Avian osteology

The following text has been a joint effort. [B. Miles] Gilbert began in 1974 to search the literature and to have the drawings made. [Larry D.] Martin had by then already devised some of the keys to skeletal elements. Other keys have been added since then. [Howard G.] Savage had long contemplated writing an avian osteology and to this end, had collected measurements for a variety of avian groups, and made observations on useful diagnostic characters, as had Gilbert and Martin.
This volume is only an aid to identification; final determinations should be made through the use of comparative skeletons. We chose the included families based upon our experience with archaeological specimens; the small passeriforms remain outside the scope of this effort. See Olson (1979) for help with the latter. [...] (from page i of the text).