186/.] PROF. HUXLEY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 443 



long, and for three-fourths of their length greatly flattened from side 

 to side, with more or less notched, or festooned, posterior free 

 edges. 



Behind the posterior nares each palatine bone sends off a hori- 

 zontal plate, which unites with its fellow for a considerable distance. 



In front of this plate the palatine bones become first rounded and 

 then flattened from above downwards, and, broadening out, articulate 

 by transversely elongated heads with fossse in the posterior margins 

 of the floor of the rostrum. 



Fiff. 25. 



Under view of the skull of Cacatua gakrifa. 



Pm.r, M.rp, PI, Pf. as before. S. Tlie ossified septum narium. a. The joint 

 between the palatine and the rostrum, b. That between the jugal bone and 

 the rostrum, c. The joint between the rostrum and the frontal bones. 



In the Musophagidce (Musopha(/a and Schizorhis) there are no 

 basipterygoid processes. I have not seen the vomer ; so that it is 

 probably very small and readily detached. The palatines are con- 

 siderably elongated, and their posterior external regions rounded 

 off as in the Owls, Pigeons, and PhasianidcB. The two spongy 

 maxillo-palatines meet in the middle line ; and in these characters, 

 as in the form of the beak, the MusophagiJoi present a certain re- 

 semblance to the Owls. 



