Page:Rothschild Extinct Birds.djvu/109

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75



ATHENE MURIVORAMILNE-EDWARDS.

Strix (Athene) murivora Milne-Edwards, Ann. Sci. Nat. (5) XIX p. 13 (Art. 3.) (1874).

Professor Milne-Edwards described this bird from a tibio-tarsus and a tarso-metatarsus collected in Rodriguez by Sir Edward Newton, and says that he considers it to belong to the genus Athene, because the proportions of the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus agree with those of that genus. The most remarkable specific characters appear to be that the ridge to which the fibula is articulated is stout, and extends very far along the outer edge of the bone. The diaphysis is large and nearly straight; the distal extremity is furnished with two equal condyles separated by a deep channel.

Tibio-tarsus.
Total length 71 mm.
Length from proximal extremity to end of peronial ridge 25 "
Width of distal extremity 10 "
Width of proximal extremity 9 "
Width of shaft 4 "
Tarso-metatarsus.
Total length 46 mm.
Width at proximal extremity 10   "
Width at distal extremity 15   "
Width of shaft 5   "

Habitat: Rodriguez.