1886.] PKOCEEDINCS OF UNITi?]D .STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 157 



I^OTES ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF THE SPOTTED TINAMOU 

 (NOTHURA MACULOSA). 



By a-'KEBiSKSi: A. S.rCAS. 



Dr. Parker's ■\vell-kiio\vii memoir on the Ostcoloj^y of the Tiimmoiis 

 treats the ^'roiip so tliorouglily that little or iiotliinj;- remains to be tlone 

 ill that (lirection, except to notice any points therein sj)ecies not hith- 

 erto described differ from tliose that have been. 



xV skeleton of the S[)otted Tiniiinou {Nolhuni macidosa) recently 

 acquired by the National Museum ])resejits some interestini;- features 

 which seem worthy of description. 



^^' — " "^ 



Pelvis of Xothura iuttculnsa 



As is well known, one of the nio^t^ ciiiious, as wcil as most noti(;eable 

 characters of the Timiminc skiiil is th.". |)reseiice of a chain of supra- 

 orbital ossicles firmly attached to tin' skull and completely roofing- over 

 the eye. 



This feature is entirely hicking in the S[)ot(e(l Tinamou, the inter- 

 orbital portion of the cranium being nui(;h coiiti acted. 



The beak of Nothura is comparatively short and curved, being in 

 marked contrast to that of Tinamus rolnisfus, while the general resem- 

 blance of the skull to that of a fowl is quite noticeable. 



There being no skeleton in the Museum of any species of Tinainou 

 save the one under consideration, comparisons of all parts but the skull 

 rest upon descriptions and figures alone. 



The first three dorsals of Nothura are fused in one mass, this being 

 an exception to what is ordinarily found, not only in the Tinamous 

 but in the fowls. The usual rule is that the last cervical anchyloses 

 with the succeeding three dorsals, this fusion of vertebric compeusat- 



