1881.] ON THE POSITION OF EUPETES MACROCERCXJS. 837 



collection, has convinced me of the incorrectness of the last part of 

 Prof. Huxley's description. In fact, the Trogons are not in the 

 slightest degree desmognathous, hut schizognathous, Prof. Huxley's 

 error having probably been due to the imperfect preparation of the 

 specimen which he inspected. 



As will be evident from the drawing I now exhibit (see figure) of 



.OBlFrV 



Palate of Fharomacrns mocinno. 



the palate of Pliaromacrus mocinno, the somewhat spongy and re- 

 markably transverse maxillo-palatines do not unite with each other, 

 or with any median ossification, across the central line. On the con- 

 trary, their inner ends are free both from each other, from the lower 

 border of the nasal septum, which is ossified, and from the thin and 

 filiform vomer, which runs between their ends to terminate in a 

 point a little anteriorly to them. The same is the case in the other 

 five species already named. 



The Trogons being thus, as I have shown, not desmognathous, 

 would have, if Prof. Huxley's group of " Coccygomorphae " were 

 retained, to be removed thence to some other position, presumably 

 in his suborder " Schizognathse." But, in fact, as we now know 

 from Prof. Garrod's investigations ^ the so-called Coccygomorphae 

 are an artificial group, made up of at least three very distinct series 

 of birds. Furthermore, the fact that the Trogons are schizogna- 

 thous, whereas their near allies, such as the Bucconidae, Galbulidae, 

 Coraciidse, Podai-gus, &c., are desmognathous, shows that the struc- 

 ture of the palate has not that unique and peculiar significance that 

 has been claimed for it in the classification of birds. 



4. Note on tlae Systematic Position of Eupetes macrocercus. 

 By W. A. Forbes, B.A., Prosector to the Society. 



[Receiyecl September 23, 1881.] 



Some months ago Mr. R. B. Sharpe directed my attention to the 

 remarkable similarity in general facies of JEupetes macrocercus to the 



» ' Scientific Papers,' pp. 214, 215, &o. 



