Otidje.] osteologia avium. [Otinjs. 



Order XI. LITTOEES. 

 Pam. 1. OTIDJE. 



Subfam. Otin^e. 

 Otis, Linn. 



Houbara, Gm. 



Cranium with a depression down the centre to the occiput ; occipital ridge prominent ; 

 foramen magnum very large. Palatine bones, for their anterior two-thirds, consisting of 

 merely a somewhat flattened strip of bone, the remaining third very much expanded, 

 divided longitudinally by a sharp ridge, which extends from the junction with the inter- 

 articular bones to the outer margin of the expanded portion ; interarticular bones flattened 

 and twisted on their axis near the centre, the inner half being horizontally flattened, 

 and outer perpendicularly. Orbits very large ; septum with one foramen on its hinder 

 portion. The lateral processes of the parietal bones very long. 



Sternum broad, with two shallow but wide fissures on the posterior margin, the 

 outer splint much wider than the inner one ; keel very deep, scolloped out on its anterior 

 edge and on its lower edge. No vestige of a manubrial process. 



Pelvis broad, the lateral processes of the sacral vertebra? easily traced when held up 

 to the light ; very long, as also are the caudal ones ; ischiadic foramen large, oval ; 

 obturator an elongated slit, slightly widened in the middle ; os pubis extending far 

 beyond the posterior edge of the ischium. 



Ribs strong, narrowed towards their distal extremities, but blunt. 



Furculum with the rami much laterally flattened; no process at their junction, 

 which is very near the sternum, although not quite touching it. Scapula long, not 

 much arched, gradually widening towards the tip, which is somewhat rounded, and 

 blunt. 



Wing-hones long; ulna much longer than the humerus. 



Leg-bones long, the calcineal process only extending about half the length of the meta- 

 tarsus from its articulation with the tibia. I have also the body portion of O. tetrax, 

 which is precisely similar, except in size, to the foregoing. 



Measurements. 



Tenths. 



Length of humerus 47 



Length of ulna 54 



Length of metacarpus .... 26 



174 



Tenths. 



Length of femur 28 



Length of tibia 53 



Length of metatarsus ..... 38 



