General Notes. 



"^ZZ 



tion is that of Cupidonia americana Reich. Syst. Av. 1850, p. xxix, based 

 on figures 1896-9S of his 'Icones Avium' (VoUstand. Naturg. Huhnerv. 

 Aves Gallinacete). The two smaller of these three figures unquestion- 

 ably represent the western Prairie Hen: the other, and principal figure, 

 is a reduced copy from Wilson (American Ornithology, pi. 27, fig. i), 

 which, that author tells us, is "A figure of the male .... as large as life, 

 drawn with great care from the most perfect of seve'ral elegant specimens 

 shot in the Barrens of Kentucky." (Italics my own.) ' 



It is thus plain that the western Pinnated Grouse, or Pi-airie Hen, must 

 be called Tympaniichus americanns CR.exch.). — Robert Ridgway. Wask- 

 i7igt07i. D. C. 



On the Free Post-pubis in certain of the Falconidae. — Being engaged 

 upon the osteology of the North American Falconiche, and at present not 

 very fortunately situated so far as the literature of my subject is con- 

 cerned, I would like to ask some one of the many readers of 'The Auk,' 

 to whom the larger anatomical works are more accessible, and who maybe, 

 at the same time, interested in the structure of birds, for the authority I 

 must refer to. if. indeed, it has ever been described, for an account of the 

 peculiar condition in which we find the post-pubic element of certain Hawks. 



Right lateral view of the pelvis of Bittco borealis caluriis, showing- the free hinder por- 

 tion of the post-pubic element (/')• '"• tlit= interval which occurs between it and the 

 obturator portion {oJ>>). Life size froni the specimen. 



As an example, we meet with the peculiarity in question, well displayed 

 in the pelvis of the common Marsh Harrier, where we observe the hinder 

 two-thirds of the post-pubis to be a separate piece of bone held in its 

 usual position, as found in birds, by being freely suspended to the lower 

 margin of the ischium by ligament. Between this free portion of the ele- 

 ment, and that part which closes in the obturator foramen, quite an inter- 



