(PLATE 41.)
_Dinornis huttonii_ Owen, Ext. Birds, N.Z., p. 430 (1879).
_Dinornis didinus_ Owen, Trans. Zool. Soc. XI, p. 257 (1883).
_D. didiformis_ Haast, (non Owen 1844) Trans. N.Z. Inst. I, p. 83, Nos.
5 & 6 (1869).
_Mesopteryx didinus_ Hutton, Trans. N.Z. Inst. XXIV, p. 129 (1892).
The synonymy of this form is somewhat confused, but I think it is clear
that _huttonii_ of Owen is its proper name. Professor Owen (Ext. B. p. 430)
says:
"In the collection from the Glenmark Swamp, South Island, are bones that
scarcely differ, save in size, from the dimensions (? W.R.) of the type
bones of _Dinornis didiformis_ from the NORTH ISLAND. They are noted as of
a large variety of that species." Captain Hutton remarks: "The bones that I
have arranged under the name _D. didiformis_ belong probably to a new
species. The tibia is well marked and quite distinct, but the femur and
metatarsus, that I have associated with it, pass almost into _D.
casuarinus_, but are rather smaller. _D. casuarinus_ is undoubtedly a good
species, easily distinguished by its tibia." Possibly the _Dinornis_ of the
SOUTH ISLAND, with the tibia characteristic of _D. didiformis_ of the NORTH
ISLAND, may need to be noted for the convenience of naming the bones as
_Dinornis huttonii_.
When describing his _D. didinus_, Professor Owen failed to recognise its
identity with his previously named _D. huttonii_, doubtless owing to the
leg bones being hidden by the dry integument. This being the case, it is
necessary to reinstate the name _huttonii_, as it has four years' priority
over _didinus_.
Captain Hutton says that a few bones of this form have been obtained in the
North Island at Poverty Bay and Te Aute; but I am convinced he is in error
and that these bones are aberrant individual bones of _A. didiformis_ and
that _M. huttonii_ is confined to the South or rather Middle Island. The
plate of this species has been reconstructed by Mr. Lodge from the
mummified remains which form the type specimen of _Didornis didinus_, and
the feathers found in the alluvial sands of the CLUTHA RIVER. The type of
_Dinornis didinus_ was found at Queenstown by Mr. Squires.
Habitat: Middle Island, New Zealand.
Mr. C. W. Andrews, in his description of my complete skeleton of
_Megalapteryx tenuipes_ has shown that Owen's type specimens of his
_Dinornis didinus_ are certainly of a species of the genus _Megalapteryx_,
and closely {200} allied to _M. tenuipes_. Mr. Andrews, however, throws
some doubt as to whether the pelvis and femora, referred to this species by
Hutton, really belong to it.
A complete egg which I consider must be of this species is preserved in the
Tring Museum. Its measurements are as follows:--
Large circumference, 21.4 inches = 535 mm.
Small " 17.5 " = 437.5 mm.
This egg was dredged up on the Molyneux River, near Otago, during gold
dredging operations in 1901; a second perfect egg was dredged up a few
months before in the same river, and was referred by Dr. Benham to
_Pachyornis ponderosus_.
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