II(S SuvFEL-DT, Material for a Sludy of ihs Megapodiid(s. [^J 



Emu 



Oct. 



entire vertebral series, and they stand out at right angles to the 

 centrum, as do those of other dorsals. There are no metapophyses 

 developed on this vertebra, while its centrum is longer and 

 narrower than the centrum of the first sacral. 



Parker, in describing the spine of the Brush-Turkey [Catheturus 

 lathami), says : — " There are sixteen short cervical vertebrae, the 

 last two bearing rather long ribs, those of the last being stout, 

 and having each an appendage. The last is anchylosed to the 

 first dorsal, and it to the next two, whilst the last dorsal is free. 

 Only the two first dorsal ribs have appendages, and these very 

 stunted."* 



In this Nicobar Megapode there are four pairs of dorsal ribs, 

 and all of them connect with the sternum through a progressively 

 lengthening (antero-posteriorly) series, on either side, of costal 

 ribs or haemapophyses. All these ribs are pneumatic and rather 

 massive, and they all become longer from before, backwards. 

 The first three pairs support epipleitral processes, while no such 

 appendages are to be seen on the last pair of dorsal ribs — that is, 

 on the longest pair of all of the dorsal pleurapophyses. 



As to the sole pair of sacral ribs, they are the longest of the 

 series, and they, too, are without epipleural appendages ; while 

 the costal ribs, with which they connect below, reach the sternum 

 to articulate, on either side, on the costal borders. This is the 

 last pair that do, and their posterior extremities are considerably 

 expanded and very flat transversely. Distally, and on the 

 posterior border of each, there is a short, flat, floating rib ; it projects 

 behind, and on the right side, in this individual, it is found to be 

 anchlyosed to the costal rib of the sacral haemapophysis. There is 

 not the slightest evidence of a second pair of sacral ribs in this bird. 



According to Professor Kitchen Parker, " The first sacral in 

 Catheturus lathami (of which series there are about seventeen) 

 has ribs that meet a large, double haemapophysis, the latter half 

 of which belongs to the second sacral rib. The second sacral rib 

 is small and styloid, and has coalesced with the sacrum ; and a 

 small flap, articulated with the hinder half of the double haema- 

 pophysis, belongs to the third sacral " {loc. cit., p. 165). 



While distinctly Galhnaceous in its general pattern, the pelvis 

 of our Nicobar Megapode presents not a few characters which are 

 strictly siii generis, and do not even occur in the pelves of other 

 MegapodiidcB most distantly related to it. 



When regarded upon its dorsal aspect, there is to be noted in 

 the pre-acetabular region that the neural crest of sacrum is lofty 

 and thick anteriorly, while it slopes away to disappear entirely 

 on the sacral surface at a point between the acetabuhe. The ilia 

 only come in contact with it somewhat behind its anterior 

 projection. 



* These appendages are very abortive in the Cariama (Dicholophus), 

 and are totailv absent in the Screamer (Chauna chavaria). In the Apteryx 

 and Penguin they are very large, and tix the chest-bones almost as com- 

 pletely as the rib-sutures do in the Chclonia." 



