PART 1.] 
Lyilekkf.r: Notes oh some Siwalik Birds. 
55 
upper miocene) in Asia, while the marsupials (with the exception of the Didel- 
^hida) have not been known out of Australasia since the Eocene period, it 
is not impossible that the strnthioid birds are a much later introduction into 
Australasia than the marsupials. At page 340 of “ Tropical Nature,” Mr. Wal¬ 
lace says that Australia was isolated during the whole of the tertiary period, and 
on the next page that it has not improbably been isolated since the oolitic period. 
If I am right in referring the fossil Siwalik bird-bones to Droinmios (and they 
are certainly closely allied) we have indications of a much later connection 
between India and Australia. 
New Wader. 
The next fossil bird-bones I wish to notice are an associated sternum and 
an incomplete tibio-tarsus of a gigantic carinate bird, which probably belonged 
to the order Grallatores ; though it presents certain peculiarities which appear to 
distinguish it from all other living birds. This sternum and tibia were in the 
collection of the Asiatic Society of Bengal, and were marked in Dr. Falconer’s 
handwriting as having been obtained from the Siwaliks, though no locality is 
mentioned. The sternum has a bold convex carina, and has a considerable gen¬ 
eral resemblance to the sternum of Argctla (Z^^^p^op^^7^(s); the notch on either side of 
the xiphi-stemum is, however, much deeper and larger, and the xiphi-stemum 
itself larger and longer. The sternum is moreover more expanded laterally than 
in Argala. The peculiarity of this sternum, however, is that the distal half of 
the f urculum, which alone remains, is completely anchylosed to the superior border 
of the sternum, so that no trace of division is visible. Behind this anchylosed 
furculum are the long coracoidal grooves, which are placed much more backwards 
than is usually the case in birds. I do not know of any instance among living 
birds of such complete anchylosis of the sternum and clavicles, such anchylosis 
being usually confined to the hypocleidium of the furculum and the manubrium 
sterni. The fossil sternum is of considerably larger size than that of Argala 
indica, but from its general form seems clearly to have belonged to a bird allied 
to that genus. The tibio-tarsus which was associated into the sternum lacks its 
distal extremity (astragalus), as well as some portion of its proximal extremity. 
The fibula is anchylosed to the upper half of the tibia, which shows that the 
bones do not belong to a strnthioid, in which the tibia and fibula are distinct. 
The bone has the general shape of the tibia of Argala, but is flatter superiorly, and, 
in place of being slender, is stout and strong like the tibia of the ostrich. The 
length of the imperfect tibia is about 14 inches, while its transverse diameter 
superiorly is 1‘8 inches, and its antero-posterior diameter 1'2 inches. 
As regards size, our tibia has a great resemblance to the gigantic Gnstomie 
parisiensis^ of the French eocene, which is only known by its femur and tibia, 
and which seems to have characters common to the Grallatores and Natatores. 
The tibia of Gastornis, however, expands inferiorly, whereas the Indian bone 
contracts : there is also a great hollow in the former on the anterior surface above 
• Oiseaux fossiles Re la France, Atlas, Vol. II, pi. 29. 
