CAPBIMULGID2E.] OSTEOLOGIA AVIUM. [SteATORNINjE. 



Order III. OMNIVORES. 

 Fam. 1. CAPRIMULGIDJE. 



Subfam. 1. Steatornin^e. 



Podargus, Cm. 



Humeralis, Vig. & Horsf. 



Type of Omnivores and Caprimulgidse. 



Cranium large, much depressed, very broad in proportion to its length. Malar bones 

 arched outwards; a deep impression at the base of the nasal bones, from which pro- 

 ceeds a central impression over the vertex nearly to the occipital ridge, which is promi- 

 nent and well denned on each side, above which are two broad channels or deep 

 muscular impressions for the masseter muscles, arising on the occiput, where they are 

 shallowest, and proceeding to a little above the auricular cavity, where they are nar- 

 rower and deeper ; between them, at their origin, is a slight ridge, which is carried 

 downwards to the foramen magnum. Orbits large ; the superior margins slightly re- 

 flexed ; septum not quite filling up the whole of the space between the orbits anteriorly. 

 Lacrymals small, pointed ; an elevated ridge arises on the end of the central portion of 

 the bill, which is hooked, and is carried backwards over the nostrils to the base of the 

 nasal bones. Nostrils elongated, somewhat triangular, with the apex of the triangle 

 placed backwards ; superior maxillaries very broad, extending backwards to the palatine 

 bones, and covering the whole of the upper surface of the mouth to that point ; laterally 

 they are pointed, and anchylosed to the malar bones. Palatine bones broad, short, united 

 for their posterior half, and produced to a point at their articulation with the inter- 

 articular bones, and with a strong lateral process pointing backwards on their exterior 

 margins. The transverse or basal portion of the sphenoid bone is wanting. Interarti- 

 cular bones triangular, with a pointed process extending over and articulated with the 

 palatine bones ; at their articulation with the ossa quadrata flattened perpendicularly. 

 Foramen magnum nearly square, with the angles slightly rounded, slightly starting 

 upwards. Atlar tubercle rounded. 



Sternum nearly as broad as long, the horizontal portion slightly longitudinally and 

 horizontally convex, with two fissures on each side of the keel generally*, the outer 

 one very large, the inner small. The lateral margins much constricted just behind the 

 junction of the ribs, and again expanding backwards ; keel deep, slightly arched on its 

 inferior edge, not receding on its anterior margin. No manubrial process. 



* I have two specimens of the skeletons of Podargus humeralis, and have also seen another ; one of them 

 has two fissures on one side and one on the other. 

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