XIV, 1 Shufeldt: Osteology of Porphyrio 101 
two toes, though thin and flattened, they are no wider than the 
joint next behind them in the case of’ either toe; this is also 
characteristic of the American grebes. 
NOTE ON THE SKELETON OF HYDROPHASIANUS CHIRURGUS 
(SCOPOLI). 
Hydrophasianus possesses no special osteological characters 
not found in any typical. jacana; as, for example, in Jacana 
spinosa (Linnzus), the Mexican jacana. This is what we would 
look for, in as much as it is but a good average representative 
of the Jacanidz of the world’s avifauna. 
Its skull is to some considerable extent pneumatic, including 
the mandible, while no other part of the skeleton enjoys that 
condition. There is an unusual resemblance in its skull to some 
of the sandpipers, and, to a slighter degree, this is likewise to 
be observed in the remainder of the skeleton; though this does 
not apply, to be sure, to the greatly lengthened digits of pes. 
The sternum is somewhat narrow and elongate, being pro- 
foundly once-notched on either side, which gives rise to long, 
slender xiphoidal processes, and a rather broadish midxiphoidal 
part with slightly projecting outer angles. 
As the skeleton of this species has probably not been heretofore 
figured—and certainly not from a photograph made direct from 
the dried skeleton—I am here giving sych a plate, which I per- 
sonally prepared from the skeleton forwarded me by Mr. Richard 
C. McGregor, and which now forms a part of the collection of 
bird skeletons in the United States National Museum. 
