_D. patricius_ is a fossil species from the Pleistocene of Queensland and New South Wales. _D. gracilipes_ is another extinct Australian form, but _Dromornis australis_ of Queensland may indicate a distinct group of Ratitae.[25] _Dromaeus ater_, of Kangaroo Island, off the south coast of Australia, is now extinct, though a stuffed skin and a skeleton are in the Paris Museum.[26] IV. APTERYGES. The APTERYGES, or Kiwis, have been recently shown to be much more nearly related to the Dinornithes than to the remaining Ratite forms, and are accordingly placed in close proximity to them in the classification here adopted. Professor T. J. Parker has, moreover, lately formulated a new system–excluding the _Aepyornithes_, which may commend itself to many persons as a further improvement.[27] In this, the Order _Struthiones_ contains the family Struthionidae, and the _Rheae_ the Rheidae; but the third Order, upon which the name _Megistanes_, Vieillot, is bestowed, includes two Sub-Orders–_Casuariformes_, comprising the Casuariidae and Dromaeidae, and _Apterygiformes_, with the Dinornithidae and Apterygidae. In other words, the original stock is considered to have produced three Ratite branches only, the third of which gives rise to two twigs, each of these separating again into two smaller twigs representing the Families. Fam. APTERYGIDAE.–These birds are at once distinguished {39}from all their allies by their small size, and by the long, weak, decurved bill, which tapers regularly and has the nostrils placed almost at the extremity. The head and eyes are comparatively small, as will be seen to be the case in the Dinornithidae. The legs are very stout and situated backwardly, a small elevated hallux is present, and the toes are provided with long, sharp claws. The moderate metatarsus is reticulated in the young, but is clothed with fairly large scutes in the adult, when it becomes much smoother. The wings are small-boned and invisible, with functionless quills, the tail is rudimentary, the aftershaft and furcula are absent, while many elongated hairs occur on the front of the head. [Illustration: FIG. 12.–Kiwi. _Apteryx australis._ × ⅐.]