44 Mr, F. E. Beddard on the 
centrum ; tliey ascend, as it were, the median single hypapo- 
physisj wliicli thus comes to possess a trifid structure. On 
the next dorsal vertebra the hypapophysis is no longer trifid, 
it is bifid. This change is due to the disappearance of the 
original median hypapophysis, which is replaced by the two 
lateral processes. The succeeding dorsals bear the merest 
traces of hypapophyses. 
Now, in the genus Grus the conditions are a little different : 
in Grus carunculata the last four cervical vertebrse possess 
the two lateral hypapophyses, which, in successive vertebrae, 
gradually approach the median hypapophysis ; the latter, 
however, is so slightly developed that on the first dorsal 
vertebrse there are rather three hypapophyses than one 
strong trifid ventral process, such as we find in Aramus. 
On the vertebrse which follow, the processes in question 
are barely discernible ; they are indeed not recognisable 
at all after the second. It will be noted, however, that 
Aramus is essentially like the other Cranes in these points ; 
the arrangement in them is substantially that of Aramus, 
shewing indeed but the minutest difi'erences of detail. 
Among other Cranes there is the same reduction in 
importance and size of the hypapophyses of the vertebrae 
in question; Aramus, therefore, slightly exaggerates the 
Gruine characteristics, and so far it approaches two other 
anomalous Gruine genera, viz. Rhinochetus and Psophia. 
The *^ sacral '' region of the vertebral column is shorter in 
Aramus than in Grus, though only by one vertebra, so far 
as I can ascertain from a comparison of skeletons. The 
relations of the vertebrae of the pelvic region leave no 
possible doubt in the mind but that Aramus is most plainly 
a Crane in the strict and limited sense of the word, i. e. a 
member of the restricted family Gruidae ; it differs precisely 
as do the Cranes from such outlying Gruine forms as Psophia, 
Rhinochetus, Cariama, and the Bustards. In Aramus, as in 
the Cranes^ there are six vertebrae in front of the lateral 
acetabular fossae ■^. Four or five vertebrae (I cannot make 
absolutely certain M'ithout injuring my skeleton of Aramus) 
* I adopt this term from Mivart (Trans. Zool. Soc x. p. 327). 
