Osteology of Porzana Carolina. 11 
these birds, possessing, as we have seen, almost identically 
the same style of pelvis as Geococcyx, afford us additional 
examples in support of the correctness of Professor Marsh’s 
conclusions. Whether, however, the form of the pre-ace- 
tabular portion of the ilium has anything to do do with 
this, is a question which at present I am not prepared to 
answer. In birds that possess it, as we know, the ambiens 
muscle arises from the apex of the propubis, as in Gallus 
bankiva. 
From the fact that the postpubis and ischium are well 
separated after passing the obturator foramen, I would say 
that the pelvis of Porzana was even for a lower order 
than Geococcyx, agreeing as it does in this respect with the 
pelvis of such ornithic types as Colymbus, Dromaus nove- 
hollandic and Tinamus. . 
This question will well repay further investigation, with 
the view of determining how far such peculiarities are 
really due to the habits of the bird, and how much depend 
upon heredity. 
Chief among the notable points presented by the pectoral 
arch are the unusually long and narrow blades to the scap- 
ule. In old birds these, not uncommonly, are each more 
than twice as long as the corresponding coracoid. They 
taper to points behind, are exceeding narrow and uniformly 
curved, the convexities being towards each other. The 
mode of articulation of either one of them is by resting, as 
usual, upon the scapular process of the coracoid, which, in 
this Rail, is very wide and having its antero-internal angle 
used at a point dappwi for the head of the clavicle. A 
coracoid is fashioned after a very common form of this 
bone, as seen among birds at large ; its scapular process is 
produced for some distance down the side of the shaft, and 
shows a minute antero-posterior perforation near its middle. 
The sternal extremity of the coracoid is expanded, as we 
so often see it in this class, while here its posterior aspect 
is much concaved. The infero-lateral process is fairly well 
developed. 
The furcula has the form of a deep and rather broad U, 
without the slightest semblance of a hypocleidium below. 
