COLCMBJE. J.j;3 



Suborder X. COLUMBM. 



.Sehtzognathous birds, usually with tho angle of the mandible 

 truncated, and the delto-pectoral crest of the humerus always 

 produced into a sharp point, opposite to which is tho surface for the 

 attachment of the pectoralis minor. In aU the species capable of 

 strong liight the legs are very short. 



Typically the tarso-mctatarsus, which is usually short, has a Ion- 

 and deep depression on the inner side of the talon for the flexor 

 hallucis; the talon is large, with a prominent inner crest, and one 

 closed tube 'for the flexor tendons; the distal trochlear are short 

 widely separated, and frequently form only a very slight curve, the 

 second trochlea being oblique, inclined to the inner side, and 

 e.x ending much lower than the fourth (fig. 31); the facet for the 

 hallux IS large and distinct. 



The tibio-tarsus is short and stout, with no intercondylar tuber- 

 osity near the extensor bridge, the inner condyle much lar-er and 

 more prominent than the outer, and a smaU cnemial crest. 

 The femur is nearly straight. 



The furcula is U-shaped. The coracoid is very long, with an 

 enlarged sternal extremity, in which the articular surface extends 

 on to the ventral aspect ; the triangular hyosternal process is very 

 low; he inner border is rounded; and the subclavicular process 

 small, high up, and recurved towards the head of the bone, with no 

 foramen at its base. 



The humerus (fig. 30) is characterized by its straight external 

 border the triangular and pointed delto-pectoral crest, the elongated 

 tacet for the pectoralis minor on the dorsal surface of the bone 

 opposite the point of the delto-pectoral crest, and the presence of a 

 minute tuberosity on the radial border of the bone representin<^ the 

 ectepicondjlar process of the Gad». There is no distinct subtro- 

 chanteric tossa, so that the foramen opens on the sm-face of the bone • 

 the outer portion of the coraco-humeral groove is distinct, and the 

 surface tor the brachialis anticus large. 



The uhia is much like that of the Gallinrc, but is less curved with 

 a crest-hke projection of the margin of the radial cup. The mcta 

 carpus, although having the same outer curvature of the smaller bar 

 as m the Gallin*, is distinguished by the absence of the inter 

 metacarpal process, which rises from the larger bar in the latter. 



' Wanting in I'hroclidcB. 



