Vol 'l^i9 XVI ] Wetmore, The Palate in Icleridce. 195 



rounded, the sides slightly sloping, the sides and lower surface join- 

 ing at a sharp angle. In front the ridge is abruptly truncated at its 

 ventral margin where there is sometimes a slight tooth or projec- 



Fig. 2. Head of Icterus gularis yucataneusis. b. Palatal knob (about natural size.) 



tion. Below this point the anterior surface slopes abruptly, and 

 then passes over into the roof of the palate. The ridge is about two 

 millimeters broad, and there is a slightly indicated raised line on the 

 ventral surface for three-quarters of its length behind. From this 

 description it may be seen that this blunt projection is entirely 

 different from the sharply keeled ridge found in Quiscalus. 



Examination of other orioles shows that Icterus gularis stands 

 alone in respect to this development as there is nothing found in 

 other species that approaches it save for a broad, low, rounded 

 projection, slight but distinct, that is found on the palate in Icterus 

 xanthornus. In Icterus laudabilis and /. prosthemelas there is a very 

 slightly raised median ridge developed on the posterior part of the 

 roof of the mouth. ]n twenty-eight other species belonging to this 

 genus the palate exhibits no peculiarities worthy of mention. This 

 structure in the bill in Icterus gularis is constant in its presence, and 

 serves as a trenchant character distinguishing it from other orioles, 

 or in fact from any other members of the Icteridoe that have been 

 available for examination. The differences pointed out above, 

 together with others of lesser importance, seem to be of generic 

 value. It is therefore proposed to recognize for this species the 

 genus name 



