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On the Wings of existing Carinate Birds. [Jan. 19, 



Long ago I found, in one of the Palamedidas, Chauna chavaria, 

 two ulnar carpals, apparently an " nlnare " proper, and " centrale." 

 More recently in the embryo of a more normal Chenomorph — the 

 Falkland Island Goose (Chloephaga policephala) I found the ulnare 

 nearly divided into two segments. 



On the other side of the carpus in an embryo Kestrel (Falco tinnun- 

 culus) and in a young Sparrow-hawk (Accipiter nisus), I found a 

 " radiale " in two pieces, the outer of which in the latter was degene- 

 rating into the large " os prominens " which is found in the tendon of 

 the " tensor patagii " muscle of rapacious birds. 



In the embryos of Gulls, Auks, Guillemots, &c, the large " distal 

 carpal " of the index or second digit sends forward a long wedge of 

 cartilage towards an additional metacarpal nucleus. Evidently this 

 is the rudiment of another carpal seeking to be attached to its own 

 intercalary metacarpal. 



Further on, on the large second digit, the flat dilated part of the 

 proximal phalanx, on its ulnar side, also, is developed from a distinct 

 tract of true cartilage, but soon loses its independence ; it forms the 

 plate on which some of the primary quills are fixed. 



Further on, on the ulnar side, near the small well-developed 

 ungual phalanx of the embryo, but later, after hatching, a small oval 

 cartilage appears, and is ossified independently. 



A similar tract of cartilage is formed on the pollex or first digit, 

 also, but is somewhat smaller than that on the second ; it is on the 

 ulnar side and near the ungual phalanx. 



In the feeble third digit I only find a rudimentary secondary meta- 

 carpal, on the ulnar side ; this is very constant throughout the 

 Garinatai ; and sometimes, as I have already mentioned, there is a 

 small rudiment of a second phalanx on that digit which, in the Lizard, 

 has four phalanges.* 



In seeking for evidence of the manner in which these high and 

 noble hot-blooded feathered forms arose from among the Archaic 

 Reptilia, I think that something has been gained in what I have 

 stated above. 



The skull brings evidence of the same sort, during its development, 

 and it is to ancient long- beaked forms, and not to modern short-faced 

 types of Reptilia, that we must look for any near relationship of the 

 Reptiles in the Birds. 



In the Guillemot (JJria iroile) I have satisfied myself that there 

 has been a considerable amount of secular shortening of the beak 

 (rostrum and fore part of mandibles), and if we look at Dr. Marsh's 

 figures of Kesperornis and Ichthyornis we shall see what long bills 

 these toothed birds possessed. 



* The figures of these parts, and also of the rest of the developing skeleton in 

 these birds — Ducks, Auks, Guillemots, &c. — are ready for publication. 



