450 Zoological Society :— 
the angle, where it makes a most complete anchylosis with the tip of 
the sternal keel. This structure of the furculum is similar to what 
is found in Pelecanus, Phalacrocorax, and Sula; but we have seen 
no such ‘ merry-thought”’ bone in any Ardeine bird. In these, as in 
Baleniceps, the rami of the bone are not only flat as they pass in 
between the heads of the coracoids, but this thin condition of the 
bone is continued throughout one-half of their extent. They have 
no such sudden bend at the upper third, the arch being gentle, and 
the lessening size of the bone gradual. Nevertheless, in the Boatbill 
there is a slight tendency to this state of things. The blending of 
the furculum with the sternal keel seldom takes place in the true 
Herons and Storks; there continues even in old birds a synovial 
gliding joint, and in the Boatbill and some of the smaller Herons the 
furculum does not quite reach the sternum. This articulated con- 
dition is generally found in Gannets and Cormorants ; but in old Pe- 
licans anchylosis of the joints takes place. This occurs too in the 
Secretary bird, which is unique among the birds of prey in havin 
a joint there at all, so that this last-mentioned bird is a raptori 
isomorph of the Cranes. In the latter birds (the Gruide) there is 
great difference in the structure of these parts; for whilst in such 
species as Grus Antigone and G. americana we have in the adult 
bird complete coalescence, in the Balearic Crane, G. pavonina, and 
in the Trumpeter, Psophia (a Crane becoming slightly gallinaceous), 
the furculum does not reach the sternum at all. 
Any lengthy remarks upon the bones of the limbs need not be 
made at present. They are about three-fourths the size of those of 
the Adjutant ; but as the limbs had not enjoyed much liberty of 
exercise, they have not that robustness which is seen in the skeleton 
of old wild birds. The humerus is longer relatively, and the fore- 
arm shorter in proportion than in the Adjutant; the thigh-bone is 
longer in proportion to the tibia and tarso-metatarsus in the Baleni- 
ceps than in its larger relation. ‘The toes are very long, reminding 
one of those of the Jacanas (Parra); and the most ridiculous care 
which this stilted, stalking bird takes, both in taking up and setting 
down its feet, makes it worth while to compare the length of the bones 
of its toes with that of the bones of the toes of the Great Adjutant. 
Haliux. Inner toe. Middle toe. Outer toe, 
in. in. in. 
ANA “65.565. 20 A'15 5°7 4°7 
Baleniceps caeees: eo 3°8 6°5 6°4 
_ To conclude, I may remark that upon a careful examination of the 
osteology of the Baleniceps, after eliminating the teleological from 
the relational characters, I am decidedly of opinion that it is strictly 
an Ardeine bird, and more nearly related to Cancroma than to any 
other known type. 
Note 1,—Amongst the bones of the limbs, the humerus alone is 
pneumatic,—the cavity of the os femoris being filled with medulla, 
as are all the more distal bones. 
Note II,—The tongue is extremely small—an important Pelecanine 
character. 
