322 Annals of the Carnegie Museum. 



not in all. On the other hand, when we come to compare the tarso- 

 metatarsus oi Plegadis with the corresponding bone of the skeleton in 

 the Flamingo, we find the agreement of characters to be greater in 

 number than in the case of the Goose. In each the form of the hypo- 

 tarsus is essentially upon the same plan, as is the summit of the bone 

 and the articular depressions found there. At the distal ends, the 

 trochlear processes are more or less alike also, but in the Ibis there are 

 two perforations, one above the other, for the passage of vessels (and 

 nerves ?) to the sole of the foot. The lower opening of the more distal 

 one of these is to be found at the base of the notch that separates the 

 middle and outer trochlear projections. 



The foot of the Flamingo has the usual four fully developed toes, 

 and they possess from hallux to the outer one 2, 3, 4, 5 joints respec- 

 tively. The basal phalanx of the hallux is inclined to be slender as we 

 find it in many Ducks and Geese ; while the basal phalanges of the 

 three anterior toes, are very much stouter and stronger, the middle 

 one having a length in the foot of the individual I am examining of 

 4.9 centimeters. In the outer toe the three joints following the basal 

 one are small, for the most part short and weak, the ungual phalanx 

 of this toe being more compressed than they are seen to be in the 

 middle and minor toes where they are short and decidedly stumpy. 

 The ungual claw of the hallux is considerably longer, being at the same 

 timedistally pointed, and very nearly straight. The second and third 

 joints of the middle toe are stout and have the appearance of being 

 somewhat compressed from above downwards, especially at their distal 

 ends. The second measures but 2 centimeters in height, and the 

 third one is just half as long. Coming to the inner toe we find its basal 

 and second joints to be well proportioned, being neither specially 

 short, nor long, nor stout, nor slender ; the second one measures more 

 than half the length of the basal one, while their extremities are en- 

 larged and present us with the usual form of articular surfaces there 

 found in those phalanges in the ordinary ornithic type of foot. 



Now, for one to say whether this skeleton of the pes in Pluvnicoptenis 

 is on the plan of structure of the Goose, or Ibis, is very difficult. The 

 truth of the matter is it is neither one, nor the other, but probably has an 

 extraction of both in it, and this has given it a particular facies quite its 

 own. For my part, I am inclined to think there is considerably more 

 Ibis in it than there is Goose, inasmuch as the tibio-tarsus and tarso- 

 metatarsus of the Flaminsjo agree in characters far better with those 



