which he had not observed elsewhere in similar sesamoid bones (Sehnenknochen)the supposed anomaly,
however, disappears on moistening the foot, and examining the glenoid ligaments by transmitted light.
A similar fibro-cartilaginous thickening of a crescentic form, with the concavity directed forwards, exists in
the dorsal fibrous capsule of the joint connecting the two first phalanges of the middle toe, the tendon of
the Extensor communis digitorum gliding over it.
The relative length of the toes, and of their individual segments, in the typical GalVmoz, are nearly as
in the Dodo: the joints of each toe, exclusive of the ungual'phalanges, decrease gradually in length distad;
except in the outer, in which the penultimate is equal to, or longer than the second, and the second and
third are occasionally equal. Like the metatarsus, the phalanges are relatively more robust in the Dodo.
From the shortness of the accessory metatarsal bone, the hind toe is not on the same plane as the heel,
when the digits are expanded and the foot in contact with a flat surface; but in the abberrant Cracidce and
Mega/podida, it is more depressed.
In the Eagle, the hind toe is a little longer than the inner, and the latter is shorter but more robust
than the outer, the middle being the longest, but slender when compared with the inner. In the hind toe,
the ungual is equal to the proximal joint, which is stronger, broader, especially posteriorly, and longer in
relation to the metatarsi than in the Dodo. The short, cuboidal proximal phalanx of the inner toe is only
one third of the penultimate, and is sometimes anchylosed to i t ; the latter is nearly equal to the greatly
developed ungual joint. The second joint of the middle digit is only one half of the length of the others,
which are subequal; while in the outer, the penultimate is longer than the proximal, the intermediate
joints are equal, and only half as long as the latter, the ungual phalanx being the longest. Thus in the
two inner toes the ante-penultimate segments are much abbreviated, and in the outer, the two distal segments
are relatively more elongated, but the three proximal, though shortened, have the same ratio, to each
other as in the Dodo, &c. The ungual phalanges progressively decrease in length and strength from within
outwards, the hinder being the largest; the laterally compressed, subangular core is much curved and
sharply uncinate; the vascular grooves in that of the Dodo are absent; the articular surface is more
elongated and concave vertically, and the inferior tubercle is much larger.
In the Vulture, the middle toe much exceeds in length the lateral digits, which are nearly equal, and
the hallux is shorter than the inner toe. The phalanges of the hind toe are equal; but the proximal joint of
the inner toe is relatively twice as long as in the Eagle, but still only half the length of the distal phalanges
which are subequal; in the middle toe the joints decrease in length, progressively, to the ungual, which,
however, is longer than the penultimate phalanx; of the outer, the penultimate is shorter than the proximal
phalanx, which is equal to the ungual; the second and third joints are also equal, and each only half
as long as the penultimate. The Vulture thus exhibits a less raptorial foot than the Eagle. In Cathartes,
the hallux is not half as long as the inner toe, which is shorter than the outer, and the middle digit
is also much longer than the lateral toes; but the phalanges of the hind toe are equal. In the inner digit,
the penultimate phalanx is shorter than the others, which are nearly equal; the joints of the middle toe
decrease progressively to the ungual phalanx, which is longer than the penultimate; in the outer, the proximal
is longer than the distal phalanx, the three intermediate being nearly equal, and about hal f as long as
the first. The great strength of the claws is still remarkable in this modified raptorial sub-type.
The evidence furnished by the toes, corroborates that derived from a consideration of the metatarsi,
regarding the non-raptoriai affinities of the Dodo, and its closer approximation to the Gallmee, from
which, however, it is equally distinct.
Osteology of the Solitaire.
(Plates XIII., XIV., and XV.)
The osteological remains of the Solitaire, or supposed Dodo of Rodriguez, are few in number
and imperfect, being either much mutilated, or thickly incrusted with stalagmite; sufficient,
however, exists to indicate with certainty the true affinities of that extinct bird.
The particulars regarding the discovery of these bones, the probable localities in which
they were found, and the principal inferences derived from the study of them, have already
been fully described in this work (p. 46, su/prci).
Dimensions o f the Cranium of the SoUtawe.
inches. lines.
1. Length from the occipital condyle to the extremity of the inter-olfactory septum 3 5
2. Greatest breadth in front of the post-orbital processes........................................ 2 ' 11
3. Height in the c e n t r e .......................................................................................... 1 8
4. From the occipital facet to the cranio-facial l i n e ................................................. 2 11
5. ------ do. do. to the anterior margin of the orbit . . . 2 7
6 . -------the occipital condyle to the optic foramen . . . . . . 1 6
7. ------ the optic foramen to the anterior margin of the orbit . . . . 1 1
8.-------the anterior margin of the temporal notch to that of the orbit H 1
No allowance is made for the thickness of the incrustation, so that two lines at least must be deducted
from some of these measurements.
The interesting cranial fragment is figured in Plate XIII. (Fig. 1-4), from drawings kindly furnished to
us by M. de Blainville, the distinguished successor of Cuvier. It is most complete on the right side, but the
paroccipital process is mutilated; inferiorly, the anterior part of the rostrum and the adjacent part of the
inter-olfactory septum is destroyed; on the left side the prefrontal is broken away, and the parietes of
the cerebral cavity removed; from the posterior angle of this vacuity a fissure passes inwards through the
temporal notch, and another transversely through the occipital facet; but the par-occipital process is more
perfect than on the right side. The mandible has been detached at the cranio-facial line, exposing to
view the projecting inter-olfactory septum, and the turbinated alse of the ethmoid, together with the entrance