50 Mr. T. C. Eyton's Notes on Birds. 



The skeleton at first sight is chiefly remarkable for the large size 

 and length of the bones of the legs and feet. The sternum is long 

 and narrow, measuring from the anterior extremity of the manubrial 

 process 3 inches, and transversely, just behind the junction of the co- 

 racoids, where it is narrowest, y^yths of an inch ; its posterior margin 

 is indented by two slight lateral fissures, between which it is much 

 rounded and projects posteriorly ; the lateral margins are slightly 

 curved inwards ; the broadest part of the sternum is near its poste- 

 rior extremity, where it measures 1 inch and 4 tenths. The inden- 

 tation in which the lesser pectoral muscle lies is very deep, rises 

 into a ridge on the lateral margin, and is continued from the junc- 

 tion of the coracoids about half-way along the sternum ; the ante- 

 rior edge of the keel is slightly curved backwards, the inferior edge 

 is a little rounded and continued to the posterior margin of the ster- 

 num ; the manubrial process is very long and bifurcate at its extre- 

 mity ; the coracoids are of moderate length and strength. The os 

 furcatum is light, slightly flattened, arched, and with only a very 

 small process at its sternal extremity. The scapula is slightly falci- 

 form, of moderate length and size, reaching backwards to the third 

 true rib. The wing-bones are short, but strong. 



The bones composing the pelvis are precisely what might be ex- 

 pected to be found in a bird possessing such a large tail ; it measures 

 "2 inches and y|jths in length, and l^ths in breadth ; the iliac bones 

 are broad, but form a lengthened process on each side of the caudal 

 vertebrae for the attachment of the levator muscles of the tail. The 

 ischium is also broad, and placed nearly perpendicularly to the plane 

 of the ilium. The ischiadic foramina are large and rounded ; the 

 sides of the pelvis are much compressed from the point at which 

 they penetrate to the posterior margin, the bones of the ilium being 

 expanded beyond, and overshadowing, as it were, those of the 

 ischium ; the os pubis is narrow and curved upwards beyond its se- 

 cond junction with the ischium. The obturator foramen is of mo- 

 derate size and oval ; the cotyloid cavity for the reception of the 

 head of the femur is deep, and has the hinder portion of its upjser 

 edge very protuberant. The ribs are eight in number, five true and 

 three false : two of the false ones are placed anteriorly and one pos- 

 teriorly; the latter has a sternal rib attached, but it does not arti- 

 culate with the sternum ; the upper portions of the ribs next the ver- 

 tebrae are much flattened, but they become thicker and narrower 

 as they approach tlie appendage on their posterior margin, which is 

 slightly turned upwards, and of moderate strength. 



The numbering of the vertebrae, as near as could be ascertained 

 from a natural skeleton, is*, Cer. 12 ; Dor. 6 ; Sac. 12 ? Caud. 9, The 



* I have followed the same plan in the enumeration of the vertebrse here 

 as I did in the ' Monograph on the Anatidae,' viz. by considering all those 

 which are anterior to the ribs and have no attachment to them, cervical ; 

 those anterior to the pelvinal bones and having ribs attached to them, dor- 

 sal ; those which are anchylosed together immediately succeeding the dorsal, 

 sacral ; to some these ribs are sometimes attached : and those immediately 

 succeeding these, and not anchylosed to them, caudal. 



