304 



AX ATOMY AND AFFINITIES OF C(EREBIDM— LUCAS, vol. xvii. 



Ill considering the relationships of the groii]), the pterylosis may be 

 left out of the question, as it will not help us any. The figure showing 

 the pterylosis of Certhiola might, with trifling alterations, do duty for* 

 C(ereha, Dendroica, Geothlypu, Acantliorhynchus., and some of the 

 Fringillidte, and since the same pattern is found in so many genera, 

 including those but distantly related, it may be considered as very gen- 

 eralized. 

 The palate of the Mniotiltidpe differs from that of the Coirebidae in 

 having the interpalatiue process well developed, the 

 transpalatine short and bluntly angular, and the 

 palatines not produced backward over the ptery- 

 goids. 



In the general pattern of the palate, the shape 

 and development of the interpalatiue and trans- 

 palatine spurs, and in the amount of exposureof the 

 sphenoid between the palatines, some of the tana- 

 gers agree very well with the ('(erebidne. Others 

 of the tanagers differ considerably in their palate 

 from the Cterebidic, and there seems to be in the 

 Taiiagridse more of an approach towards the union 

 of the palatines beneath the sphenoid. 



The Drepanididie, as represented by Vestiariaj 

 Oreojnyza, Hcmignathus, and Himatione, agree with 

 the C(vrebidie in the character of the transpalatine 

 and interpalatiue processes, and exceed them in the 

 depth and production of thepostpalatine. This feature is carried to its 

 extreme in the DrepanididiC, and the same is true of the compression 

 of the palatines, the free ventral edges of these bones approaching one 

 another very closely, being in Himatione sanguinea almost in contact. 

 The Drepanidid;!? have the sphenoid covered by the palatine, a feature 

 which is not found in the Cffirebidffi, but occurs in some, although by 

 no means all, or even in a large majority, of the Pringillidie.* Among 

 the skulls examined, those of Certhiola and Himatione bear the closest 

 general resemblance to one another. Cwreba and Olossoptila have a 

 small palato-maxillary, and so do some of the Mniotiltida;. On the 

 other hand, Certhiola and some species of Dendroica do not have this 

 little bone, t It is wanting in Dendroica discolor, coronata, pennsylvan- 

 ica, Meloi<piza fasciata, melodia, Loxia curvirostra, Zonotrichia aJbicollis, 

 Fipilo erythrophthalamus, Leucosticte griseonucha, Ammodromns and 

 Panda americana. Its exact value remains to be shown, for it appears in 

 forms which are not related, at least closely, and drops out in some that 



Fig. 5. — Palatal region of 

 Mniotilta varia, enlarged. 



* That is, ill the species which have come nnder my observation. 



t The following sjjecies have a palato-maxillary: Dendroica maculosa, vigorsi, 

 (estiva, Cardinalis virginianus, Habia ludoviciana, Plectrophenax nivalis, Calcarias lap- 

 ponicus. 



