322 



MR. W. K. PARKER ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF BAL^NICEPS REX. 



the signification of tliese parts we refer the reader to the translation of Miiller by Baly 

 (1843, vol. ii. p. 1616), and to Professor Huxley's Croonian Lecture. 



Vertebral Column. (PI. LXVI. fig. 1, 3, 4, 5, 6 & 7.) 

 In studying the corporal vertebrae of the Balsniceps, we shall follow Professor 

 Owen's plan, and consider all those vertebrae " ' cervical' in the Bird that extend from 

 the skull to the first vertebra with the haemal arch complete, and those ' dorsal ' that 

 extend from that vertebra inclusive to the first vertebra embraced by, and anchylosed 

 to, the iliac honest" And again, " All those vertebrae may be called for convenience 

 ' sacral,' in the Bird, which are confluent both by centrums and neural arches with each 

 other and with the iliac bones." The remaining vertebrae are ' caudal,' and the last 

 of these is formed of several embryonic vertebrae which are very imperfect in their 

 development, become coalesced together, and are modified for their special function'. 



We here subjoin a Table of the number of vertebrEe in the spinal column of different 

 birds — some nearly related to the Balaeniceps, and others from very distantly-related 

 families. 



' Nature of Limbs, p. 103. 

 The absolute number of vertebrse in any bird can only be ascertained by examining the spinal column at a 

 very early stage : in some cases the last caudal is a compound bone formed of at least ten embryonic vertebrfe. 



