AND OTHER EXTESTCT BIEDS OF MAUEITIUS. 295 



11. Teocaza meybei. 



Five fractured breastbones can easily be recognized as Columbine by the combination 

 of the following characters : — The very high and at the same time slender or thin crista ; 

 the presence of a well-developed spina interna, which is broad at its base, ending 

 anteriorly obtuse and slightly bifurcated, while the spma externa is by far less developed ; 

 lastly, the deep and regular grooves for the articulation with the coracoids, which do 

 not meet each other, but are separated by a smooth, scarcely prominent, median 

 ridge. 



In order to determine the species we have compared the bones with those of Turtur 

 picturatus, Vinago austraUs, Funingus madagascariensis, and Trocaza meyeri. The 

 bones of the first three are figured by M. Milne-Edwards, of the last two the Cambridge 

 Museum possesses skeletons. The result of this comparison showed that four breast- 

 bones belong to Trocaza meyeri. 



In this species there exists a small but distinctly prominent tubercle on the labium 

 internum of the anterior margin of the sternum, midway between the anterior end of 

 the spina interna and the base of the lateral anterior process of the sternum ; it serves 

 for the attachment of the inner accessory sterno-coracoidal ligament. This tubercle 

 is well developed in the four breastbones, as in Trocaza, very small in Funingus, and 

 absent in Turtur and Vinago. 



A second specific character is aff'orded by the spina externa of the sternum, which is 

 well developed in Trocaza and Vinago, small in Turtur, absent in Funingus. 



The measurements on the following page show, moreover, additional characters, 

 which led to the determination of the species to which the breastbones belong. 



Three tarso-metatarsal bones likewise are referable to Trocaza meyeri, because of 

 their length and the configuration of the bony ridges and furrows on the posterior side 

 of the proximal end of the tarso-metatarsus, serving for the passage of the various long 

 flexor muscles of the toes. In this respect Trocaza agrees, but for the length of the 

 bones, with Turtur, and difi'ers considerably from Funingus. 



12. Funingus, sp. inc. 



One sternum, unfortunately very incomplete, consisting only of the anterior end, 

 with the anterior margin of the sternum and the anterior margin of the keel, may 

 possibly belong to Funingus, chiefly on account of the absence of the lateral tubercles 

 of the spina interna, and because of several of its dimensions as given in the following 

 Table, in which this specimen is marked M.S.=Mare aux Songes, while E.N. indicates 

 obtained in the flesh by Sir Edward Newton, and M.E. that the specimen has been 

 figured by M. Milne-Edwards. 



