Extinct Birds Part 45

_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.

(PLATE 42.)

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

_Movia ingens_ Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. der Vog. p. x.x.x (1850).

_D. ingens var. robustus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III p. 307 (1846).

_Palapteryx robustus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III p. 345 (1848).

_D. firmus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV p. 114 (1892).

_D. potens_ Hutton, l.c. p. 115.

_D. ingens_ shows considerable variation in size, but the inter-gradation is so complete that it seems impossible to retain the four species _ingens_, _firmus_, _potens_ and _robustus_, which Captain Hutton admits.

This form was widely distributed over the North and Middle Islands. The type skull of _P. robustus_ came from Timaru, the type of _firmus_ from w.a.n.ganui, that of _ingens_ from Poverty Bay, while that of _potens_ is quoted from the East side of Middle Island, without specific type locality.

Habitat: North and Middle Islands.

The plate of this species was reconstructed by Mr. Frohawk from the skeleton and feathers in my museum, and the feathers found with the skeleton now in the York Museum. The only criticism that might be made in connection with this picture is that the feathers are drawn a little too much like those of _Apteryx australis_, but this is not of any consequence, as the Moa feathers in the Tring Museum and elsewhere vary considerably in appearance, though being more or less coloured like _Apteryx_ feathers.

There is an almost perfect skeleton in the Tring Museum. {194}

DINORNIS GRACILIS OWEN.

_Dinornis gracilis_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. IV (1855) p. 141.

_D. torosus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV p. 117 (1892).

If we acknowledge that _D. novaezealandiae_ occurs both on the North and Middle Islands, then I feel sure that the distinctness of _D. gracilis_ and _D. torosus_ cannot be maintained, as the measurements intergrade completely.

The type of _D. gracilis_ came from w.a.n.ganui, while that of _D. torosus_ is a nearly perfect skeleton found in a cave at Takaka, near Nelson.

Habitat: New Zealand.

There is an imperfect skeleton in the Tring Museum, from a limestone cave at Takaka, near Motueka, Province of Nelson, New Zealand.

DINORNIS DROMIOIDES OWEN.

_Dinornis dromioides_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. III. p. 235 (1843).

_Palapteryx dromioides_ Reichenbach, Nat. Syst. der Vog. p. x.x.x (1850).