'°i8tK)"''] PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 339 



Psaltriparus has scarcely a cranial character in common with other 

 Paridd', the interorbital septum bein^ open and the vacuity at the exit 

 of the olfactory nerves large, while there is no maxillo-premaxillary 

 nor craniofacial hinge, the nasals overlapping the froutals for a con- 

 siderable portion of their extent. 



The narial openings are large, elongate ellipses, although the external 

 process of the nasal is continued but a moderate distance along the 

 premaxillary ; the prepalatines, which are narrow rods, are for some 

 distance in contact with the premaxillaries and the trans and postpala- 

 tine processes are slightly different in shape and arrangement from 

 what is found in other Parulw. 



In short, judging from the cranium alone, Psaltri2)arus would scarcely 

 be considered a Tit at all. 



The maxillo-palatines are more slender and less pneumatic in Psal- 

 triparus than in other members of the group, but with that exception 

 these little processes seem to be uniform in pattern throughout the 

 various species, although I am unable to speak as positively on this 

 point as I would like. 



In a previous ])a])er it was noted that the anterior termination of the 

 vomer was subject to great specific variation, and in this respect the 

 Paridw are truly remarkable, the vomer varying from sharply spear- 

 shaped in Parus inornatus griseus to abruptly truncate in Parus caro- 

 linensis. 



Anterior end of vomer of — 



mo)ita)iui< ^^^^iTLJD' 



/( u<ho>i iciifi 3^3 ^ ~~^ 



inornattm ^^^^J~~ ^^ 



- Egitlialus candaius ^--^~'H ~~^ 



3hamaa fasciata izr> C 



Fig. 2.— All the above are enlarged and drawn to the same absolute scale. 



Tbe thoracic skeleton of the Par idee bears the same stout, compact 

 character that is seen in the external appearance of this group of birds, 

 the chest cavity being deep, the sternum of good size and well keeled. 



