GALLINULOIDES WYOMINGENSIS EASTMAN 627 



The dorsal portion of the spine, the thoracic ribs, and the costal 

 ribs are in such a demoralized condition that it would be quite 

 unsafe to make any positive statements in regard to them. There 

 seem to be, however, two free vertebrae just in advance of the 

 pelvis, and each has its centrum rotated into view. In most grouse 

 and other gallinaceous forms there is a single vertebra between the 

 pelvis and the four which coossify into one piece in the dorsal 

 series. If this were the case with respect to the specimen under 

 consideration, and we find, as I say, two free ones anterior to the 

 pelvis, it may be explained by the fact that the fossil skeleton 

 belonged to a subadult individual, which died before the co-ossifi- 

 cation of the dorsal vertebrae took place. I do not say that this 

 was the case; but I will say that, were I to find all the rest of this 

 skeleton of this fossil to be tjrpically gallinaceous — and all the dorso- 

 lumbar vertebrae were hidden from sight — its dorsals were four and 

 all in one bone, while between it and the pelvis would be found 

 another single, free vertebra. This would surely be the case were 

 the individual an adult bird. 



The ribs were slender, and those in mid-series apparently bore 

 "epipleural appendages," as at least in the case of one rib the 

 process can be seen ; they are never very prominent or strong in the 

 Gallinae. 



In the rails and gallinules the number of cervico-dorsal vertebrae 

 between the skull and the pelvis is greater than in any of the true 

 gallinaceous forms, while in the former the dorsal vertebrae never 

 unite to constitute a single bone.^ 



The pelvis. — Owing to the fact that the ventral aspect of this 

 bone alone is exposed, only its characters upon that aspect can be 

 touched upon. These indicate that the gallinaceous nature of 

 them is very distinctly marked, and that this pelvis would answer 

 for any grouse of average size, such as Bonasa umbellus for example. 

 These characters, too, are better shown in such a pelvis as the one 

 possessed by Centrocercus than is the bone in such a bird as Thauma- 

 lea picta. Were its dorsal aspect exposed, in the fossil specimen here 

 being considered, it would closely resemble the pelvis of Bonasa 



^ R. W. Shufeldt, "Osteology of Porzana Carolina" Jour. Comp. Med. and Surg., 

 New York, IX (July, 1888), No. 3, art. 17, pp. 231-48. (Seven figures.) See p. 7. 



