PlCIDJS.] OSTEOLOGIA AVIUM. [GECIKIILE. 



Order V. SCANSORES. 

 Fam. 1. PICID-E. 



Subfam. 1. Gecinin^e. 



Gecinus, Bole. 



Viridis, Linn. 



Type of Picidse and Gecininee. 



Cranium of moderate size ; vertex very convex ; occipital ridge moderately denned ; 

 orbits slightly reflexed, nearly round ; septum perforated with a single small foramen ; 

 anteorbital process bent much backwards, but not united with the sphenoid. Palatine 

 bones long, much attenuated posteriorly for about one-fourth of their length, and united 

 at their articulation with the interarticular bones, carried forwards in the form of a 

 gradually narrowing strip to the maxillaries, which are perforated on their inner edge 

 at about half their length by an elongated oval foramen; the internal edge of the 

 posterior third slightly deflexed. Interarticular bones flattened, with their edges slightly 

 deflexed, broadest in their centres; channel for the masseter muscles small. Foramen 

 magnum large, placed nearly horizontally. Nasal orifices oval ; a deep indentation at 

 the base of the nasal bones, from which proceeds a ridge, very apparent in front, and 

 gradually losing itself in the vertex, on each side of which is a channel for the reception 

 of the hyoids. 



Sternum transversely convex, much constricted behind the junctions of the ribs ; 

 anterior margin narrower than the posterior one ; manubrial process long, bifid at the 

 extremity ; posterior margin indented with two large fissures on each side of the keel, 

 the inner one largest ; the central portion of the sternum between the two inner 

 fissures not projecting so far backwards as the strip of bone separating the two foramina. 

 Keel shallow, with the inferior edge nearly straight ; anterior edge also straight, and 

 carried forwards as far as the end of the manubrial process, to which it is united. 



Pelvis of moderate length and breadth; the ilium projecting angularly over the 

 cotyloid cavities, from which point backwards the edges are nearly parallel ; the two 

 sides of the ilium anteriorly divaricate, and are not united for one-third of their length ; 

 ischium inclined much outwards ; from the edge of the ilium a process projects back- 

 wards at the junction of the ilium with the ischium. Obturator foramen divided, the 

 posterior portion large and oval, the anterior portion small and rounded ; ischiadic fora- 

 men large, oval. Coracoids very long. Furculum weak, without any process at the 



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