ness of movement, exceptional command of aerial space; the converse of all these 
associations is shown in the framework of the thick-limbed, broad-bodied Moa repre- 
sented in Plate CXILL fig. 2. The bird stands as a colossus on a basis hard to be 
shaken, suggestive of herculean strength; it is ‘ of the earth earthy.’ ‘The exag- 
gerated proportions of the limbs are heightened by contrast with the slender neck and 
diminutive head. Truly and emphatically has the deduction from the bone-fragment 
(Plate facing p. 72) been fulfilled—viz. that it bespoke the former existence in New 
Zealand of a bird ** heavier and more sluggish than the Ostrich, and with shorter and 
thicker legs.” 
The figured skeleton of Dinornis crassus includes 15 cervical and 7 dorsal vertebre ; 
the two anterior sacrals support movable ribs, the number of these being 9 pairs. 
In the subject of Plate CVIIL. the fore part of the iliac bone is mutilated, exposing the 
spine of the first sacral (Sth dorsal by the character of the moyable ribs). The 
second, third, and fourth ribs articulate by sternal portions with the sternum, 
As the dinornithic modifications of the palate are more perfectly demonstrated in the 
skull of a Dinornis crassus recently transmitted to me than in those previously 
described (pp. 262-281), I subjoin a figure of the base of the skull in that species 
(Plate CXIV. fig. 1), and add the following remarks :— 
In Dinornis crassus the palatal plates of the palatines (ib. 20) are anterior horizontal 
expansions of those bones which coalesce with the corresponding palatal plates of the 
maxillaries, not passing freely beneath them. The bony palate behind the premaxillary 
1 Tom. cit. p. 277. Comp. Dr. Haast’s remarks on D. clephantopus, quoted at p. 358 of the present work. 
