590 SHUFELDT—OSTEOLOGY OF THE WOODPECKERS.  [Oct.5, 
the mandible the posterior angular process is inclined to be slightly 
more produced. 
Superficially, the skull of dZe/anerpes uropygialis almost resem- 
bles that of some of our more delicately structured Thrushes.’ 
All the bones composing it are notably thin and semi-transparent, 
more especially those of the brain-case and frontal region. There 
is an os uncinatum present, while the interorbital septum is, as a 
rule, entire. The lower border of the nasal septum ossifies, and the 
anterior border of the external narial aperture is curled inward to 
meet the same of the opposite side. Mesially, these codssify and 
form a transverse partition at the point in question. Viewing this 
skull from above, we find the cranio-facial region much as it exists 
in Colaptes—that is, the frontals do not bulge over the ends of the 
premaxillary. None of the birds in this genus seem to have the 
external vault of the cranium dented by the butts of the quills of 
the capital feathers, and the ends of the hyoid rarely reach so far 
forward as the mid-point of the frontal space between the superior 
margins of the orbits. In this Gila Woodpecker we find the pala- 
tines much the same as they exist in JZ. ¢orquatus, and the same 
remark applies to its mandible and hyoidean apparatus. 
Melanerpes carolinus has the skull and associated parts very 
much like the corresponding structures in JZ. uropygzals, though, | 
nevertheless, it has a specific faczes of its own—a /aczes, however, 
that would compel the comparative osteologist to sink to insignifi- 
cant details to define. But, exasperating as this puzzling inter- 
gradation is among the skeletons of these Woodpeckers, it is an 
exceedingly interesting picture to take in by the eye. 
In W. carolinus the tympanic bulle are so reduced as hardly 
to call to mind the cowrie-shell-shaped cavity at all, and the ‘slit’ 
is comparatively wide. We find in this skull also that the postero- 
external angles of the palatines to be rounded off, thus differing 
markedly with JZ. ¢orguatus in this particular. No vomer is 
present. Maxillo-palatines are very narrow, and an os uncinatum 
seems to be absent. JZ aurifrons has also been examined, but 
requires no special comment.” 
I have also examined skulls of the Narrow-fronted and California 
1 Owing to the kindness of my friend Mr. Herbert Brown, of Tucson, Ariz., 
I have skeletons of both male and female specimens of this species. 
2 J am indebted to Mr. F. Stephens for several specimens of this species. 
