126 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON THE [Feb. 3, 



Summary of the chief Osteological Characters of the 

 North-American Pici. 



1 . Large, but simple-scrolled turbinals ; there may be a free 

 turbinal. 



2. Bulging of the frontal region over the transverse cranio-facial 

 line may (Picoides) or may not (Colaptes) exist. 



3. Generally the external cranial vault is more or less dinted by 

 the ends of the quills of the capital feathers. 



4. The interorhital septum is sometimes entire and sometimes 

 shows a fenestra. 



5. Pars plana large, and often the as uncinatum is well- developed. 



6. Lacrymal usually vestigial in character. 



7. Quadrato-jugal aborted. 



8. Tympanic bullae cowrie-shell shaped, and otherwise peculiar. 



9. A large spur on the upper side of either pterygoid for muscular 

 attachment. 



10. A median, dagger-shaped vomer sometimes present but some- 

 times absent. 



11. Maxillo-palatines rounded, laminar and very much aborted. 



12. A more or less imperfect nasal septum usually present. 



13. Vestigial basipterygoid processes are distinctly developed in 

 some species. 



14. As ossification advances in the palatines it may be characterized 

 as being " ragged " along the antero-mesial and antero-external 

 margins of these bones. This often leaves little osseous islets not 

 absorbed, a few of which may persist here and there throughout the 

 life of the individual. 



15. Either palatine is characterized by possessing an "interpala- 

 tine spine " or process, and this may be continued forwards to fuse 

 with the mesial border of the bone by its free tip. Either palatine 

 also possesses a palatine spur, springing from the anterior point of 

 the internal lamina of the bone and being directed forwards. 

 It may also in some species pass on to fuse with the mesial edge of 

 the palatine to which it belongs by its free end. The postero- 

 external angle of a palatine is either truncated or shows various 

 degrees of being blmitly rounded. 



1 6. The mesopterygoid process of a pterygoid is not paddle-shaped, 

 but long and narrowly pointed. 



17. Distinct orbito-sphenoids exist in the nestling. 



18. Mandible very strong, typically V-shaped in pattern ; sides 

 deep ; symphysis varies in depth ; ramal vacuity absent, or minute 

 if present, and never large. Posterior angular processes more or 

 less truncated ; internal angular processes large. In some species 

 the posterior third of the inferior ramal border somewhat tumefied 

 and roughened. 



19. Rudimentary cerato-hyals which early fuse together. 



20. Uro-hyal absent. 



21. Elongated thyro-hyal elements curl up over the cranium to 

 a greater or less extent. They may pass round the right orbit. 



