Osteology of the Chatham Island Snipe. 701 



greater relative dimensions of the brain-pan caudad of this 

 line, both in coronal and sagittal section, than obtains in 

 the case of the Woodcock, Common Snipe, and Jack-Snipe, 

 the comparative disproportion in dimensions being most 

 noticeable in the case of the Woodcock and less so in the 

 Jack-Snipe (cf. figures). 



The same Snipe-like contrast is noted in the case of 

 figure 2, which depicts the skull of Homoptilura. 



(e) Another comparative point of distinction which may 

 be observed by a reference to these figures is the con- 

 spicuous visibility of the quadrates in the case of the skulls 

 of C. pusilla, Erolia, and Rhynchcea^ as observed from this 

 dorsal aspect, and the degree in wliich they project laterad 

 of the lacrymals. In comparison with what obtains in the 

 case of figs. 5-7 detailed description seems unnecessary ; but 

 attention is called to the conspicuousuess of the mandibular 

 process in Homoptilura in comparison with that noted in 

 Scolopax. The relative forward or backward position of the 

 quadrates in all seven forms shown should be noted. 



(f) It is, however, when we come to compare the inter- 

 orbital region of all these forms that we are perhaps most 

 struck with the anomalous appearance of the skull of the 

 Chatham Island Snipe when viewed from this dorsal aspect. 

 In Scolopax, Gallinayo, Lymnocryptes, and Homoptilura this 

 interorbital region is deeply grooved or furrowed, while its 

 margins are raised, arched, moulded, corniced, and somewhat 

 falcate. In Ccenocorypha, on the other hand, this same region 

 appears narrow, smooth, and flat (the shallow furrow being 

 only obvious on minute examination), its borders are more 

 nearly parallel and its rims are neither raised, moulded, nor 

 arched. A curious fact to be noted in the actual specimen 

 is that the grooves for the supraorbital glands are situated 

 on the very outer edge of the orbital rim — that is to say, that 

 they look directly outwards. They can only be seen from a 

 lateral aspect of the skull. In the genera above mentioned 

 there are no supra-orbital glandular grooves. The general 

 similarity of the interorbital region in Coenocorypha to those 



