131 



are nine dorsal ribs, the anterior very short, only .01 G in length ; 

 the second nearly as long as the third. The crest of the ster- 

 num projects very much anteriorly, and its height is four fifths 

 of its lengtli. The external border of the base is concave, some- 

 what in shape like that of the woodpeckers. The furcula is 

 strongly united to the crest of the sternum, and in consequence of 

 the great projection of the part is nearly perpendicular in its 

 direction. The great pectoral is very much developed, arising as 

 usual from all the crest of the sternum not occupied by the middle 

 pectoral, — from the posterior edge of the base, leaving a large 

 irregularly quadrilateral surface, which does not give origin to any 

 muscular fibres, — from the anterior and external surface of the 

 furcula, and from a bow-shaped space of the interfurcular apo- 

 neurosis .005 in height at the centre. The middle pectoral arises 

 by a triangular-shaped head from the space comprised by a line 

 drawn from the superior edge of the furcula to the posterior end of 

 the union of the crest with the base, and from this last point to the 

 linea aspera of the coracoid, — from all the interfurcular aponeurosis 

 above the bow-shaped space giving origin to the great pectoral, — 

 and from the inferior and inner posterior two thirds of the coracoid. 

 CEsophagus large, .130 in length by .020 in diameter ; proven- 

 triculus, .040 in length by .020 in diameter ; glands very much 

 developed ; stomach, .035 by .022, walls quite thin. The contents 

 of the stomachs of all the specimens procured, were partially 

 digested flying-fish and the remains of a species of squid or cuttle- 

 fish.* The right lobe of the liver, .055 in length by .025 in 

 breadth and .015 in thickness. Left lobe, .050 by .020 by .015. 

 In another specimen the liver was broader and shorter, the left 

 lobe measuring only .039 in length by .029 in breadth and .015 

 in thickness. Gall bladder, .015 in length. Pancreas small, 

 situated in the fold of the duodenum opposite the entrance of the 

 ductus choledocus, .025 in length by .005 in breadth and 003. in 

 thickness. Intestine small, .710 in length; caeca, .005 long by 

 .004 in diameter ; cloaca globular and quite large. 



Thalassidroma Wihonii. This bird, whose breeding-place has 

 thus far escaped the researches of naturalists, I presumed would 



* I had supposed these to be the mandible of some small species of fish like 

 the parrot-fish, but they have been determined by Mr. Putnam to be those of 

 the squid or cuttle-fish. 



