Cope.] -l^O [Feb. 5, 



continuity it is subcylindrical upon section. A short distance below the 

 head of the bone are seen tlie usual anteroposterior perforating foramina, 

 here three in number, two being lateral and below, with a mid one just 

 above them. Immediately below these is a single, somewhat prominent 

 tubercle for the insertion of the tendon of the tibialis anticus muscle. It 

 occupies nearly a median position upon the shaft. So far as can be ascer- 

 tained from the imperfect hypotarsial process it would appear that it 

 possessed originally a large, single, inner groove for tendons, with a plate- 

 like projection to its outer side. 



Char, specif. — Proxiraally, the tarso-metatarsus is considerably exca- 

 vated to the inner side of the hypotarsus at a point just below the summit. 

 The outer muscular line is single and commences at the middle point of 

 the margin of the outer condylar depression, passing from thence down 

 the back of the shaft. The inner muscular line bifurcates proximally, 

 then passes more obliquely backwards than the outc line, to finally pass 

 parallel with the latter also down the back of the shaft. 



Measurements. 



MM. 



Greatest transverse width of proximal end 15 



Greatest anteroposterior diameter of proK. end, not including 



hypotarsus 11 



Distance from apex of intercondyloid tubercle to the tubercle 



for tib. ant. muscle 10 



Vertical depth of hypotarsus 10 



Transverse diameter of shaft near its middle 6 



Remarks. — This fragment has been compared with the corresponding 

 part of the skeleton in a great many kinds of birds. It was found to differ 

 entirely from all larine, gallinaceous and raptorial types, while on the 

 other hand it seemed to combine the characters of several various species 

 of existing waders and allied groups. The writer compared it with 

 numerous species of the genera Guara, Plegadis, Aramus, Rallus, Crex, 

 Porzana, Ajaja, Tantalus, Botaurus, Ardea, Nycticorax, Grus and the 

 Gallinules, Storks, etc. 



For a skeleton of Grex pratensis I am indebted to Mr. F. E. Beddard, 

 prosector of the Zoological Society of London, and for the loan of other 

 material to the United States National JMuseum, as well as to Mr. F. A. 

 Lucas, of that institution, for placing the same at my disposal. In the 

 specimen under consideration, the Ralline characters appear to predom- 

 inate, while more remotely we may see Ibis in its general form and out- 

 line. Apart from the question of size it, however, distinctly differs from 

 the tarso-metatarsus in such a form as Aramus giganteus in that the shaft 

 was more cylindrical as it approached its midportlon, and, as has been 

 said above, did not show the anterolongitudinal excavation in that part. 

 Moreover, in Aramus the hypotarsus exhibits two grooves for the passage 

 of tendons, and the tubercle for the insertion of the tibialis anticus muscle 



