320 PEOP. W. K. PARKER ON ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 



does not obscure this region; the tlentary, nasal, and palatine processes of the prsemax- 

 illary are well marked (figs. 1-3) ; the body of that bone is of great length. 



The palatine arch, like that of Arfamus, has lost the distinction of proximal and distal 

 segments ; the pterygoids, as in the last three instances, are straight, stout bones, 

 becoming alate in front ; the epipterygoid hook (fig. 1, e.pg) is typically developed. 

 The postpalatine crests (pt. pa) are less everted than in Grallaria, and are very close 

 together ; they are quite as large as in that tjpe and in Pitta; the interpalatine spur 

 is aborted, and the ethmo-palatine lamina is scrolled (fig. 3, e.pa). The mesopalatine 

 region is becoming of greater extent ; and the transpalatine snags have that remarkable 

 development backveards seen in many Southern passerines. The prsepalatines are very 

 pittine, short, broad, fibrous, concave above, and convex below. 



The maxillo-palatine laminae are elegant little ears of bone, and are far apart, articu- 

 lating with the angles of the broad-shouldered vomer ; the strong but slender and com- 

 pressed zygoma {j) is one with the rest of the fore face. 



Dendrocolaptes is above the Formicariidee in the condition of the maxillary palatal 

 plates, as well as in the palato-pterygoid arch. As in many of the higher passerines, 

 there is a small lacrymal (fig. 3, I) ankylosed to the upper part of the descending crus 

 of the nasal. The antorbital (fig. 3, p.p) has a concave outer margin, and a very 

 imcinate angle ; below, it has a suture, dividing off the tip and the fore part of this bar 

 from that which passes inwards to the meso-ethmoid (jj. e). The angle and part of the 

 outer face is the os uncinatum [p. u) ; and this has most probably coalesced above with an 

 upper lateral ethmoid, the bone described in the Rook (PI. LV. fig. 5). The foramen 

 for the two nerves (figs. 3, 1, 5') has lessened very much in size. The ecto-ethmoid is 

 not flush with the face as in most passerines ; and the frontal portion is small. This 

 bird is not one of the highest of the Southern Coracomorphae ; it is an ascent, however, 

 from the Formicariidse. 



Example 11. Anceretes parulus. 



Habitat. Chili. Group " Tracheophonse," Miiller ; family " Tyrannidse." 



This is one of the smallest of the family, and, like one of the smallest of our native 

 Warblers (the Wren), shows a peculiarity not seen in larger forms, namely a develop- 

 ment of the vomerine cartilages equal to what is seen in Tiirnix. 



The bat-shaped basitemporal plates, and the rounded parasphenoidal beam (PI. LIX. 

 fig. 4, p)a.s) are quite similar to those of the next example, Synallaxis (PI. LIX. fig. 6, 

 bt,pa.s); the hinge is perfect; and the septum nasi {s.n) is very large and thoroughly 

 ossified ; it is alate, as in Corvus and Sylvia. 



The recurrent alinasal fold (fig. 4, re. c) and the hinder part of the alinasal wall 

 (fig. 4, n. w) are also ossified. The postero-inferior element of the septum nasi is entirely 

 ankylosed with the bony matter from the roof and front of the septum ; and the chink 



