2 ShukeLdt, Osteology of Orthorhamphus magnirostris. [.^f"}",!,. 



(" Cat. Foss. Birds," \). 169, 1891), based on material which I 

 have not had the opportunity to examine. 



The genera Burhinus, Esacus, and Orthorhamphus contain only 

 a single species each, while in CEdicnemus about ten are recognized, 

 and these occur in nearly all parts of the world with the exception 

 of North America. 



So far as I am aware, there has been no detailed description 

 published of the osteology of Orthorhaviphns magnirostris, and 

 certainly not one in which its skeleton is compared with skeletons 

 of its relatives, either near or remote. There is a very perfect 

 skeleton of this bird in the collection of the United States National 

 Museum, apparently from an adult male (No. 19,649), and I am 

 indebted to Dr. Charles W. Richmond, Assistant Curator of the 

 Division of Birds of that institution, for the loan of it for the 

 ])urposes of study and description. In this connection Dr. 

 Richmond also placed at my disposal a large number of skeletons 

 of other species of birds, with which the osteology of Orthorhamphus 

 should be compared. Such a comparison seemed to be desirable, 

 and, having been undertaken by me, it is now set forth in the 

 present article, which I trust will be found useful to students 

 of the osteology of birds. 



The Skull.— this part of the skeleton oi the form here being 

 considered is of unusual interest on account of the characters it 

 exhibits being found in the skulls of various birds which repre- 

 sent entirely different families. 



Viewed upon superior aspect, and starting at the superior 

 margin of the occipital area, it is to be observed that the crotaphyte 

 fossa; are deep and broad. Their mesial ends, which are rounded, 

 do not meet in the middle line by at least five millimeters. 

 Either dejM-ession, when followed toward the side, increases in 

 width, extending finally from beneath the post-frontal process to 

 include the entire superior margin of the boundary of the osseous 

 meatus. These crotaphyte fossae are very characteristic, and 

 differ in the skulls of representatives of various species and 

 groups of birds. Q^dicnemus histriatus probably has them formed 

 in the same way, as a mutilated skull at hand so indicates 

 (No. 90,996, Coll. U.S. National Museum), while in more or less 

 typical Plovers these depressions are very shallow, and restricted 

 to a hmited area at the sides of the cranium. {Sqnatarola 

 sqitatarola, 19,015, Coll. U.S. Nat. Mus. ; Belonopterns chilensis, 

 18,546, Coll. U.S. Nat. Mus. ; and many others.) * 



* Shnfeldt, K. W.. "Observations upon the Osteology of Podasocys 

 montamis," Journ. Anat. and Phys., Lond., Oct., 1883, v., 18. Part I., 

 pp. 86-102 (see figs. 1-4 of the plates). Garrod, Alfred Henry, " On the 

 Value in Classification of a Peculiarity in the Anterior Margin of the N^sal 

 Bones in Certain Birds," P.Z.S., 1873, pp. iis^. Also Coll. Sci. Papers 

 p. 124, figs. i-ii. The figures illustrate superior views of the skulls of 

 Alca impennis, Lnrtis araentatus, Numenitis arcjiiatus, Columha livia, Parra 

 (Hydralector) cristata, Arctica alle, Pedionomus torquatus, Otis tarda, Callus 

 domcsticus, Daption capensis, and Coccothraustes vulgaris, which are here 

 arrayed in the order in which Garrod numbered them in his paper. Although 

 illustrating another osteological point, they are very useful as showing the 



