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Show 912 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF THE [Dec. I, applies to the Cypseline foot, the joints of the podal phalanges being arranged upon the plan of 2, 3, 3, 3, for the first, second, third, and fourth toes respectively. Analytical Synopsis of Skeletal Characters of certain PICARLE. Of TROCHILUS ALEXANDRI :-1. Osseous mandibles tenuous, more than twice as long as remainder of skull. Antorbital very large, and indistinguishably blended with lacrymal. Great deficiency of bone in interorbital septum and anterior wall of brain-case. Dentary process of premaxillary and the maxillary form a free rod beneath the lateral margin of premaxillary, on either side, fast only at its extremities. Maxillo-palatines flat, horizontal lamina, widely separated in the median line. Vomer deeply cleft behind, with long, free, spicula-form anterior extremity. Palatines are widely separated in the median line, most so behind. Outer margins for their entire length nearly a straight line. Long and slender anteriorly, where each one merges into the corresponding maxillary to be produced far forwards in a pointed lameiliform/ree extremity. Rostrum very broad. Pterygoids straight and subcylindrical rods. Quadrate with peculiarities of form and articulation. Angle of the mandible truncated. Hinder elements of the hyoidean apparatus curl up behind the skull in life. 2. Spinal column contains 32 vertebrae and a pygostyle ; last two dorsals anchylosed to pelvic sacrum. Sternum long, gradually widening as we approach xiphioidal extremity, which latter has an entire and rounded border. Manubrium absent. Carina of great depth. In the shoulder-girdle, the coracoid is peculiar in having the tendinal canal closed with bone, and a large perforation in the shaft below it. Sternal extremity not dilated. Hypocleidium of very broad U-shaped furculum rudimentary. Blade of scapula bent at an obtuse angle outwards in the same plane that its principal surface is in. 3. Humerus short and broad, of very peculiar form, but slightly shorter than ulna. Radius much arched. Metacarpus considerably longer than ulna; the phalanges of manus wonderfully long and peculiarly developed. Four sesamoids in this limb, two in the carpus, and two at the elbow. Large free patella in pelvic limb. Pro- and ectocnemial processes of tibio-tarsus are rudimentary. Hypotarsus of metatarsus both pierced and grooved for tendons. Hallux incumbent; joints of pes normal (2, 3, 4, 5). Of the Genus C H O R D E D I L E S : - 1 . Osseous mandibles broad and short. Lacrymals large and free. Walls of orbit entire, with exception to the regular foraminal openings. Maxillo-palatines are in front of the vomer, in contact for their entire lengths in the median line, where they may anchylose. (Two exceptions to this known to me, namely, the genera Caprimulgus (Huxley) and Phalaznoptilus.) |