4 
Cr 
curious bony growth on the distal end of the ulna and radius already mentioned as 
presented by the specimens of supposed males. All the perfect specimens of the 
metacarpal have on the radial side a more or less spherical bony knob or callus-like 
mass developed immediately beyond the proximal end and the pollex. ... The ap- 
pearance of the knob is much that of diseased bone; it has probably been covered by a 
cartilaginous integument” (ib. p. 342). The author then repeats the quotation given 
by Strickland in his excellent work :—** L’os de l’aileron grossit 4 l’extrémité, & forme 
sous la plume une petite masse ronde comme une balle de mousquet: cela & le bee 
sont la principale défense de cet oiseau ”}. 
The specimens of metacarpus of the larger, combative sex of Pezophaps in the British 
Museum show the same structure, which may be seen in the articulated skeleton of the. 
probably, male Solitaire now there exhibited (Pl. IV. fig. 1). 
This hard, irregular, prominent mass, which holds the place of the spine in the 
Spur-winged Goose, may be compared to a ‘“‘ knuckle-duster;” with it the combative 
sex delivered his blows, in the hard and well-contested fights to which Leguat testifies : 
—‘‘Tls ne volent point, leurs ailes sont trop petites pour soutenir le poids de leurs corps, 
Tis ne s’en servent que pour se battre, & pour faire le moulinet, quand ils veulent 
sappeller lun l'autre.” 
I here infer the writer to mean that one function of their stunted wing was to do 
battle with each other; and the peculiar development in question I take to have been 
the combative weapon. ‘The entire wings were in action in executing the amorous 
pirouettes :—* Ils font avec vitesse vingt ou trente pirouéttes tout de suite, du méme 
cété, pendant l’espace de quatre ou cing minutes.” 
Of the bones of the hind limbs, the greater relative length of both femur, tibia, 
and metatarsus, as compared with the skull and sternum, is first notable in Pezophaps 
(Pl. IV.) in contrast with Didus (P1. I.). 
The columbine characters of the metatarsus are manifested in both species. ‘These 
characters in Pezophaps are recorded in pp. 30-36, and are repeated in that bone of 
the subject of Plate IV. 
The following are admeasurements of the skeleton of the two extinct species of 
Ground-Doyes :— 
Pezophaps Didus 
solitaria, Tneplus.» 
Length of vertebral axis, from tip of beak to end of coccyx, ft, in. lin. ft. in. lin, 
following the curves... .2..sbeeneserenncsctneseaaer Mas. 211 0 a2 2 Q 
fom, 2 7 
Height in easy standing position .. 1... sees eees eerste ee Mas. 2 7 0 2 0 0 
Fem. 2 2 O 
Length of leg, from proximal end of tibia to sole............ Mas. 1 4 6 P28 
Fem. 1 1 O 
' Strickland, ‘The Dodo and its Kindred,’ 4to, 1848, quoting the * Voyage et Avantures de Francois 
Leguat,’ 2 vols. 12mo, 2nd ed. 1720, vol. i, p. 98. 
K 

