8 A MANUAL OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 



a further separation of the Austral-Neozelanic forms, Eudyptula, Eudyptes and 

 Megadyptes from the Afro-Magellanic Spheniscus. The two families here recognised 

 are easily distinguished by the bill formation, the thick-billed forms also having a 

 more northern distribution than the thin-billed ones, the largest of which are confined 

 to the Antarctic Continent. As evidence of the value of the so-called superficial 

 features we associated Pygoscelis with Aptenodytes from a study of these alone, and 

 upon consideration of the known anatomical and osteological characters we find 

 absolute confirmation of our association. 



Osteologically the skull has the palate schizognathous, the nostrils holorhinal 

 and basipterygoid processes are absent ; the pterygoids are unique in size and shape, 

 being proportionately very large and flattened, and perforated near their junction 

 with the palatines ; the lachrymals have their descending process with a large foramen ; 

 large supraorbital grooves are usually present. The sternum has a well -developed 

 keel, the cervical vertebrae are fifteen in number and the dorsals are opisthoccelous 

 in character, the f urcula prominent and the scapula unique in shape, being very large 

 and posteriorly broadened, anteriorly narrowed. The wing bones are flattened in 

 accordance with the usage of that limb, while the tarsal bones are very short and 

 not perfectly fused together, as in most other birds, and again the pelvis shows 

 unique features. The carotid arteries are two in number and the syrinx is tracheo- 

 bronchial, tending to the complete bronchial form. The digestive system is very 

 specialised, of the orthoccelous style, but quite unlike that of any other group, though 

 suggesting those of the Pelecani and Procellarii. The caeca are small. The muscle 

 formula of the leg is ABX-K while the biceps muscle is absent, a feature restricted 

 entirely to this group. The oil gland is present and tufted, while the aftershaft is 

 present, though the feathers are so peculiarly adapted. The pterylosis is considered 

 to be continuous though little research has yet been performed in this direction ; 

 the nestlings are down covered. The antiquity of the members of this subclass is 

 proven by the recovery from the Tertiary deposits of New Zealand of fossil remains 

 which show the distinctive features of the recent birds to have been possessed at 

 that epoch. The wings were longer but similarly adapted and the tarsal bones were 

 imperfectly connected even as now. More recently extensive remains have been 

 found in Patagonia and the Antarctic adjacent, many generic forms having been 

 named but all obviously Penguins. 



ORDER SPHENISCL 



SUBORDER SPHENISCIFORMES. 



FAMILY SPHENISCID^E. 



As Australian members of the family we have only Eudyptula and Eudyptes, 

 the typical Spheniscus being confined to South Africa and South America. The 

 two former range to New Zealand where also Megadyptes is found. All are gifted 

 with short stout bills, the first named without any head ornaments, Megadyptes 

 having the crown full and semi-crested, while Eudyptes has long tufts of flowing 

 feathers on the sides of the head, the crown also full. Anatomically the evolution 

 is considered to have paralleled the crest growth, and Spheniscus, which has also 

 no crest, is ranked on about the same level as Eudyptula, though they represent 

 divergent types. It may be noted, through the confusion of generic types, Eudyptula 

 was referred to Spheniscus with which it has little direct connection, and is the 

 living representative of the immature state of Eudyptes. 



Genus EUDYPTULA. 



Eudyptula Bonaparte, Comptes Rendus Acad. Sci. (Paris), Vol. XLIL, p. 775, May 1856. 

 Type (by monotypy) : Aptenodytes minor Forster. 



