Part 78

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 TITAN ANDR.

Aepyornis titan 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. 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 "