LUCAS: GALLINULOIDES WYOMINGENSIS EASTMAN. 83 
bridge on the anterior face of the distal end of the tibia. The fibula is 
of the same general proportions as in other Galliformes. 
The hypotarsus is very likely only grooved, not perforate ; but this is 
one of the points that cannot be definitely ascertained without injury to 
thespecimen. ‘The number of tarsal tendinal perforations is a character 
of much importance in birds, for it seems fairly constant within the 
limits of a given large group and indicates the amount of specialization 
attained by the members of that group. As all Galliformes examined 
have a single tendinal perforation, the absence of such a character would 
indicate that our Eocene bird is of a more primitive type than its 
modern relatives. The usual tarsal sesamoid shows back of the right 
tarsal joint. The tarsus is longer in proportion to the tibia than in any 
other species examined, as is shown by the subjoined table, which gives 
the leugth of these bones in a few species : — 
SPECIES. LenGtH oF TIBIA. LENGTH OF TARSUS. Ratio. 
Gallinuloides wyomingensis 57° mm. 45° mm. 1.27 
Penelope superciliaris 115. 82. 1.40 
Rollulus roulroul 72. 48. 1.50 
Phasianus colchius 112. 12. 1.56 
Ortalis maccalli 108. 65. 1.66 
Colinus virginianus 53. 30. 1.77 
The toes are moderate and slender, of about the same length as those 
of Colinus virgintanus, but a little heavier ; yet they are not heavy in 
comparison with the size of the tarsus or the general bulk of the bird. 
The following table gives the length of the principal bones in the 
skeleton, all measurements being made in a straight line : — 
PrincipaAL MEASUREMENTS OF GALLINULOIDES WYOMINGENSIS. 
Occipital condyle to tip of bill, 47.°mm. Xiphoid to anterior end of keel, 59+ mm. 
Humerus, 47. Femur, 41. 
Ulna, 49 + Tibia, 67.+ 
Metacarpus, 25. Tarsus, 45. 
Scapula, 48. Basal phalanx of digit I, 7.5 
Coracoid, 29. do do do 16 il. 
Xiphoid to manubrium, 59. + do do do 1B ies 12. 
do do do DV: 7.5 
Relationships. — The various characters of the Green River bird may 
be summarized as follows : — 
