SiiriKi.i>r: Osikolocv of thf. Limicoi./k. G1 



the f'fimir of ihis Curk'w has all the appearance of a pneumatic bone, 

 but carclul search fails to discover the orifices at their accustomed sites, 

 though a few very minute openiny;s are to be seen on the oi)])Osite side 

 of the bone, below the facet. This, I must believe, would be an 

 unusual locality for such foramina. The femoral shaft in Niimcniiis is 

 straight, smooth and cylindrical, with all muscular lines nearly ob.so- 

 lete. A rough surface is found on the back of the trochanterian 

 prominence, and this jiortion rears well abo\e the focet at the summit. 



The pit for ligamentum teres is very .shallow, and rather irregular in 

 outline. Several of the characteristic features of the distal extremity 

 of the bone are more keenly defmed than those just described for the 

 proximal end. The intercondyloid notch is deeply excavated ; the 

 anterior border of the external condyle is a sharp crest, while the cor- 

 responding surface on the internal one is evenly rounded. Upon the 

 reverse aspect we find the popliteal depression well sunken, and the 

 notch for the head of fibula cleanly cut out. A tubercle and jjit exist 

 on its outer and condyloid side for ligamentous attachment. 



The length of the tibio- tarsus in this Curlew is double that of the 

 femur, and the shaft of the bone has a general convexity inclined out- 

 wards. Sections taken through its middle third are subellipses, and 

 the expanded extremities are rather abruptly attached, more particularly 

 the proximal one. There the pro- and ectocnemial processes rise 

 squarely from the shaft, showing but little of that tendency to merge 

 gradually into it below. The ectocnemial process is shaped like a 

 claw, with its joint inclined downwards. Its fellow is much larger, 

 lamelliform, slightly turned outwards, (piadrilateral in figure, with the 

 angles rounded off. They are produced upwards as a rotular ])rocess 

 to a very slight extent. The fibular ridge stands out from the shaft on 

 its outer a.spect as a prominent and rather extended crest of bone. 



At the distal extremity we find the inner condyle to be smaller than 

 the opposite or outer one, as well as proportionately narrower from 

 above downwards. In the groove between them anteriorly, the tendi- 

 nal ridge is ossified, the span being thrown directly across, and not 

 oblicjuely, as it is in some birds. Prominent tubercles exist on either 

 side, immediately above it, for ligamentous attachment, and an addi- 

 tional bridge is formed of this material above this point. 'Y\i^ fibula 

 is compressed from side to side above, and club-shaped. After articu- 

 lating with the ridge designed for it on the tibio-tarsns, it merges into 

 the shaft of that bone a little over half-w-ay down, measuring from the 

 proximal extremity. 



