Page:Transactions and Proceedings of the New Zealand Institute - Volume 1 (2nd ed.).djvu/44

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Of this species we obtained fourteen more or less complete specimens, so that I had ample material to assure myself of the correctness of its specific character.

The metatarsus is shorter than Professor Owen's crassus, the circumference larger, but the proximal end is somewhat smaller.

The tibia is shorter, but again thicker, than Professor Owen’s crassus.

The femur is also shorter, whilst the circumference is the same as Professor Owen’s species. An examination of the general character shows that it is a somewhat smaller but stouter bird than Professor Owen’s crassus. The bird articulated in the Canterbury Museum as crassus is this No. 16.

A species smaller than No. 16, but partaking still of the same character.

We obtained three specimens of this interesting small bird, which closes the elephantopus family.

Of this specimen we obtained the perfect pelvis, the right femur, tibia, and fibula, and the first two dorsal vertebræe, lying still in their original position. We dug all round these bones, but our researches were not rewarded by finding any more remains belonging to the same specimen. A fragment of a metatarsus, however, which was lying in a drain not far from the spot, seemed from its size to have belonged to this or to a similar bird. I may here observe that, judging from the size of the two dorsal vertebræ, still larger specimens of Dinornis are entombed in the same swamp, because we obtained a nearly complete neck of one of still larger dimensions than that belonging to No. 18, the other portions of which have not been found.