CRAcIDz. | OSTELOGIA AVIUM. [ OPISTHOCOMIN A. 
OPISTHOCOMUS. 
Cristatus. 
Cranium, a channel of moderate depth, has its origin at the base of the bill, and 
proceeds backwards on the top of the head to the occiput. Occipital ridge slight, and 
with a small occipital protuberance; orbits of moderate size ; the septum with one fora- 
men on its hinder and lower edge; a transverse indentation at the base of the bill; 
nostrils situated at about half its length, nearly round. Palatine bones much bent 
downwards; broad for their posterior two-thirds, and united for that distance down 
their centres, then divaricating, and both edges turned downwards, forming a channel 
on their lower edges ; hinder end pointed backwards, and gradually narrowed to their 
junction with the interarticular bones, which are broad for their anterior half and 
narrowed backwards, the outer edges slightly deflected. Vomer thin. Foramen 
lacerum posterius very small. Lower maxillary bone curved downwards; broad, with 
a foramen near the hinder extremity of each branch. 
Sternum of moderate length; posterior margin rounded, with one fissure on each side 
of the keel, and with a large triangular foramen on each side externally.to it; hinder 
margin considerably broader than the anterior edge. Keel very short, extending from 
the hinder margin to little more than one-half of the length of the sternum; hinder 
edge sloped off from the point to the hinder margin. The anterior edge sloped very 
much backwards to the point from the junction of the furculum; the anterior portion 
being a mere rudimentary ridge. 
Furculum having the rami very short and straight, and uniting at an acute angle, 
flattened at their junction with the coracoids, and becoming more rounded towards 
the terminal process, which is very long and narrow; triangular anchylosed to the 
rudimentary portion of the keel. 
Coracoids short and strong, broad at their junction with the sternum, and having a 
slightly raised rib down the front. 
Pelvis with the divisions of the vertebree on the hinder half apparent when held up 
to the light; ischiadic foramen of moderate size, oval; obturator also of medium size, 
without any notch in front of the acctabulum; ilium projecting much over the bones 
of the ischium; a ridge proceeds from the junction of the caudal vertebre up the 
centre of the pelvis, becoming more rounded and obscure on the anterior portion, 
Ribs broad and strong ; the styliform process attached for a considerable length to 
the hinder edge of the ribs, and not projecting so far as next rib. 
Scapula strong, slightly deflected, slightly expanded upwards at about half its length, 
rounded at its distal extremity, 
Wing bones strong, short; ulna and radius as long as the humerus, anterior 
metacarpal bone straight, posterior one much bent, having a large space between 
it and the inner edge of the anterior one. 
Leg Bones rather slender; tibia long in proportion to the femur. Metatarsus 
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