PROF. "W. K. PAEKER ON ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 337 



Example 23. Petroica hicolor. 



Habitat. Australia. Group " Tracheophonse ; " family " Muscicapidse." 



This is the largest of those of this genus whose osteology is displayed in the Museum 

 of the College of Surgeons. Its number in the ' Catalogue' is 1584 ; the other species 

 there are P. multicolor (1584 a), P. phoe7iicea (1584 b), and P. fusca (1584 c). 



Petroica hicolor is one of the strongest of the smaller Passerines in pelvis and hinder 

 limb ; its general osteology is as fuU of interest as that of the Australian type already 

 described, namely Menura. 



In its skull and face, however, it comes near the soft-billed passerines. Yet its afiinity 

 is not with our native Wrens and Sylvise ; but, in its palate at least, it approaches those 

 types that are found in the Panama district of America, the " Mniotiltidse," afterwards 

 to be described, coming nearer to these, in some respects, than to Muscicapa. The 

 pterygoids (PI. LX. fig. 10, 2)^) agree with those of the " Formicariidse," save that they 

 are longer, and more arched, but little uncinate, and are elegantly expanded in a falcate 

 manner in front. 



As in Grallaria, the postpalatine keels {pt.pa) are deep, wide apart, and angulate, 

 and the rostrum shows well between the right and left bone and the crura of the vomer. 



The interpalatine spur is very short, the transverse part of the bone of the medium 

 extent ; and the transpalatine spur {t.pa) is arcuate, and of a width intermediate between 

 that of a common and of a Piping Crow ; it is bluntly pointed, as in Anthreptes. The 

 vomer (v) is of great interest. The moieties of the true vomer are seen distinct for a 

 long distance behind, and for a short space in front, where they end in two short horns, 

 with a rounded emargination between them ; this part is subcarinate below. But the 

 outside of the bone is formed of the septo-maxillaries (s.mx), which are nearly as large 

 as the halves of the true vomer, as in the Serpent. The ujDper lobes of this compound 

 vomer are but little developed; the maxUlo-palatine processes are obliquely handled 

 spatulee, as in many high-class passerines. 



Example 24. Petroica monticola. 



Habitat. Australia. Group " Tracheophonse ; " family " Muscicapidse." 



The palate of this smaller species (PI. LX. iig. 9) differs from the last principally 

 in slendemess ; and the transpalatine processes come very near to those of the " Necta- 

 riniidse." 



The vomerine crura are more bowed, and the united part of much greater extent. 

 The true vomerine bones {v) unite in front by a rounded point; and the sutures 

 between these and the marginal septo-maxillaries {s.mx) are very distinct, as in the 

 " Mniotiltidse." A bone answering to the prsevomerine portion of the Snake's septo- 

 maxillary {s.mx^) has grafted itself on the intumed alinasal lamina {i. a. I). The maxillo- 

 palatines are alike in both species. 



There is a close affinity, one with another,, in many of the lesser narrow-billed 

 VOL. IX. — PAKT V. December, 1875. 2 z 



