SPARROWS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 321 



seven, and triangular. There are eight very slender roundish 

 ribs, the first incomplete. The scapula is very long, linear, 

 gently deflected towards the end. The furcula slender, nar- 

 row, with the curve acute. The sternum. Fig. 55, is of mo- 

 derate size, with a very prominent 

 crest, the posterior margin even, 

 but with a very deep sinus on each 

 side, leaving a linear process on 

 the lateral edge. Being marked 

 yviih. the same letters as those of the 

 Black Grouse, Fig, 43, and Rock 

 Dove, Fig. 49, it may be compared 

 Fxo. 55. with them. The body, «, ^, c, d, e, 



/ is more united than in the Pigeons, the posterior lateral 

 process, ^, being continuous with it, the extremity, y, d, e^ 

 truncate ; but the anterior lateral process, /, is still free. The 

 ridge or crest, a, e, has a considerable prominence. The an- 

 terior process between the coracoid bones, b, is forked. These 

 bones, A, h, are of moderate size. The furcula, ^, is slender 

 and curved, and has a flattened process at the junction of its 

 crura, standing off at a right angle backwards. The clavicles, 

 j\ y, are linear, long, and slightly deflected towards the end. 

 Humerus short, cylindrical, slightly curved ; cubital bones 

 nearly a third longer ; the hand of the same length as the 

 cubitus, consisting of two carpal bones, one large metacarpal, a 

 thin pointed pollical, and three digital, of which there are two 

 to the first phalanx. The pelvis is very open beneath ; the 

 femur short, the tibia a third longer, with a slender fibula, 

 only a fourth of its length ; the tarsal bone three-sided, being 

 edged behind, and a little longer than the femur. The hind 

 toe is composed of a distinct metatarsal bone and two -phal- 

 anges ; the second of three ; the third of four ; the fourth of 

 five ; the extreme phalanges long, very slender, slightly arched, 

 compressed, and laterally grooved. 



The digestive organs are obviously adapted for seeds and 

 grain, which are easily picked up by means of the strong point- 

 ed bill, and husked by its sharp involute edges. The oesopha- 

 gus generally has a median dilatation or crop, which is to 



Y 



