Dr. J. Mui'ie on the Upupidse. 193 



Lengths of the bones of the extremities of the adult female 

 Hoopoe (U. epops, shown in PI. V.) in inches and decimals : — 



Humerus. Ulna. Metacarpus. Mid phalanges. Tot. length. 



Wing .... 1-4 inch, 1-85 0-8 0-55 4-6 



Femur. Tibia. Tarso-metatarse. Mid-toe phalanges. Tot. length. 



Leg .... 0-95 inch, 15 0-9 0-8 415 



Through the goodness of Prof. Alfred Newton I am enabled 

 to describe, compare, and, I believe, for the first time figure 

 the sternum and shoulder-girdle* of the South-African Hoo- 

 poe, Upupa minor (Gmel.). It distinctly exhibits variation 

 from the common European species, whilst stamped with a 

 like generic type. 



Bearing in mind the distinctive characteristics of parts in 

 that of U. epops as expounded by Blanchard (antea, p. 185), I 

 may state of the breast-bone of U. minor, that relatively it is 

 a shade narrower, the slenderer xiphoid processes less hori- 

 zontally placed, and the interior surface by no means so 

 shallow. The posterior notches (xiphoid spaces) are a trifle 

 greater and show no signs of forming foramina. The keel, 

 with similar curvilinear outline, is most decidedly deeper 

 throughout. As to the rostrum, perforation t at its base be- 

 tween the coracoid grooves and in these gutters themselves, the 

 tendency to change is appreciable, but difficult to define. The 

 bones of the shoulder- girdle, including furcula, are not so 

 strong in U. minor as in U. epops ; but it is noticeable that 

 while the scapula in each is of equal length, the coracoid of 

 the former is both considerably shorter and less expanded 

 interiorly. 



The tongue-bones of U. minor I have already incidentally 

 mentioned. 



* No 776a, Newton's MS. Osteol. Oat. 



t In allusion to this foramen Mr. Parker (Ray. Soc. Monog. ' Shoulder- 

 girdle and Sternum in the Vertebrata,' 1868), speaking of Buceros albi- 

 rostris, observes : — " In the latter species we have a beautiful morpho- 

 logical character — namely, a fenestra, tending to cleave the rostrum off 

 from the rest of the entosternum — a character better developed in Upupa, 

 and very constant in most of the Gallime." p. 173. (See his pi. xiii. fig. 15, 

 of fledgeling U. epops.) 



