BIRDS. 153 



following order, namely, Palamedea, Cygnus, Anser, Querquedula, Anas, Merganser, Oidemia, 

 Mergus, Clangula. The hinder part of the Sternum has only three divisions ; and these divisions are 

 dilated at the free ends in the marine kinds, viz. Clangula, Merganser, Mergus, so as to enclose the 

 great " notch " which divides them on the right and left side, and by an excess of ossification 

 causing the notch to become a " fenestra." 



The notch is deepest in the land and fresh-water species, with the exception of 

 Anseranas, which makes some approach to the Gruin*. The broad middle xiphoid plate is 

 nearly an inch shorter than the outer bars in Palamedea, one third of an inch shorter in 

 Cygnus olor and Anser palustris ; one eighth of an inch shorter in Querquedula caudacuta and 

 Oidemia nigra ; as much longer in Anas boschas ; about the same length in Anseranas ; two lines 

 longer in Mergus ; and three lines longer in Clangula c/irysoplithalma and Meganser Castor ; but it 

 is most developed in Harelda glacialis} There are eight costal condyles on the left and seven on 

 the right side in Chauna, eight on both sides in Cygnus olor, seven on both sides in Anser palus- 

 tris, Anseranas melanoleuca, Querquedula caudacuta, and Oidemia nigra; six on both sides in 

 Clangula chrysophthalma, Mergus albellus, and Merganser Castor. The vertebral ribs have well- 

 developed " appendages " in all but Palamedea, in which they are entirely absent a unique 

 state of things. The sternal keel in Palamedea does not reach the junction of the coracoid 

 grooves by half an inch, and ends nearly two inches in front of the termination of the outer 

 xiphoids. The coracoids in this Bird are extremely hollow, opening by a large pneumatic 

 foramen above the base and the furcula is absolutely unique as to solidity, the rami being 

 seven lines across and three lines thick at the middle; they diminish in size but little 

 at the angle, and have no azygous part. Next to this comes the furcula of Anseranas, 

 which is extremely solid, and has a massive inter-clavicular part, almost reaching the pointed 

 angle of the very deep sternal keel. This last kind of Goose is more nearly related to the 

 Cranes than any other of its tribe ; but there is a curious conformity between the Geese and the 

 Cranes in many respects, namely, in the manner in which the Sternum is hollowed out to receive 

 the trachea, as in Cygnus musicus, C. Bewickii, &c., on the one hand, and in Grus proper on the 

 other ; also in the semblance of a newly hatched Crane to a stilted Gosling ; and in the flight of the 

 Geese and Cranes being performed by their flocks in the same kind of military dispositions. 



Family" PRO-CELLARING." 

 Example 1. Diomedea exulans, Linn. 

 Example 2. Procellaria capensis, Linn. 

 Example 3. Pelecano'ides urinatrix, Gmel. 

 Example 4. Pwffinus brevicaudus, Brandt. 



Family" LARING." 

 Example 1. Gavia ridibunda, Linn. 

 Example 2. Hissa tridactyla, Linn. 

 Example 3. Larus argentatus, Gmel. 

 Example 4. Sterna nigra, Linn. 

 Example 5. Thalasseuspoliocercus, Gould. 

 Example 6. Glareola torquata, Temni. 



1 Professor Newton informed me of this fact with regard to Harelda. 

 20 



