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AEPYORNIS MAXIMUSGEOFF.
- Aepyornis maximus I. Geoffrey St. Hilaire, Ann. Sci. Nat. sér. 3, vol. XIV, p. 209 (1851).
- Aepyornis ingens Milne-Edwards & Grandidier, C.R. CXVIII, pp. 122-127 (1894).
This is the stoutest and bulkiest species, though not so tall as Ae. titan. All the largest eggs next to those of Ae. titan must belong to this species. It will be argued that I have no right to use the name maximus for this form, but the name of maximus is based on one of the eggs in the Paris Museum, and as these evidently belong to this form and not to the form subsequently called maximus, I must apply to that the name of grandidieri, given by Mr. Dawson Rowley in 1867 to a portion of eggshell of the lesser form.
The measurements of the limbs are as follows:—
| Femur. | ||
| Total length | 440 | mm. |
| Width at proximal end | 190 | " |
| Width at distal end | 200 | " |
| Circumference at narrowest part of shaft | 265 | " |
| Tibio-tarsus. | ||
| Total length | 780 | mm. |
| Width at proximal end | 180 | " |
| Width at distal end | 160 | " |
| Circumference at narrowest part of shaft | 210 | " |
| Tarso-metatarsus. | ||
| Total length | 420 | mm. |
| Width at proximal end | 170 | " |
| Width at distal end | 160 | " |
| Circumference at narrowest part of shaft | 200 | " |
The description of the foot in the diagnosis of the family is based on the pes of this species. It is true that the two mounted skeletons in the British and Tring Museums of Aepyornis hildebrandti show a larger number of phalanges; but as neither is composed of the bones of a single individual it is more than likely that the articulator made a mistake.
The dimensions of the type egg are as follows:—
| Large diameter | 340 | mm. |
| Small diameter | 225 | " |
| Large circumference | 850 | " |
| Small circumference | 710 | " |
Habitat: S. W. Madagascar.
There are about 16 eggs known of this form, varying from 854 mm. to 816 mm. in large circumference, and from 743 mm. to 715 mm. in small circumference.
