Position of the Ear in the Woodcock. 



555 



of the eye, the aperture of the ear will be found lying in 

 front of this line. In other words, when examined in 

 relation to the beak as just described, the aperture of the 

 ear appears to lie in fz'ont of, and below the level of, tlie 

 eye. A comparison of text-figs. 4 (A & B) will make this 

 clear. 



Text-fig. 4. 



A. Inner view of the left half of the skull of a Woodcock (Scolojmx 



rusticula), shewing the brain-case and the relation thereof to the 

 basicranial axis. 



The line A-B = a line drawn though the basicranial axis ; the line 

 C-D = aline drawn from the occipital condyle through the brain- 

 case, at right angles to the basicranial axis. This figure is not quite 

 accurately drawn, hence this line passes too far to the left ; its true 

 position is indicated by the short line to the right of C-D. 



B. Outer view of the same skull, shewing the relation of the external 



aperture of the ear (E) to the basicranial axis (A-B). O. Orbit. 



In the Snipe this aperture is less forward in^position, but 

 it is still markedly different in this relation to what obtains 

 in other birds, since here it appears to open immediately 

 beneath the eye. 



