Osteology o/Aramus scolopaceus. 45 
occupy the region of these fossae ; behind the fossse six 
(Aramus) or seven [Grus, Balearica) vertebrae are to be 
counted in front of the free caudals. Here is a minute 
point in which Balearica differs from Aramus and agrees with 
the more typical Cranes. 
The caudal region of the vertebral column which follows 
the series of dorsals, lumbars, sacrals, and caudals, which are 
sometimes termed "sacral," is slightly different in Aramus 
from the corresponding region in Grus and Tetrapteryx. In 
the two last-named genera there is an additional vertebra, 
which is, of course, present in Aramus, but is there fused 
with the " ploughshare " bone ; Aramus has therefore only 
six apparent free caudals, whereas Grus and Tetrapteryx 
have seven. Between all the free caudals in Aramus there 
are well-developed intercentra; these are relatively large 
and single bonelets. 
I have dealt at some length with the characters of the ver- 
tebral column, since, so far as I am aware, there has hitherto 
been no comparison of these bones together in the genera of 
Gruidse with which I deal. It is clear that it is worth while to 
compare them, inasmuch as it should be evident that by these 
characters the essentially Gruine features of Aramus are 
made apparent, and at the same time certain differences suf- 
ficient to discriminate it from other Gruidse become obvious. 
§ Ribs. 
As has been correctly stated by Prof. Fiirbringer, in the 
tables of osteological characteristics of the different orders 
of birds which conclude his systematic summary of the 
group, there are six pairs of ribs in Aramus which reach, 
and articulate with, the sternum. In the skeleton studied 
by myself this is the case ; but in addition a seventh pair 
actually reaches and touches the sternum, though not 
articulating with it. This seventh pair (see fig. 2, p. 42) is 
pressed close in between the rib in front and the sternum, 
but it is easy to be certain that there is no actual articula- 
tion. The sixth and seventh ribs, however, are in close 
adherence at the articulation of the former. This last rib 
