MR. W. K. PARKER ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF BALANICEPS REX. 34] 
true hemophyses. In typical birds the sternum is ossified from five centres ; and this 
extreme expansion of hzmal spines, by pairs of lateral, with an intercalated central 
carinated piece, is the exact counterpart of the so-called neural spines of the skulls in 
certain mammals—e. g.: the Hyena, Badger, &c. 
Upper Extremities. (Pl. LXVI. fig. 1.) 
Before proceeding to describe the bones of the extremities, we insert a table showing 
the comparative lengths of the arm, fore-arm, hand, thigh, leg, shank, and toes (in inches 
and lines) in various birds. 
| a — Ll 3 = et oO = oO = Me - La 
| on ° ° im U ° o ° n o oo Oo. ° Ss 
ae a) adsl a. a =| = £ as = 
BE | 2 /BE2| BS | Be [Ese] 3 | Be | BE | Be 
me | de |Sa8| 52 | $2 |S2a| 83) 82 | 8a | 32 
| in, lj} in. Lh Jin, Lin, L | in, LJ ing LJ] in, 1] in, LJ in L | in 1 
Baleniceps rex .......- TS LOMON anon) Ol Ol SetOn sisi 4a 7 Gr Seton Oe 
Cancroma cochlearia....)3 6)4 2/3 2/2 4)4 5)211]/1 3/1 83/2 3/1112 
Ardea cinered......-... EW ON VE SITS eA BI Ee} © yl oF ah 
| Leptoptilus argala...... 12 6 {17 5 {11 3/5 10/16 10 12 8/2 4\/4 2)5 8|4 8 
Phenicopterus ruber....|7 2|7 7|5 8|3 41/11 8]10 3 9/2 513 0/2 9 
LATA OTR MEA OOOO EE Se oman ieee ee Oboe oe lam 2 ales saul SiO) 
| Parrajacana..........{1 5|}1 8}1 6)1 1/3 8/2 6/1 53/2 18;2 7/2 4 
Podiceps rubricollis ....| 4 13}3 9{3 O|1 914 7/2 5 8/111);2 4]2 8 
Pelecanus onocrotalus ..|12 0113 8|/8 9/4 3|7 4]/4 2/2 2/3 1/4 3]4 3 
Phalacrocorax carbo....|6 3/]/6 9315 8|2 7/5 1/2 8/1 6/2 1/3 3/4 0 
| Diomedea ewulans......\15 8 {15 7}10 9/4 4/9 8]4 6)...... 5 8/610|6 6 
Apteryx australis ...... 1 10 9 6;4 3/6 7|3 0 93;110}2 8|)2 0 
Dromanis ater ........|3 9}2 213 0/9 O17 O/l4 8] ...... Of 108) OMOy on 6) 
Cypselus apus ae 65 9311 9 Sele 5 33 5 53 4 
Trochilus colibris ...... 3h 34 gf 4 7 3 2 3 4 43 
| Himantopus melonapy ert Zing Ol Que ON 2a 7a LS pl eA Go| eared LAR Geol ite 6 
For a description of the structure of the bones of the upper and lower extremities in 
birds, the reader 1s referred to that invaluable little book in ‘ Orr’s Circle of the Sciences,’ 
viz. ‘The Skeleton and the Teeth,’ by Professor Owen, page 222. Notwithstanding 
the variety there is in the relative proportions and comparative strength of these parts, 
there is a truly wonderful uniformity of structure in the bones of the limbs; so that 
Professor Owen considers them to be merely ‘‘ teleologically divided appendages of the 
occipital and pelvic vertebre.’’ As compared with the size of the head, the strength of 
the cervical vertebre, and the great development of the sternal apparatus, the bones 
of the limbs in this young Balzniceps have a somewhat delicate and feeble appearance. 
To say nothing of the very strong wing and leg-bones of the larger Storks, the Baleeniceps 
has these parts relatively weaker than those of the Grey Heron. The Boat-bill (Can- 
croma) and the Umbre (Scopus) appear to be about equal in this respect (considering 
their size) to the Baleniceps. The anterior articular head of the humerus (Pl. LXVI. 
fig. 1h), the upper and lower crests (the latter with its internal pneumatic foramen), 
VOL. IV.— PART VII. 3B 
