200 PROCEEDINGS OF THE ACADEMY OF 



related to Steganopods, at Plotits. From plovers again, a pure grallatorial 

 form, Recurvirostra, shows transition at least as sure as others claimed, to 

 other palmate Grallce as Phanicoplerus, and so to Lamellirostres, of Desmognathce. 

 In another series certain Procellariidce lead into desmognatbous groups. Prion 

 has a lamellated bill, like that of a duck. Ilalodroma has a gular pouch 

 like the Steganopods ; these last are directly affined to the herons by Balamiceps 

 and Cdncroma. In many general features an albatross is like a pelican. An- 

 other Cecomorph, Colymbus, is really totipalmate, like all Dysporomorphs ; the 

 hallux Vjeing lateral and connected with the base of the second digit ; were 

 its hind toe as long as a cormorant's and the webbing increased jxtri passu, 

 it would be stegauopodous. The relationships of the longest-winged Dysporo- 

 morph, Tachypetes, with the similarly constituted gulls and petrels, will 

 scarcely be denied. In an opposite direction, the relations of some short-winged 

 Cecomorphs, as auks and grebes, with similarly modified Dysporomorphs, 

 as cormorants and darters, will hardly be overlooked. Not to multiply ex- 

 amples of these transitions, in another direction than that according with 

 the requirements of the sj'stem, it does not appear that the links by which 

 Schizognathsand Desmognaths are bound to each other are weaker than those 

 by which either of the two is held together ; or so weak as those connecting, 

 for example, Raptores with Steganopods. And however the present argument 

 may be invalidated by insufficient or injudicious advocacy, the above given 

 broad facts of comparative degrees of relationship remain. 



Since palatal modifications do not indicate groups of the taxonomic grade 

 we have been considering, it remains to enquire how far they avail in the con- 

 struction of lower associations. No one will question how nearly Prof. Hux- 

 ley's subdivisions agree with natural families, or orders, as the case may be. 

 CharadriomorpJise correspond very nearly with that eminentlj' natural assem- 

 blage of smaller Grallx, called Limicolse, or Scolopaces. Geranomorphie are as 

 nearly Paludicolie or Fulices : with the addition of Grus, kc, which is here 

 much more naturally assigned them among the herons. Cecomoi-phie compre- 

 hend both macropterous and brachypterous swimmers ; but though the asso- 

 ciation may seem at first sight to be a little forced, really it is not so. Longi- 

 pennes and Urinatores come next each other in any system, and some forme 

 actually inosculate : e. g. Ilalodroma with Mergidus, Pvffinus with Culy/nbidce, 

 (tibial apophysis, &c.) Spheniscomorphce are penguins alone — order Pldopteri 

 Bp,, tribe NuUipennes s. Impennes alior., 'Spheniseidx auct. ; touching Ceco- 

 morphs at the point Alca impennis. Alectoromorphse are GaUinic, excl. Tina- 

 rnus ;■ and it is interesting, moreover, that the palate bones allow separation of 

 Peristeromorphse. The unnatural nature of too intimate association of pigeons 

 with the true scratchers is borne out by appeals to every character, it would 

 seem. Chenomorphie are precisely lamellirostral or anatiform Natatores, a 

 group respecting the boundaries of which there is no dispute. The Flamin- 

 goes, as might have been anticipated, are found to require Janus- like division — 

 Amphimorphx. Pelargomorphx are precisely Herodiones : Dysporomorphx are 

 exactly Steyanopodes. And so on. 



Prof Huxley has laid ornithologists under twofold obligations : First, he has 

 pointed out in elaborate detail a certain character, the value of which was not 

 only unknown, but also unsuspected before ; and has shown how perfectly it 

 marks groups of a certain grade. Secondly, he has demonstrated once more — 

 and, it is to be hoped, for the last time — the futility of attempting to found 

 such fundamental divisions upon any one single character. 



What has gone before is possibly an estimate of the value and office of pala- 

 tal structure not very different from what the general verdict of ornithologists 

 will be. That the palate bones afford nearly always correct indications up to a 

 certain point ma}^ be regarded as demonstrated by Prof. Huxley's researches. 

 That they may be taken as the basis of the primary division of Caritiatte will 

 probal)ly never be generally admitted. In ambiguous cases appeal to them 

 may turn a nicely-balanced scale, and prove invaluable iu limiting certain 



[Dec. 



