Position of the Ear in the Woodcock. 



553 



forward, nearer to the orbit, but the aperture of the ear is 

 still far from the hinder border of this cavity. The relative 

 position of the quadrate has also somewhat changed, for 

 while in the Gannet its vertical axis slopes obliquely 

 backwards (caudad), in the Guillemot it has an exactly 

 opposite direction. 



Text-fio-. 3. 



P R 

 A. Outer side of tlie skull of a Guillemot (Lomvia troile), shewing the 

 position of the external auditory meatus (E) and the long basi- 

 cranial axis running parallel with the axis of the beak, indicated by 

 the line A-B in text-fig. B. 



= Orbit. Qj. = Quadrato-jugal bar concealing the lower border 

 of the parasphenoidal rostrum, which is seen in B at P.R. 

 Inner view of the same skull, shewing the form of the brain-case 

 and the basicranial axis (A-B). 



B. 



Turning now to the Oyster-catcher [Hcematopus) , very 

 marked changes in these relations are to be found. Here, 

 it Avill be noticed, the aperture of the ear has come to lie 

 immediately under the posterior border of the orbit ; while 

 the quadrate has its long axis turned forwards. This change 

 has been accompanied by very marked alterations in the 

 form of the cranium, which is almost hemispherical in 

 shape, while the foramen magnum now looks downwards 



2 Q 2 



