824 



DR. E. W. SHUFELDT S MORPHOLOGICA.L 



Of the Remainder of the Axial Skeleton. — From a careful ex- 

 amination of the vertebral column of both of these Trogons, I am 

 enabled to present the subjoined table of data in regard to tliis 

 part of their skeletons and in which both these species agree : — 



Number of cervical vertebrae without ribs 12 



The first cervical vertebra supporting a pair of free ribs = 13th. 

 The first vertebra of the column wherein the ribs articu- 

 late with the sternum by means of costal ribs is the 14th. 



Number of true ribs thus articulated 4 



Number of hgemapophysial facets on sternum 4 



Number of true dorsal vertebrsR 5 



Number of vertebra? consolidated wath pelvis 12 



Number of caudal vertebrae (free) including the pygo- 



style are 7 



It will be noted from this table, of course, that the pair of 



vertebral ribs attached to that vertebra here called the fifth dorsal 

 have costal ribs that do not meet the sternum, but articulate 

 with the hinder borders of the last pair of costal ribs that do. 



There is also a pair of ribs that s])ring from beneath the fore 

 part of the sacrum, articulating with the first or anterior vertebra, 

 that becomes consolidated with the pelvis. These ribs also meet 

 short and free haemapophyses below, which in their turn articulate 

 with the posterior margins of the pair of first or leading " floating 

 ribs " referred to in the foregoing paragraph. 



Neither the last pair of dorsal vertebral ribs nor the sacral 

 vertebral ribs possess epipleural appendages ; consequently we 

 have but five pairs of true vertebral ribs that do support these 

 processes. 



And, further, we ascertain from the table that the total number 

 of free vertebrae in the column before we arrive at the first one 

 that becomes consolidated with the pelvis is 18. 



Among the principal characteristics of the first twelve vertebrae 

 of the column we are to note that the usual outstanding processes, 

 such as the neural spines, parapophyses, and hyapophyses, are 

 but feebly developed, being for the most part short and incon- 

 spicuous. The superior spines of these vertebrae are most pro- 

 minent in the axis and next following three or four segments. 



In neither of the specimens examined does a perforation exist 

 in the cup of the atlas, wliile the neural arch of this vertebra is 

 comparatively narrow. 



