l84 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



we see, a smaller spine projecting from beneath the centrum, 

 upon either side of the median apophysis. Next follow in the spinal 

 column of G. bankiva, four true dorsal vertebrae which 

 solidly fuse together, forming a single bone, which I have drawn in 

 lateral view in figure 20. Its neural spine consists of a continuous, 

 lofty and quadrilateral osseous plate, finished ofif along its superior 

 margin by a bony, raised rim. Its diapophyses are widespreading 

 and thoroughly joined together at their outer extremities by linking 

 metapophyses. Three neural foramina pierce its sides, while the 

 fused centra are much compressed laterally. There are also four 

 complete facets for the heads of ribs, and four others for the tuber- 

 cula of the same, at the ends of the transverse processes. The 

 neural canal, passing through this complex bone, is nearly cylindrical 

 in form, and of 'but moderate caliber. Longitudinally, the median 

 crest below the centra is very sharp along its lower edge, and throws 

 down a fused hypapopbysis of a form shown in figure 20. Other 

 gallinaceous fowls have this bone of somewhat different form,^ and 

 it is quite characteristic of many species of the suborder. 



Now the first pair of ribs that articulate at th^ anterior end of 

 this dorsal bone of the spinal column, are freely suspended, and sup- 

 port a large " epipleural appendage," in each case; and these latter, 

 as in all these appendages or uncinate processes, are loosely articu- 

 lated to the borders of the ribs behind. 



No marked difference distinguishes this second pair of ribs of the 

 vertebral column in the male from those in the female, and I be- 

 lieve it will never be found in G. bankiva, that they ever con- 

 nect with the sternum by costal ribs, or haemapophyses, as these 

 latter are sometimes more properly designated. Following this 

 first pair of ribs that articulate with the fused dorsal bone of the 

 column, we always find in this species, three other pairs of fully de- 

 veloped and true ribs that have uncinate processes, and connect with 

 the sternum by the intervention of haemapophyses. Figure 19 pre- 

 sents an anterior view of the next vertebra of the spinal column, 

 which in G. bankiva is freely inserted in the adult fowl be- 

 tween the coossified dorsal bone and the anterior one of the pelvic 

 sacrum. Its ribs, too, connect with the sternum by. costal ribs, 

 which latter are long, and have laterally compressed posterior ex- 

 tremities. Uncinate processes may or may not occur upon this pair 

 of vertebral ribs ; they are present and anchylosed in my male speci- 



' Fee the wiiter's Contributions to the Anatomy of Birds. VVashinc;ton 1882. p. 704, 

 fl. 6 fig. 55, for the bone in Centrocercus, and descriptions given beyond. 



