154 APPENDIX. 



Remarks : — The skeleton and soft parts of this bird very nearly resemble those of the genus 

 Loxia, but differ in their superior size, in having the fissures on the posterior margin of the 

 sternum not so deep, and in the margin itself being straighter, the coracoids larger, and in having the 

 process at the end of the os furcatum approaching the sternum smaller than in that genus. The 

 ribs also are stronger. 



TROCHILUS GIGAS. Vieill. (Male.) 

 Tongue bifid, each division pointed; hyoids very long, in their position resembling those in the 

 Picida ; trachea of uniform diameter ; destitute of muscles of voice ; bronchia very long ; 

 oesophagus funnel-shaped, slightly contracted on approaching the proventriculus, which is 

 small, and scarcely perceptible ; gizzard small, moderately muscular, the inner coat slightly 

 hardened, and filled with the remains of insects ; intestine largest near the gizzard ; I could 

 not perceive a vestige of caeca. 



inches inches 



Length of oesophagus, including proventriculus If Length of gizzard } 



intestinal canal ^ \ Breadth of ditto J 



Sternum with the keel very deep, its edge rounded, and projecting anteriorly; posterior margin 

 rounded, and destitute of indentation or fissure ; the ridges to which the pectoral muscles 

 have their attachment, large and prominent, the horizontal portion much narrowed anteriorly, 

 consequently the junctions of the coracoids are very near together. 



Pelvis short, very broad ; os pubis long, curved upwards at the extremities, projecting far down- 

 wards, and posteriorly beyond the termination of the caudal vertebrae ; the ischiatic foramen 

 small, and linear ; femora placed far backwards ; coracoids short, very strong, their extremities 

 much diverging ; os furcatum short, slightly arched near the extremities of the rami, which are 

 far apart, furnished with only a small process on its approach to the sternum ; scapula flattened, 

 long, broadest near the extremity ; humerus, radius, and ulna short, the metacarpal bones 

 longer than either ; the former furnished with ridges much elevated for the attachment of the 

 pectoral muscles ; caudal and dorsal vertebrae with the transverse processes long, and ex- 

 panded ; cranium of moderate strength, the occipital portion indented with two furrows, which 

 pass over the vertex, and in which the hyoids lie ; orbits large, divided by a complete bony 

 septum; the lachrymal bones large, causing an expansion of the bill near the nostrils. 



No. of cervical vertebrae 10 



dorsal ditto 6 



sacral ditto 9 



caudal ditto 5 



Total 30 



Length of sternum 13J 



Breadth anteriorly 4 



posteriorly 7J 



Depth of keel 6J 



Length of pelvis 6J 



Width anteriorly SJ 



posteriorly 7 



Length from occiput to point of bill STrJ 



Breadth of cranium 6^ 



Length of coracoids 6 Total 9 



Remarks :— The skeleton of this bird does not differ in form from that of TrocUlus pella, figured 

 at page 270 of the Cyclopaedia of Anatomy and Physiology. The whole of the group are more 

 nearly allied to fissirostral birds than any other. 



No. of true ribs 5 



false ditto 1'3 



