Extinct Birds Part 46

_Palapteryx plenus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV p. 122 (1892).

This form also inhabited both islands, but was probably one of the rarest.

The type of _D. dromioides_ came from Poverty Bay, and that of _P. plenus_ from Glenmark.

Habitat: New Zealand.

DINORNIS NOVAEZEALANDIAE OWEN.

_Dinornis novaezealandiae_ Owen, P.Z.S. (1843) p. 8.

_D. struthioides_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III p. 244 (1844).

_D. strennus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXV p. 8 (1893).

Professor Owen changed the name of this form, but we cannot accept this change, as it is against the laws of nomenclatorial priority, though we all appreciate the motive the Professor had in making this change. The type came from Poverty Bay, but the bird inhabits both islands.

This species had wings.

Habitat: New Zealand.

A nearly perfect skeleton in the Tring Museum from Waitomo district, Auckland, New Zealand.

{195}

MEGALAPTERYX HAAST.

Originally distinguished by Haast from the _Dinornithidae_ as an ancient form of the _Apterygidae_, but afterwards united by Lydekker with the _Dinornithidae_. Mr. Lydekker's diagnosis of the genus is as follows:--

"Distinguished from _Dinornis_ by the extreme slenderness and length of the femur and tibio-tarsus, and the relatively shorter tarso-metatarsus, of which latter the length is considerably shorter than that of the femur. The pelvis is much narrower than in Dinornis, with the ventral surface of the postacetabular sacrals ridged and narrower, and a more developed pectineal process to the pubis. The femur is markedly curved forwards, with the distal extremity moderately expanded, the popliteal depression larger and less defined, the linea aspera narrower and sharper, and a more distinct anterior intermuscular ridge."

The following additional diagnostic characters are taken from Mr. Charles W. Andrews' description of the complete skeleton of _Megalapteryx tenuipes_ in the Tring Museum (Nov. Zool. IV, pp. 188-194, fig. 1-2 in text and pl.

VI):--

Width of cranium at paroccipital processes less than half the length of the basis cranii. Length of premaxilla less than two-and-a-half times that of the basis cranii. Body of the premaxilla pointed and slightly decurved; its length and breadth less than the basis cranii. The occipital plane slightly declined backwards. Occipital condyle projecting slightly beyond the paroccipital processes. Anterior and posterior lambdoidal ridges separated by a very narrow interval in their middle region only. Width at squamosals slightly more than double the length of the basis cranii. Mammillary tuberosities not very prominent. Margin of tympanic cavity evenly curved.

Temporal fossae very large. The distance between the temporal ridges about four-fifths the width of the cranium at the fossae. The posterior temporal ridge confluent with the lambdoidal ridge. Post-temporal fossae very large.

The inferior temporal ridge is strongly marked, and there is a pretympanic process. The zygomatic process is well developed. Rostrum dilated towards its anterior end, compressed and carinate beneath the large presphenoid fossae. Mandible very slender. Posterior angular process small. Sternum very convex, and with a very nearly straight anterior border between the tuberosities for the coracoscapular ligaments. Costal processes short but large, with distinct {196} coracoidal facets. The lateral processes are long and distally expanded. The sternum is just as wide as it is long.

There are three costal articulations. The most notable character is the enormous length of the toes, the middle one being longer than the tarso-metatarsus. The ungual phalanges are peculiarly long, narrow and curved, instead of being comparatively short and broad, as in most other Moas.

Type of the genus _Megalapteryx hectori_, Haast.

Number of species 4. {197}

MEGALAPTERYX HECTORI HAAST.

_Megalapteryx hectori_ Haast, Trans. Zool. Soc. XII, p. 161 (1886); Lydekker, Cat. Fossil B. Brit. Mus., p. 252.

This form was described by Sir Julius von Haast as a gigantic _Apteryx_.

This error arose from the absence of the skull. There is, however, no doubt now, since the skulls of _Megalapteryx_ are known, that although sufficiently aberrant to form a distinct sub-family, the birds included in this genus are _Dinornithidae_ and not _Apterygidae_.

Habitat: Middle Island, New Zealand.

MEGALAPTERYX HAMILTONI SPEC. NOV.

Lydekker, Cat. Fossil Birds in Brit. Mus., p. 252, under _M. tenuipes_ (1891).

The type is a left femur, No. 32145 in the British Museum. It is smaller and relatively narrower than the femur, of either _M. hectori_ or _M.

tenuipes_. This is most noticeable at the distal extremity.

Habitat: North Island, New Zealand. (Type locality Waingongoro.)

Named after Mr. A. Hamilton, who did so much in discovering deposits of extinct New Zealand birds. {198}

MEGALAPTERYX TENUIPES LYD.

_Megalapteryx tenuipes_ Lydekker, Cat. Foss. Birds Brit. Mus. p. 251 (1891).

This species was described from the tibio-tarsus, which is longer and relatively more slender than in _M. hectori_. Its distal width is about one-ninth of its length, while in _M. hectori_ it is about one-seventh. The length of the tibio-tarsus is approximately 0.405 mm. = 16 inches, and width of distal extremity about 0.044 = 1.74 inches. Type specimens Nos.

49989 and 49990, British Museum.

Habitat: Middle Island, New Zealand, and perhaps North Island. (Type locality Lake Wakatipa, Queenstown, Otago.)

Complete skeleton in the Tring Museum.

Mr. Lydekker mentions also a right femur from the North Island, of the same proportions as those of _M. tenuipes_ and 0.255 m. (= 10.1 inches) long. It may probably belong to a different form, as we know _M. tenuipes_ otherwise only from the Middle Island. {199}

MEGALAPTERYX HUTTONII (OWEN).

(PLATE 41.)

_Dinornis huttonii_ Owen, Ext. Birds, N.Z., p. 430 (1879).

_Dinornis didinus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. XI, p. 257 (1883).

_D. didiformis_ Haast, (non Owen 1844) Trans. N.Z. Inst. I, p. 83, Nos.

5 & 6 (1869).