STERNUM OF THE BEE-EATEB,. 341 



presents, of the size of nature, the sternum of the 

 common bee-eater. 



This sternum, as will be seen, has some resemblance 

 in shape to that of the swift, only the posterior part 

 of it is rendered much weaker than in that bird by the 

 two very deep notches on each side ; the processes 

 that separate which are, with the exception of the 

 middle one which is strengthened by the keel, thin 

 and flexible, though they are widened at their ter- 

 minations so as to make the posterior line of the ster- 

 num nearly a continued curve. The keel is very 

 large, extending the whole length of the sternum, 

 long as it is, and very much curved, both on its ridge, 

 and at its junction to the rest of the sternum. It is 

 indeed, an exceedingly strong bone, and at the same 

 time a very light one ; and if the profile is examined, 

 it will be found that the power of supporting muscles 

 of flight is not diminished by the notches in the sides ; 

 for if a straight line is drawn from the anterior pro- 

 cess at the insertion of the coracoid to the posterior 

 termination of the keel, it will be seen that this line 

 passes entirely over the solid bone, and that the two 



