88 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



not exclude it from the Alectoromorpha? ; for the Cracidas show the same 

 structure in this respect. 



A bird maj present characters which are analagous to those found in 

 another bird of a different family without there necessarily being any affinity 

 between them. This is doubtless the case between the 1'alamedea and Anatidae. 



The following two characters may be added to those already laid 

 down as belonging to the Ardea. They will be found to be highly charac- 

 teristic. 



A rather long and well-developed process is produced upward from the 

 symphysis between the clavicles. The second peculiarity is in the internal 

 angles of the distal ends of the coracoids. They override one another. 

 This last peculiarity was first pointed out to me by Prof. 0. C. Marsh, of 

 Yale College. 



In Coccygomorpha?, according to Prof. Huxley, " baslpterygoid processes 

 are present only in one genus (Trogon). 



"The maxillo-palatines are usually more or less spongy. The palatines 

 are not developed into vertical plates, but are, as usual, horizontally flat- 

 tened. 



" The sternum usually presents two notches on each side, and has no 

 bifurcated manubrial process (ex. Merops). 



"The clavicles are convex forward, and without any process developed 

 backward from the summit of their symphysis." 



Basipterygoid processes were found in Priotelus temnwrus, of the family 

 Trogonidae. They are present in Turacus albocrislatus, of the Musophagidse, 

 but here they are rudimentary. They do not articulate with the pterygoids. 



Huxley states that in Merops the "palatines are devoid of any postero-exter- 

 nal elongations." In Merops ceggpticus, M. Lcschcnaultii and M. amicla the pos- 

 tero-external elongations are quite prominent. 



In Psilopogon pyrolophus and Meyalaima chrysopogon, of the family Capito- 

 nidse, the vomer presents an appearanee which is somewhat singular. It is 

 well developed. Its anterior extremity is bifurcated, and each prong of this 

 forked end is produced to the maxillo-palatine process of the correspond- 

 ing side, and becomes united with it. This form of the vomer is doubtless 

 a family characteristic. 



It was chiefly in the sternal characters that the members of the group 

 Coecygomorphas were found to differ from the statements laid down by 

 Mr. Huxley. 



In all the members of the family Cueulidas examined,* the clavicles pre- 

 sented a well- developed process at the summit of their symphysis. The 

 same process was also observed in Priotelus temnurus. In this bird the 

 manubrial process of the sternum presented a groove on its upper surface, 

 showing a tendency for it to become bifurcated. 



The clavicles may or may not be convex forward. In the Musophagidse 

 (Turacus) and in Bubutus Duvaucelii, the anterior surfaces of the clavicles are 

 straight from above downward. This is an Owl character. The family 

 Musophagida) is stated by Trof. Huxley as approaching the JStomorphse. 



In Psilopogon and Megalaima, of the family Capitonida?, and in Ijtamphasios, 

 the proximal extremities of the clavicles are expanded and T-shaped. This 

 character is common to the Celeomorpha? and the true Passerine birds. Its 

 presence in Capitonidae and Ramphastidse serves to connect them rather 

 with the Woodpecker than with the Passeres. 



The two families under consideration present another character in common. 

 The distal ends of the clavicles are not anchylosed, but are separated by an 

 interval. 



* Saurothera Mtrlini, Phcenicophaus viridis, Bubutus Buvaucelii, C'uculus canorus, <: lucidut, 

 Eudynamys orientuhs, and Centropus gigas. 



[July, 



