Thoracic and Coracoid Arteries In Two Families of Birds, Columbidae and Hirundinidae

University of Kansas Publications Museum of Natural History Volume 12, No. 13, pp. 553-573, 7 figs. March, 2, 1964
University of Kansas Lawrence 1964 University of Kansas Publications, Museum of Natural History Editors: E. Raymond Hall, Chairman, Henry S. Fitch, Theodore H. Eaton, Jr. Volume 12, No. 13, pp. 553-573, 7 figs. Published March 2, 1964 University of Kansas Lawrence, Kansas PRINTED BY THE STATE PRINTER TOPEKA, KANSAS 1964

Most descriptions of the circulatory system of birds, largely the work of Glenny, have dealt with arteries of the neck and thorax in a wide variety of species. As a result of his work, Glenny offered several hypotheses concerning the phylogenetic, hence taxonomic, significance of differences in some of these vessels. He also described six types of thoracic arterial arrangements and stated that these categories might represent various levels of evolution (Glenny, 1955:543-544).
The families Columbidae (pigeons) and Hirundinidae (swallows) have two nearly extreme arterial types described by Glenny, and are universally acknowledged as monophyletic. Differences within the families, therefore, can be considered as valid intrafamilial differences. I have investigated the thoracic and coracoid arteries and their branches in members of these two families to determine the degree of individual variability of the vessels, and the possible causes of interspecific and intrafamilial differences.

All specimens studied are in The University of Kansas Museum of Natural History. They were preserved in alcohol and their blood vessels were not injected. Dissections were made with the aid of a binocular microscope at magnifications of 10× and 20×.
Following is a list of the species studied, the number of individuals of each species dissected, and the catalogue numbers of the specimens. The nomenclature and classification are those of the American Ornithologists' Union's Check-List of North American Birds , fifth edition (1957).