1G8 CARINAT^. 



Otis affinis, Lydekker (n. sp.). 



A small species agreeing very closely in size with the existing 

 0. {Honiara) undtdata. The imperfect and crushed condition of 

 the type does not admit of the osteological differences being indi- 

 cated. 



Hab. Europe (Bavaria). 



36745. Slab of rock showing a large portion of the skeleton, in 

 a crushed condition ; from the Middle Miocene of Schneit- 

 heim. The type. The specimen shows the furcula, a 

 coracoid, and the bones of the wings and legs. The 

 furcula has the U -shaped form and thick mesial region 

 characteristic of the family ; while the coracoid is of the 

 same comparatively short type as in the living species. 

 The following table shows the lengths of the limb-bones 

 in the fossil species and in 0. undidata: — 



0. affinis. 0. undulata. 



Length of humerus 0,130 0,126 



ulna 0,155 0,153 



metacarpus 0,069 0,066 



femur 0,078 0,078 



tibio-tarsus 0,141 0,137 



tarso-metatarsus .... 0,095 0,090 



This close resemblance in the proportions of the limb- 

 bones between the recent and fossil skeletons, coupled 

 with the identity in the form of the furcula, shows that 

 the fossil undoubtedly indicates a species of Eustard. This 

 identification is confirmed by the phalangeals of the pes, 

 which are indistinguishable from those of the existing 

 species. Purchased, 1861. 



Suborder XIV. LIMICOL^. 



Exclusive of the aberrant (Edicnemidce (classed by some writers 

 next the Otidida?), the Limicolse are more or less long-billed 

 schizognathous birds, with a produced and recurved angle to the 

 mandible, an ectepicondylar process to the humerus, and no fenes- 

 tration in the proximal phalangeal of the second digit of the 

 manus. 



The general osteological features are very similar to those of the 



