A Shufelut, Osteology of the Red Wattle-Bivd. [ist^ July 



Anthochcera, the general characters being identical. These species 

 are in different families and placed far apart by Sharpe, the 

 former being arrayed with the Eulahetidce, and having between 

 this last and the Meliphagidce no less different and distinct 

 families than the Icteridce, Tanagridce, Fringillidce, and others. 



However, on lateral and basal views, the skull in Creadion differs 

 considerably from the corresponding features in the skull of the 

 Red Wattle-Bird. 



Skulls that more or less closely agree with the skull of Anthochcera 

 carnnculata are those of Entomyza cyanotis and Prosthemadera 

 novcB-zealandice, both of which species belong to the MeliphagidcB, 

 and complete skeletons of both are before me at this writing. 



In most particulars the skull of Entomyza cyanotis is more like 

 that of Anthochcera carnnculata than any other Meliphagidine 

 skull I have at hand, with the exception of Acanthogenys riifi- 

 giilaris, which, although a smaller species of this family, has a 

 skull that closely agrees with the skull of Anthochcera. In fact, 

 Gadow arrayed both the genera Acanthogenys and Anellobia with 

 Anthochcera, and he doubtless had examined their osteology 

 (" Catalogue Birds Brit. Mus.," ix., p. 262, 1884). 



Turning to the lateral aspect of the skull in our subject, we are 

 to note how largely the aural aperture is closed over posteriorly 

 by the flat shield of bone furnished chiefly by the exoccipital. In 

 not a few Passeres this flap is far more bulging and produced 

 further forward, causing the auricular opening to face directly to 

 the front, as in Arachnothera longirostris and other forms among 

 the Nectariniidce. 



In Anthochcera the post-frontal and squamosal processes at the 

 side of the cranium are of about an equal length and prominence, 

 the latter being situated mesiad to the former, while the valley 

 between them is deep oval in contour and conspicuously defined. 

 Such forms as Hemignathus procerus and its near allies have these 

 apophyses practically aborted (fig. 18, Plate IV.), while in 

 Vestiaria coccinea only the squamosal one is developed, and it is 

 lamelliform in type, with the flat surface facing forwards and 

 upwards. 



Anthochcera carnnculata has a large orbit with great joining 

 vacuities in the anterior wall of the brain-case and the inter- 

 orbital septum (Plate I., fig. i). This feature is less marked in 

 some other Meliphagidine birds, though not so very much so. 



The basi-sphenoida] rostrum is straight, being directed about 

 equally forwards and upwards, having its lower margin rounded 

 and its upper cultrate. 



A pars plana in front of either orbital cavity is a very large 

 bone, and, apart from the circumscribed foramen above it, com- 

 pletely divides the latter from the rhinal chamber in front of it. 

 It fuses compeletely with the lachrymal anteriorly, and with it 

 extensively spreads out over the delicate and very slender 

 zygomatic bar below, without actually coming in contact there- 

 with, while in front it presents a deep concavity with projecting 



