154 
APPENDIX. 
Remarks : — The skeleton and soft parts of this bird very nearly resemble those of the genus 
Loxia, but differ in their superior size, in having the fissures on the posterior margin of the 
sternum not so deep, and in the margin itself being straighter, the coracoids larger, and in having the 
process at the end of the os furcatum approaching the sternum smaller than in that genus. The 
ribs also are stronger. 
TROCHILUS GIGAS. Vieill. (Male.) 
Tongue bifid, each division pointed; hyoids very long, in their position resembling those in the 
Picidce ; trachea of uniform diameter ; destitute of muscles of voice ; bronchia very long ; 
oesophagus funnel-shaped, slightly contracted on approaching the proventriculus, which is 
small, and scarcely perceptible ; gizzard small, moderately muscular, the inner coat slightly 
hardened, and filled with the remains of insects ; intestine largest near the gizzard ; I could 
not perceive a vestige of caeca. 
inches inches 
Length of oesophagus, including proventriculus If 
intestinal canal 3J 
Length of gizzard 
Breadth of ditto 
Sternum with the keel very deep, its edge rounded, and projecting anteriorly ; posterior margin 
rounded', and destitute of indentation or fissure; the ridges to which the pectoral muscles 
have their attachment, large and prominent, the horizontal portion much narrowed anteriorly, 
consequently the junctions of the coracoids are very near together. 
Pelvis short, very broad ; os pubis long, curved upwards at the extremities, projecting far down- 
wards, and posteriorly beyond the termination of the caudal vertebrae ; the ischiatic foramen 
small, and linear ; femora placed far backwards ; coracoids short, very strong, their extremities 
much diverging ; os furcatum short, slightly arched near the extremities of the rami, which are 
far apart, furnished with only a small process on its approach to the sternum ; scapula flattened, 
long, broadest near the extremity ; humerus, radius, and ulna short, the metacarpal bones 
longer than either ; the former furnished with ridges much elevated for the attachment of the 
pectoral muscles ; caudal and dorsal vertebrae with the transverse processes long, and ex- 
panded ; cranium of moderate strength, the occipital portion indented with two furrows, which 
pass over the vertex, and in which the hyoids lie ; orbits large, divided by a complete bony 
septum ; the lachrymal bones large, causing an expansion of the bill near the nostrils. 
lines 
Length of sternum 13| 
Breadth anteriorly 4 
posteriorly 7\ 
Depth of keel 6J 
Length of pelvis 6^ 
Width anteriorly 2^ 
posteriorly 7 
Length from occiput to point of bill 27J 
Breadth of cranium 6^ 
Length of coracoids 6 
Remarks : — The skeleton of this bird does i 
at page 270 of the Cyclopaedia of Anatomy an 
nearly allied to fissirostral birds than any other. 
No. of cervical vertebrae 10 
dorsal ditto 6 
sacral ditto 9 
caudal ditto 5 
Total 30 
No. of true ribs 5 
false ditto 1*3 
Total.... 9 
t differ in form from that of Trochilus pella, figured 
Physiology. The whole of the group are more 
