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_Epyornis_ Auct.
MULLERORNIS MILNE-EDWARDS & GRANDIDIER.
_Mullerornis_ Milne-Edwards and Grandidier.
FLACOURTIA ANDREWS.
_Flacourtia_ Andrews.
_Mullerornis_ Milne-Edwards and Grandidier (part).
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AEPYORNIS GEOFF.
Characters same as those of the family; but in opposition to _Mullerornis_ the species are very heavy, ponderous, and clumsy, the bones being both actually and comparatively much stouter. Differs from _Flacourtia_ in not having an ossified boney bridge over lower end of groove for adductor of outer digit.
Type: _Aepyornis maximus_ Geoff.
Number of species: 9.
AEPYORNIS t.i.tAN ANDR.
_Aepyornis t.i.tan_ Andrews, Geol. Mag. 1895, p. 303.
This appears to be the largest species of the genus, though _Ae. maximus_ is considerably stouter. In the original description of _Ae. ingens_, however, the tibio-tarsi referred to that species are really those of _Ae.
t.i.tan_:--
Smallest Femur.
Length about 430 mm.
Circ.u.mference, narrowest point 280 "
Width, distal end 190 "
Width of shaft at narrowest part 97 "
Largest Femur.
Length 470 mm.
Circ.u.mference at narrowest point 280 "
Width, distal end 210 "
Distal part of tibio-tarsus.
Width at distal end 180 mm.
Width of shaft at narrowest point 77 "
Circ.u.mference of shaft at narrowest point 210 "
Tarso-metatarsus.
Length 480 mm.
Width at proximal end 190 "
Width at distal end 165 "
Width at narrowest point of shaft 80 "
Circ.u.mference at narrowest point of shaft 200 "
{224}
The skull, pelvis, and most vertebrae, as well as the sternum of this form are unknown.
Habitat: S. W. Madagascar.
Three Femora, two tarsi-metatarsi, and two incomplete tibia-tarsi are in the Tring Museum, collected by Last in the Antinosy country.
There are two eggs of this species at Tring, the measurements of which are as follows:--
No. 1, Antinosy Country, Last.
Large circ.u.mference 862.5 mm.
Small circ.u.mference 631.5 "
No. 2 (traded).
Large circ.u.mference 883 mm.
Small circ.u.mference 763 "
The egg mentioned by Mr. Lydekker in Cat. Foss. Birds B.M., page 214, No.
41847 is, judging from its size, undoubtedly an egg of this species, and I quote the measurements, as they are very large:--
Largest circ.u.mference 921 mm.
Smallest circ.u.mference 768 "
The egg purchased in 1854 in the Paris Museum measures:--
Large circ.u.mference 925 mm.
Small circ.u.mference 753 "
In addition to these four eggs which are undoubtedly of _Ae. t.i.tan_, there are the following which I consider to belong to that species:--
1 Paris Museum, Mr. Armange.
1 Hamburg.
1 Messrs. Gilford, Orange, New Jersey.
1 Rowley collection.
These four eggs range from 900 mm. to 863.5 mm. in large circ.u.mference, and 770 mm. to 736 mm. in small circ.u.mference. {225}
