1888.] PROCEEDINGS OF UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 179 



flange on epicoracoidal portion; pelvis rather compressed, with ilia in. 

 clined from the horizontal. 



Thrushes. — Ante-orbit-al region wide. Descending process of nasal 

 wide. Angle formed by this process and "pars plana" acute. Maxillo- 

 palatines of a modified claviform shape. (See Plate xxxvn, Fig. 3.) 

 Costal process of sternum large, blunt, rhomboided in outline. Coracoid 

 with a wide flange running half way up the shaft. Pelvis broad, flat- 

 tened. 



From these brief notes it will be seen that the Mimince hold a some- 

 what intermediate position between the Wrens and Thrushes, and if 

 the characters described are of sufficient value to be considered family 

 characters (which is extremely doubtful) each of the groups under con- 

 sideration seems to have equal rights in that respect. 



The Wrens, as represented by the species in hand, form a harmoni- 

 ous group, agreeing very closely with one another in their osteology, 

 and presenting some well-marked distinctive characters. 



The Thrushes also, when compared with the Wrens, present well- 

 defined characters, and while differing among themselves more than do 

 the Wrens, these differences are nevertheless very slight. 



Aside from Galeoscoptes the Mimince are fairly well marked, having 

 a very characteristic shape to the maxillo palatine process. This max- 

 illo-palatiue is so entirely different from that of the Wrens that from 

 what little experience I have had I should hesitate to unite two groups 

 so dissimilar in this respect. On the other hand, Galeoscoptes has 

 such decided leanings toward the Thrushes, not only in its skull, but in 

 other portions of the skeleton, that it would seem to connect them with 

 the Mimince. Be this as it may, Galeoscoptes is certainly nearer to the 

 Thrnsbes than any other member of its group, while Harporhynchus 

 seems to be the farthest removed. 



Since the foregoing pages were written I have, by the kindness of 

 Dr. Edgar A. Mearns, U. S. Army, received specimens of Oreoscoptes 

 montanus and the rare Harporhynchus crissalis. 



Oreoscoptes follows naturally after Galeoscoptes, but has the Mimine 

 maxillo-palatine unmodified. Harporhynchus crissalis is interesting 

 from the fact that its pelvis very much resembles that of Gampylorhyn- 

 chus, being much contracted anteriorly. It is in this respect quite dif- 

 ferent from H, curvirostris. H. crissalis appears to be specially modi- 

 fied for a terrestrial mode of life. The wings and shoulder girdle are 

 quite feeble, the wing being of the same length as that of Oreoscoptes, 

 while the sternum is uot so deeply keeled. The narrowness and rugosity 

 of the pelvis, together with the robust character of the leg bones, indi- 

 cates good running powers. The hypapophyses of the last cervicals 

 and anterior three dorsals are unusually well developed. 



It was intended that Chamcea should have been included in this paper, 

 but at the time no specimen was available. While this paper has been 



