FALCONID.i:. 19 



extremities. The coracoid is short and stout, with the scapular 

 extremity generally large ; its subclavicular process is large, with 

 a larger or smaller foramen at its base ; there is generally a 

 l)neumatic foramen below the inner border of the head, of which 

 the inner surface is concave ; the anterior surface of the head has a 

 clavicular facet, which is large, oval, and very distinct ; the sternal 

 surface is dilated posteriorly, the hyosternal process being low and 

 much produced posteriorly. 



The pelvis, although presenting some resemblance to that of the 

 Gruidce, is at once characterized by the sharp deflection of the poste- 

 rior portion of its dorsal surface. 



In the wing the humerus is much shorter than the ulna. The 

 former is somewhat curved, with a long, prominent, and angulated 

 delto-pectoral crest, and a well-defined elongated surface for the 

 pcctoralis major: the head is much compressed, so that its palmar 

 aspect is almost continuous with the general surface of the bone ; 

 the subtrochanteric fossa is deep and large, with numerous cribriform 

 pneumatic foramina ; there is no cor aco -humeral groove ; the distal 

 extremity is much expanded, with very prominent condyles, the 

 surface for the brachialis anticus large, and extending close to the 

 outer border of the bone, the whole palmar supracondylar space 

 much depressed, and a distinct ectepicondylar tuberosity. 



The ulna resembles that of the Gruidce and Ciconiida;, but is dis- 

 tinguished by the larger olecranon, and the form of the humeral 

 articulations, as well as by the sharp ridge bounding the surface for 

 the insertion of the brachialis anticus. 



The cervical vertebrae arc comparatively short and stout ; the 

 hinder ones have large neural spines (which are wanting in the 

 middle region), and a deep depression on the inferior surface of the 

 centrum immediately behind the anterior articular face. The lateral 

 arches never unite beneath the centrum, which has no htemal spine. 



Family FALCONID^E. 



The general osteological characters are those mentioned above. 



Aquiline Section, 



In this section the females are larger than the males. The ter- 

 minal phalangeals of the pes are long and greatly curved. 



c2 



