BIRDS. 181 



Australian genus Cinclosoma (C. Lathami, Hunt. Mus. 1590) we have a Passerine Bird with the 

 outer xiphoid as much advanced as in the Gallinae ; whilst in AntJioclicera carunculata they lie 

 back, nearly parallel with the broad meso-xiphoid, and separated from it by a narrow slit-like 

 notch : this is isomorphous with what we see in the Lamellirostres. In some of the 

 Australian Passerines, e.g. Petroica bicolor (Hunt. Mus., No. 1584), and Dasyornis australis 

 (Hunt. Mus., No. 1531), the furcula is very feeble, and the inter-clavicle is aborted ; in these forms 

 the outer xiphoid is nearly parallel with the middle plate, as in Antlioclicura. In the Butcher-bird 

 (Lanius coUurio] there is an inner fenestra on the right side one twenty-seventh of an inch 

 in extent ; it is near the end of the Sternum. In the Nuthatch (Sitta Europaia) there are 

 two similar fenestrse, one on. each side, these are opposite the angle of the large notch ; and there 

 is an additional smaller passage on the right side. Both Lanius and Sitta are " outsiders," with 

 regard to the group, and so are the Tits (Parinae) ; it is in this latter Family, however, that 

 the most perfect additional sternal cleft may at times be seen. Plate XVI, fig. 1, shows an 

 under view of the Sternum of Parus caruleus, magnified three diameters ; here is to be seen a 

 well-formed, transversely oval, inner notch (i. n.) ; in this case, on the left side only ; the typical 

 characters of a Passerine Sternum, are, in other respects, well developed : the keel on the rostrum 

 (r.) quite distinct from the keel on the body of the bone, is clearly displayed. At first sight the 

 Crows (Corvinse) appear to be but little severed from the Pinches (FringillinaB) : but in their 

 development they show the greatest departure made by any Family of this Sub-order. In 

 Plate XV, fig. 18, the Shoulder and Breast-bones of a fledgling Daw (Corvus moneduld) are 

 shown, of the natural size ; fig. 1 9 shows the furcula (two diameters) ; and fig. 20 a section of 

 the sternal keel (ten diameters). The scapula (sc.) and coracoid (cr.) are quite typical, and so is 

 the furcula (fig. 19), which is here in an instructive stage, showing the complete absorption of 

 the meso-scapular segment by the tip of the clavicle (cl.), and the endosteal patch (en. o.) inside 

 the substance of the solid hyaline cartilage into which the prse-coracoid segment (p. cr. s.) has 

 been converted ; the inter-clavicle (i. cl.) has its proper semilunar form, but will extend much 

 farther backwards in the adult. If figs. 17 and 18 be compared, it will be seen that the Crow 

 has an additional pair of sternal ossifications to what is found in Turdus (which agrees with 

 the Passerinse, generally); in the Daw (fig. 18) there is a metosteon (m. o.) on each side, 

 behind the pleurosteon (pi. o.) ; and the lophosteon (1. o.) only ossifies the keel (k.), as is more 

 clearly shown in fig. 20. The greater extent of the inner than the outer bony deposits, shown in 

 all these figures, indicates their original endosteal character. In the adult Crow the great 

 middle xiphoid plate is sinuoso-transverse behind ; in the Australian type, e.g. Gymnorhina 

 tibicen, I find a considerable semi-oval (primordial) notch at the mid-line, answering to that of 

 the embryo of the Linnet (see Plate XV, fig. 13, m. x.). This is in perfect harmony with the 

 generalised nature of these Austro-corvince, which have a skull and face coming very near to 

 what is seen in the Toucans (Ramphastos) and the Hornbills (Suceros). 



