336 Mr. F. E. Beddard on the 



remarked that the skull is wider between the orbits in 

 Niimida, and that the bony nostrils in that genus are longer 

 than in Gallus. These observations, however, apply to the 

 section Gidtera. In Numida proper (see p, 341) the con- 

 ditions are more like GaJlus. 



§ The Pelvis. 



As Prof. Huxley has pointed out, " the posterior angles of 

 the ilia are produced beyond the level of the last sacral 

 vertebra " in Gallus. In one of the specimens which I have 

 examined they extend as far back as to the level of the third 

 free caudal ; in the other only to the second. Numida, on 

 the other hand, has a decidedly truncated posterior margin, 

 which in the species A^. cristata and N. eduardi is very 

 Tetraonine in appearance. In A^. meleagris, N. vulturina, 

 and N. ptilorhyncha * the posterior margin of the ilia are not 

 by any means so broad and truncated, and thus present a 

 closer resemblance to the pelvis of Gallus, though the pro- 

 cesses of the two bones are not nearly so prominent. 



The prepubic process of Numida is by no means so long as 

 is that of Gallus ; in Gallus, moreover, there is a long bony 

 junction between the pubis and the ischium, which is wanting 

 in Numida. Finally, the obturator foramen seems to be 

 constantly more extensive in Numida. 



§ The Sternum. 

 The sternum of Numida (fig. I, p, 337) differs from that of 

 Gallus (fig. 2) in a considerable number of small points. As 

 was mentioned by Prof. Huxley, Numida is characterized 

 by " the obtuseness and somewhat outward inclination of 

 the costal processes " { = "■ anterior lateral processes " of more 

 recent nomenclature). I may add to this that the processes 

 in question are generally broader in Numida (not, however, 

 in a young example of N. meleagris which I studied), and, 

 when the sternum is viewed laterally, are seen to lie nearly 

 at right angles with its long axis. In Gallus the processes 



* For complete skeletons of these three species I am indebted to 

 Mr. E. Gerraid, who kindlv allowed me tlie use of them. 



