^"'i. I'^^'l Shufkldt, Osteology of Harris's Cormorant. 107 



proportion with the ccirpoinctacar/yiis and i)r()xima) phalanx of 

 index digit. As a matter of fact, were this wing of Nannopleriim 

 harrisi the wing of a bird the size of a Partridge, and possessed 

 of the same muscles, ligaments, vessels, nerves, and other struc- 

 tures that it has in the Cormorant, that Partridge would surely 

 enjoy the power of liight in a high degree. In other words, in 

 its reduction this wing has so well sustained its proportions and 

 factors necessary to its function that, while it is useless to this 

 big Cormorant, except as an adjunct in swimming, it would be 

 a most powerful structure for aerial locomotion, in the case of a 

 bird of the proj^er size, to use it effectively. 



The Pelvic Limb. — Compensation for the reduction in size of 

 the bones of the pectoral limb is seen in the increased size and 

 power of those of the posterior extremity here to be considered. 

 This is especially the case with respect to the tibio-tarsus, though 

 it is equally evident in all of the others composing this limb. 

 From femur to ungual joints inclusive they are big, strong bones, 

 and would well serve a Cormorant fully one-fourth larger than 

 Harris's. 



All the lH)nes of the pelvic limb of this Cormorant are well 

 shown in Plate XIX. (figs. 21-24), ^onie of them on two different 

 views. 



From proximal to distal extremity the femur exhibits a general 

 as well as a considerable curvature to the front, this stout bone, 

 upon that aspect, being convex longitudinally. Its summit, 

 though convex from before, backward, is otherwise in one plane, 

 and devoted to the large, smooth facet for the antitrochanter 

 on the pelvis. Large and semiglobular, the caput femor is is sessile 

 as to the shaft, and, instead of a pit for the ligamentum teres, 

 presents an extensive roughened surface. A broad trochanter 

 major projects only to the front, while its outer surface — and ex- 

 tending round to the back of tlie shaft above — has upon it a 

 number of prominent elevations for muscular attachment ; others 

 of these occur at the usual sites on the shaft below and above the 

 condyles posteriorly. There is no trochanter minor, and the 

 " rotular channel " is shallow. For its middle third the shaft 

 is nearly cylindrical, and the condyles are very prominent 

 posteriorly, where a deep pit is found between them in the middle 

 line and above. 



The usual sulcus for the head of fibula in the external condyle 

 is deep and smooth. 



Femora of Nannoptenim range in length between b] and y;;^ 

 millimeters, being stout in proportion thereto. 



From their general appearance, one would say that all the 

 bones of this limb were non-pneumatic, while at the same time 

 there are many minute foramina found in all the long bones, as 

 well as in the patella, that need be accounted for. In the femur 

 they occur about the head, and in the intercondylar fossa 

 posteriorly. They are found about the proximal extremity of 

 the tibio-tarsus and also of the tarso-metatarsus. If these be 



