Extinct Birds Part 52

_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 "

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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 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}