756 THE AMYZON BEDS. 



away, but enough remains of their inner portion to show their anterior 

 extent. The postacetabular ridges diverge outwards and terminate in a 

 prominent angulation of the posterior border, which is about equidistant 

 between the vertebral border of the ilium and the externo-inferior border 

 of the pubis. The posterior outline thus differs from that seen in various 

 genera of Scolopacidce, where the angle is much nearer the vertebral border, 

 and where a second angle is produced by a notch at the point of junction 

 of the ischium. The pelvis of Totanus is, however, much like that of the 

 present species. External to the angular projection described, the border 

 is notched, and then turns posteriorly, forming a gentle curve, which con- 

 tinues from the ischium to the slender pubis. The pubis is long and very 

 narrow, and extends well posterior to the ischium. It is of uniform diameter,^ 

 and is not expanded distally. The ischiopubic foramen is long and narrow, 

 about one-seventh as wide as long. The obturator foramen is about one- 

 third the length of the ischiopubic, and is oval. A transverse line cutting 

 the anterior border of the acetabulum divides the pelvis between the pos- 

 terior angular projection of the ilium (the true crest, fide Gegenbaur) and 

 the anterior extremity into two parts of equal length. 



The leg bones are quite slender, and are similar in proportions to those 

 of several species of Charadrius and Totanus. They are more slender than 

 in various species of Scolopax, Strepsilas, Tringa, &c., and less so than in 

 Himantopus and Recurvirostra. The former is just half as long as the tibia,, 

 and seen in profile is almost straight. The crest of the tibia is very promi- 

 nent, but is not produced proximally. The distal extremity of the tibia 

 and proximal part of the tarsometatarse are so damaged as not to furnisk 

 satisfactory characters. 



There are five rectrices visible in the specimen. Those which are in 

 all probability median are the longest, while the external two are of equal 

 length. This gives the outline a rather short wedge shape as the feathers 

 lie closed. The expanded tail would be rounded, with a slight median 

 angulation. The extremities of the feathers are rounded, and their whole^ 

 structure is soft and delicate. The length of the longest rectrix is just 

 about that of the tibia. 



