238 DR. P. L, SCLATER ON THE BREEDING OF A [Feb. 28, 
is, as in Parrots and many of their nearest allies, coincident with the 
upturned, somewhat bifurcate episternal process. This is perfectly 
normal ; for the keel, the episternal process, and the coracoid grooves 
really belong to the shoulder-girdle ; together they form the true 
episternum or manubrium. This might be called “omo-sternum,” 
in contradistinction to the rib-sternum (“ pleuro-stefnum’’), or that 
which relates to the inner cartilaginous belts, which grow directly 
from the centra of the vertebree *. ‘The furcular bone is only appa- 
rently simple, although in this specimen of Microglossa no sutures 
can be seen. In the Ash-coloured Parrot (Psittacus erythacus), 
however, and in the East-Indian Palgornis torquata, the thick, 
broad end of each ramus is seen to be a separate piece. This is 
also to be seen in the Toucan (Ramphastos toco) and in the King- 
fisher (Alcedo ispida), but is still better developed in all the “ Rap- 
tores’”’ and Totipalmatze, in the Baleniceps and Umbretta, and, in 
a less degree, in most typical Herons. I have already spoken of 
this part (P. Z. 8S. 1864, p. 339 e¢ seq.), and may now say that it is 
a rudiment of the so-called “clavicle” of the Batrachian, Chelonian, 
and African Ostrich, and is well seen as a distinct bone in the 
shoulder-girdle of the Salmon tribe and some other allied Fishes. 
In Birds this rudiment is proximal; in Mammals, generally, it is 
distal or sternal ; but I have found such a piece at both ends of the 
clavicle in certain Insectivora, e. g. the Mole (Talpa europea), and 
in the Shrew (Sorex tetragonurus). In Lizards the counterpart of 
this cartilage is the anterior boundary of the coraco-acromial fenes- 
tre. The supposed rudiment of the clavicle in certain small Par- 
rots, e. g. the Love-Bird ( Ayapornis pullaria) and the Grass-Parakeet 
(Melopsittacus undulatus), is an ossification of this acromial car- 
tilage. In Psephotis multicolor neither this nor the furcular bone is 
present. 
4. Nore on THE BREEDING OF A GROUND-PIGEON IN THE 
Socrety’s Mrenacerie. By P. L. Scuatrer, M.A., Pa.D., 
F.R.S., SecreTARY TO THE SOCIETY. 
In the ‘ Proceedings’ of this Society for 1863 (p. 377) I gave a 
short notice of a Ground-Pigeon of the genus Phlogenas+, of which 
the Society had then recently received four living examples, toge- 
ther with a figure of the bird drawn from life (pl. xxx1v.), and,- 
supposing it to be undescribed, proposed to call it Phlogenas bart- 
letti. One of these fine birds having recently died, an opportu- 
nity has occurred of making a more careful examination of it than 
was possible when the bird was alive. 
* T would remark that, to trace the affinities of the Parrot tribe, we should 
take such forms as the Common Grey Parrot (Psittacus erythacus), Nestor, 
Psephotis, &e., in which the Psittacine characters are somewhat enfeebled. I 
have not found any other “family” so isolated as this. 
t This term is written by Reichenbach (its proposer) Phlegenas ; but Phlogenas 
(~Aoyes and otyds) would seem to be more correct. 
