510 THE GANNET 



The Clavicles. — The junction of the clavicles or furcula 

 with the sternum, intended to lessen impact with the sea, was 

 first detected by Robert Gordon {see p. 213), I believe, but 

 it has often attracted notice. The clavicles of the Gannet 

 are wide, being 2-3 inches across, forming a broad and 

 strong U-shaped arch which, as remarked by Mr. Pycraft, 

 " articulates by a broad facet with the anterior end of 

 the carina, while their free ends display large flattened 

 facets for articulation with the coracoids, a feature well 

 marked in the steganopodes and accipitres." 



The Pelvis. — The pelvis is six inches in length, and consists 

 partly of fused vertebrse, but figures of the exact size, from 

 above, below, and also taken laterally, are given by both 

 Professor Mivart and Dr. Shufeldt in their Memoirs. 

 One of the latter's excellent cuts is here reproduced. 

 Mr. Pycraft observes that the pelvis presents much in 

 common with that of the Cormorant and Darter, and differs 

 conspicuously from the Tropic-bird and Frigate-bird, in 

 part on account of the greater length in proportion to its 

 breadth, in part in that the anterior portion of the ilium 

 meets its fellow in the middle line above the vertebrae. 



The Vertehrm. — The vertebral column which has in all 

 birds the support of the head and limbs, and the protec- 

 tion of the spinal cord for its functions, is in the Gannet 

 of immense strength, and with the pelvis measures 22.2 



