LIMICOL.E 357 



The foregoing table shows some of the principal points 

 in which the several families of the Limicolae differ from 

 each other, and will afford a justification for the divisions 

 adopted in the present work. AVhatever is the relation 

 between the other families, we can clear the ground by 

 removing the Laridse from competition for the basal place 

 in the series. As was discovered by PARKER,, the young of 

 these birds have basipterygoid processes and occipital formina, 

 the persistence of which, therefore, in the Charadriidse and 

 Parridas (basipterygoids only) places those two groups lower 

 in the series than the more specialised gulls. That the gulls 

 are rightly placed here, and therefore as rightly removed from 

 a closer association with the Alcee, can hardly be disputed. 

 GADOW, who does the reverse in his scheme, enumerates only 

 the following points in which the gulls differ from the 

 Limicolae :- 



In the Laridae 



Down feathers are thicker. Coracoids in contact. Haam- 

 apophyses mostly (not in Lcstris) wanting to the dorsal ver- 

 tebrae. Hypotarsus simpler. In muscle formula of leg dis- 

 appearance of B instead of Y. Webbed feet. 



As a matter of fact, the crossing of the coracoids in 

 (Edicnemus destroys the second of these, at best very slender, 

 grounds, and, as GADOW admits, the webbing is almost as well 

 developed in Recurvirostra. 



On the other hand the differences from the Alcae are 

 more pronounced. 



These latter birds have 



A much longer sternum. 



Largely developed dorsal ha3inapophyses, of which in- 

 dications only are to be found in the gulls and in other 

 Limicolse. 



The biceps slip is peculiar. 



The leg muscles are always reduced, the formula being 

 in Phaleris only AX . 



It may be mentioned in addition that the expansor 

 secundariorum is always absent in the Alcse and only some- 

 times in the Laridge. The auks are, in fact, so far as we 



