38 Shufeldt, Skeleton of Kea Parvot {Nestov notabilis). Lut "Yuiy 



A coracoid is a long, stout bone, with all its usual ornithic 

 characters developed. When the girdle is articulated, as in life, 

 the head of a coracoid is considerably above the clavicle of the 

 same side — considerably more so with respect to the anterior 

 extremity of the scapula. This head or superior extremity of the 

 bone is notably enlarged and turned toward the median plane. 

 It gradually merges below into the shaft, which latter is stout, 

 straight, and somewhat compressed from before, backwards. 

 This compression gradually- merges into the expanded sternal 

 end of the bone. The outer angle of the latter is broadly truncate, 

 while its inner angle meets in articulation the corresponding angle 

 of the fellow of the opposite side. This meeting takes place in 

 the middle line of the coracoidal groove, directly behind the 

 sternal manubrium. Either coracoid furnishes about two-thirds 

 of the articular surface of the glenoid cavity for the head of the 

 humerus. 



Passing to a scapula, it is to be noted that its head is much 

 compressed from above, downwards, being fashioned to meet the 

 clavicle mesially, and to assist in forming the glenoid cavity 

 externally. Its blade, too, is much flattened from above, down- 

 wards, and has the exact form of a miniature cimeter. Distally, 

 it turns outwards for about half its length, and ends posteriorly 

 in a blunt point (figs. 13 and 15). 



All the bones of the pectoral arch are more or less pneumatic. 



The Sternum (figs. 13 and 14). — Oblong in outline, the sternal 

 body has an average length of seven centimeters, while trans- 

 versely it averages about four centimeters, being somewhat 

 wider posteriorly than it is from the base of one costal process to 

 a corresponding point on the opposite side. Ventrally, it is much 

 concaved, especially just within the anterior border. The 

 manubrium is conspicuously developed, being bluntly bifurcated 

 superiorly and wedge-shaped below — the inferior edge in the median 

 line being very sharp. This is continued on to the carinal angle, 

 the anterior border of the carina being concaved from before, 

 backwards. Posteriorly, the sternal body is slightly convex and 

 entire. Well within its margin, one upon either side, there is 

 a large triangular foramen, the angles being slightly rounded off 

 (fig. 14). Each costal border supports six facets for the sternal 

 ribs. Between each facet and the one next posterior to it there 

 is a deep little pit, with one or more pneumatic foramina at its 

 base. Costal processes are well developed and triangular in 

 outline. A few minute pneumatic foramina are to be seen just 

 over the anterior border posteriorly. There is a big, strong keel 

 to this sternum, its free margin or border being convex downwards 

 and thickened ; it runs the entire length of the bone, terminating 

 in a little triangular area at the middle of the xiphoidal part of the 

 body of the bone. On either side of the keel, running between 

 the middle and lower thirds, there is a raised muscular line 

 defining the insertion of the pectoralis major. Posteriorly, it 

 runs into the superior defining line, which latter passes close to 



