PROF. W. K. PARKER ON ZGITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 295 
Hemipod (fig. 9) it is much more like that of the Ostrich family; and this trabecular 
underbearer of the ethmoid (fig. 11, p.e) is swollen and spongy as in the “ Ratite.” 
The cranio-facial “ hinge,” however, is as perfect as in the Fowl; and the rest of the 
coalesced trabecular bar is unossified and forms the lower edge of a feeble septum nasi 
(sn). As in the Crow and many of the “ Coracomorph,” the trabecular base of the 
septum is alate in its middle region (fig. 4, s. 2, tr). The premaxilla (figs. 1, 2, 9, 
10, 11, px), even in the old bird, remains but little different from what is seen in the 
ripe chick of the Fowl (“ Fowl’s Skull,” pl. 84), having a form common to Pigeons, 
Sandgrouse, and Hemipods. 
The body of the bone is of small extent, the dentary processes thin and splintery 
(d.px), the palatine processes (fig. 1, p.pa) very slender styles, such as we everywhere see 
in the feebler Coracomorphe; and the early ankylosed nasal processes (fig. 2, 2.p.’) 
are flat, splintery,and struthious. These processes retain their outline in the adult (fig. 10) 
after they have coalesced with their surroundings. But the greatest marvel in this bird’s 
face is the peculiarities of its vomer, both in form and development. Very strange in 
form is the one figured by me in my earlier paper (‘‘ On the Gallinaceous Birds,” &c. 
pl. 34. fig. 1, v), where it is described as the “little broad vomer,” which is convex 
anteriorly, with a short horn at each angle, and ending behind in a slight style on each 
side for attachment to the palatine '. 
This species was not determined ; but it had the most coracomorphic vomer of the 
three worked out by me; compare that figure with those of the young Crow (Monthly 
Micr. Journ. Noy. & Dec. pls. 36-39, v). 
‘But dry, adult specimens give no idea of the true meaning of this vomer, which is com- 
posed of four osseous and two cartilaginous elements, as in the huge “ family,” or 
rather “order,” of the Coracomorphe. Amongst the birds that have uprisen from the 
Turmicine “ stratum,” the Plovers have a symmetrical vomer, formed of two sickle-shaped 
pieces, in indifferent tissue. The Sandgrouse and Pigeons, as far as I have seen, have no 
vomer (“Gallin. Birds,” pls. 36 & 37) ; but the true Grouse, and all the “Alectoromorphee ” 
proper, have an azygous vomer formed in indifferent tissue (op. cit. pl. 36. fig. 6; and 
“ Fowl’s Skull,” pl. 83. fig. 1, pl. 84. fig. 6, pl. 86. figs. 3, 4, 5, 10, 14, 15, and pl. 87. 
fig. 5, v). 
Thus, starting from the truly struthious face of the Tinamou, with its immense 
symmetrical yomer, we suddenly find ourselves in the very midst of vomerine modifi- 
cations which are only a little more specialized even in types the furthest removed from 
the base’. 
In the young of Turnix rostrata the broad part of the vomer (fig. 8, v) is very short, 
1 The “ prevomers” there spoken of are the true “ maxillaries ;” the ‘‘prevomerine” ossicles or “ septo- 
maxillaries” are the separated “horns” of the vomer, as I shall soon show. 
? If the convenient fancy of our ornithie life-tree be kept in mind, to help the memory, then this tee must 
be one of many branches, suddenly starting from the root. 
