1900. ] SHUFELDT—OSTEOLOGY OF THE WOODPECKERS. 599 
be a complete abortion of the basipterygoid processes, and there 
is certainly no vomer. On the pterygoids the muscle-process is 
but fairly well developed. On the palatines the interpalatine pro- 
cess is inconspicuously pronounced, while either ‘‘ palatine spur’’ 
is delicate and passes forward to fuse with the mesial margin of 
the palatine from which it arises. A moderately large os uncinatum 
is seen and a small subcentral fenestra pierces the interorbital sep- 
tum. Contrary to what we have found usually to obtain, a ramal 
vacuity of some size pierces the ramus of either side of the 
mandible. 
When we come to compare the trunk and appendicular skeleton 
ot Xenopicus with the corresponding parts of the skeleton of, say, 
such a species as Dryodates villosus, we will find still other points 
of resemblance between them. Just here, however, we pass to the 
consideration of the skull in the last-named species, which is the 
form I have selected to represent the genus to which it belongs. 
At the present writing I have beautiful skeletons of D. v///osus 
before me, which I prepared from specimens collected for me by 
Dr. W. S. Strode, of Bernadotte, Ill. 
Elegant in form and structure and eminently picine in charac- 
ter, the skull in Dryodates is truly a most interesting object to 
study. Externally the vault of the cranium is beautifully rounded 
and handsomely pitted by the quill ends of the capital feathers ; 
further, a double gutter for the ends of the hyoidean apparatus is 
unusually distinct. The superior orbital rims are slightly tilted 
upward, and just within the margin of either one of them occur 
perforating foramina. Between these borders the frontal region is 
rather broad, while in front, between the nasals, it rolls or bulges 
well over the consolidated extremities of the premaxillaries. The 
superior osseous mandible is especially picine in character, being 
rather wide posteriorly, compressed vertically and directly drawn 
to an acute apex anteriorly. As already remarked, on its superior 
aspect it is pushed into the frontal boss behind. The culmen is 
represented by a raised ridge extending down the middle line to the 
apical extremity. Either external narial aperture is rather ample ; the 
line of the lower margin of the opening being curved, while superiorly 
it is straight. Within the narial chamber the arrangement of the 
turbinals is as we have described them above from Parker. [ 
would add, however, that the /ree turbinal upon either side is large 
and composed entirely of bone. 
