318 PROF. W. K. PARKEE ON ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 



developed in the Turnicidce (PI. LIV.), is here quite perfect, has undergone thorough 

 ossification, and is ankylosed with all the surrounding parts (PI. LVIII. figs. 1 & 2, n.f) ; 

 hence the septum (which is here a crest to this strong, bony plate) is not seen in the 

 palatal views. Yet, within, the posterior part of the alinasal turbinals, and, without, 

 the hinder part of the alinasal walls are soft ; and so also are the inferior turbinals. 

 The extreme end, however, of the alinasal turbinals has a borrowed source of bony 

 matter in the large upper spongy lobes of the vomer (d) ; these have evidently coalesced 

 with the small lateral septo-maxillaries (see Gmllaria, Plate LVI. fig. 9, s.mx). The 

 upper and anterior vomerine lobes wall-in a deep sulcus, and are extremely beautiful 

 and pneumatic ; their air-passage is above, and is very large. The diff'erence which can 

 be detected in this very Fitfine vomer is, that it is more spongy, has drawn more upon 

 the turbinals, is subcarinate below, and has a larger space between its crura ; in the 

 shortness of its conjoined part it is like Gmllaria and not like Pitta : this oscillation 

 between these two relations is to me a very striking thing'. 



Of exactly the same pattern, yet the palate, like the rest of the face, is broader than 

 that of Grallaria ; and this outspread form of the whole face gives wider individual 

 parts. In mere form, the pterygoids, with their arrested epipterygoid hooks, are not 

 altered visibly ; but they, and their mesopterygoid segment, have become ankylosed to 

 the palatines : this is part of the generally intense ostosis of this bird. In the palatines 

 a change is easily discerned ; it is the lessened condition of the postpalatine keels {;pt.pa), 

 so large in the lower CoracomorphEe. The " transpalatines " {t.])a) are broader and 

 altogether more developed ; they arefliatter and better-formed; and, having had a fuller 

 matrix of cartilage, they are less like mere periosteal outgrowths. 



The ethmopalatine lamina takes a less sweep ; its spur is fused with the upper edge 

 of the vomer ; as in the two last, there is no interpalatine spur {i.pa). Strongly as all 

 the fore palate is fused together, the broad prsepalatal bars (jyr.pa) are only ankylosed 

 by their tips ; they are flat, very elastic, and yet exquisitely pneumatic. At first sight, 

 the maxillo-palatines (wu'.^j) would seem to be as large as in Grallaria ; they are, how- 

 ever, enlarged by their bony union with the " inturned alinasal well" {i. a. I). 



The process, however, has a broad base, and belongs to the simple type ; the maxillary, 

 behind the process, is broad and spongy, and is widened by the divergent angular process 

 of the prsemaxillary : the jugal bar is one continuous bone. 



In the ethmoid we see an ascent in type ; for the common nerve-passage is more chink- 

 like, the antorbital has aborted the lacrymal as in the last two kinds, its angle is 

 modified ; it is prsmorse, as in Pitta ; but the outer angle of the bitten part turns 

 inwards, and forms a very distinct " processus uncinatus" (fig. 1, o. u). 



The antorbital is spongy, but it is thin, as in Grallaria, not swollen as in Pitta — 

 another instance of that peculiar oscillation of this bird towards the Bornean and 



' Here is a lesson for the paleontologist ! Fragmentary fossils, the palatine remains of this bird, especially 

 if the second arch had remained intact, could never have told any other than a pittine or a graUarian tale. 



