Edinburgh journal of natural history Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences edinburghjournal01macg Year: 1835 O. Giganteus.—The length of the foot, exclusive of the claws, is fifteen inches; it has three toes, and in one specimen the claw is at least two inches long, and even then a part of it appears to be wanting. In general, however, it is not more than one inch, but seems to be broken off. The whole foot, consequently, is sixteen or seventeen inches 1 The length of the successive steps, varying from four to six feet! The toes are somewhat tuberculated; the inner
Edinburgh journal of natural history Edinburgh journal of natural history and of the physical sciences edinburghjournal01macg Year: 1835 O. Giganteus.—The length of the foot, exclusive of the claws, is fifteen inches; it has three toes, and in one specimen the claw is at least two inches long, and even then a part of it appears to be wanting. In general, however, it is not more than one inch, but seems to be broken off. The whole foot, consequently, is sixteen or seventeen inches 1 The length of the successive steps, varying from four to six feet! The toes are somewhat tuberculated; the inner one, in some specimens, distinctly exhibiting two protuberances, and the middle one three, although less obviously. The average thickness of the toes, one inch and one fourth; and their breadth two inches. The ordinary step is supposed to be four feet, as most of the foot-prints were that distance apart; six tracks in succession of this species being found in one spot of this average; and the greater distance of six feet, seems to indicate a rapid movement of the animal. From the length of step, indicated in the sandstone, the bird must have been about twice the size of an Ostrich, or its head elevated from 12 to 15 feet above the ground. The length of the leg of the African Ostrich is about four feet, and that of the foot ten inches. The Professor says, ** Incredible almost as this description may seem, the specimens which I have obtained of this enormous species are, never- theless, more satisfactory perhaps than any other species. The whole cavity made originally in the mud by the foot of the bird has been filled by a siHceous concretion, differing somewhat from the surrounding rock ; so that the latter may be in a good measure detached, and the former be left standing out very naturally from the rock —presenting, in fact, a petrifaction of the entire foot.' The foot-marks of four individuals all pointing in one direction, having been noticed here, shows that they must
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