Part 16

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. titan_:--

Smallest Femur.

Length about 430 mm. Circumference, narrowest point 280 " Width, distal end 190 " Width of shaft at narrowest part 97 "

Largest Femur.

Length 470 mm. Circumference 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 " Circumference 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 " Circumference at narrowest point of shaft 200 "

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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 circumference 862.5 mm. Small circumference 631.5 "

No. 2 (traded). Large circumference 883 mm. Small circumference 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 circumference 921 mm. Smallest circumference 768 "

The egg purchased in 1854 in the Paris Museum measures:--

Large circumference 925 mm. Small circumference 753 "

In addition to these four eggs which are undoubtedly of _Ae. titan_, 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 circumference, and 770 mm. to 736 mm. in small circumference. {225}

AEPYORNIS MAXIMUS GEOFF.

_Aepyornis maximus_ I. Geoffrey St. Hilaire, Ann. Sci. Nat. sér. 3, vol. XIV, p. 209 (1851).

_Aepyornis ingens_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVIII, pp. 122-127 (1894).

This is the stoutest and bulkiest species, though not so tall as _Ae. titan_. All the largest eggs next to those of _Ae. titan_ must belong to this species. It will be argued that I have no right to use the name _maximus_ for this form, but the name of _maximus_ is based on one of the eggs in the Paris Museum, and as these evidently belong to this form and not to the form subsequently called _maximus_, I must apply to that the name of _grandidieri_, given by Mr. Dawson Rowley in 1867 to a portion of eggshell of the lesser form.

The measurements of the limbs are as follows:--

_Femur._

Total length 440 mm. Width at proximal end 190 " Width at distal end 200 " Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 265 "

_Tibio-tarsus._

Total length 780 mm. Width at proximal end 180 " Width at distal end 160 " Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 210 "

_Tarso-metatarsus._

Total length 420 mm. Width at proximal end 170 " Width at distal end 160 " Circumference at narrowest part of shaft 200 "

The description of the foot in the diagnosis of the family is based on the pes of this species. It is true that the two mounted skeletons in the British and Tring Museums of _Aepyornis hildebrandti_ show a larger number of phalanges; but as neither is composed of the bones of a single individual it is more than likely that the articulator made a mistake.

The dimensions of the type egg are as follows:--

Large diameter 340 mm. Small diameter 225 " Large circumference 850 " Small circumference 710 "

Habitat: S. W. Madagascar.

There are about 16 eggs known of this form, varying from 854 mm. to 816 mm. in large circumference, and from 743 mm. to 715 mm. in small circumference. {226}

AEPYORNIS GRANDIDIERI ROWLEY.

_Aepyornis Maximus_ Auct.

_Aepyornis grandidieri_ Rowley, P.Z.S. 1867, p. 892.

This is the form which nearly all the bones, referred erroneously to Geoffroy's _Ae. maximus_, belong. The original description of Dawson Rowley was founded on a piece of eggshell, and is as follows:--

"The granulation is in a marked degree different from that of the other pieces. The air pores which in the other specimens appear like a comet with a tail are here only small indentations without any tail; the shell also is only half the thickness, is much finer, and presents an aspect so diverse that the difference is detected by the most careless observer, even when the pieces are all mixed. These fragments belonged to the egg of much smaller birds, the embryo of which required less strength in the shell. Yet the colour, quality and locality of that shell clearly point to a bird of the same family as _Aepyornis maximus_--in short, a smaller and more delicate _Aepyornis_. For this species I propose the name of _Aepyornis grandidieri_."

The measurements of bones of the hind limb are as follows:--

_Femur._

Length 320 mm. Width at distal end 190 "

_Tibio-tarsus._

Length 640 mm.

There are at Tring two eggs of this species.

No. 1, traded.

Length 283.0 mm. Width 215.0 " Large circumference 777.5 " Small circumference 670.0 "

No. 2 Ambondo, Ambovombé in the district of Fort Dauphin.

Large circumference 775 mm. Small circumference 662.5 "

There are recorded of these eggs, besides the two mentioned above, eight further specimens, varying from 810 mm. to 771.5 mm. in large circumference, and 686 mm. to 654 mm. in small circumference.

In addition to these there are in various collections about eight or nine eggs whose species is doubtful. {227}

AEPYORNIS CURSOR M.-E. & GRAND.

_Aepyornis cursor_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVIII, p. 124 (1894).

Original description as follows: _Ae. cursor_ is almost as large as _Ae. grandidieri_ = _maximus_ auct., nec. Geoffroy, but is more slender.

Length of tarso-metatarsus 380 mm. Width at proximal end 140 " Width at distal end 120 " Circumference of shaft 155 " Width of shaft 65 "

Habitat: Madagascar.

AEPYORNIS MEDIUS M.-E. & GRAND.

_Aepyornis medius_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, Ann. Sci. Nat. ser. V, vol. XII, p. 179 (1869).

_Aepyornis medius_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, Rech. Faune. Orn. Et. Masc. & Mad. (1866-73), p. 97, note 2.

This form was founded on a femur found at Amboulitsate in W. Madagascar, and is described as follows: "It presents the same general characters, and evidently belongs to an _Aepyornis_, but to a different species, which we will call _Aepyornis medius_. The femur in question is not only distinguished by its lesser proportions but by the narrower external face of the bone; which variation results in causing the whole area between the trochanter and the base of the femoral neck to be much less depressed. The intermuscular line, which marks the insertion surface of the deep portion of the femoral triceps muscle, is hardly indicated, whereas it is very pronounced in the larger femur. The posterior side is also more rounded, and the distance which separates the popliteal depression from the proximal extremity is larger; the shape of this large depression is, however, the same as in the larger femur, and although the articular surfaces above it do show some differences, we know that these characters are not very reliable as they are subject to individual variations.

Circumference of shaft 215 mm."

Habitat: West Madagascar. {228}

AEPYORNIS HILDEBRANDTI BURCKH.

_Aepyornis hildebrandti_ Burckhardt, Pal. Abh. (VI) II, p. 127 (1893).

I must refer my readers to Dr. Burckhardt's description, as it is too long and too technical to be reproduced here, especially as it is not comparative. I, however, give here some of his measurements:--

_Tibio-tarsus._

_A. grandidieri._ _A. hildebrandti._ Length 640 mm. 480 mm. Breadth at proximal end 190 " 130 " Breadth at distal end 135 " 82 "

_Tarso-metatarsus._

Length circa 375 mm. 275 mm. Breadth at proximal end 145 " 103 " Breadth at distal end 145 " 95 "

The locality of the type is Sirabé.

Habitat: Madagascar.

AEPYORNIS LENTUS M.-E. & GRAND.

_Aepyornis lentus_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVIII, p. 124 (1894).

Original description as follows: "_Ae. lentus_ is remarkable from its short and massive feet.

Length of tarso-metatarsus 360 mm. Width of proximal end 150 " Circumference of shaft 170 " Width of shaft 68 " "

Habitat: Madagascar. {229}

AEPYORNIS MULLERI M.-E. & GRAND.

_Aepyornis mulleri_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVII, pp. 124-125 (1894).

The original description commences: "The new species which we owe to the researches of M. G. Muller, and which we shall name _Ae. mulleri_, is smaller. Nevertheless, it is superior in size to _Ae. hildebrandti_, described by M. Burckhardt, which also came from Antsirabé. We possess the almost complete skeleton of this bird, the skull, mandible, vertebrae, ribs, sternum, a part of the pelvis, the leg bones, and a few phalanges of the pes; so that we can now exactly define the position and affinities of the genus _Aepyornis_." Then follows the diagnosis of the family, which I have given before.

Habitat: Central Madagascar.

AEPYORNIS MODESTUS M.-E. & GRAND.

_Aepyornis modestus_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, Ann. Sci. Nat. (5) XII, p. 189 (1869).

Messrs. Milne-Edwards & Grandidier state at pages 180-181 that the bone (a portion of a femur) which is the type of the above name, had a shaft-circumference of 120 mm., while in _Ae. medius_ this circumference was 215 mm., and in _Ae. grandidieri_ (= _maximus_ auct. nec. Geoffroy), it was 270 mm.

Type locality: Amboulitsate, in West Madagascar.

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MULLERORNIS MILNE-EDWARDS & GRANDIDIER.

Birds of medium size, not having the heavy and massive build of _Aepyornis_. They appear to resemble more closely the _Casuaridae_. Known only from leg bones.

Number of species: 2.

MULLERORNIS BETSILEI MILNE-EDW. & GRAND.

_Mullerornis betsilei_ Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, Compt. Rend., CXVIII, p. 125 (1894).

Original description as follows:--"The leg bones are slender, the tarso-metatarsus is not enlarged as in the preceding genus, and the section through the shaft shows almost an isosceles triangle. The bone itself having more the proportion of _Dromaius_.

"Length of tibio-tarsus 390 mm. Circumference of tibio-tarsus 90 " Width of tibio-tarsus 30 " Width of proximal end 75 " Width of distal end 60 " Length of tarso-metatarsus 310 " Circumference of tarso-metatarsus 80 " Width of shaft of tarso-metatarsus 27 " Width of proximal end 70 "

"_Mullerornis betsilei_ inhabited the same area as _Ae. mulleri_ but was much rarer. (Translated.)"

Habitat: Central Madagascar. {232}

MULLERORNIS AGILIS MILNE-EDW. & GRAND.

_Mullerornis agilis_ Milne-Edwards and Grandidier, Compt. Rend., CXVIII, pp. 125-126 (1894).

Original description as follows:--"_M. agilis_ inhabited the South-west Coast; we only possess, of this species, one tibia, which is remarkable for the manner in which the intermuscular bony ridges and the tendon-grooves are marked. The exterior border of the bone above the lower articular surface has developed into a very pronounced crista." (Translated.)

"Length of tibio-tarsus 440 mm. Circumference of tibio-tarsus 97 " Width of tibio-tarsus 34 " Width at proximal end 65 " Width at distal end 75 " "

Habitat: South-west Madagascar.

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FLACOURTIA ANDREWS.

Differs from _Mullerornis_ in having a completely ossified bony bridge over the lower end of the groove for the adductor of the outer digit, in the tarso-metatarsus.

Number of species: 1.

FLACOURTIA RUDIS (MILNE-EDW. & GRAND.)

_Mullerornis rudis_ Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, Compt. Rend. CXVIII, p. 126 (1894).

_Flacourtia rudis_ Andrews, Nov. Zool. II, p. 25 (1895).

Original description as follows:--"The third species _M. rudis_ (= _F. rudis_) was discovered by M. Grevé in the fossiliferous beds of the West Coast. The tibio-tarsus is of about the same length as in _M. betsilei_, but is more massive. The tarso-metatarsus is remarkable on account of the great enlargement of the distal extremity, and of which the digital articular attachments are extremely large. Between the middle and outer ones there is a bony opening for the passage of the adductor muscle of the outer digit, which passage is not present in _Aepyornis_ (or _Mullerornis_, W.R.)." (Translation.)

Length of tibio-tarsus 400 mm. Circumference of tibio-tarsus 100 " Width of tibio-tarsus 35 " Width of distal end 75 "

Habitat: West Madagascar.

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DROMAIUS PERONI NOM. NOV.

(PLATE 40.)

_Casoar de la Nouvelle Hollande_ Péron, Relat. Voy. Terr. Austr. I p. 467, pl. XXXVI (1807).

_Dromoius ater_ Vieillot, Gal. des Ois, pl. 226 (not text).

_Dromaeus ater_ Blyth, Ibis 1862, p. 93.

It is most unfortunate that the larger number of authors have neglected to go carefully into the synonymy of this bird; if they had done so it would not have been necessary, after 81 years, to reject the very appropriate name of _ater_, and to rename the Emu of Kangaroo Island. Vieillot, in the Nouveau Dictionnaire D'Histoire Naturelle X, page 212, distinctly states that his _Dromaius ater_ was a name given to Latham's _Casuarius novaehollandiae_, and makes no mention of Péron or of the Isle Decrès.

The figures in Péron's work of the adult male and female are not good, but those of the young and nestlings appear to me to be very accurate, and the plate in the Galérie des Oiseaux is quite excellent. The latter and my own are taken from the type specimen in the Paris Museum, while the plate in Péron was done by Lessieur from a series of sketches from life made by himself on Decrès Island and in the menagerie of the Jardin des Plantes. The only known specimens of this extinct species are the mounted skin and skeleton in Paris and the skeleton in the Florence Museum. All these are what remain of the three living birds brought to Paris by Péron, and no other authentic specimens exist anywhere. There is in the Museum at Liverpool a full-grown, though immature Emu of the same size as _Dromaius peronii_, but owing to its proportionally longer legs and very scanty plumage it is not absolutely safe to identify it as a second mounted specimen of _D. peronii_. I will recur to this lower down.

Description of adult male (ex Cat. Birds Brit. Mus.): Similar to _D. novaehollandiae_, but much smaller, and with feathers of the neck entirely black; feathers of the body brown fulvous, with the apical half very dark blackish brown; bill and feet blackish, naked skin of the sides of the neck blue. Total length about 55 inches, tarsus 11.40, culmen 2.36.

Immature in first plumage entirely sooty black. Nestling whitish with longitudinal bands of rufous brown. In addition to Decrès or Kangaroo Island, also Flinders, King Islands, and Tasmania had Emus living on them {236} at the time of Péron's visit, and I believe, if authentic specimens from these localities were in existence we should find that each of these islands had had a distinct species or race of Emus. Taking this for granted, and also taking into account that it is slightly different from the type of _D. peronii_, I have come to the conclusion that the Liverpool specimen is an immature, though full-grown individual from one of these other islands; but it is not possible from this one rather poor specimen to separate it from the Kangaroo Island species, especially as there is absolutely no indication of the origin of this specimen.

Habitat: Island of Decrès or Kangaroo Island.

One stuffed specimen (Type) and one skeleton in Paris, one skeleton in Florence, and one stuffed specimen in Liverpool (an species diversa?). Also some leg-bones in Adelaide, Australia.

Dr. H. O. Forbes, who kindly lent me the last-named specimen, was the first to point out the differences of this bird from _D. novaehollandiae_. It is certainly totally distinct from birds of similar age of either _D. novaehollandiae_ or _D. n. irroratus_. {237}

DROMAIUS MINOR (SPENCER).

_Dromaeus minor_ Baldwin Spencer, Vict. Nat. XXIII, p. 140 (1906).

As Mr. Bernard H. Woodward, of Perth, West Australia, was organising an expedition to Kangaroo, Flinders, and King Islands (December, 1906), to hunt for Emu remains on these islands, I had hoped to be the first to describe what I felt sure would be two new species of _Dromaius_. I have, however, been forestalled by Professor Baldwin Spencer in the case of King Island, whence a collection of 17 femurs, 19 tibio-tarsi, 28 tarso-metatarsi, and portions of 8 pelves, made by Messrs. Alex. Morton and R. M. Johnston, T.S.O., formed the material for the description of a new species.

The diagnosis is as follows: "Smaller than _D. ater_ (= _D. peronii_ mihi). Tibia not or only slightly exceeding 330 mm. in greatest length. Tarso-metatarsus not exceeding 280 mm. in greatest length. Pelvis, length not or only slightly exceeding 280 mm."

_D. minor_ was a smaller but stouter bird than _D. peronii_. Comparative dimensions:--

_D. peronii_. _D. minor_. Tibio-tarsus 342 mm. 320-332 mm. Tarso-metatarsus 290 " 277-287 " Femur 180 " 170-180 " Pelvis 340 " 274-280 " Pelvis, front width 75 " 64 " Pelvis, width behind acetabular cavity 92 " 78-86 "

Habitat: King Island, Bass Strait. Now extinct.

* * * * *

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INDEX. PAGE Aechmorhynchus, 119 Aepyornis, 223 Aepyornithidae, 221 Aestrelata, 157 agilis (Mullerornis), 232 alba (Notornis), 144 alba (Porphyrio), 143 albicilla (Clitonyx), XI albifacies (Sceloglaux), XI albifrons (Miro), XI Alca, 153 Alectroenas, 163 Alopochen, X alphonsi (Astur), 83 altus (Dinornis), 192 Amazona, 57 americana (Meleagris), XII americanus (Siphonorhis), 43 Anas, 103 angustipluma (Chaetoptila), 29 anna (Ciridops), 41 Anomalopteryx, 201 antiquus (Anomalopteryx), 202 antipodum (Palaeocorax), 1 Aphanapteryx, 131 apicalis (Moho), 27 Apterornis, 145 Aptornis, 147 Ara, 51 Ardea, 111 Astur, 83 ater (Dromaeus), 235 Athene, 75 aucklandica (Nesonetta), XI augusta (Amazona), XII australis (Mergus), XI australis (Miro), XI

benedeni (Anas), IX betsilei (Mullerornis), 231 bifrons (Metapteryx), X Biziura, 109 bonasia (Aphanapteryx), 131 boothi (Emeus), 210 borbonica (Emberiza), 7 borbonica (Pezophaps), 175 borbonica (Phedina), XI borbonicus (Fregilupus), 3 borbonicus (Necropsittacus), 62 borbonicus (Palaeornis), 67 borbonicus (Trochocercus), XI bouqueti (Amazona), XII Bowdleria, 21 brachyurus (Rhamphocinclus), XI Branta, X brewsteri (Tympanuchus), 181 broeckii (Aphanapteryx), 131 bruante (Foudia), 7 Bubo, 71

Cabalus, 127 caeruleus (Anadorhynchus), 54 calcitrans (Cnemiornis), 97 californianus (Pseudogryphus), XII Camptolaimus, 105 canadensis (Columba), 167 cancellata (Aechmorhynchus), 119 capensis (Upupa), 3 Carbo, 87 carribbaea (Aestrelata), 157 carolinensis (Conurus), XII Casuarius, X {240} casuarinus (Cela), 207 Cela, 205 Centrornis, 95 Cereopsis, 99 Chaetoptila, 29 chathamensis (Palaeolimnas), 149 chathamica (Gallinago), 121 Chaunoproctus, 9 Chenalopex, 93 Chenopis, 91 Cinclocerthia, XI cincta (Pogonornis), XI Circus, 81 Ciridops, 41 Clitonyx, XI Cnemiornis, 97 coerulescens (Apterornis), 145 commersoni (Scops), 73 compacta (Pachyornis), 217 Conurus, 59 cooki (Cyanorhamphus), XI Coturnix, 183 coudoni (Anser), X crassus (Emeus), 209 cucullatus (Didus), 172 cupido (Tympanuchus), 181 cursor (Aepyornis), 227 curtus (Cela), 205 Cyanorhamphus, 69