SiUFEMiT: OsTl:l)LO(;^• ok thk Fla.min(;oks. 'JDU 



between the frontal region and the supra-occipital j)roniinence, as in 

 many of the Ibises and A/iseirs. At the back of the cranium, the 

 elevation to which reference has just been made, is a very conspicuous 

 feature, and upon either side of it is a large subelliptical foramen, the 

 ])air being similar to those vacuities which we find located in this i)lace 

 in such an Ibis as P/fi^aJis ; in man)' tyijical Ducks, as Ayihya vallis- 

 iieria ; but which are small in certain Geese, as Bernicla canadensis ; 

 and may be entirely absent in Swans, as they are in Olor buccinator. 

 PIuvnico(>tcnts has a Xzx'g^^ foramen niai^niiin, the plane of which faces 

 almost directly backwards, and but slightly downwards ; its major axis 

 is in the vertical line. The occipital condyle is comparatively small, 

 and exhibits no supero-median notch as in the Anseres (as a rule), and 

 in the Ibis Pkij^adis, where it is at least evident. No sharj) osseous 

 ridge defines the occipital area at the back of the skull in our Fla- 

 mingo, as it does in almost all Ducks, Geese, and Swans. Such a ridge 

 is also wanting in many Ibises, still the gene?-a/ fades of the hinder 

 view of the skull of the Flamingo is more, considerably more, like 

 that o{ Bernicla than it is like that o{ Plegadis. A good deal of this 

 is due to the fact that the temporal fossK of the Flamingo are small 

 and entirely lateral, thus agreeing in this particular with the Goose 

 and not with the Ibis, where they are elongated and produced back- 

 wards to the supra-occipital prominence. 



Turning next to the lateral view of the skull, we are at first struck 

 with the great size of the lacrymal hone. This never co-ossifies with 

 the frontal and nasal at any time in the life of a Flamingo, as it does 

 in all true adult anserine birds, and in many Ibises. It is in form 

 broad, being somewhat transversely compressed ; with a sharp ragged 

 anterior border, and a thickened posterior one. On its outer aspect, 

 at the junction of its upper and middle thirds, it is marked by a dis- 

 tinct horizontal groove, while below this, the descending body of the 

 bone is composed of a narrow, vertical, thickened posterior part, with 

 smooth external surface, and a thin anterior part, which latter is abun- 

 dantly riddled with numerous minute perforating foramina. Both 

 upper and lower borders are roundly convex, the superior one 

 being the more extensive, and articulating for its entire length with 

 a^concave facet offered to it by the united frontal and nasal bones. 

 The lacrymal does not come in contact with the zygomatic arch below, 

 nor does it meet any of the other elements of the skull not mentioned.. 

 Indeed, these great lacrymals in a Flamingo are quite independent, 

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