Extinct Birds Part 35

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APTERORNIS SELYS.

"Differed widely from _Didus_ and _Pezophaps_ in its long beak, which resembles a little that of a woodc.o.c.k, but is much stronger. These birds were high on the leg, ran swiftly, and were far removed from pigeons like the Dodo and the Solitaire, but to which they had a certain resemblance, owing to their rudimentary wings, apology for a tail, and the disposition of their digits."

The above is a translation of de Selys-Longchamps' diagnosis of the genus, but owing to his inclusion therein of _Didus solitarius_ and _Aphanapteryx bonasia_, it does not fit when restricted to the "Oyseau bleu" of Le Sieur D.B. It might be described as: Resembling _Aptornis_, but with shorter bill and feet, thus more approaching _Notornis_.

One species.

APTERORNIS COERULESCENS SELYS.

(PLATE 32.)

_Oyseaux bleus_ Le Sieur D.B., Les Voyages aux Isles Dauphine and Bourbon, pp. 170, 171 (1674).

_Apterornis coerulescens_ Selys-Longchamps, Rev. Zool. 1848, p. 294.

The original description of the Sieur D.B. (Dubois) is as follows (translated):--"_Oyseaux bleus_: As big as the Solitaires; they have the plumage entirely blue, the beak and the feet red and made like those of fowls; they do not fly at all, but run extremely quickly, so that a dog can hardly catch them; they are very good."

Habitat: Bourbon or Reunion.

Dubois gives the size of these birds as the same as that of a big goose and the feet as being like those of a fowl: I have, therefore, in reconstructing the plate of this bird, had it made intermediate in structure between the New Zealand _Notornis_ and _Aptornis_, which were evidently its nearest allies.

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APTORNIS OWEN.

Differs from _Dinornis_, _Palapteryx_ and _Notornis_ in having an articular surface for a very strong hind toe, and the tarso-metatarsus of a conformation more nearly resembling that found in the _Dodo_, but shorter and thicker than in the latter. In addition, the strong calcaneal process, perforated by a complete bony ca.n.a.l for the tendon at the back part of the proximal end of the tarso-metatarsus; the perforation above the inters.p.a.ce between the condyles for the middle and outer toes; and the more posterior position for the condyle for the inner toe all prove the distinctness of this genus.

Type: _Aptornis otidiformis_.

APTORNIS OTIDIFORMIS (OWEN).

_Dinornis otidiformis_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III, p. 247, pls. XXV and XXVI, fig. 5 (1844).

_Aptornis otidiformis_ Owen, ibidem p. 347 (1848).

This is the North Island form, and I must refer my readers to Owen's description, only remarking that Mr. Hamilton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV, p.

179, says the vertebrae a.s.signed by Owen to _Cnemiornis_ all belong to _Aptornis_.

Locality of type tibia: Poverty Bay, North Island, New Zealand; collected by Rev. Wm. Williams in 1842. {148}

APTORNIS DEFOSSOR OWEN.

_Aptornis defossor_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. VII, pp. 353 to 366, pls.

40-44 (1871).

The skull differs from that of _A. otidiformis_ by the vertical surface of the descending part of the occiput being less deeply concave, the occipital foramen relatively smaller. The hind part of the base of the alisphenoid is more produced and tuberous outside the end of the hyoid process of the paroccipital in _A. defossor_.

The chief other differences in size, according to Owen, are as follows:--

_A. defossor_. _A. otidiformis_.

_Skull._ Length 7.2 inches. 6.2 inches.

Breadth across paroccipitals 3.3 " 2.9 "

Breadth across postfrontals 3.2 " 2.10 "

Breadth across temporal fossae 2.3 " 1.1 "

Breadth of base of upper mandible 1.6 " 1.3 "

Breadth of middle of upper mandible 1.4 " 1.1 "

Breadth of fore end of upper mandible 0.7 " 0.6 "

Length of premaxillary 5.0 " 4.3 "

_Femur._ Length 7.6 " 6.2 "

Breadth of proximal end 2.2 " 1.9 "

Breadth of distal end 2.2 " 1.9 "

Circ.u.mference of middle of shaft 2.9 " 2.3 "

_Tibia._ Length 10.3 " 8.9 "

Breadth of proximal end 2.3 " 1.9 "

Breadth of distal end 1.10 " 1.3 "

Circ.u.mference of middle of shaft 2.6 " 1.11 "

_Metatarsus._ Length 4.4 " 3.10 "

Breadth of proximal end 1.8 " 1.5 "

Breadth of distal end 1.9 " 1.6 "

Breadth of middle of shaft 1.6 " 1.4 "

Locality of type: Oamaru.

Habitat: South Island.

A nearly perfect skeleton in the Tring Museum, collected by Mr. W. S.

Mitchel in limestone cave on Oreti River, Southland.

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PALAEOLIMNAS FORBES.