( 2fi4 ) 



shorter in proportiou to the bulk of the body than in recent coots, although in 

 other respects they closely resemble the corresponding bones of those birds. Pro- 

 fessor Milne-Edwards has pointed out that the humerus differs from that of recent 

 species of Fidica in [wssessing a much larger and, especially, wider subtrochanteric 

 fossa, a longer pectoral crest, and a more prominent inner trochanter. It may be 

 added that the shaft of the bone is stouter in proportion to its length, the bicipital 

 surface (intumescentia processus medialis humen of Fiirbringer) smaller and less 

 prominent, the median epicondyle larger, and the surface for the hrachiidis antlcus 

 deeper than in the humerus of recent coots. To the corresponding bone of F. 

 newtoni there seems to be greater likeness; but in that species also, the subtro- 

 chanteric fossa, and in fact the whole upper end of the bone, appear to be relatively 

 narrower. The surface for the insertion of the jjectwaiis major is deep and rough, 

 and that muscle must have been a very powerful one. 



The radius and idna differ from those of Fidica merely in being considerably 

 thicker in proportion to their length. 



The riietficarpus is also much stouter than in the recent forms, and the various 

 grooves and tubercles for the passage or insertion of tendons are more strongly 

 marked. 



The dimensions of the wing-bones in the skeleton described are : — 



Palaeolimnas. 



HumeTVH : 



Length 



Width of upper end .... 



„ lower end .... 



,, middle o£ shaft . 



Length 



Ulna : 



Length 



Mrtarnrpnx : 



Length 



Width ot upper end .... 

 „ middle of second metacarpal 



9.5 mm. 



'20 ., 



li r 



7 „ 



74 „ 



80 „ 



51 „ 



II ., 



4-5,. 



F. atra. 



80 mm. 



15 ., 



11 „ 



6 ,■ 



67 „ 



71 „ 



42 „ 

 8 „ 

 3-5,. 



.fl cristata. 



78 mm. 

 16 „ 

 11 ., 



5 » 



61 „ 



42 .. 

 9 ,. 

 3 ., 



The pelvis (PI. IX., figs. 7 and 8) differs from that of Fulica in unimportant 

 detaUs only. As in that genus, the pre- and post-acetabular regions are of nearly 

 equal length, and the pre-acetabular portions of the ilia join the crests of the neural 

 spines of the " sacral " vertebrae for a short distance anteriorlj' and posteriorly only, 

 while in the middle they are narrowed and leave the ileo-neural canal oj)en. Ac- 

 cording to Milne-Edwards, the anterior iUac fossae are larger than in Fidica newtoni. 

 The post-acetabular ilia, together with the sacral vertebrae, form a pelvic 

 escutcheon closely similar to that seen in F. atra, but according to Milne-Edwards 

 relatively more extensive than in F. newtmii. In the great prominence of the pro- 

 cesses overhanging the ischio-femoral surface there is a great likeness to the pelvis 

 of 1 . cristata, but the ilia do not narrow so abruptly behind these processes as in 

 that species. Posteriorly the ilia extend farther beyond the last fused caudal than 

 in F. atra ; in this region their inner borders are straight and nearly parallel to 

 one another, and the Sfjace between them is very narrow. The ischiadic foramen 

 is relatively larger, more oval, and its long axis directed more obliquely downward 

 and backward than in F. newtoni and the other si)ecies examined. Posteriorly the 

 ischium bears a long outwardly directed process, the distal end of which doubtless 

 touched the pubis, but iu all the specimens that element is imperfect. The 



