PH(ENICOPTERrD.E. / / 



The furcula is U-shaped, with the rami bent forwards, and 

 approximates to that of the Platalcidce. The scajnila is charac- 

 terized by the production of its clavicular extremity into a point. 

 The coracoid (fig. 23) is very large, short, and wide, approximating 

 to that of the Plataleidce ; the sternal extremity is much expanded, 

 more oblique than in the Herodiones, with a well-marked and ele- 

 vated hyosternal process ; the inner border is sharp and continuous 

 with the recurved subclavicular process, at the base of which there 

 is a large foramen. 



The humerus is long, slender, slightly curved, with a small 

 proximal extremity ; the head is more prominent than the tro- 

 chanters ; there is a groove on the palmar aspect for the coraco- 

 humeral ligament ; the subtrochanteric fossa has no pneumatic 

 foramen ' ; and there is no ectcpicondylar process. 



The two bars of the metacarpus are closely approximated ^ 



Family PHCENICOPTERID^. 



Characters those of the suborder. 



Genus PHCENICOPTERUS, Brisson^ 

 In the skull the beak is depressed, and deflected at an angle in 

 front of the nares. The tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus are greatly 

 elongated, the length of the former bone much exceeding that of 



Fig. 21. 



PalcsMus amhiguus (A) and Phoenico2->terus croL-eti (B).— Anterior aspect of 

 the riglit tibio-tarsus ; from the Lower Miocene of France. \. a, bridge 

 over extensor groove ; b, intercondylar tubercle. 



1 This character distinguishes the humerus from that of the Herodiones and 

 Gruidcs. 



2 In the CiconiidcB the two bars of the metacarpus are widely separated. In 

 the Gruida they are intermediate between the Ciconiidis and PhixnicopteridcB. 



' Ornithologie, vol. vi. p. 532 (17G0). 



