ORDER RATITiE. 



223 



important osteological characters connected with the palatal aspect 

 of the skull which cannot be noticed here ; and some other features 

 have been mentioned in the preceding chapter. The massive bones 

 are frequently filled with marrow. In all forms the fibula remains 

 quite distinct from the tibia ; and the distal end of the latter fre- 



Fig. mi. — Left half of the pectoral girdle and sternum of Hesperornis regalis', from the 

 Cretaceous of North America. Reduced, s, Scapula ; h, Humerus ; c, Coracoid ; f, Clavicle ; 

 st, Sternum. (After Marsh.) 



quently has no bridge over the extensor tendons. In all existing 

 forms the plumage presents the remarkable peculiarity that the 

 barbs of the feathers, instead of being connected with one another 

 by hooked barbules, as is usually the case, are remote and dis- 

 connected from one another, presenting some resemblance to 

 hairs. 



This order embraces the largest known members of the whole 



[112. — Left half of the pelvis of Hesperornis regalis; from the Cretaceous of North 

 America. Reduced. Letters as in fig. 1 107. (After Marsh.) 



class ; and from the scattered distribution of both its existing and 

 fossil representatives is evidently an extremely ancient type. Its 

 relations to the Carinatae have been already alluded to in the pre- 

 ceding chapter. The order may be divided into two series, accord- 

 ing to the presence or absence of teeth. 



VOL. II. Y 



