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In spite of the researches of Messrs. Grandidier, Last, and Forsyth Major and the large collections sent home by them, the number of Aepyornis bones is infinitesimal compared with the vast masses of bones of the Dinornithidae contained in the museums. This paucity of material quite prohibits us from making a critical study of the described species, so that we are at present unable to say if too many or too few species have been diagnosed. I am inclined, however, to think that if we ever get complete skeletons of the larger forms, Ae. grandidieri and Ae. cursor will prove to be sexes of one species, and also Ae. titan and Ae. maximus. For the present, however, the measurements are too different to allow of their being united without further investigation.
The three genera are as follows:—
AEPYORNIST. GEOFF.
- Aepyornis Geoffroy Saint Hilaire.
- Epiornis Geoffroy Saint Hilaire.
- Epyornis Auct.
MULLERORNISMILNE-EDWARDS & GRANDIDIER.
- Mullerornis Milne-Edwards and Grandidier.
FLACOURTIAANDREWS.
- Flacourtia Andrews.
- Mullerornis Milne-Edwards and Grandidier (part).
