Vörös A. szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 11. 1983. (Budapest, 1983)
19(16) Fossa pneumoanconaea not pneumatic 20(21) Below of the middle part of caput humeri a special impression: Cinclus 21(20) Below of the middle part of caput humeri not an impression 22(15) Both fossae (f. tricipitalis and f. pneumoanconaea) well developed, deep. 23(24) The medial bar absolutely separating the two deep fossae: Sturnidae, Monticola , Pinicola 24(23) The two fossae confluent, medial bar reduced: large Turdidae ( Turdus s.l.) SYSTEMATICAL-MORPHOLOGICAL DESCRIPTIONS I give in the following section short descriptions of the humeri of the various species of Central European smaller Oscine Passeriformes in order of systematical frequence of familie, in problematic cases following rather the solution of taxonomical groups osteor logically better defined than other features. I refer always to the aforesaid key for identification. Alaudidae (Plate I, Fig. 10; Plate II ) The main common feature of the family, as mentioned above [key: 16(19) and 17(18)], is the flattened fossa tricipitalis and the pneumatic fossa pneumoanconaea in the proximal epiphysis may be seen better from distal side, as well as the reduced processus supracondyloideus (dorsalis). The smaller species have lightly built bones, the larger ones are more robust. With moderate experience a confusion with Lanius , Bombycilla or Oriolus is not excluded! The two more or less Mediterranean forms occuring also at the margin of temperate Europe are distinct in size: 1/ Smallest is the bone in Calandrella brachydactyla : length cca. 20 mm, proximal width cca. 6 mm, width of diaphysis 1.8 mm, distal width cca. 4 mm. The measurements refer to the special lightly built epiphysis, the proximal part of fossa tricipitalis somewhat deeper than in other lark species. 2/ Largest is the bone in Melanocorypha calandra and relatively the most robust too: length cca. 30 mm, proximal width cca. 9 mm, width of diaphysis cca. 3 mm. Tuberculum ventrale relatively stronger, crista lateralis shorter than in other larks, fossa pneumoanconaea with the pneumatic holes relatively deep. Among the middle-sized species occurring in Central Europe, Lullula arborea is the smallest: length 22-23 prox. 6.3-6.8 dist. 4.6-4.9 diaph. 2.1-2.2 mm. Crista pectoralis short, cut off, crus dorsale fossae reduced, crus ventrale fossae ventrally elongated, forming nearly a right angle in outline (foreshortened view). The remaining three forms are nearly of the same size (length in G ale rid a : 25. 528.0, in Alauda : 23.8-26. 4, in Otocoris 25.1 (n=l)). In Otocoris (= Eremophila ) alpestris the proximal part of the corpus humeri caudally bent, the outline of the crus ventrale fossae (in caudal view) rounded, field of pneumatical holes relatively widespread, crista pectoralis short in dorsal view cut off in a straight line. In Galerida cristata prox. ep. broad, corpus humeri straight, not bent, outline of crus ventrale fossae (in caudal view) angled, pneumatic holes reduced, crista pectoralis longer (in dorsal view) cut off. In Alauda arvensis prox. ep. narrower, corpus humeri straight, outline of the crus ventrale fossae (in caudal view) angled, pneumatic holes showing a medium field, crista pectoralis (in dorsal view) showing a curver line.
