1900. J SHUFELDT—OSTEOLOGY OF THE WOODPECKERS. 619 
of the internal lamina of the bone, and being directed forward. 
It may also in some species pass on to fuse with the mesial edge 
of the palatine to which it belongs by its free end. The postero- 
external angle of a palatine is either truncated or shows various 
degrees of being bluntly rounded. 
16. The mesopterygoidal process of a pterygoid is not paddle- 
shaped, but long and narrowly pointed. 
17. Distinct orbito-sphenoids exist in the nestling. 
18. Mandible very strong, typically V-shaped in pattern ; sides 
deep ; symphysis varies in depth; ramal vacuity absent, or minute 
if present, and never large. Posterior angular processes more or less 
truncated ; internal angular processes large. In some species the 
posterior third of the inferior ramal border somewhat tumefied and 
roughened. 
tg. Rudimentary cerato-hyals which early fuse together. 
20. Uro-hyal absent. 
21. Elongated thyro-hyal elements curl up over the cranium to 
a greater or less extent. They may pass round the right orbit. 
They may come to the posterior margin of the right external narial 
aperture. They may hardly come up on the cranium at all. 
Whenever they do the cranium is usually externally furrowed to 
receive them. 
22. Sclerotal plates of the eye commonly fuse completely together 
around their external periphery and toward the centre. 
23. ‘‘ Double ‘ infrastapedial’ and ossified stylohyal’’ (Parker). 
24. Rings, semirings and other parts of the trochea ossify. 
25. There are nineteen free vertebre between the skull and pel- 
vis ; the vertebrarterial canals pierce the atlas and in some species 
the axis; the atlantal cup is perforate; there are no parial para- 
pophyses ; the carotid canal may or may not be entirely closed 
in by bone ; where they are present the neural and hzmal spines 
are usually very large. .There are three pairs of cervical ribs, five 
pairs of dorsal ribs and one pair of sacral ribs. The hemapo- 
physes of the latter do not reach the sternum. In some species 
the first pair of costal ribs are very robust, as are the last pair 
of cervical ones. There are five or usually six tail vertebre 
(free), with an enormous pygostyle. Most of these parts are highly 
pneumatic. 
26. The sternum is two-notched on either side of the carina; 
the manubrium is either slightly or very much bifurcated ; the costal 
PROC. AMER. PHILOS. SOC. XXXIX. 164. 00. PRINTED DEC. 19, 1900. 
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