OSTEOLOGY OP THE DODO. 57 



outer curve). The head and tubercle are at the same distance as in the preceding, but 

 the tubercle is broader. The characters of the body of the rib are very similar ; but it 

 is narrower,* not attaining a breadth of 5^ lines at its lower end; the narrowing and 

 thickening to the articular surface for the sternal rib is more gradual. 



A last vertebral rib is adapted, by the longitudinal extent and partial division of the 

 tubercle, to the vertebra which forms the first of the coalesced series of sacrals ; and the 

 body of the rib, instead of preserving the regular outward curve of the antecedent 

 ones, is more suddenly bent soon after it emerges beyond the margin of the ilium ; the 

 lamelliform part thence continued is straighter, and, moreover, shows upon its outer 

 surface a flattened facet, indicative of pressure or friction by the movements to and fro 

 of the thigh over a rib in such position. Beyond this surface the rib curves in a way 

 not shown in the other specimens ; the distal end has the flat syndesmotic articular 

 surface to which had been attached a hgemapophysis not reaching the sternum. In 

 this last (eighth) free rib there is no epipleural process, nor any definitely marked liga- 

 mental surface on the posterior margin indicative of the attachment of such process. 



The body of a posterior vertebral rib (PI. XVI. fig. 10) shows a fracture which has 

 been healed, with some irregular ossific deposit on the inner surface. ALL the ribs have 

 a pneumatic foramen (ib. figs. 2, 7, 8 ^;) at the fore part of the neck, near the base of 

 the tubercle. 



The eight left vertebral ribs (PL XV.) and the five right ones do not, either of them, 

 constitute a consecutive series, but have come from different individuals, of diflFerent 

 sizes, as exemplified in the third rib figured in Plates XV. and XVI. 



The sternal ribs (PI. XVI. figs. 3 & 12) are characterized by the two facets, nearly 

 or quite meeting at an open angle, into which their sternal end expands (ib. fig. 3, c). 

 One of these ribs, which is entire, shows the single, elliptic syndesmotic surface at the 

 opposite end (ib. b) ; it is 3|^ inches in length, with a greatest breadth of 5 lines, and 

 is straiglit. Another and longer specimen (ib. 12) shows a moderate degree of curvature. 

 A third specimen is 6 inches in length : the proximal end has a breadth of nearly 

 half an inch (the penultimate rib in PI. XV.). 



Five successive sternal ribs are indicated by gradational size and curvature, and a 

 sixth, which does not reach the sternum. Before describing tliis bone I sliall proceed 

 with the account of tlie sacral vertebrae, and the expanded haemal arches of such as 

 complete the pelvis. 



§ 4. Pelvis. (Plates XV. & XIX.) 



The pelvis of the Dodo is chiefly remarkable for the flatness and great breadth of the 

 posterior half, corresponding with the characteristic proportions of that part of the body 

 in the old woodcuts of the Dutch " Dodaersen'"'. It includes sixteen coalesced sacral 

 vertebrae, with which the iliac bones are continuously confluent. 



' See, especially, Bontekoe's figure, copied by StricUand, in the title-page and at p. 03 of the above-cited work. 



VOL. VI. PART II. I 



