LUCAS: GALLINULOIDES WYOMINGENSIS EASTMAN. 83 



bridge on the anterioi' face of the distal eud of the tibia. The fibula is 

 of the same general proportions as in other Galliformes. 



The hypotarsus is very likely only grooved, not perforate ; but this is 

 one of the points that cannot be detinitely ascertained without injury to 

 the specimen. The number of tarsal tendiual perforations is a character 

 of much importance in birds, for it seems fairly constant within the 

 limits of a given large group and indicates the amount of specialization 

 attained by the members of that group. As all Galliformes examined 

 have a single tendiual perforation, the absence of such a character would 

 indicate that our Eocene bird is of a more primitive type than its 

 modern relatives. The usual tarsal sesamoid shows back of the right 

 tarsal joint. The tarsus is longer in proportion to the tibia than in any 

 other species examined, as is shown by the subjoined table, which gives 

 the length of these bones in a few species : — 



The toes ai'e moderate and slender, of about the same length as those 

 of Colinus virginiaiius, but a little heavier ; yet they are not heavy in 

 comparison with the size of the tarsus or the general bulk of the bird. 



The following table gives the length of the principal bones in the 

 skeleton, all measurements being made in a straight line : — 



Principal Measurements of Gallinuloides wtomingensis. 

 Occipital condyle to tip of bill, 47.° mm. Xiphoid to anterior end of keel, 59 + mm. 



Relationgkijjs. — The various characters of the Green River bird may 

 be summarized as follows : — 



