Part 81

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.

{231}

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.