Vol. xvlil."] Shufeldt, Skeleton of Kea Parrot (Nestor notahilis). 'XX 



191S J -^ ^ y u 



The sderotal plates of the eyeballs that belonged to this speci- 

 men have apparently been lost, so I am unable to describe them. 



Posteriorly, the " rhinal chamber" is largely filled by bone, 

 it being co-ossified with the internal lateral and superior walls. 

 Inferomesially, it develops a sharp spine, which projects anteriorly 

 into the forepart of the chamber. The narial apertures are sub- 

 circular in outhne, and open internally, side by side, just opposite 

 the inferior line of the cranio-facial hinge. 



As in the majority of Parrots, the palatines are big, strong 

 bones. Anteriorly, they are more or less rod-hke, being at first 

 transversely flattened, to become compressed in the opposite 

 direction at their distal terminations. Posteriorly, either bone 

 is an extensive blade — ^broad, and with rounded margins. When 

 articulated, this portion is directed downwards and backwards, 

 curling inwards above, to articulate with the fellow of the opposite 

 side. This takes place beyond the anterior free edge of the sharp, 

 sphenoidal rostrum. Immediately posterior to this inter- 

 palatine articulation there is to be seen the anterior extremities 

 of the pterygoids. They, too, articulate with each other, and 

 each with the palatine of its own side (fig. 3, Plate V.) 



Slightly above the middle of the posterior margin of either 

 palatine, we find a delicate little spine some five millimeters in 

 length, which projects directly backwards and slightly downwards. 

 It is well shown in figs, i and 3, and constitutes a character, in so 

 far as my observation goes, not found in the cranium of any other 

 species of Parrot. 



A pterygoid is a very straight little rod, of nearly uniform 

 calibre, and about two centimeters in length. Its extremities 

 are but slightly enlarged to accommodate the articulate facet — 

 a cup-like one posteriorly for the quadrate, and a more or less 

 flat one anteriorly for the palatine and the pterygoid of the 

 opposite side. Very probably, in life, the four bones named 

 have a sliding motion on the sphenoidal rostrum, as the superior 

 mandible moves up and down through the use of the cranio-facial 

 hinge. 



In form, either quadrate is typically Psittacine, being very much 

 compressed transversely, including the smooth, antero-posteriorly 

 convex facet for articulation of the mandible. Its " orbital 

 process " is short and spine-like, while the stouter " mastoidal " 

 one supports a distinctly divided double head at its superior end 

 for articulation with the twin concavity just anterior to the 

 opening to the middle ear. By studying one of these quadrates 

 in figs. I and 3 of the plates, a very good idea of its morphology 

 may be gained. The mastoidal twin heads at the superior end 

 of the bone are placed side by side transversely ; so that when 

 the rocking motion comes into play when the superior mandible 

 is in use, the requisite amount of mobility is extended to them. 

 All the usual vascular and nervous foramina to be found in front 

 of the basis cranii in the skulls of the Psittacidce generally are in 

 evidence here, no one of them being shielded in any way by 



