1872.] DR. J. MURIE ON THE SKELETON OF TODU6. 671 



cavity and the inferior convexity being slight. The tapering of 

 the mandible is steady and constant from behind forwards, but 

 with fair breadth at the symphysial end, and terminating rather 

 bluntly. 



I would call attention also to the fact (which I do not find noted 

 by ornithologists), that the horny mandibular margins are minutely 

 denticulate, or serrate, thus agreeing with what obtains in the Momo- 

 tidcB. 



Spine, Ribs, Breast-bone, and Pelvis. 



With respect to the number of vertebral elements present in the 

 spinal column, I cannot tabulate these with the precision which 

 might be desired — partly on account of their diminutive fragile nature, 

 and still more because of the usual indefiniteness between what strictly 

 belongs to the dorsal, lumbar, and sacral regions. According to my 

 reading of the case there are 1 2 cervical, 7 dorsal, 9 coalesced lumbo- 

 sacral (and coccygeal), and 7 free caudal — in all, 35. 



I am uncertain whether the last cervical does not possess a riblet, 

 whereby it ought to be regarded as belonging to the series of the 

 back rather than those of the neck. 



Each cervical answers well to what has been portrayed by me in 

 the Laughing Kingfisher, Bacelo gigas, dimensions excepted, the in- 

 ferior styliform process possibly being relatively longer. 



The dorsals have long spinous processes. I reckon those dorsal 

 vertebrae which have ribs, and whose bodies are not ankylosed. But 

 there is besides a vertebra firmly adherent to the sacral series, where- 

 from the last rib seems to spring — though, from the costal adherence 

 to the ilium, there is a certain dubiousness attendant. 



The ankylosis of the lumbo-sacrals is complete. There is no 

 development of inferior spines ; and the continuous superior spine is 

 very low, and outspread at its middle. These vertebrae, following 

 Professor Huxley's nomenclature*, include lumbar, sacral, and uro- 

 sacral, or (his more recent definition f) dorso-lumbar and sacral ; never- 

 theless I prefer using the terms applied by me among the Alcedinidse. 



Of ribs, 8 exist on either side — the hindermost one, as I have inti- 

 mated, partly resting against the anterior end of the ilium. 



The total number of vertebras in Todus (35) is less than in any 

 of the Kingfishers, where they range from 37 in Ispidina to 41 in 

 Dacelo. 



M. Blanchard's determination of the sternum, his three outlines of 

 that of T. viridis, and the illustrations of Eyton lighten my task. 

 As the former author remarks, one is struck by its resemblance to 

 those of the Kingfishers. The summary of its distinctive points 

 are : — shortness with breadth, and the sternal plates convex ; tenu- 

 ous external and internal xiphoid pedate processes, with four deep 

 fissures; keel deepish, but moderately produced in front, its anterior 

 margin very shallow-bayed, and a high upward-pointed rostrum, 

 barely cleft at the point ; deep coracoid gutters, and internal mesial 



* "On the Classification of Birds," P.Z.S. 1867, pp. 419, 422. 

 t ' Manual of the Anatomy of Vertebrated Animals,' p. 278. 



