44 SHUFELDT — OSTEOLOGY OF THE CUCKOOS. LJan. 4, 



9. Mandible U-shaped, sides rather shallow ; ramal vacuity large ; 

 angular processes nearly aborted, with the inturned ones moderately 

 long only. Mandibular symphysis about one-fourth the length of 

 the jaw. 



10. Elements of hyoidean arches slender, and practically agree 

 with the corresponding parts in the Anis, but Geococcyx has the 

 cerato-hyals more extensively ossified, and fused together anteriorly, 



11. Eighteen free vertebrae between skull and pelvis; cervical 

 ribs on the thirteenth and fourteenth. Four pairs of dorsal ribs, 

 of which the three anterior pairs connect with the sternum. Pelvic 

 ribs absent. Pelvis of extraordinary form ; very strong and agrees 

 practically with the bone in Crotophaga, but the ilia very conspicu- 

 ously curled outwards behind, and the prepubic process very large. 



Skeleton of the tail as in the Croiophagina. 



12. Os furcula moderately U-shaped, somewhat slender; with 

 rather long but narrow hypocleidium. Other bones of this girdle 

 agree in the main with the corresponding ones in our other Cuckoos, 

 but the scapulae are comparatively not as narrow, and their apices 

 are more rounded posteriorly. 



13. Sternum of the same general pattern as in all North Ameri- 

 can Cuculidae, but differs from the Crotophagince. in being twice 

 notched upon either side of the keel, which notches are compara- 

 tively much deeper, while the carina is relatively shallower. The 

 bone is thoroughly pneumatic. 



14. Skeleton of the pectoral limb essentially agrees with what 

 has been recorded above for the Crotophagince.. Osseous papillae 

 on the shaft of the ulna very prominent. The bowed shaft of the 

 medius metacarpal wide and ribbon-like, slightly twisted upon 

 itself. 



15. Bones of pelvic limb long and stout, with the femur pneu- 

 matic. Patella, comparatively speaking, rather large. Fibula very 

 feebly developed below the articular ridge on tibio-tarsus. Pro- 

 cnemial crest short and prominent, and the hypotarsus of the tarso- 

 metarsus twice perforated for the passage of tendons. Anterior 

 aspect of tarso-metatarsus, nearly flat for its proximal moiety. 



Skeleton of pes essentially agrees with our other Cuculidcz. 



