1868.] PROCEEDINGS OP UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 261 



(2) Ethmoid peculiarly bulky and pierced by the olfactories. Crota- 

 phyte fossa? lateral; maxillo-palatines do not encroach upon the inter- 

 palatine space. As negative characters: Basipterygoid processes not 

 present; angle of mandible truncate £no processes); no ramal vacuity. 



(3) Sternal end of coracoid much produced laterally and externally. 

 Hypocleidium of furcula in contact when articulated with auterior 

 margin of carina of the sternum. 



(4) Xiphoidal end of sternum a transveise straight line, neither fen- 

 estrated nor notched; carina deep in front, occupies entire length of 

 sternal body. 



(5) Humerus possesses an ectocondyloid process, and is shorter than 

 the skeleton of antibrachium. 



(G) Accessory metatarsal is free and articulates with ungual joint of 

 hallux, the basal one not appearing. 



The Skeleton in the Fulmars (Fulmar us glacialis rodg- 



ERSIl). 



There are but a few unimportant differences between the skeleton of 

 Eodgers' Fulmar and F. glacialis, and I prefer to confine myself to the 

 discussion of the former bird in my description of the osteological char- 

 acters of those well-known representatives of the order Tubinares. 

 Moreover, as they possess not a few characters in common with Ocean- 

 odroma, I feel at liberty to make this description rather a comparative 

 one than otherwise, as my account of the osteological characters of the 

 latter form is quite full ; thus my labor will be lessened, and I know the 

 result will be of more value and greater use. 



The superior mandible in the skull of Eodgers' Fulmar is large and 

 massive; its posterior two-thirds is convex, while a smaller median 

 convexity is engrafted upon its anterior end, which is produced down- 

 ward in a powerful hook. 



The margins are likewise gently convex and cultrate. Each narial 

 aperture is spindle-formed and the nasal is of the holorhiual type, its 

 two processes being wide and thoroughly incorporated with the sur- 

 rounding bones. 



We find the lacrymal constructed upon the same principle as in the 

 Fork-tailed Petrel, though the upper margin of the anterior process 

 unites with the frontal and nasal above it. Then the pars plana and 

 the body of the bone have also merged into each other, leaving us in 

 doubt as to the exact locality of the suture. The arrangement of the 

 parts at the inner aspect of the orbital cavity is as in Oceanodroma, but 

 we observe that foramina occurs over the ethmoidal wings, while the 

 perforation is comparatively larger and, in fact, absorbs all that part of 

 the bone entitled to such a name. The maxiilo-jugal bar is not bent 

 up to meet the lacrymal, and the quadrate is the same as in the Petrels. 



Jutting out prominently from the sides each sphenotic process is of 

 a quadrilateral outline, and a ridge upon their posterior aspects divide 



