PEOF. W. K. PAEKER ON ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 307 



(figs. 1-3, 2}x) is of that moderately developed kind which might be found in a feeble- 

 faced bird of almost any great group : notably it is like that of Eeinipodius (PI. LIV. 

 fig. 11, px). The large open nasal space in the dry skull, the feeble difierentiation 

 of the palatal process of the prsemaxillaries, and the subcarinate, triangular form of 

 the fore part of the vomer (v) — all these are like what is seen in the yoimg of the Crow 

 (PI. LV. fig. l,p.px, v). At first sight the vomer appears to militate against the bird 

 being of the " kind " of the Crows ; but what I show in the young Eook clears the 

 thing up, and still better what may be seen in the Chough (Fregilus graculus). In 

 this bird the vomer (PI. LV. figs. 10-12) is seen to be scarcely at all more passerine 

 than that of Menura ; it is more downbent in front ; and the scooped facets, from 

 which the angle of the " intumed alinasal lamina " {i. a. I) has been macerated, are 

 somewhat lai-ger. 



As the relation of the vomer to the nasal capsule is my proper text, I think it will 

 be seen that I have here pointed out the true diagnostics in Menura^. 



The vomer of Menura (PI. LVI. figs. 1, 3, 5, v) is lanceolate, rather solid, carinate 

 below, and ankylosed by its crura to the ethmo-palatine plates. It is bent downwards 

 in front (fig. 3), but not so much as in Fregilus (PI. LV. fig. 12, v). The nasal scars 

 (fig. 5, i. a. I) are shallow-rimmed cups, as in Fregilus. In neither of these types does 

 the vomer encroach so much on the nasal cartilages ; and in neither of their adult 

 skulls can any septo-maxillary centres be seen : they may have existed near the vomer 

 on the nasal cartilages. 



The pterygo-palatine arch is almost typical ; the pterygoid itself is short, but neat 

 and well-shaped, having a large " epipterygoid " hook, a well-formed cup for the 

 quadrate, a large anterior lobe clamping the basifacial beam, and a well-detached 

 large " mesopterygoid " (fig. 3, pg, e.pg, ms.])g). The palatines (figs. 1 & 3) have an 

 evident transpalatine territory {t.pa), which, being uncinate, makes the angle almost 

 as much developed outwards as in the Rook (compare PI. LVI. fig. 1, with PI. LV. 

 fig. 6, t.pa). The interpalatine spurs {i.pa) are stout, and are exactly like those of the 

 young Eook (PI. LV. fig. 1, i.pa), being larger than those of the adult (fig. 6). The 

 thin conchoidal ethmo-palatal laminae (figs. 3 & 5, e.pa) do not extend further forwards 

 than the interpalatine spurs ; they rise and attach themselves to the upper edges of 

 the vomer, exactly as in Fregilus. The angle on the outer edge of the palatine, wheie 

 it suddenly narrows into the praepalatine bar {pr.pa), is precisely like what is seen in 

 the Eook (PI. LV. fig. 6) ; and so is the thickening of the edge at that part. The prae- 

 palatine bar remains distinct from the prffimaxillar-y and maxillaiy (figs. 1 & 2). 



The sides of the broad part of the palatines are much steeper than in the Corvidae ; 

 the sulcus between the side and the interpalatine edge is deeper: and the interpalatine 



' I have very long been familiar with the peculiarities of the passerine palate ; but my recent paper, in the 

 Monthly Microscopical Journal (Nov. 1872), on the Crow's skuU is the first matter published by me directly on 

 this subject. 



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