Osteology of the Numididae. 335 



§ The Vertebral Column. 



Both Niimida and Gallus possess 16 cervical vertebrae, 

 and in both the 16th is fused with the three follov\ing 

 dorsals. The only differences that were apparent to me in 

 the vertebral column concern the sacrals and the free 

 caudals. 



In Numida there are two vertebrae which may be termed 

 sacral, and which possess stout and subequal transverse 

 processes supporting the ilia. The two vertebrae in question 

 are the third and fourth after that which bears the last free 

 rib. In Gallus, on the other hand, there is only one 

 vertebra in this region with specially strongly developed 

 transverse processes , this one corresponds to the first o£ 

 the two in Numida : i. e., it is the third after that which 

 bears the last free rib. There follow in Numida 12 vertebrae 

 closely attached to the pelvis, and six free caudals exclusive 

 of the compound " ploughshare "-bone *. I should remark, 

 however, that in Numida meleagris the last of these is only 

 partially free ; it is almost fused with the ploughshare-bone. 

 In Gallus there are 11 vertebrae attached to the pelvis and to 

 each other, followed by only five free caudals, in addition, of 

 course, to the ploughshare-bone. 



§ The Skull. 



There are two obvious points which distinguish the skull 

 of Gallus from that of Numida. In Gallus there are both a 

 large postfrontal and a large squamosal process ; these two 

 unite at their extremities. In Numida there is an equally 

 well-developed postfrontal process^ but no squamosal process 

 at all. 



The nasal processes of the premaxillae in Gallus are com- 

 paratively broad, and do not extend so far back upon the 

 forehead as do the much narrower processes of certain species 

 of Numida. In addition to these two points it may be 



* The diflerence shown iu the two genera in the number of the free 

 caudals is not, however, universal ; for in a skeleton of N. mdturina I have 

 found, as in Gallus, only five free vertebrae, the last being fused with the 

 pygostyle. 



2a 2 



