CoLUMBIM.] OSTEOLOGTA AVIUM. [GoURIN,E„ 



Order VIII. BIPOSITORES. 



FAM. 1. COLUMBIDJE. 



Subfam. GouRiNiE. 



Goura, Flem. 



Coronata, Lath. 



Cranium with the vertex very convex ; occiput from the vertex flattened ; occipital 

 ridge and protuberance well marked, but rounded, the outline not being sharp ; orbits 

 large ; septum with one rounded foramen. Palatine bones consisting of a narrow strip 

 of bone expanded at the hinder part into two broad and oval plates, the margins bent 

 downwards, the inner edge terminated anteriorly by a strong spine. Intermaxillary 

 bones divided, except at their anterior extremities, not anchylosed to the zygomatic 

 bones, but having a large elongated slit between them. Zygomatic bone bifurcate near 

 its middle, throwing off a branch backwards, which is anchylosed to the anterior end of 

 the frontal bones, thus much strengthening the upper mandible. Lower mandible 

 curved downwards, with a well-marked groove extending backward from the tip for 

 about half its length, and much elongated behind the capsule, articulating it with the 

 os quadratum. 



Sternum with the keel very deep, the lower edge much rounded from the front 

 backwards. Central portion much narrowed towards the hinder extremity, near which 

 there are two small fissures ; the external strips of bone forming them are weak and 

 narrow, do not extend quite even with the posterior margin, and are expanded at their 

 extremities ; anterior to these two posterior fissures are two other very large and 

 patent ones, formed by projecting strips of bone arising from the body of the sternum 

 at two-thirds of its length from the hinder extremity, their outer extremities much 

 expanded, the anterior extending forwards as far as the second rib, and the posterior 

 point elongated to opposite one-third the length of the sternum from its hinder 

 extremity ; manubrial process very small, consisting merely of a small knob ; anterior 

 edge of the keel excavated, 



Pelvis large and broad, very broad anteriorly in proportion to the portion behind the 

 acetabulum. Ischiadic foramen oval ; large obturator consisting of a long slit. Os 

 pubis of equal breadth throughout, projecting only very slightly beyond the ilium, 

 which has a broad open fissure on its hinder extremity. 



Ribs very strong, five furnished with a strong and broad styliform process, blunt, 

 and rounded at the extremities, 



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