322 MR. W. K. PARKER ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF BALAINICEPS REX. 
the signification of these parts we refer the reader to the translation of Miller by Baly 
(1848, vol. ii. p. 1616), and to Professor Huxley’s Croonian Lecture. 
Vertebral Column. (Pl. LXVI. fig. 1, 3, 4,5, 6 & 7.) 
In studying the corporal vertebre of the Baleniceps, we shall follow Professor 
Owen’s plan, and consider all those vertebre ‘‘‘ cervical’ in the Bird that extend from 
the skull to the first vertebra with the hemal arch complete, and those ‘ dorsal ’ that 
extend from that vertebra inclusive to the first vertebra embraced by, and anchylosed 
to, the iliac bones’.”” And again, “‘ All those vertebree 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 vertebre are ‘ caudal,’ and the last 
of these is formed of several embryonic vertebre 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 vertebre in the spinal column of different 
birds—some nearly related to the Baleniceps, and others from very distantly-related 
families. 
Number of 
vertebree 
Neher of with ribs 
cervicals that articu- Number of} Number of | Total from 
Sau of Peete Number of me with nae free peal, datings pe ae re 
. a cemapo- ie en 
cervicals. apophyses true dorsals. a tebra. rea ey ane pacer: 
—floating | most of 
ribs. which reach 
the sternum 
Balenicepsrez . . . 17 2 4 5 17 1 6 44 
Cancroma cochlearia . 15 4 4 5 14 1 8 41 
Ardeacinerea .. . 19 3 4 5 14 1 7 44 
Ciconia argala . . . 17 2 4 5 15 1 7 43 
Ciconiaalba. . . . 17 2 3 5 15 2 Ji 42 
Grus americana. . . 19 2 6 8 17 2 7 49 
Phenicopterus ruber .| 18 2 5 6 13 or 14 1 9 245 
Grus pavonina . . .| 20 2 6 7 1 6 
Psophia crepitans . .| 18 2 6 7 17 1 6 47 
Parrajacana. . . | 16 3 4 5 1 7 
Fulicaatra. .. . 15 1 7 8 i! 9 
Cygnus olor. . . | 25 2 5 9 4 8 
Anser palustris . . . 18 1 5 Hie 18 3 7 48 
Anas boschas. . . . 16 1 5 8 Ly, 3 8 46 
Pelecanus onocrotalus . 17 i 4 5 1 7 
Dromaius ater . . .| QI) 3 5 5 22 1 9 57 
Caprimulgus europeus | 13 2 4 6 12 2 7 34 
Alcedoispida . . .| 15 2 4 5 13 1 7 39 
Cypselusapus . . .| 13 2 4 6 11 2 8 36 
Accipiter nisus . . .| 15 3 5 7 15 2 8 43 
Falco esalon. . . . 15 3 5 6 14 or 15 1 8 243 
Trochilus colibris . . 14 1 5 7 9 2 6 34 
| Passer domesticus . . 14 1 5 6 12 1 7 38 
' Nature of Limbs, p. 103. 
* The absolute number of vertebree 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 vertebre. 
