^"''i^is''^'] Shufeldt, Skeleton of Kea Parrot (Nestor notaUHs). 39 



the edge of the xiphoidal foramen of that side, and then passes 

 along just below the costal border, to terminate at the articulation 

 of the first sternal rib ; this line does not show up very well in the 

 figure. The carinal angle is an open, acute one, and the 

 " coracoidal grooves " appear to meet at the base of the manu- 

 brium. 



The Pectoral Limb (Plate IV., fig. 2, and Plate V., fig. 5)-— As in 

 not a few other species of Parrots, the bones of the forearm and 

 hand of this Parrot seem to be only partially pneumatic, while 

 the humerus is perfectly so. This latter bone possesses all the 

 characters as we find them in the typical Macaws of the genus 

 Ara. As a matter of fact, the humerus of Nestor presents 

 identically the same characters as are to be found in the corre- 

 sponding bone of the pectoral limb of Ara chloroptera, with which 

 I have carefully compared it. In the latter bird, the humerus 

 has a total length of 8.9 cms., w^hile in Nestor it measures but 

 7.8 cms. It is a trifle shorter than this in the plates, for the 

 reason that the bone is, to some extent, taken in perspective. 

 Its shaft is short, stout, and to some degree compressed in the 

 same plane with the head. Either extremity is very consider- 

 ably enlarged — the head to some extent being flexed anconad and 

 the distal end palmad, the two lending to the bone, for its length, 

 the usual sigmoid curve ; though this is by no means very pro- 

 nounced. Proximally, the caput humeri is large, smooth, and 

 transversely compressed ; it is separated from the very prominent 

 ulnar tuberosity by a strongly-marked incisura capitis, the 

 former overarching a deep pneumatic fossa, at the bottom of which 

 may be seen numerous small pneumatic foramina. A conspicuous 

 radial crest is present, which is short, and has a convex, free edge. 



Distally, the usual tuberosities are well marked and prominently 

 elevated. Small ectopicondylar and entepicondylar processes are 

 to be seen ; but they are quite minute as compared with those 

 found in many other birds. 



The radius is straight, with subcylindrical shaft, and presents 

 the usual ornithic characters at either extremity. On the other 

 hand, the ulna is comparatively very stout, considerably curved 

 along its shaft — especially along its proximal third — while the 

 papillae for the quill-butts of the secondary feathers of the wing 

 are barely perceptible. 



Radiale and ulnar e metacarpals are large, with extensive articular 

 facets for articulation with the long bones of the antibrachium 

 and the metacarpus. This latter bone possesses an extreme 

 length of 5.6 cms. Pollex metacarpal is short and projecting, 

 while the main shaft of the bone or index metacarpal is stout and 

 straight ; on the outer aspect of its distal half a very pronounced, 

 longitudinal groove is present. Middle metacarpal is rather 

 slender distally, and becomes broader and compressed proximally. 

 All of these characters are present in Ara chloroptera. 



The distal phalangeal joints of manus in Nestor are all well 

 developed— a fact that may be appreciated by a consideration 



