694 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 
two addittonal figures, that present superior and lateral views of the 
bone in this bird; in comparing it with other figures given one cannot 
avoid being struck with these marked departures from the common type. 
There is one other Grouse that affects this style of pelvis, and that is 
Pediccetes, and the attempt is nota bad one. The principal points 
wherein the Sharp-tailed Grouse has failed to make a perfect imitation 
of the unique pelvis of his ideal are, the ilia have failed to produce such 
ponderous overhanging lateral flaps, that nearly shut out from view the 
ischiadic foramen on either side. Again, these bones in Pediecetes meet 
the sacral vertebre for their entire length internally; and in this bird, 
too, the pubic elements often unite all along the inferior borders of the 
ischia. This does not occur in the Pinnated Grouse; otherwise the 
bones are very similar and marked exceptions to the general pattern of 
the other members of this subfamily. _ 
After examining a large number of the pelves of our Grouse, and 
noting their capacious cavities and great width from side to side, one 
cannot help but be surprised at the complete change in outline, on turn- 
ing to these bones as they are found among the Partridges. 
As a rule in these birds, the pelvis is elongated and unusually narrow, 
though the drooping ischia behind give it additional depth in its more 
posterior parts; the pubic bones are turned up behind after they extend 
beyond the elements above them, and the lateral walls formed by the 
ilia are, just beyond the acetabula, almost vertical; in fact, one would 
almost suspect the pelvis of the common Virginia Partridge as belong- 
ing to the skeleton of some variety of Curlew, had he not been sure of 
the owner. This apparent departure from the more general model of 
this bone in gallinaceous fowls, however, is not nearly so decided in 
other varieties of the Ortygine, as for instance in Lophortyx californica, 
and a very good drawing of the pelvis of this bird can be seen and 
studied, in Mr. T. C. Eyton’s Osteologia Avium, London, 1867, Plate 
22, figs. 1, 1, 1, 1; three of the figures here cited, however, are for the 
palatine bones, inferior view of sternum, and anterior and posterior 
views of the tarso-metatarsus. We have carefully compared the diam- 
eters of these representations with the skeletons of the species in ques- 
tion, and find them quite accurate. 
The pelvis in the Wild Turkey has the general resemblance of this 
bone as found among the gallinaceous birds at large. The sides of the 
ilia, in the preacetabular portion are nearly vertical, spreading out only 
anteriorly into the horizontal plane. We are struck with the unusual 
size of the ilio-neural canals. These passages are over three centimeters 
long, having a complete bony septum dividing them, composed as usual 
of the neural spine of the leading sacral vertebre. The major part of 
the common roof above is formed by the meeting of the ilia. The post- 
acetabular region is quadrilateral in outline, rather extensive and very 
flat. In this locality the iliac borders meet the vertebra, but only par- 
tially to anchylose with them. Thesides of the pelvis are broad and deep, 
and the pubic bones never join with their lower margins. Just beyond 
the cotyloid ring, on either side, we find a stumpy spine, very much the 
same thing as we see in the common fowl. Between the ischiatic and 
obdurator foramen a deep triangular pit occurs, that usually has a few 
pneumatic foramina at its base. Five caudal vertebre are found in 
the Wild Turkey, and the pygostyle is very long and sharp, being pro- 
duced backwards. In the Peacock we find the pelvis shorter than in 
Meleagris and generally arched above, as if the bone in this locality had 
gradually been distorted by the burden of feathers it bears above which 
pull upon the muscles overlying it. To afford additional support for 
ey 
