318 PROF. W. kK. PARKER ON AGITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 
developed in the Turnicide (Pl. LIV.), is here quite perfect, has undergone thorough 
ossification, and is ankylosed with all the surrounding parts (Pl. LVIII. figs. 1 & 2,2.f); 
hence the septum (which is here a crest to this strong, bony plate) is not seen in the 
palatal views. Yet, within, the posterior part of the alinasal turbinals, and, without, 
the hinder part of the alinasal walls are soft; and so also are the inferior turbinals. 
The extreme end, however, of the alinasal turbinals has a borrowed source of bony 
matter in the large upper spongy lobes of the vomer(v); these have evidently coalesced 
with the small lateral septo-maxillaries (see Grallaria, Plate LVI. fig. 9, s.mx). ‘The 
upper and anterior vomerine lobes wall-in a deep sulcus, and are extremely beautiful 
and pneumatic; their air-passage is above, and is very large. The difference which can 
be detected in this very Pittine vomer is, that it is more spongy, has drawn more upon 
the turbinals, is subcarinate below, and has a larger space between its crura; in the 
shortness of its conjoined part it is like Gral/aria and not like Pitta: this oscillation 
between these two relations is to me a very striking thing’. 
Of exactly the same pattern, yet the palate, like the rest of the face, is broader than 
that of Grallaria; and this outspread form of the whole face gives wider individual 
parts. In mere form, the pterygoids, with their arrested epipterygoid hooks, are not 
altered visibly ; but they, and their mesopterygoid segment, have become ankylosed to 
the palatines: this is part of the generally intense ostosis of this bird. In the palatines 
a change is easily discerned ; it is the lessened condition of the postpalatine keels (pt.pa), 
so large in the lower Coracomorphe. The “ transpalatines” (#.pa) are broader and 
altogether more developed ; they are flatter and better-formed ; and, having had a fuller 
matrix of cartilage, they are less like mere periosteal outgrowths. 
The ethmopalatine lamina takes a less sweep; its spur is fused with the upper edge 
of the vomer ; as in the two last, there is no interpalatine spur (i.pa). Strongly as all 
the fore palate is fused together, the broad prepalatal bars (pr.pa) are only ankylosed 
by their tips; they are flat, very elastic, and yet exquisitely pneumatic. At first sight, 
the maxillo-palatines (mx.p) would seem to be as large as in Grallaria; they are, how- 
ever, enlarged by their bony union with the “ inturned alinasal well” (7. a. /). 
The process, however, has a broad base, and belongs to the simple type; the maxillary, 
behind the process, is broad and spongy, and is widened by the divergent angular process 
of the premaxillary: the jugal bar is one continuous bone. 
In the ethmoid we see an ascent in type; for the common nerve-passage is more chink- 
like, the antorbital has aborted the lacrymal as in the last two kinds, its angle is 
modified; it is preemorse, as in Pitta; but the outer angle of the bitten part turns 
inwards, and forms a very distinct “ processus uncinatus” (fig. 1, 0. w). 
The antorbital is spongy, but it is thin, as in Grallaria, not swollen as in Pitta— 
another instance of that peculiar oscillation of this bird towards the Bornean and 
' Here is a lesson for the paleontologist! Fragmentary fossils, the palatine remains of this bird, especially 
if the second arch had remained intact, could never have told any other than a pittine or a grallarian tale. 
