Vol. XVIII. 

 igi8 



1 Shufeldt, Skeleton of Kea Parrot (Nestor notahilis)-. 37 



fellow of the opposite side. Either one projects posteriorly 

 beyond the ischium of the same side for at least a centimeter ; 

 both margins of this bone are rounded. There is the barest 

 suggestion of a prepiihis at the usual site on either side, and it is 

 most evident in fig. 15 ; it is so minute, however, as to be hardly 

 worthy of mention. 



The leading -pelvic vertebra has its body much individualized, 

 while superiorly it fuses with the under surface of the iUa. The 

 pair of ribs it supports appear to be freely articulated ; but this 

 is not the case with the second pair. There are six of the leading 

 pelvic vertebrae that develop lateral processes, which are thrown 

 out to the ventral surface of the ilium upon either side, there to 

 solidly co-ossify. 



Opposite the narrowest portion of the preacetabular moiety of 

 the pelvis, the " sacrum " is very broad, and to some degree 

 compressed. From this locality, however, it gradually narrows 

 as we proceed towards the caudal extremity. In the forepart 

 of the pelvic basin, opposite the acetabulae, the vertebrae fail to 

 throw out any diapophysial braces to the inner margin of the 

 ilium upon cither side ; while this is a conspicuous feature of the 

 remaining part of the sacrum — that is, of the ultimate six pre- 

 caudal vertebrae (fig. 14, Plate VIIL) 



There appear to be fourteen vertebras in the consolidated 

 " sacrum " of Nestor, and this agrees with a number of other 

 species of the Psittaci. 



Among other points it must be noted that the posterior free 

 border of either ischium is sharp and convexed to the front ; the 

 ilia behind form, by their borders, a rounded concavity, and into 

 it extends the forepart of the skeleton of the tail, almost to the 

 distance of two leading caudal vertebrae. The " ilio-ischiadic 

 notch " is very shallow, and the ischia behind barely come in 

 contact with the pubis upon either side. 



At the inner lower arc of either acetabulum there is an elevation 

 which is very noticeable upon the ventral aspect of this pelvis, 

 as it is in some other representatives of this most interesting 

 assemblage of birds. 



The Shoulder Girdle. — Nestor is one of those Parrots that has 

 its OS furcuhim complete. In form it is a perfect U, its lower 

 half being much flattened from before backward ; it is of a uniform 

 width, with a total absence of anything approaching a hypo- 

 cleidium. Either free extremity is enlarged and flattened trans- 

 versely, its superior border being rounded off. It articulates 

 with both scapula and coracoid, thus completing the " foramen 

 triasseum." Passing from either free extremity to the arch 

 below, the mesial surface above gradually comes to face anteriorly, 

 the loop below being entirely so directed. The opposite side of 

 the bone reverses this ; for where the free end of the arch presses 

 against the coracoid of the same side, its surface is directed out- 

 wards. So, in passing to the arch below, this surface gradually 

 comes to face backwards (figs. 13 and 14). 



