Osteology o/Aramus scolopacciis, 45 



occupy the region of these fossae ; behind the fossse six 

 {Aramus) or seven [Grus, Baleanca) vertebrae are to be 

 counted in front of the free caudals. Here is a minute 

 point in which Balearica differs from Aramus and agrees with 

 the more typical Cranes. 



The caudal region of the vertebral column which follows 

 the series of dorsals, lumbars, sacrals, and caudals, which are 

 sometimes termed ^'sacral,^^ is slightly different in Aramus 

 from the corresponding region in Grus and Tetrapteryx. In 

 the two last-named genera there is an additional vertebra, 

 which is, of course, present in Aramus, but is there fused 

 with the " ploughshare " bone ; Aramus has therefore only 

 six apparent free caudals, whereas Grus and Tttrapttryx 

 have seven. Between all the free caudals in Aramus there 

 are well-developed intercentra; these are relatively large 

 and single bonelets. 



I have dealt at some length with the characters of the ver- 

 tebral column, since, so far as I am aware, there has hitherto 

 been no comparison of these bones together in tiie genera of 

 Gruidse with which I deal. It is clear that it is worth while to 

 compare them, inasmuch as it should be evident that by these 

 characters the essentially Gruine features of Aramus are 

 made apparent, and at the same time certain differences suf- 

 ficient to discriminate it from other Gruidse become obvious. 



§ Ribs. 



As has been correctly stated by Prof. Fiirbringer, in tlie 

 tables of osteological characteristics of the different orders 

 of birds which conclude his systematic summary of the 

 group, there are six pairs of ribs in Aramus which reach, 

 and articulate with, the sternum. In the skeleton studied 

 by myself this is the case ; but in addition a seventh pair 

 actually reaches and touches the sternum, though not 

 articulating with it. This seventh pair (see fig. 2, p. 42) is 

 pressed close in between the rib in front and the sternum, 

 but it is easy to be certain that there is no actual articula- 

 tion. The sixth and seventh ribs, however, are in close 

 adherence at the articulation of the former. This last rib 



