470 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON [NoV. 3, 



Vultur monachus iu the British Museum, the Sardinian skull pre- 

 sents such a close resemblance that there can be little doubt that 

 it belongs either to that species or to a closely allied form. I have 

 already recorded ^ remains of Vultur monachus from the cavern of 

 Bruniquel, in the Tarn-et-Garonne, France. 



Til. PlCARI^. 



Coracias, cf. abyssinica, Bodd. — The only Picarian remains in the 

 collection comprise a few bones, apparently belonging to a single in- 

 dividual, from the Tavolara cave. These include the right coracoid, 

 and the left femur, tibio-tarsus, and tarso-metatarsus. The two 

 latter are represented in figs. 4, 4 a of the Plate, while the coracoid 

 is figured in woodcut 1. 



The bones of Picarise may readily be distinguished from those of 

 Passeres (with which alone the smaller forms are at all likely to be 

 confounded) by many features. Thus the humerus differs by the 

 absence of the median tubercle on the distal part of the palmar aspect 

 above the condyles. Again, the tibio-tarsus, as a general rule, is cha- 

 racterized by the very slight development of the crests at the proximal 

 extremity, and has a very prominent tubercle on the anterior surface 

 of the distal part of the shaft, some distance above the condyles. 

 Moreover, the fibular ridge is very short and often low ; while the 

 distal condyles have a contour very different from that obtaining in 

 the Passeres. The tarso-metatarsus is generally relatively shorter than 

 in the latter, with a great distal expansion, and a distinct prominence 

 on the inner border above the articular surface for the hallux ; while 

 the upper part of its anterior surface generally has a deep depression, 

 with two foramina, dividing the three primary elements of the meta- 

 tarsus. The distal trochlese, which are wider than in the Passeres, 

 are generally situated in the same vertical plane, and may or may not 

 descend to the same horizontal line. 



Such characters are presented by the bones before us. The tarso- 

 metatarsus is characterized by its relative length and slenderness, by 

 the presence of only a single closed tube in the talon (hypotarsus), 

 and also by the circumstance that the three distal trochleae descend 

 nearly to the same level. In the latter respect it differs from the 

 tarso-metatarsus of the Cuckoos and their allies, but agrees, as in the 

 other points, with that of the Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers. 

 The tarso-metatarsus of the Kingfishers is distinguished by its shorter 

 and stouter form, and also by the relatively higher position of the 

 foramen between the third and fourth trochlese ; while that of the 

 Bee-eaters is sufficiently distinguished by its smaller dimensions. 



Compared with the corresponding bones of the Blue Roller (Cora- 

 cm* garrula), the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus agree so closely 

 in structure in every respect that there can be no doubt that they 

 indicate a bird of the same genus. There is, however, some discre- 

 pancy in size, as shown by the following measurements : — 



' Cat. Foss. Birds Brit. Mus. p. 32 (1891). 



