606 SHUFELDT—OSTEOLOGY OF THE WOODPECKERS.  [0¢t. 5, 
ribs appear to be slenderer and the hyapophysial processes of the 
last cervical vertebra not so strongly produced. A foramen, median 
in position, perforates the lower part of the pygostyle, as I have 
called attention to in some other Woodpeckers. 
The first pair of sternal ribs are comparatively not so stout as. 
they are seen to be in Dryodates. 
Coming next to consider such a form as Melanerpes torquatus, 
we find the same plan prevailing ; in it, however, the pre- and post- 
zygapophyses of the mid-cervical region are rather more spreading ; 
the upper parts or moieties of the dorsal ribs are again broad; the 
leading pair of haeemapophyses are barely larger than the remaining 
pairs. This is quite a striking difference as compared with what 
we saw, for instance, in Campephilus. With respect to the caudal 
vertebra, we find their transverse processes narrow and long, while 
the chevron bones, codssified with their centra beneath, are simply 
bifid, and the spreading part of the pygostyle, comparatively speak- 
ing, is not as large as usual. Finally, the neural spines of the dorsal 
series of vertebrz are very low, and the ends of their superior 
borders interlock both in front and behind. 
Some very noted differences are to be seen in this part of the 
trunk skeleton when we come to compare JZ. ¢orguatus and J. 
carolinus. First, in the last-mentioned species the post- and pre- 
zygapophyses of the mid-cervical vertebrze are not nearly so slender 
nor divergent ; it has but five free caudal vertebrze,* and a large 
submarginal foramen pierces the pygostyle below. 
There are also other minor differences whichare to be recognized 
upon careful comparison. Right here I wish to point out a differ- 
ence that exists in the axis vertebra of the Pileated Woodpecker 
and the same bone in Dryobates, M. torquatus and M. carolinus. 
In the first this segment of the spine is pierced upon either side by 
the vertebrarterial canal, while in the last-mentioned species the 
vertebral artery and vein skip this vertebra and pass directly from 
the canal inthe third cervical to the corresponding canal in the 
atlas. 
Melanerpes uropygialis exhibits some characters in its vertebrz 
and ribs that agree with the corresponding ones in JZ. torguatus, 
while others agree with J. carolinus. For instance, it has sex 
free caudal vertebree and the pygostyle, the latter showing the 
1 Determined from two specimens sent me by Dr. Strode. 
