lor 



Family OTIDID^. 



The beak is of medium length. The legs are much shorter than 

 in the preceding family ; the tibio-tarsus being longer than the 

 tarso-metatarsus. 



The tarso-metatarsus is a comparatively short bone, with the 

 terminal extremities greatly expanded ; the talon is of moderate 

 size, with one closed tube, and the inner ridge scarcely more promi- 

 nent than the outer one ; the anterior face is grooved in its upper 

 portion. The distal trochlear form a very slight curve ; the second 

 being longer than the fourth, and not directed backwardly. The 

 hallux; is wanting. The phalangeals are very short. 



The tibio-tarsus is comparatively short; its extensor groove is 

 very shallow, and its long and flat bridge is not sunk below the 

 margin of the bone ; the intercondylar tubercle is very minute and 

 situated on a prolongation of the bridge connected with the ecto- 

 condyle ; a falciform depression, bounded superiorly by the exten- 

 sor bridge, divides the two condyles ; the entocondyle is placed 

 much inwardly of the axis of the shaft. 



The furcula is U-^haped. The coracoid is comparatively slender ; 

 with the sternal border but slightly oblique, an elevated and trun- 

 cated hyosternal process, no pneumatic foramen, and no foramen at 

 the base of the subclavicular process, which is short and approxi- 

 mated to the head. 



In the wings the ulna is considerably longer than the humerus. 

 The large subtrochanteric fossa of the humerus is perforated by a 

 number of cribriform pneumatic foramina, the delto-pectoral crest 

 forms a regular arch, the coraco-humeral groove only extends 

 to the inner border of the head, and the surface for the brachialis 

 anticus is large and ill-defined. 



Genus OTIS, Linn." 



Including Ilotibara, Eouaparte '-. 



The type genus. PaLneontologically it is necessary to follow those 

 writers ^ who include Ilouhara in Otis. 



> Syst. Nat. ed. 12, vol. i. p. 264 (1766). 



2 Saggio, p. 144 (1831). 



* See Saunders, ' Yarrell's British Birda,' 4th ed. vol. iii. p. 221. 



