28 FALCONING. 



from tBe posterior edge, directed upwards and Lack- 

 wards. The sternum is large, and of great length, deep- 

 ly concave, and completely ossified, there being only two 

 small apertures left near its posterior angle ; its ridge 

 or crest is high. The clavicles are remarkably stout ; 

 the furcula very wide and arched, its crura disposed so 

 as to resemble the letter U ; the humerus and cubitus 

 elongated, and very strong. The pelvis, although small 

 and incomplete when compared with that of a quadru- 

 ped, is large and strong in comparison with that of other 

 birds ; the femur strong and of moderate length ; the 

 patella distinct ; the tibia long, and having the slender 

 fibula partially anchylosed to it ; the tarsus, or more 

 properly metatarsus, generally short and strong, but in 

 some cases slender ; the hind toe articulated to a small 

 separate bone, and having two phalanges, the second 

 three, the third four, the fourth five. 



The bill does not in any case exceed the head in 

 length ; it is furnished at the base with a cere, which 

 is partially bare. The upper mandible has its tip acute, 

 prolonged, and curved over the abrupt or rounded ex- 

 tremity of the lower. The palate is flat, and marked 

 with two longitudinal soft prominent lines or ridges ; 

 the aperture of the internal nares oblong behind, linear 

 before, and generally furnished at its margins with pa- 

 pillfie. The tongue is soft, fleshy, oblong, sagittate and 

 papillate at the base, grooved or concave above, horny 

 beneath towards the end, its extremity simply rounded 

 or emarginate. The aperture of the glottis is defended 

 behind by numerous papillse directed backwards. The 

 fauces are wide, as is the cesophagus, which is more or 

 less dilated anterior to the furcula, into a membranous 



