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Show 258 MR. W. P. PYCRAFT ON THE [Mar. 17, 3. Contributions to the Osteology of Birds. Part VI. Cuculiformes.1 B y "VV. P. P y c r a f t , F.Z.S., A.L.S. [Received March 17, 1903.] (Plate X X I I .2 & Text-figures 43-48.) Contents . i. Introductory Remarks, p. 258. ii. The Skull of the Adult, p. 258. iii. The Skull of the Nestling, p. 268. iv. The Vertebral Column, p. 271. v. The Ribs, p. 274. vi. The Sternum and Shoulder-girdle, p. 275. vii. The Pelvic Girdle, p. 280. viii. The Pectoral Limb, p. 283. ix. The Pelvic Limb, p. 284. x. Summary, p. 286. xi. Key to the Osteologjr of the Cuculiformes, p. 288. xii. Explanation of the Plate, p. 291. i. I ntroductory R em a r k s . Although numerous contributions to the osteology of the Cuculiformes have been made during the last quarter of a century, the present paper claims to be the most comprehensive survey of the group from this point of view which has yet been made. Nevertheless, much remains to be done before our knowledge is anything like complete on this subject. How much, may be gathered from the fact that out of 45 generally recognised genera of the Family Cuculidse, only 20 are represented in the osteological collections of the British Museum, and this apj)ears to be the largest collection of the group extant. Of the 6 genera of the Family Musophagidse, only 2 are represented in our series. ii. T he S k u l l of th e A d u l t . The skull of the Cuculiformes recalls, on the one hand-through the Cuculi-the skulls of certain Coraciiformes, e. g. Coraciidce and Buccones; and on the other-through the Musophagi-the skull of the aberrant Galliform Opisthocomus. Nevertheless the Cuculiform skull may at all times be readily distinguished, and by the following characters :- The pterygoid is always free, and articulates with the palatine -after the fusion of the hemipterygoid-by a more or less obliquely transverse joint; the lachrymal is always present and free; the antorbital plate (prefrontal) is large, and generally (if not always) bears an os uncinatum; the vomer is vestigial or wanting; the palate is indirectly desmognathous ; basipterygoid processes are wanting ; and the postorbital processes are small and inconspicuous, never extending down to fehe level of the quadrato-jugal bar. The skull of the Musophagi may always be readily distinguished from that of the Cuculi by the fact that the mesial borders of 1 For Part V., see P. Z. S. 1902, vol. i. p. 277. 2 For explanation of the Plate, see p. 291. |
