\No*tor"nis\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? the south, or
southwest + ? bird.] (Zo["o]l.)
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.