Part 45 (1/2)

_D. excelsus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV. p. 110 (1892).

_D. giganteus_ Haast, Trans. N.Z. Inst. I p. 88, No. 20 part.

This is the largest species of Moa, the tibio-tarsus being from 37.5 to 39.2 inches in length, while that of the largest _D. giganteus_ does not exceed 35 inches, but by far the largest number of the latter are considerably shorter.

The type bones were obtained in Glenmark Swamp, Middle Island of New Zealand, and were sent to Professor Owen by Major J. Michael of the Madras Staff Corps. Casts of these bones are in the British Museum, No. A 161 in the Palaeontological Department.

This bird was the tallest of all known birds, though it must have been considerably exceeded in bulk by _Aepyornis ingens_ and _Aepyornis t.i.tan_ of Madagascar.

Locality: Glenmark Swamp, Middle Island, New Zealand.

DINORNIS ALTUS OWEN.

_Dinornis maximus_ Owen, Ext. Birds N.Z. p. 253 (Dr. Lillie's specimen) (1879).

_D. altus_ Owen, Ext. Birds N.Z. (1879) p. 361.

_D. giganteus var maximus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. VI p. 497 (1868).

Only known by a tarso-metatarsus, femur and tibio-tarsus from the Middle Island, New Zealand. The bones at once noticeable by their great length, and are more slender than the same bones in _D. maximus_. This form must therefore, till further material comes to hand, be treated as a separate species.

Locality: Middle Island, New Zealand. Collected by Dr. Lillie. {193}

DINORNIS GIGANTEUS OWEN.

_Dinornis giganteus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III p. 237 (1843) and p.

307 (1846).

_Moa giganteus_ Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. der Vog. p. x.x.x (1850).

_Dinornis maximus_ (non _D. maximus_ Owen of 1867!) Trans. Zool. Soc. X p. 147 (1877).

_D. validus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. p. 111 (1892).

This is, as regards size, one of the more variable forms in the tarso-metatarsus, while the tibio-tarsus is remarkably constant. The tibio-tarsus is almost invariably 35 inches in length, while the tarso-metatarsus varies from 17.5 to 19 inches in length.

The type of _D. giganteus_ Owen is from Poverty Bay; the type of _D.

validus_ is from Glenmark.

Habitat: North and Middle Islands, New Zealand.

Portion of skeleton in Tring Museum, from Kopua Swamps, Canterbury, New Zealand.

DINORNIS INGENS OWEN.