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Webster 1913 Edition


Notornis

‖

No-tor′nis

,
p
rop.
Noun.
[NL., fr. Gr.
νότοσ
the south, or southwest + [GREEK] bird.]
(Zool.)
A genus of birds allied to the gallinules, but having rudimentary wings and incapable of flight.
Notornis Mantelli
was first known as a fossil bird of New Zealand, but subsequently a few individuals were found living on the southern island. It is supposed to be now nearly or quite extinct.