OCR Text |
Show 1890.] THE STRUCTURE OF PSOPHIA. 337 The following table shows the number of cervical and dorsal vertebrae, of ribs, & c , in a series of birds more or less closely allied to Psophia. The letters r, r, R represent rudimentary ribs, often spoken of as cervical, which precede the complete ribs ; the number of complete ribs (i. e. those which reach the sternum) is indicated, and also that of the incomplete ribs (never more than two) which lie behind them and do not reach the sternum. Tctraptcryx paradisea Balearica chrysopelargus ... Psophia leucoptera Eurypyga helias Parra jacana Eupodotis senegalensis Chunga burmeisteri Cariama cristata CEdicnemus grallarius Tribonyx mortieri Otis tarda Ocydromus anst rails Eulica ardesiaca Cerv. vert. 17 If) 16 16 14 15 13 13 JLo 1 Q lo 13 13 13 Ribs. (10) r+r' + <6+2 (lumbar) (0) .'+7 + 1 (lumbar) (10)r + 8 + l (lumbar) (8) r+r'+5+l (lumbar) (8) r+r'+5+] (lumbar) (7) r'+~R+5 (1 lumbar) (S)r + r' + 3+r (lumbar) (7) r+r'+ 5 (2 lumbar) (9) 2r + r+5+l (2 lumbar) (11) r+r' + 5+4 (1 lumbar) (10) r+r'+'R+G + r (lumbar) (10) r+r'+6+2 (1 lumbar) (10) .+.'-1-7 + 1 (lumbar) Uncinate processes. On ribs 5-8 „ 4-6 3-7 ? „ 3-6 „ 5-8 „ 4-6 „ 3-6 „ 3-8 „ 3-7 „ 5-8 9 „ 3-8 The above table does not appear to m e to bring out any very Aaluable results. Indeed, the differences between Otis and Eupodotis are quite as great as those between genera usually referred to distinct families. On the whole Psophia appears to come nearest to the Cranes. Myology. I have nothing new to record under this head ; I have simply been able to confirm the statements of Garrod and Fiirbringer. In the leg the ambiens, semitendinosus, accessory semitendinosus, and accessory femorocaudal are present, the femorocaudal itself being-absent ; in these particulars Psophia agrees with Otis, Serpentarius, Cariama, Aramus, and Phcenicopterus, and differs from the Cranes and Rails. In the fore limb there is, as Fiirbringer has recorded, a conspicuous biceps slip to the patagium. Trachea. The structure of the syrinx (woodcut fig. 3, p. 338) is nearest to that of Cariama among the possible allies of this bird, but no trenchant characters distinguish it from many Rails and the Cranes. |