Remarks :—The skeleton and soft parts of this bird very nearly resemble those of the genus
Loxia, but differ in their superior size, in having the fissures on the posterior margin of the
sternum not so deep, and in the margin itself being straighter, the coracoids larger, and in having the
process at the end of the os furcatum approaching the sternum smaller than in that genus. The
ribs also are stronger.
TROCHILUS GIGAS. Vieill. (Male.)
Tongue bifid, each division pointed; hyoids very long, in their position resembling those in the
P ic idoe ; trachea of uniform diameter; destitute of muscles of voice; bronchia very long;
oesophagus funnel-shaped, slightly contracted on approaching the proventriculus, which is
small, and scarcely perceptible ; gizzard small, moderately muscular, the inner coat slightly
hardened, and filled with the remains of insects ; intestine largest near the gizzard ; I could
not perceive a vestige of cæca.
Length o f oesophagus, including p ro v entriculus................ 1J
intestinal c a n a l ........................................................
L ength o f gizzard .
B readth o f d itto .
inchea
. . i
•• J
Sternum with the keel very deep, its edge rounded, and projecting anteriorly; posterior margin
rounded, and destitute of indentation or fissure; the ridges to which the pectoral muscles
have their attachment, large and prominent, the horizontal portion much narrowed anterioily,
consequently the junctions of tbe coracoids are very near together.
Pelvis short, very broad; os pubis long, curved upwards at the extremities, projecting far downwards,
and posteriorly beyond the termination of the caudal vertebræ ; the ischiatic foramen
small, and linear; femora placed far backwards ; coracoids short, very strong, their extremities
much diverging ; os furcatum short, slightly arched near the extremities of the rami, which are
far apart, furnished with only a small process on its approach to the sternum ; scapula flattened,
long, broadest near the extremity; humerus, radius, and ulna short, the metacarpal bones
longer than either ; the former furnished with ridges much elevated for the attachment of the
pectoral muscles ; caudal and dorsal vertebræ with the transverse processes long, and expanded
; cranium of moderate strength, the occipital portion indented with two furrows, which
pass over the vertex, and in which the hyoids lie ; orbits large, divided by a complete bony
septum; the lachrymal bones laige, causing an expansion of the bill near the nostrils.
Length o f s te rn um ...................................................................... 13^
Breadth a n te r io r ly ...................................................................... 4
posteriorly .................................................................. 7J
Dep th of k e e l ............................................................................... Cj
Length o f p elvis........................................................................... 6J
W id th an teriorly ....................................................................... 2^
posteriorly ....................................................................... 7
Lengtli from occiput to p o in t of bill .....................................27J
B readth o f cranium .................................................................. 6^
Length of coracoids .................................................................. 6
No. o f cervical vertebræ ......................................................... 10
dorsal d i t t o ...................................................................... 6
sacral d i t t o ....................................................................... 9
caudal d itto ....................................................................... 5
T o ta l.. . 30
No. of tru e ribs ........................................................................... 5
false d itto ........................................................................... 1-3
Remarks:—The skeleton of this bird does not differ in form from that of Trochilus pella, figured
at page 270 of the Cyclopeedia of Anatomy and Physiology. The whole of the group are more
nearly allied to fissirostral birds than any other.
TINOCHORUS RUMICIVORUS. Eschsch. (Male.)
Trachea of uniform diameter, furnished with one pair of sterno-tracheal muscles, from which a few
fibres descend on each side to the upper rings of the bronchiæ ; oesophagus of large diameter
to about half its length, where it is furnished with a craw, and afterwards contracted to the
proventriculus ; the craw where it is connected with the oesophagus is much contracted, afterwards
it expands into a large sac ; proventriculus small ; gizzard large, and very muscular ;
the grinding surfaces hard, concave in the middle, and furnished with longitudinal grooves
in the concave part; the intestinal canal is of moderate length, small next the gizzard, largest
at the entrance of the cæca, from whence it slightly tapers to the cloaca, which is small; cæca
long, of greatest diameter at the opposite extremity to their entrance into the rectum ; the
gizzard and oesophagus were filled with reeds, mixed with very small pebbles ; liver bilobed.
Length o f oesophagus from glottis to gizzard ......... 3 inch.
from oesophagus to outer ex tremity o f craw | inch.
P e rpendicular diameter o f c r a w .................................. 7 lines
G reatest diameter of gizzard obliquely to th e grindin
g su rfa c e s ...................... 1 inch.
Diameter parallel to th e grinding surfaces ..................... |
Len g th o f in testine from gizzard to c lo a c a ..................... 13
from caeca to cloaca ............................................ IJ
A second specimen, a female, did not differ, except in sex. Skeleton light; bones in general thin.
Sternum broadest posteriorly, and indented on its posterior margin with two large fissures; keel
deep, its inferior edge rounded, much scolloped out anteriorly; a moderate-size bifid manubrial
process between the junction of the coracoids.
Pelvis broad, of moderate length, similar to that found among the genus Strepsilas.
Os furcatum much arched, furnished with a small flattened process, where the ligament unites it to
the sternum; coracoid of moderate length, strong, furnished with a large process externally
near their junction with the sternum; ribs flattened, posterior process long, slightly curved,
and narrow.
No. o f cervical v e rtehræ ......................................................... 14
dorsal ................................................................................ 6
sacral ................................................................................ 12
c a u d a l ................................................................................ 7
T o ta l.. . 39
No. o f true ribs ........................................................................... 6
false d itto ........................................................................... 2
Length of s te r n um ....................................................................... 16
Breadth a n te rio rly ......................................................................... 7
po ste rio rly ....................................................................... 11
Wid th of fissures............................................................................. 4
Dep th o f d itto .................................................... 6
k e e l .................................................................................. 7
Length o f p e lv is ............................... 16J
W id th an terio rly .............................................................................. 6
posteriorly ....................................................................... 12
Lengtli from occiput to p o in t o f bill .................................. 16
Breadth of h e a d .............................................................................. 6i
L ength of coracoids ..................................................................
Remarks. The bill of this curious bird much resembles that of the genus Glareola, but the
soft skin covering the nostrils is more developed, in which respect it resembles the quails, and other
gallinaceous birds. The structure of the tarsi, feet, and nails approach near to that of Strepsilas,
but differ in the latter being sharper, and in the scales on the feet and tarsi being more apparent,
which may, perhaps, have been caused to a certain degree by the bird having been for a long
while in spirits.