| OCR Text |
Show 690 PROF. OWEN ON THE STERNUM OF NOTORNIS. [Nov. 28, the Rallines here compared, that as the wings decrease and the legs increase in size the sternum becomes shorter in proportion to the femur, I a m inclined to believe that the smaller sternum (pl. 4. figs. 5-8) has belonged to Aptornis otidiformis rather than to Notornis. This view derives further support from the fact that, with the decreasing relative size to the femur, there is a progressive simplification of the sternum in the recent Rallines (Tribonyx, Ocy-dromus), by which the still more simple type of the bone in Aptornis defossor is approached"l. A ground for excuse in reproducing this passage is the notice above Fig. 1. Sternum of Notornis mantelli, under surface; nat. size. cited in the Society's ' Proceedings' in relation to the subjects of Prof. Parker's memoir. In this there is no concurrence with the accomplished Cambridge Professor as to "the total difference of form of the sternum of Notornis from that of Aptornis ;" and the divergence is not only " zoological " as regards the " form," " family," or " genus " of birds which Notornis most resembles, but is "critical" in relation to the earlier author and his contributions on the subject. As to the history, Professor Parker writes : - " The genus Notornis Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. viii. 1871, p. 120. |
