Zoological Affinities 0/ Aphanapteryx. 263 



distance from the articular surface. In the Scolopacida and Cha- 

 radriida, the postdentary cleft has a greater resemblance to that 

 of our fossil^ but it is placed less obliquely ; and to find a more 

 perfect likeness this last must be compared with the bill of certain 

 of the Rallid(B, and more especially with Ocydromus. The mas- 

 seterian portion of these birds is narrower ; and this also has refer- 

 ence to the greater shortness of the bill, which requires less 

 powerful muscles for its movements, and consequently less ex- 

 tended insertional surfaces. The upper edge of this surface cor- 

 responding to the surangular, whereto the fibres of the temporal 

 muscle are attached, is much elevated ; however, it does not ap- 

 pear to possess at this point ossified tendons such as those of 

 Porphyrio. Behind the masseterian surface, and in front of the 

 articulation, there is a rounded and open vascular foramen. 



The articular surface is broad, but not much elevated. It 

 consists, as usual, of two facets, of which the outer one, in- 

 tended to be applied to the jugal extremity of the quadrate, is 

 placed obliquely from without inwards. It is comparatively 

 much more developed than in the Curlews, the Ibises, and 

 most other Waders, and in this respect resembles that of Por- 

 phyria and Ocydromus. The inner facet, which articulates with 

 the pterygoidian portion of the quadrate, is subquadrilateral, 

 and very much enlarged from before backwards. In the Scolo- 

 pacidcE and Qharadriidce it is narrow, and turned towards the inner 

 articular apophysis. The shape of these facets is somewhat 

 worthy of consideration ; for it gives an idea of that of the qua- 

 drate, the importance of which will not be disputed. 



The postarticular apophysis is strong, moderately projecting, 

 and turned outwards. It is continued downwards with a very 

 thin ridge, which there has reference to another lower articular 

 apophysis. Lastly, there is an inner articular apophysis, strong, 

 but placed a little in advance, a situation the like of which is not 

 to be seen in any other bird. In the great group of Passeres, 

 there is a postarticular apophysis, but it is short, and resembles 

 a tubercle ; the inner apophysis, on the contrary, is very long, 

 but there is no lower bony prolongation corresponding to the 

 angle of the jaw, so that the articular extremity is extremely 

 flattened. As much may be said of the GaUimicea, wherein it 



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