612 Mr. P. R. LoAve on the 



flattened and slightly spatulate. In a vertical section it 

 would be found to be thin^ so that this part of the bill 

 bends easily upwards or downwards when pressure is 

 applied. The foveated or "pitted'^ region at the anterior 

 end of the premaxillse is very restricted and has a bifid 

 appearance (c/, text-fig. 10 A, B, C). When examined 

 under a magnifying glass these '•' fovese " are seen to be 

 either circular or oval cell-like structures. They have a 

 honeycomb-like appearance and they are sculptured in relief 

 on the surface of the premaxillse. In the Scolopacinse 

 these sculptured honeycomb-like cells are reproduced in 

 a much more perfect and specialised form, and they also 

 occupy a more extensive surface of the premaxillse. 



In the Tringinse (Redshank group) the distal ends of the 

 premaxillse are more elongate or pointed. They are stiffer 

 and less elastic, deeper in vertical section, and the circular 

 "fovese^' so characteristic of the Eroliinse are replaced 

 by slit-like or elongate depressions. In the Tringinse the 

 foveated extremity occupies a much longer space both 

 actually and relatively (c/. text-fig. 10 D, E). 



In respect of these characters the Ruff is undoubtedly 

 Eroliine (c/. text-fig. 10 C). 



(2) In both the Eroliinse and the Tringinse the maxillary 

 process of the premaxilla originates on either side as a free- 

 running bar immediately caudad of the posterior limits of 

 the foveated region of that bone ; but corresponding to the 

 restricted area of the foveated region in the Ei'oliinae the 

 maxillary process has a free and independent existence at a 

 point very conspicuously nearer to the anterior end of the 

 bill than is the case with the Tringinse (c/. text-fig. 10). 



In respect of these characters the Ruff is undoubtedly 

 Eroliine. 



(3) The Palatines. — In the Eroliinse the external and 

 posterior margins of the palatal plates form at their junction 

 almost a right angle, the actual angle being somewhat 

 rounded off {cf. text-fig. 11 B). In the Tringinse this 

 postero-external angle of the palatal plate is obtuse {cf. text- 

 fig. 11 A). In the Eroliinae the pterygoid processes of the 

 palatal plates are shorty thick, and conspicuously divergent. 



