Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/38

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When classifying the large material at my command, I found that the leg bones belonging to this species were of three distinct sizes, and that a transition never occurred between them.

Although the bones of each subdivision showed small and unimportant differences when compared one with the other, they have, nevertheless, a very close resemblance in every other respect.

After having placed together all the bones bearing the same general character, I found that we possessed portions of at least forty-five specimens, arranged in the three subdivisions following, namely:—

No. 1, largest size, 15 specimens.

No. 2, middle size, 16 specimens.

No. 3, smallest size, 14 specimens.

It may be here observed that this number represents only a portion of the specimens buried in the swamp, as many of the bones were either lost, broken into fragments, or they were altogether inaccessible, so that without doubt many odd leg bones were matched together, being exactly of the same size and character, although they belonged originally to different individuals.

On examining the tarsus-metatarsus of this subdivision, I found that it corresponded best with one figured by Professor Owen as crassus, (Plate 48, p. 324, Vol. III., “Trans. Zool. Society,”) although the measurements of crassus given by Professor Owen further on in his excellent memoirs, differ slightly from the specimen in question, and, as it appears to me, from his own figured metatarsus.

It will be seen that, when compared with Professor Owen’s monographs, the metatarsus of this subdivision or variety is a little larger, the tibia exactly of the same size, and the femur a little larger than his casuarinus.