Part 46 (2/2)

_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).

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