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DROMAIUS MINOR(SPENCER).
- Dromaeus minor Baldwin Spencer, Vict. Nat. XXIII, p. 140 (1906).
As Mr. Bernard H. Woodward, of Perth, West Australia, was organising an expedition to Kangaroo, Flinders, and King Islands (December, 1906), to hunt for Emu remains on these islands, I had hoped to be the first to describe what I felt sure would be two new species of Dromaius. I have, however, been forestalled by Professor Baldwin Spencer in the case of King Island, whence a collection of 17 femurs, 19 tibio-tarsi, 28 tarso-metatarsi, and portions of 8 pelves, made by Messrs. Alex. Morton and R. M. Johnston, T.S.O., formed the material for the description of a new species.
The diagnosis is as follows: "Smaller than D. ater (= D. peronii mihi). Tibia not or only slightly exceeding 330 mm. in greatest length. Tarso-metatarsus not exceeding 280 mm. in greatest length. Pelvis, length not or only slightly exceeding 280 mm."
D. minor was a smaller but stouter bird than D. peronii. Comparative dimensions:—
| D. peronii. | D. minor. | |||
| Tibio-tarsus | 342 | mm. | 320-332 | mm. |
| Tarso-metatarsus | 290 | " | 277-287 | " |
| Femur | 180 | " | 170-180 | " |
| Pelvis | 340 | " | 274-280 | " |
| Pelvis, front width | 75 | " | 64 | " |
| Pelvis, width behind acetabular cavity | 92 | " | 78-86 | " |
Habitat: King Island, Bass Strait. Now extinct.
