336 SHUFELDT. [Vou. II. 
exhibited in the superior osseous mandibles of the two species. 
Then in the former the maxillo-palatine fuses, in a manner 
already described, with the palatine, and finally, the “ croto- 
phyte fosse”’ are pretty well defined in Avenaria, whereas in 
Aphriza not a vestige of them is to be seen. The posterior 
external angles of the palatines are obliquely truncated in A. 
virgata, rounded in the Turnstone ; and finally, the mandibles 
of these two types are essentially very different, both as to 
form and structure, as in the Turnstone a large vacuity persists 
between the forks of the dentary, which is nearly absent in the 
Surf-bird. 
Taking it all and all, the skull, mandible, and associated parts 
of the skeleton of the head in Aphriza agree more nearly with 
the corresponding structures in the skeleton of the head of some 
of the larger Zrimgee than with any other class of limicoline 
birds. I have arrived at this point by carefully comparing this 
part of the skeleton in the numerous species at my hand, end I 
am fully convinced of the truth of the assertion. 
Passing next to the remainder of the axial skeleton, and with- 
out enumerating the differences that have been dwelt upon 
quite at length when under review, it is evident from the ar- 
rangement and number of the ribs that Hemazopus differs es- 
sentially from the several types we have been examining, and 
agrees only with Avenaria in the number of its free caudal 
vertebrae. If we were to be guided in this matter by the Zo¢al 
number of vertebrz, as shown by these several species of birds, 
providing our count is correct, it would seem that in this respect 
Hematopus, Arenaria, and Aphriza fall together, while some 
Plovers and some Sandpipers are thus associated. MHematopus 
has a very different style of pelvis from the other species we 
have enumerated, while the pattern of this bone is not a little 
different when compared in Aphriza and Arenaria. Were we 
allowed the expression, it might be said that in so far as the 
pelvis goes in the genera Aphriza, Charadrius, Actitis, Are- 
maria, and some few others, the pluvialine design seems to be 
impressed with more or less strength upon them all. This 
statement will not apply to the pelvis in an Oyster-catcher. 
The sternum and shoulder girdle do not materially assist us 
in this matter; we found it with but ¢wo notches in such 
