188 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidse. 



cular impressions and tubercles for the insertion of the large 

 wing-feathers. The olecranon process is long and conical, 

 and the articular carpal extremity is much less in size (p. 352) . 



Metacarpus. — An intermetacarpal apophysis is absent (p. 

 356.) 



Pelvis. — The anterior portion is much flattened, and the 

 vertebral gutters, open their whole length, are much enlarged 

 anteriorly by following the internal curvature of the ilia; the 

 iliac fossae are remarkably small. The cotyloid segment is 

 large and short ; there is a small median sacral crest ; and the 

 ilio-sciatic surfaces bulge slightly above the supraischiatic 

 crests ; the latter are salient and present behind their foramen 

 a small denticular crest. The ischial blades spread out but 

 slightly ; and their postexternal angle, marked by deflected 

 outside, is prolonged only to a very moderate extent. The 

 body of the anterior sacral vertebra is furnished below with 

 a median crest ; and the renal fossae are completely confluent 

 (p. 321). 



Femur. — Very short, and its extremities are comparatively 

 narrow. The inferior condyles have a flattened character. 

 Lastly the femoral head is almost sessile. 



Tibia. — In the Epopsines (that is to say, the Hoopoes and 

 the Irrisors) the tibial crests superiorly have little prominence ; 

 the shaft is cylindrical, its inferior extremity enlarged, but 

 remarkable on account of the small development of its con- 

 dyles. Finally, there appears only a trace of groove for the 

 digital extensors, which run under a tendinous bridge ; and 

 this, tardily ossified, is always narrow and diminutive (p. 312) . 



Tarso-metatarse. — The foot is constructed upon a different 

 plan from that of the Aedornines. The tuberosity is ampler, 

 and perforated by a single tendinous foramen. The knuckle 

 of the internal toe, in place of conforming to the plan of the 

 others, is thrust slightly backwards. The inferior end is large, 

 open, and approaches close to the digital condyles (p. 303). 



3. Where and wherefore ranged with the Sparrow Tribes. — ■ 

 Among authorities the names of Linnaeus and Brisson take 

 us back quite a century, to the infancy of systematic ornitho- 



