NOTES ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF SCANSORES. 
in proportion, but of nearly similar shape. The Touraco has it 
still longer, somewhat flattened at the tarsal extremity, and slightly 
twisted on its axis. 
The Coracoids, in Seansores, are more produced anteriorly be- 
yond the glenoid cavity, than is found in other birds; and wherever 
the vestige of the Os furcatum exists, the latter is much expanded 
and fan-shaped at its extremity, and united for its whole breadth 
with the inner margin of the Coracoids. The ribs are yery broad 
from their vertebral extremities to the posterior process, which is 
also broad at its junction with the rib, is rather acutely turned 
upwards, and tapers gradually towards its rounded extremity. 
The remaining portion of the true and sternal ribs, is more flat- 
tened and expanded in the Parrots and Touraco than in the other 
families of Scansores. I now give the numbering of the ribs in the 
different species that I have examined. 
In Piscus viridis, the ribs are nine in number, the first anterior 
one being a false one, or not united to the sternum, and the two 
posterior ones being devoid of the posterior process. 
In Rhamphastos erythrorhynchus, the ribs are seven, the first 
anterior being false, and being also, together with the last pos- 
terior, devoid of the usual process. 
In the Turacus bufonii, Psilopogon, and Megalaima, the ribs 
are disposed in the same manner as in the Toucan above meu- 
tioned. 
All the Cuckoos I have examined, have also the ribs arranged 
in the same manner; but the two hinder ones are devoid of the 
posterior process. 
The Parrots have nine ribs, but the anterior one is often a mere 
rudiment. Taking this one, however, into consideration, the two 
first are false, and without posterior processes, as are also the two 
hinder ones, 
Scansores differ from other birds as regards the vertebral colum, 
chiefly in the candal portion; and as this is most apparent in the 
Toucans and in the Woodpeckers, in both of which families the tail 
forms an important organ, or at all events more important than 
among the other Scansores, it is not improbable, that the same 
form may be found among other birds, particularly Dendrocolapt 
and Anabates, which, although I regard them as Wrens, use their 
76 pe. 
