Osteology of Aramus scolopaceus. 37 
outline. On the same aspect of the skull the quadrates are 
completely visible, as is also the case with the quadrates of 
the Crane Balearica. In Grus, on the other hand, there is 
a slight projecting bar of bone belonging to the squamosal, 
which has grown over the articular end of the quadrate 
between its two heads; this to some extent conceals the 
actual articulation of the quadrate when the skull is placed 
ill an accurately horizontal position and viewed from the 
side. The same small bar of bone, it is true, does exist in 
the case of the two genera Aramus and Balearica ; but it 
is much smaller and is not effectual in concealing the 
quadrate articulation. 
§ Vertebral Column. 
Ararmis has altogether 17 cervical vertebrae, thus dis- 
agreeing with at least many other Gruine birds, where 
19 or 20 is the prevailing number ; Psophia, however, and 
Eupodotis agree with Aramus. As the cervical vertebrae 
are apt to be variously reckoned by those who deal with the 
skeletons of birds, it may be as well to state that in the 
foregoing enumerations I have considered as " cervicals^^ all 
those vertebrae which lie in front of that which bears the 
first complete rib : while by complete rib, I understand one 
that articulates with the sternum. The atlas vertebra, as in 
Grus, is merely notched for the odontoid process of the axis. 
There is not a complete foramen. 
On the cervical vertebrae the catapophyses, as is well 
known, are often, and indeed generally, of considerable use in 
distinguishing or uniting allied birds; they often vary very 
characteristically from family to family or it may be from 
genus to genus. In Aramus the arrangement of these ventral 
processes of the centra is as follows : — The catapophyses are 
first recognisable as quite independent on the 6th vertebra 
(counting in, of course, the atlas). From that vertebra as 
far as the 13th the catapophyses are clear and distinct and 
approach somewhat, being nearer to each other on the 
last three vertebrae of the series referred to ; the approxima- 
tion, however, is not clearly marked, and they are far indeed 
