On the Tarsus and Carpus of Birds. 147 



carpale, from which it seems to have separated, fig. 47, plate 

 V. As I found it in no other specimen, it may have been 

 the result of accidental pressure in examination. 



The other bone in the distal series may be regarded as 

 the unciform, or fourth carpale of Gegenbaur's nomen- 

 clature. 



This is the last carpal bone to appear in development, 

 though it often attains as large a size as the third carjmle. 

 This anchyloses almost simultaneously with the base of the 

 anmdaris metacarpal, the third carpale and the approximate 

 snrfoce of the mid-metacarpal. The third and fourth car- 

 pale are seen united, by a cartilaginous band, at an early 

 stage in the chipping sparrow aud Wilson's thrush. In the 

 cow blackbird the two distal carpals unite before they have 

 joined their respective metacarpals. 



In one specimen of kingbird examined, there appeared 

 to be a second carpal just beyond the radiate, and similar to 

 that in form; as it was not seen in another specimen, it is 

 safe to reject its occurrence at present. 



A very curious shape is assumed by the ninare in the 

 kingbird, bluebird, and cow blackbird, as will be seen by 

 referring to the plate. 



With the accompanying figures, which I have endeavored 

 to render faithfully on stone, from my original drawings, 

 further description of these bones is unnecessary. Many 

 other points of interest have come up in this investigation, 

 regarding other peculiarities of the leg and wing, but a dis- 

 cussion of such features would be outside the intended 

 limits of this paper. 



The general results of this paper have been submitted to 

 Prof. Jeflries Wyman and Dr. Elliott Coues, U. S. A., and 

 my thanks are due to these gentlemen for their careful con- 

 sideration of the results therein presented. With Dr. 

 Coues, I had the pleasure of dissecting the tarsus and car- 

 pus of an adult penguin, Aptenodytes Pennantii, and of 

 examining the same parts of other birds. 



