586 General Notes. [o"t. 



marginal line of the left side being convex outwards, and presenting some 

 osseous enlargements at the terminations of the transverse processes, 

 especially posteriorly. There is no abnormality of the right hand moiety 

 of this pelvis, and the bones of the limb on that side are in every way normal. 



On the left side the skeleton of the limb is normal in every particular, 

 as are all the lower portions of the pelvis, including the acetabulum, which 

 latter affords a perfect articulation for the femur. Surmounting this 

 perfect part, however, there is to be observed the larger portion of the left 

 moiety of a second pelvis which presents various distortions and abnormali- 

 ties, and these involve the upper parts of the pelvis below it. In the 

 supernumerary bone the ilium is replaced by a tumerous osseous mass, in a 

 direct line above the cotyloid cavity of the inferior pelvis. Backward 

 and downward from this is the second acetabulum on this side, and in this 

 cavity a perfect femur articulates. This is the femur of the third ley, and 

 it has been, near its trochanter, completely fractured across, probably 

 during the operation of skinning the specimen. Posterior to these parts 

 in this duplicated structure we find the somewhat aborted hinder portion 

 of the ilium; the large ischiadic foramen, which is complete, and the 

 ischium, likewise complete. The pubic style, however, somewhat broad- 

 ened, has fused throughout its entire length with the ischium of the pelvis 

 below it, the anterior half of the line of fusion being distinctly indicated 

 by a little ridge. Further than this the specimen offers nothing; but as 

 it stands it is of considerable interest teratologically, while, as in nearly 

 all of these cases, the most important parts have been thrown away. For 

 instance, a careful description of the origin and insertion of the muscles 

 in such a case as this would be a valuable contribution to our at present 

 meager information on such points. This is likewise true of an even more 

 important matter — the distribution of the added nerves, arteries, and 

 veins in these structures, and the general physiology of the limb. On such 

 points as these our literature and information is almost a blank record. 



When a taxidermist gets such material, he considers it a wonderful 

 departure from the ordinary, and that the chief thing to be preserved is the 

 skinned specimen showing the supernumerary limb; on the other hand, a 

 one-sided ornithotomist rarely sees anything beyond the necessity of saving 

 the skeleton of the specimen. The science of teratology demands more 

 than this, and we should in the future see well to it that these demands 

 are met. — R. W. Shttfeldt, Washington, D. C. 



Notes from St. Marks, Fla. Pelidna a. sakhalina. Red-backed 

 Sandpiper. — On May 19, 1919, about twenty of these birds were seen on 

 the sand-flats back of our light-house. The summer plumage seemed 

 complete, a broad, intensely black belly-patch standing out in contrast to 

 the enclosing white as a piece of heavy plush. On May 26, a week later, 

 another bunch of about the same number were seen on some flats, none of 

 which showed more than streaks of black. No solid patch. 



Squatarola squatarola. Black-bellied Plover — May 19, 1919, 



