CARPAL AND TARSAL BONES OF BIRDS. , 325 
distal series. The first two early anchylose, and present an hour- 
glass-shaped articular surface as Prof. Cope has described in the 
astragalus of Lelaps. The final anchylosis of these conjoined 
ossicles with the tibia, formed the bicondylar trochlea so peculiar 
to the distal end of a bird’s tibia. The distal tarsal ossicle became 
united with the proximal ends of the metatarse as has been shown. 
In the carpus he had found four perfectly distinct ossicles, the dis- 
tal carpal bones becoming united to the base of the mid- and outer 
metacarpals, the other two remaining free, though the ulnar carpal 
in some cases anchylosed with the ulna. In the king bird and 
yellow warbler, he had found a fifth carpal on the radial side. 
Mr. Morse also described the pelvic bones of an embryo spar- 
row, though he supposed these had already been worked up. 
When Professor Morse mentioned his doubt about the natural position 
of the ischium of a certain saurian with reference to a lateral process 
of the same, Dr. HinGarp remarked that every pelvis consisted, be- 
sides the sacrum, of five, not three only, separate bo on either side; 
the crista ilei being, in mammals (i.e. young dog), a separate, c ted 
(ischium) and second (ileum), respectively, to which they adhere. The 
third bone was the os pubis. In birds, the ghana forms a gristle, 
which, in ‘‘ spring-chickens,” is seen oaod. a a bone or process, ete., 
connecting the ischium sidewise with the aiia prolongation of the 
ileum, and forming a recess for the attachment of a pelvic muscle. In 
chickens this bone takes the shape of a PEAR and perhaps the Poly- 
nesians found that instrument ready made in the ‘‘spring-dinornis.” It 
forms various processes according to the poe location-of its nucleus. 
Dr. C. A. Wurre, asked if no care had been made to gion 
homologize these carpal and tarsal bones of birds. Since those ad- 
jacent both distally and kak had been thus homologized, m seems 
as if it would not be pen dificult W do the same for the smaller bones of 
the carpus and tars Perhaps they may, just before they anc EET 
present Buet viani facettes nek will give a valuable clue ir 
special homologies by comparison with similar parts of limbs a mam- 
mals, * 
