Vörös A. szerk.: Fragmenta Mineralogica Et Palaentologica 11. 1983. (Budapest, 1983)

Sittidae (Plate X, Fig. 2 and 8) The nuthatches, tree creepers and the wall creeper show very distinct octeological features among the Passeriformes, not only in the humerus but in the morphology of other bones (e. g. the tarsometatarsus). However, they represent different osteological types among themselves. Thus a distinction in separate families seems to be justified. The only member of the family Sittidae in Central Europe is Sitta europaea, belonging to the group No. 13 (12) of the taxonomical key. This species shows a humerus in which in caudal view the proximal epiphysis looks elongated, narrow, concavity of the fossa pneumo-anconaea somewhat deeper than that of the fossa tricipitalis. The medial bar between the two fossae with more or less parallel margins, crista pectoralis from dorsal view shorter, with rounded border. Distal epiphysis broadened, processus supracondyloideus dorsalis well developed, fossa brachialis shallow. Length of the humerus 18.2, proximal width 5.8, distal width 4.9, width of the diaphysis 1.7 (thickness 1.5) mm. Tichodromadidae (Plate X, Fig. 1 and 7) The world-wide only representative of the family, the wall creeper, Tichodroma muraria stands in the morphology of its humerus (and tarsometatarsus) in such measure separated that - as mentioned above - the ranging as an independent family seems to be justified. The bone belongs to the group No. 13 (12) of the taxonomical key. The humerus shows in caudal view an elongated shape, the concavity of the fossa pneumo-anconaea and f. tricipitalis from foreshortened view equally deep, the base of the medial bare between the two fossae with thickened base, otherwise thin. Crista pectoralis elongated, from dorsal view with rectilinear border. The diaphysis of the bone more flattened than in other morphologically close species (see measurements). Processus supracondyloideus (dorsalis) reduced, with a blunt, single insertion-surface, fossa brachialis very deep, strongly demarkated. Measurements: length 19.5, proximal width 6.0, distal width 4.5, width of diaphysis 1.6, thickness of the same 1.4 mm. Certhiidae (Plate I, Fig. 13; Plate X, Fig. 3) The sibling species Certhia brachydactyla and C_. familiáris are characterized, as all' members of the family, by their small size. Their humerus belongs to group No. 13 (12) of the taxonomical key. Morphologically they represent a mixture of the features of Tichodroma and Sitta, showing a deeper fossa pneumoanconaea and shallower fossa tricipitalis, an elongated crista pectoralis, with rectilinear border, but distally a well developed processus supracondyloideus. Length of the bone 13.0, proximal width 4. 2, distal width 3.5, width of the diaphysis 1.2 mm. PLATE VII. Fig. 1. Muscicapa hypoleuca - Fig. 2. Saxicola rubetra - Fig. 3. Phoenicurus phoenicurus - Fig. 4. Oenanthe oenanthe - Fig. 5-6. Aegithalos caudatus - Fig. 7-8. Remiz pendulinus - Fig. 9. Phoenicurus phoenicurus - Fig. 10. Saxicola rubetra - Fig. 11. Muscicapa hypoleuca (Fig. 1-5 and 7; medial (caudal) view; Fig. 6 and 8-11; foreshortened view of the proximal epiphysis)