in the Wiiiys of the Ratitse. 



125 



former in the adult. These specimens are to be found in 

 their proper cases in the Hunterian Museum. 



It has also been known, for some time past, that the 

 abortively developed third digit in these birds has two pha- 

 langes beyond the metacarpal ; and after my paper was read 



Fig. 1. 



Manus of Struthio. 



R, radius ; U, uhia ; r, radial cai-pal bone ; u, ulnar carpal ; I, II, III, 

 first, second, and third metacarpals; 1, 2, 2«, 3, phalanges of digits; 

 cl, cV , claws. 

 N.B.^The small claw on the third digit is not shown in this specimen. 



Mr. Wray brought before the Zoological Society of London 

 a very important notice of the condition of this distal pha- 

 lanx of the third digit (see Proc. Zool. Soc. 1887, pp. 283, 

 284). It was shown in that paper that a considerable 

 tract of cartilage is developed beyond the normally ornithic 

 proximal phalanx, and that this acquires an osseous centre of 

 its own. 



In these two types of the Ratitse we have there- 

 fore the primary Reptilian [Ornithoscelidan] form of the 

 bird's wing, even the abortively developed third digit having 

 a small claw at its end. That digit should have four 



