No*tor"nis (?), n. [NL., fr. Gr. the south, or southwest + 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.
© Webster 1913.