ArdeiDJE.] OSTEOLOGIA AVIUM. [CARIAMINiE. 



Ribs similar to the last. 



Furculum thin and light ; the rami nearly straight, very slightly arched at their 

 junction, without any process. 



Coracoids as in Psophia. 



Scapula very strong, regularly bent, blunt, and rounded at the point. 



Wing-bones. Humerus rather longer than the ulna. 



Leg-bones. Metatarsus nearly as long as the tibia ; calx rudimental, a groove run- 

 ning for nearly the whole length of the metatarsus, both in front and behind. 



Measurements. 



Tenths. 



Length of humerus 40 



Length of ulna 35 



Length of metacarpus 17 



Length of femur 32 



Length of tibia 80 



Length of metatarsus 75 



Length of sternum 40 



Tenths. 



Breadth of posterior margin of sternum 



(including splints) . . , . . 13 

 Breadth of anterior margin of sternum 15 



Depth of keel 9 



Length of head 42 



Breadth of head 17 



Length of pelvis ...... 43 



Breadth of pelvis 19 



Illustrations. 



Skeleton, Plate III. K. [ Sternum, palatine hones, pelvis, and meta- 



I tarsi, Plate XXVIII. bis. fig. 1. 



Scops, Mcehr. 



Virgo, Linn. 



Cranium. Occipital ridge not sharp, but well marked ; protuberance very large ; 

 orbital septum with three foramina. Palatine bones with hinder portion for one and 

 a half inches widened, with both edges turned downwards for the distance of half an 

 inch, then horizontally flattened and becoming a thin strip at their anterior ends; 

 hinder ends with the central portion truncate, the outer portion gradually sloped to 

 join the interarticular bones ; hinder extremity of the lower maxillary bone truncate, 

 with a slight projection at its lower side, pointing downwards and slightly backwards. 



Sternum long and narrow, much compressed behind the last rib ; the hinder margin 

 nearly square, with outer portions rounded; keel very deep, penetrated by the trachea 

 to the depth of seven inches, the anterior edge of the sternum filling up the whole of 

 the space to the furculum, lower edge slightly arched. 



Pelvis long ; os pubis prolonged in a curve beyond the ischium ; ischiadic foramen 

 of moderate size, opening into the foramen beneath the acetabulum ; obturator open 

 behind. 



Kemaining portion similar to the other Ardeidce. 



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