Page:Rothschild Extinct Birds.djvu/267

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233



FLACOURTIAANDREWS.

Differs from Mullerornis in having a completely ossified bony bridge over the lower end of the groove for the adductor of the outer digit, in the tarso-metatarsus.

Number of species: 1.



FLACOURTIA RUDIS(MILNE-EDW. & GRAND.)

Mullerornis rudis Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, Compt. Rend. CXVIII, p. 126 (1894).
Flacourtia rudis Andrews, Nov. Zool. II, p. 25 (1895).

Original description as follows:—"The third species M. rudis (= F. rudis) was discovered by M. Grevé in the fossiliferous beds of the West Coast. The tibio-tarsus is of about the same length as in M. betsilei, but is more massive. The tarso-metatarsus is remarkable on account of the great enlargement of the distal extremity, and of which the digital articular attachments are extremely large. Between the middle and outer ones there is a bony opening for the passage of the adductor muscle of the outer digit, which passage is not present in Aepyornis (or Mullerornis, W.R.)." (Translation.)

Length of tibio-tarsus 400 mm.
Circumference of tibio-tarsus 100 "
Width of tibio-tarsus 35 "
Width of distal end 75 "

Habitat: West Madagascar.