116 MR. W. K. PARKER ON THE STRUCTURE 



add that the upper and middle turbinate are not more developed than in the common 

 Fowl. The small nasal septum (sn), diminishing forwards, is the only part ossified in 

 front of the hinge, the bone running a little into the alse ; and also in the true olfactory 

 region the root of the simple aliethmoid alcoil is alone ossified ; and this growth comes 

 directly from the perpendicular wall, or meso-ethmoid. The lachrymal (fig. 8, 1) is a large 

 spongy bone, broad in the roof of the skull, pedate where it binds upon the zygoma ; 

 and it entirely excludes the lateral ethmoid from the upper and outer regions of the face. 

 This is a Cuculine character. 



On the Structure and Development of the Face in the Humming-birds 

 (" Trochilidse "). 



Professor Huxley (op. cit. p. 454) says " Trochilus has the true Passerine vomer, with 

 its broad and truncated anterior and deeply cleft posterior end. I have not yet been 

 able to obtain a perfectly satisfactory view of the structure and arrangement of the 

 palatine bones in the Humming birds." That same paper contains several figures drawn 

 from his friend's preparations ; and I wish those which could have been supplied to him 

 of the Humming-bird's skull had been used by him also ; they would have prevented the 

 error contained in the above quotation. I have been long familiar with these parts in 

 the old and nestling bird, in specimens from Barbadoes (? Lampornis) ; and now I am 

 able to add the structure of the largest known species, from the Andes of Peru (Patagona 

 gig as) *. 



It might have been supposed that the Humming-bird would have been especially 

 related to its " Tenuirostral " isomorphs the Sun-birds (" Nectariniidse ") and their 

 allies; but I find nothing in these, except extreme prognathism, which indicates any 

 special relationship. Having carefully dissected and drawn several scores of Passerine 

 types, to say nothing of the Ouculines over the border, it seems to me not altogether a 

 difficult task to weigh and measure the relationships of these bright " minims " of 

 vertebrate life. No isomorphism apparent in types that grow from the uppermost twigs 

 of the life-tree should satisfy the ornithologist in matters of affinity ; down by the 

 root must morphological observation be commenced. I had hoped to find the Trochiline 

 congeners in southern-world forms, such as Nectarophilus and Anthreptes, from Celebes, 

 or in the Austraban genera Acanthorhynchus and Ptilotis; but such is not the case. 

 Morphologically — I do not say zoologically — I am nearer my starting-point down among 

 the superstruthious Hemipods, and the Passerines that have sprung up from that low 

 level, such as Pipra, Pachyrhamphus, and Thamnophilus. 



All this is said in relation to Passerine modification, as such ; not as seeking to lower 

 the idea of the specialization of the Trochiline type, which is without rival. These 

 zoological ideas force themselves forwards ; but my work is with the morphology of the 

 region of the face. 



* The old and young specimens came to me, the former in spirits, the latter dried in a letter, from my friend the 

 Rev. Jno. Philp, for several years missionary in that island. The gigantic form, also a spirit specimen, belongs to my 

 excellent co-worker in this field, Professor Alfred Newton, F.R.S. 



