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Show 1891.] PLEISTOCENE BIRD-REMAINS. 469 the most characteristic bone, is represented in figs. 1, la of the The extremity of the outer trochlea is lost, but the specimen is sufficiently well preserved to show the high arch formed by the three trochlea?, as well as the backward direction of the inner one, by which the metatarsus of the Striges is so readily distinguished from that of the Accipitres. The femur has a length of 0,065. All these bones are much smaller than those of B. ignavus; and as they agree precisely with those of a skeleton of the South-African B. maculosus in the British Museum, I am disposed to refer them to the North- African B. cinerascens or B. lacteus, the former of which was at one time identified with B. maculosus1. Some terminal phalangeals of., the foot from these deposits are probably referable to the same Bubo. An imperfect left metacarpus from the Tavolara cave is slightly larger than the corresponding bone in the preceding series, although this difference in size may be merely sexual. It may be observed that the metacarpus of the Striges is very easily recognized by the presence of au incipient iuter-metacarpal process, which attains its full development only in certain Passeres and most Gallinse. II. ACCIPITRES. Milvus, cf. ictinus, Savigny.-The somewhat worn and imperfect left tarso-metatarsus represented in figs. 2, 2 a of the Plate is from Monte San Giovanni, and presents all the characters of the Accipitres as distinct from the Striges. It is indistinguishable from the corresponding bone of a recent skeleton of M. ictinus (regalis) in the British Museum, to which species the specimen may well belong, although I am unable to say definitely that it should not be referred to M. migrans (ater) or M. cegyptiacus. The tarso-metatarsus of Circus differs from that of Milvus by its much greater length ; while those of Buteo and Pernis are distinguished by the different direction of the hinder process of the inner trochlea. Aquila, sp.-The terminal phalangeal of the pes of a large Accipi-trine, represented in fig. 3 of the Plate, was obtained from the breccia of Monte San Giovanni, Sardinia. From its length, slenderness, and high degree of curvature, it may be safely referred to the Eagles, as distinct from the Vultures, and may have belonged to the Golden Eagle. A phalangeal of similar type from the breccia of Toga, Corsica, may not improbably pertain to the same species. Vultur, cf. monachus, Linn.-The imperfect hinder part of the cranium of a large Accipitrine from the breccia of Monte San Giovanni indicates a Vulture which appears inseparable form the existing Vultur monachus. As this specimen is not calculated to give a good figure, I have not had it drawn. This skull is distinguished from the largest species of Aquila not only by its superior dimensions, but also by its more depressed contour and the form of the temporal fossa. The narrow and highly vaulted skull of Gyps is even still more unlike the fossil. Compared, however, with a recent skull of 1 See Blanford, ' Zoology of Abyssinia,' pp. 302, 303. |
