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Show 470 MR. R. LYDEKKER ON [Nov. 3, Vultur monachus in the British Museum, the Sardinian skull presents such a close resemblance that there can be little doubt that it belongs either to that species or to a closely allied form. I have already recorded 1 remains of Vultur monachus from the cavern of Bruniquel, in the Tarn-et-Garonne, France. III. PlCARI^E. Coracias, cf abyssinica, Bodd.-The only Picarian remains in the collection comprise a few bones, apparently belonging to a single individual, from the Tavolara cave. These include the right coracoid, and the left femur, tibio-tarsus, and tarso-metatarsus. The two latter are represented in figs. 4, 4a of the Plate, while the coracoid is figured in woodcut 1. The bones of Picariae may readily be distinguished from those of Passeres (with which alone the smaller forms are at all likely to be confounded) by many features. Thus the humerus differs by the absence of the median tubercle on the distal part of the palmar aspect above the condyles. Again, the tibio-tarsus, as a general rule, is characterized by the very slight development of the crests at the proximal extremity, and has a very prominent tubercle on the anterior surface of the distal part of the shaft, some distance above the condyles. Moreover, the fibular ridge is very short and often low; while the distal condyles have a contour very different from that obtaining in the Passeres. The tarso-metatarsus is generally relatively shorter than in the latter, with a great distal expansion, and a distinct prominence on the inner border above the articular surface for the hallux ; while the upper part of its anterior surface generally has a deep depression, with two foramina, dividing the three primary elements of the metatarsus. The distal trochleae, which are wider than in the Passeres, are generally situated in the same vertical plane, and may or may not descend to the same horizontal line. Such characters are presented by the bones before us. The tarso-metatarsus is characterized by its relative length and slenderness, by the presence of only a single closed tube iu the talon (hypotarsus), and also by the circumstance that the three distal trochlea? descend nearly to the same level. In the latter respect it differs from the tarso-metatarsus of the Cuckoos and their allies, but agrees, as in the other points, with that of the Kingfishers, Bee-eaters, and Rollers. The tarso-metatarsus of the Kingfishers is distinguished by its shorter and stouter form, and also by the relatively higher position of the foramen between the third and fourth trochlese ; while that of the Bee-eaters is sufficiently distinguished by its smaller dimensions. Compared with the corresponding bones of the Blue Roller (Coracias garrula), the tibio-tarsus and tarso-metatarsus agree so closely in structure in every respect that there can be no doubt that they indicate a bird of the same genus. There is, however, some discrepancy in size, as shown by the following measurements:- 1 Cat. Foss. Birds Brit. Mus. p. 32 (1891). |