60 



CARINAT.'E. 



The humerus is readily distinguished from that of the Ciconim 

 by the extreme length and sleuderness of the shaft, the slight ex- 

 pansion of the proximal extremity, the shortness and small develop- 

 ment of the delto-pectoral crest, and the extreme elongation of the 

 surface for the hrachialis anticus. 



Family ARDEID^. 



Characters as in the section. 



Genus ARDEA, Brisson \ 

 The type geuus. 



Ardea perplexa, Milne-Edwards -. 

 Pounded upon the distal part of a humerus referred with some hesitation to 

 this genus, and indicating a species slightly larger than A. imrpurea. 

 Hah. Europe (France). 

 From the Middle Miocene of Sansan (Gers). 



Ardea similis, Fraas 3. 



Imperfectly known. Stouter than A. cincrca. 



Hah. Europe (Bavaria). 



From the Middle Miocene of Steinheim, near Haddenheim. 



Family uncertain. 

 Genus PROHERODIUS, Lydekker (n. gen.). 



Apparently allied to Ardea, but the coracoidal grooves of the 

 sternum descending further down at the sides, and a distinct 

 tubercle on the ventral surface of the anterior border of the sternum 

 on the line separating the surfaces for the attachment of the pccto- 

 ralis major and minor. Tarso-metatarsus (see Addenda) without 

 closed channels in the talon, and the trochleas unequal. 



Proherodius oweni, Lydekker (n. sp.). 



The tj'po species. Nearly oE the size of the existing Ardea 

 purpurea. 



Hah. Europe (England). 



43164. The imperfect sternum ; from the London Clay (Lower 



(Fig.) Eocene) near Primrose Hill, Middlesex. This, the type 



specimen, was obtained during the construction of the 



1 Oruithologie, vol. v. p. 391 (1761). 



2 Oiseaux Fossiles de la France, vol. ii. p. 108 (1869-71) . 

 » Jahresh. Ver. Nat. Wiirtt. vol. xxvi. p. 284 (1870). 



