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Show 1873.] DR. J. HECTOR ON CNEMIORNIS CALCITRANS. 769 Metacarpus. The metacarpal is made up of the first and second digits, which are completely fused at both extremities, leaving a narrow interspace for less than half the length of the bone. It resembles closely the corresponding bone in the Weka (Ocydromus), and bears about the same proportion as in that bird to the length of the humerus, being about two fifths of the length of that bone. I should state that this bone has been found in several instances by Dr. Haast associated with fragments of a similar humerus, and rightly assigned by him to Cnemiornis. A fragmentary skull in the Colonial Museum, in which the posterior and nasal portions are wanting, found by Mr. Murison in Otago, must also be referred to this species. As the leg-bones of this bird are not unfrequent in collections, especially from the most recent tertiary and cave-deposits from the interior of Otago, this bird must have been of common occurrence; and the foregoing details afford conclusive evidence that it was a gigantic bird, probably of similar habits to the Cape Barren Goose of Australia (Cereopsis novce hollandiee), but in which the power of flight had become obsolete. Judging from the size of the pelvis, ribs, and sternum, the bulk of the body of this bird must have greatly exceeded in proportion any of its existing congeners, whilst its lower extremities were not less remarkable for their massive development. The height of its back above the ground probably exceeded 2 feet; and the length of its body from beak to tail must have been at least 3 feet. Mr. Man-tell informs m e that there is a traditional bird among the southern Maories answering to this description, named by them " Powhangai." TABLE OF ADMEASUREMENTS. Skull. ™- h. Total length 4 5 Breadth (across paroccipitals) 2 0 „ ( „ postfrontals) 2 0 „ ( „ temporal fossa) 1 5 „ (middle of upper mandible) 1 5 „ (tip of upper mandible) I 0 Length from condyle to prsesphenoid 2 1 „ of palatines 1 4 ,, of prsemaxillse 1 5 „ from nostril to tip of beak ... ... 1 0 „ of nasal aperture 0 8 Width of „ „ 0 4 „ of internasal septum 0 4 Occipital tuberosity to postnasal suture, following the curve. ; 2 6 PKWOOLcieCcnd.i gtpZtihtOh aO oloofL ff .th uhvobSeorerriortizioczocson-aintlt1tay al8b la 7tbs obai3a sle,saixirl tlNa aearorrr .an eaar arXle ea Lab Ia sXil.a r process ...4.9 01 563 |