214 DR. J. ANDERSON ON THE OSTEOLOGY 



venous groove is seen to ran along the upper surface of the inward projection of the 

 periotic ; and at its highest part it is partially bridged by an outwardly and upwardly 

 projecting spicule from the epiotic. In Tringa minuta there are no occipital fontanelles ; 

 but the groove occurs along the lower half of the side of the foramen magnum, and opens 

 into the skull by a small foramen ; whilst in T. salina the fontanelles and groove are as in 

 JEurynorhynchus. The squamous region is slightly concave, and the postorbital margin 

 is the same as in Tringa, there being a stylet-like postorbital process projecting down- 

 wards and forwards, separated by a very shallow notch from tbe descending process of the 

 squamosal, which is deeply bifurcated and more strongly developed than in Tringa — 

 although, as in that genus, the temporal fossa is very feebly marked. Immediately before 

 the foramen magnum there are from three to four minute foramina for the cranial 

 nerves ; and slightly anterior to these a larger one, separated from the paroccipital con- 

 tinuation of the previously mentioned groove. The paroccipital process in this, as in the 

 Limicoline skull generally, is thrown much forwards onto the base of the skull, and is 

 directed forwards and downwards. Its inner side is perforated by a small foramen, 

 which, however, does not occur in Tringa minuta or T. salina; and the apex of the 

 process nearly touches the lateral expansion of the basisphenoid ; the upper wall of the 

 imperfect ring so formed is partially divided into two separate channels. Although the 

 orbit has the same general characters as in Tringa, the septum is more complete, having 

 a greater expansion superiorly. The ethmoidal alse are also more strongly developed 

 than in that genus, their superior and inferior external angles being more marked and more 

 outwardly projecting. The lacrymal is also more pronounced and formed somewhat 

 differently from that of Tringa, in which the downwardly prolonged portion that abuts 

 against the ethmoidal alse is a very fine osseous thread ; while in Etirynorhynchus the 

 curve is less and the bone is stouter, and a sharp, but short, process is given off from the 

 outer margin, where it turns in to the ethmoidal plates. The superior or orbital angle 

 of the lacrymal is also stronger and more outwardly projecting than in Tringa. The 

 nasals have a small anteriorly projecting lamina developed from their external margins 

 in a line with the posterior border of the nostril, and which does not occur in T. salina 

 and T. minuta. The quadrate bone, although proportionally larger, has the same form 

 as. in Tringa ; but it differs in having the articular surface for the mandible more deeply 

 concave,, and in the inner side of the same surface having a much shallower notch. 

 The air-cells open behind, and between the proximal facets, by a round orifice, which 

 appears to be occasionally supplemented by a smaller one* and on the inside of the bone 

 by two or three such openings.. The pterygoid has the general form and relations of the 

 Schizognathous- skull, but is much stronger than in Tringa. The basipterygoid process 

 is more produced than in that genus ; and there is a small process posterior and internal 

 to it, which does, not occur, or is only feebly developed, in Tringa. 



The palate is essentially Schizognathous ; but, as already mentioned, the palatines have 

 ankylosed in the mesial line, and their vomerine processes have amalgamated with the 

 vomer, which is short and bifurcate at its tip, and does not extend forwards beyond the 

 origin of the nasal process of the maxilla. The palatines have much the same form as 

 in Charadrius pluvialis.. The external lamina is at a. slightly lower level than, the 



