1881.] Origin of the Foot Structures of the Ungulates. 269 
In a brief note published in the Botanische Zettung for 1870, p. 
275, Fritz Miiller states that in Brazil the scarlet Salvias are fre- 
quently visited by birds, and although no species are named, 
there is little reason to doubt that the one under consideration 
was among those observed. Our single species of Trochilus, the 
ruby throat, possesses a beak rather short -for the most efficient 
working of the staminal lever, yet from the statements of friends 
and from personal observation I can vouch for its frequently ren- 
dered service, and the greater part of the capsules of this plant 
which mature in our borders are to be credited to this active little 
creature. 
Although this paper is confined to a single species of Salvia, it 
by no means follows that others may not offer examples of equal 
or even of greater adaptation’ to birds, and several such might be 
mentioned. The conclusion seems, on the whole, warranted, that 
several tropical American Salvias are as perfectly adapted to profit 
by the visits of birds as many other species of the genus are to 
profit by the visits of bees. 
:0: 
ON THE ORIGIN OF THE FOOT STRUCTURES OF 
THE UNGULATES. | 
BY E. D. COPE. 
Te following considerations have been suggested by a study 
of the primitive types of the odd and even-toed ungulates. I 
first, in 1874, recorded the opinion that the Mammalia with a 
reduced number of digits were derived from pentadactyle planti- 
grade types! The ungulate order which fulfills this requirement 
is the Amblypoda,-and from them, I doubt not, both the Perisso- 
dactyla and Artiodactyla have arisen, although not from any of 
the genera now known. Both of these great orders display a 
regular diminution in the number of the digits ; in the former, by 
reduction and extinction on both sides of the third digit; in the 
latter, by reduction and extinction on each side of the third and 
fourth digits. Mr. John A. Ryder” has pointed out that reduction 
in digits is probably directly related to strains and impacts. He 
reminds us that the anterior digits are reduced in Mammatia of un- 
usual scansorial or fossorial powers ; while in forms which display 
1Journal Academy Philadelphia, March, 1874: : 
? AMERICAN NATURALIST, October, 1877- 
