Rallidje.] osteologia avium. [Gallinulinje. 



Numbering of the Vertebra among Grallatores. 





Cervical. 



Dorsal. 



Sacral. 



Caudal. 



True ribs. 



False ribs. 



Limosa rufa . 



12 



7 



15 



6 



7 



1 



Totanus glottis . 



14 



8 



13 



7 



7 



1 



Scolopax rusticola . . . 



44 



6 



13 



6 



7 



1 



Numenius arquatus . 



14 



6 



14 



6 



7 



1 



Ibis falcinellus . 



15 



6 



15 



6 



6 



1 



Harpiprion Hagedash 



15 



6 



15 



6 



6 



1 



Threskiornis melanocephalns 



16 



7 



15 



6 



6 



1 



Psophia viridis. 



16 



8 



14 



6 



7 



2 



Cariama cristata 



13 



6 



15 



6 



6 



2 



Ciconia alba . 



17 



6 



13 



7 



8 



1 



Leptophilus argala . 



15 



6 



14 



6 



5 



1 



Platalsea Leucorodia 



16 



6 



14 



6 



6 



1 



Phsenieopteras ruber 



16 



6 



13 



7 



6 



1 



Parra cordifera 



15 



7 



12 



7 



6 



1 



Rallus aquaticus 



15 



8 



— 



6 



7 



1 



Aramus scolopaccus. 



15 



7 



— 



7 



7 



1 



Gallinula cbloropus . 



14 



9 



14 



7 



8 



1 



Fulica atra . 



14 



8 



15 



6 



7 



1 



Remarks. 



The Totanince are nearly allied to the Tringince, but have longer leg-bones, thus 

 being able to wade in deeper water; the process on the under side, at condyloid end, of 

 the lower mandible is also more developed, but most so in the Scolopacince. The Limosince 

 is distinguished from Totanince by the small size of the inner fissure of the sternum. 

 The Phalaropince are very similar to the Totanince. The ScolopacinoB have only one 

 fissure on each side of keel of the sternum. The Tantalince have, besides the develop- 

 ment of the bill to distinguish them, no process at the condyloid end of the inferior 

 maxillary bone bent downwards, but in many instances it is prolonged backwards in the 

 same line as the rest of the bone, although not in all. The Psophinm have the hinder 

 end of lower maxillary terminated abruptly, as it is in Threskiornis ; the expanded 

 portion of the palatine bones is very long ; the humerus as long, or longer, than the 

 ulna ; the hinder margin of the sternum entire. The Cariarmince may at once be dis- 

 tinguished from Psophince by the shape of the sternum. The Gruinai have the toes 

 much shorter than in Ardea, the sternum without fissures on its posterior margin, and 

 the sternum very long in proportion to its width; on the contrary, Ardeince have 

 invariably, as far as my specimens go, not less than two fissures on the sternum, and 

 sometimes four ; the sternum is also much shorter in proportion to its width. The 

 Ciconina have the keel of the sternum much deeper than in Ardea, and the palatine 

 bones much broader and more highly developed. I had some hesitation in placing 

 the Phamicopterince among the herons, but it presents many similarities to them. The 

 PlatalceincG are a well-marked group, as are also the Phmnicopterhm. The sternums 

 in the Eallidce, with the exception of Aramus, have all a very deep fissure on each side 

 the keeL 



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