312 AXNALS OF THE CaRNEGIE MuSEU>[. 



In its general form the sternum of PJuvnicoptcnis is oblong, being 

 somewhat wider in front than it is behind. The six haemapophysial 

 facettes upon either costal border occupy less than half the length of 

 the same. Dorsally, the sternal body is profoundly concave, and a 

 scattered row of small circular pneumatic foramina occur down the 

 median line upon this aspect. In front, the border of the bone is 

 greatly arched, the convexity being directed anteriorly. There, too, 

 we find in the middle line a broad concave notch, while laterally, the 

 "costal processes" are subtriangular in form, and by no means con- 

 spicuously developed. 



The carina is deep and occupies the entire length of the bone, sloping 

 gradually away posteriorly, while its thickened anterior border is con- 

 cave, and its inferior one moderately convex. The carinal angle 

 is more rounded off than we usually see it in the Anscres, On the 

 ventral aspect of the sternal body we observe that the pectoral mus- 

 cular line runs to the middle of the base of the keel, while in most 

 Anseres this line runs the entire length of the sternal body to the ter- 

 mination of the carina behind. This in each case also applies, of 

 course, to the muscular line on the lateral aspect of the keel, which 

 always joins at a rounded angle posteriorly the pectoral muscular line 

 of the ventral surface of the sternal body. The deep coracoidal grooves 

 of the sternum of Phaniicopterits decussate mesially as they do in Ple- 

 gadis and Tantalus, which is not the case in the Auseres in so far as I 

 have examined them. There is also present in the flamingo a large 

 inaiuihrial pi-ocess of the typical trihedral form. This apophysis is 

 also seen at the fore part of the sternum of Bcruicla canadensis, where 

 it is comparatively smaller and varies somewhat in shape in different 

 individuals of this species. It is entirely absent in the Canvas-back 

 Duck {Ayfhya va/lisneria) , and more or less aborted in some Ibises, 

 as, for example, Plegadis. 



Regarded as a whole, the sternum of PJia'nicopterus n/i>er presents 

 us with as many genuine ibidine characters as it does with anserine 

 ones, thus sustaining a fact so evident in other parts of the skeleton of 

 this remarkable bird. In some respects it may be .said, however, that 

 the bone offers us characters which call to mind the ciconine sternum 

 (^Tan talus'), as for example, it being two-notched instead of four- 

 notched as in Plegadis, though this may mean anserine affinity apart 

 from any kinship the Flamingo has with the Storks. 



Judging from the bones of the shoulder-girdle we are strongly 



