Gallus Bankiva of India. 19 
at their outer extremities by linking metapophyses. Three 
neural foramina pierce its sides, while the fused cen- 
tra are much compressed laterally. There are also four 
complete facets for the heads of ribs, and four others for the 
tubercula of the same, at the ends of the transverse pro- 
cesses. The neural canal, passing through this complex 
bone, isnearly cylindrical in form, and of but moderate 
calibre. Longitudinally, the median crest below the centra 
is very sharp along its lower edge, and throws down a, fused 
hypapophysis of a form shown in Figure 20. Other gallina- 
ceous fowls have this bone of somewhat different form,* 
and it is quite characteristic of many species of the order. 
Now the first pair of ribs that articulate at the anterior 
end of this dorsal bone of the spinal column, are freely sus- 
pended, and support a large ‘‘epipleural appendage,” in 
each case ; and this latter, as in all these appendages or 
uncinate processes, they are loosely articulated to the bord- 
ers of the ribs behind. 
No marked difference distinguishes this second pair of ribs 
of the vertebral column in the male from those in the 
female, and I believe it will never be found in G. bankiva, 
that they ever connect with the sternum by costal ribs, or 
heemapophyses, as these latter are sometimes more properly 
designated. Following this first pair of ribs that articulate 
with the fused dorsal bone of the column, we always find in 
this species, three other pairs of fully developed and true ribs 
that have uncinate processes, and connect with the sternum 
by the intervention of hemapophyses. Figure 19, of the 
the present paper, presents an anterior view of the next 
vertebra of the spinal column, which in G. bankiva is 
freely inserted in the adult fowl between the codssified 
dorsal bon¢ and the anterior one of the pelvic sacrum. Its 
ribs, too, connect with the sternum by costal ribs, which 
latter are long, and have latterally compressed posterior 
extremities. Uncinate processes may or may not occur 
upon this pair of vertebral ribs ; they are present and anchy- 
losed in my male specimen, and altogether absent in the 
hen. Thus we have four pairs of ribs that connect by 
*3ee the writer’s ‘‘ Contributions to the Anatomy of Birds,” p. 704, Pl. VL, 
Fig. 55, for the bone in Centrocereus. Washington, 1882. 
