No. 442.] OSTEOLOGY OF THE KINGFISHERS. 725 



above, develops two lateral processes, one upon either side, while 

 the coracoidal grooves are below it. Posteriorly, this sternum 

 is even more peculiar, for externally its xiphoidal portion shows 

 two very deep lateral notches, with slender processes to their outer 

 sides which have large dilated hinder ends, while internally, that 

 is upon either side of the sternal keel, we find an elongated, 

 sub-elliptical fenestra. Either one of these fenestra have the 

 appearance of being formed by the hinder end of what would 

 have been the internal xiphoidal process, fusing with the pos- 

 terior point of the mid-xiphokial prolongation. 



There are two points, that should be mentioned, perhaps, in 

 the shoulder-girdle of Xvctiornis before closing my brief com- 

 parative remarks upon its skeleton, and one is the conspicuous 

 expansion of the sternal end of either coracoid ; and the other, 

 the fact that the outer aspect of either clavicular head has a 

 modified, jutting shoulder upon it for articulation with the 

 anterior aspect of the tuberous head of the corresponding cora- 



There is evidently a hetero-kinship among Coccyzes, Halcyones, 

 MeropicLx, Galbulkke and undoubtedly other groups of birds, 



histories of the several groups are worked out. 



