STEKEORNITHES 



separate bone which exists in Cariama (and of course 

 Chunga), a bone which is found in other birds, though its 

 articulation with the palatines often makes its identification 

 with that of the seriema doubtful. 



The ventral surface of the skull is crane-like. 1 

 The vertebral column is interesting on account of the 



fact that many of the dorsal and all 

 of the caudal s have their centra per- 

 forated for the remains of the noto- 

 chord. There is no pygostyle. The 

 pelvis is remarkably like that of Hes- 

 perornis and the grebes. It has the 

 length and narrowness of that limb 

 girdle in the birds mentioned. It 

 has, however, been more satisfac- 

 torily perhaps compared with the 

 pelvis of Cariama. The slenderness 

 and length of the coracoid, together 

 with the absence of a procoracoid, 

 prevent a comparison in this particu- 

 lar with the ratites. It is typically 



FIG. 186. SKULL or Plio- 

 rorliacos. DORSAL ASPECT. 

 (AFTER ANDREWS.) 



FIG. 187. PELVIS OF Pliororliacos. DORSAL, 

 ASPECT. (AFTER ANDREWS.) 



carinate in fact, and shows perhaps special resemblances to 

 Cariama. 



The ulna shows well-marked tubercles, which indicate the 

 insertion of the secondaries. Though reduced in size, and 

 therefore possibly useless for purposes of flight, it seems 



1 See letter from Dr. GADOW, Ibis, Oct. 1896, p. 586, where it is pointed out 

 that Stcreornis is synonymous with Pliororliacos, and that therefore the name 

 Stereornithes cannot stand. It is, however, difficult to compose a name out of 

 Phororliacos, and it is not proved that the birds in question are definitely 

 cranes. I therefore leave the name. 



C C 



