894 



DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF THE [DeC. 1, 



broader than in the Texan Nightjar, being rounded in front, but 

 otherwise agreeing ver\' weU \Yith that bird. 



In fact in all essential details, so far as the osseous structures at 

 the base of the skull are concerned P/ia/eenopfilus agrees with the 

 same parts as shown by Professor Huxley in his figure of Capri- 

 mulgus europcetis, in his memoir upon tlie Classification of Birds 

 (P. Z. S. 1867), and I have reproduced that figure here in order to 

 show their arrangement (fig. A, p. 893). 



To recall also this eminent biologist's observations upon the skull 

 of the European Goatsucker, the following passages are quoted from 

 the memoir in question ; he says, " The skull of Caprimulyus, though 



View of the palate without the pterj-goid bones of Nyctihius jamaicensis. 

 Seen from below (after Huxley). Letters as in former figures. 



it retains the general features of the Passerine cranium, departs 

 from the typical Passerine structure still further tlian the Swilts, 

 the body of the palatines having become exceedingly broad and 

 flattened out, while the vomt-r is longer and narrower than in the 

 Swifts or the typical Passerine birds. The expanded inner end of 

 the slender and characteristically Passerine maxillo-palatines are 

 quite distinct from the vomer and from one another. 



" C'ajirimulgus further presents a remarkable contrast to the 

 Swifts and all the true Passeres in having well-developed basi- 

 pterygoid processes. These are absent m ^gotheles novce-hoUandife, 

 the palate of which is intermediate between that of the Goat- 

 suckers and that of the Swifts. 



Nyctibius closely resembles Caprimulgus, even to possessing the 

 very peculiar division of each ramus of the mandible into two 

 portions — the one of which is movable upon the other — pointed out 

 in the latter genus by Nitzsch. But the slender anterior processes 

 of the palatines are closely approximated in the middle line, instead 

 of remaining widely separated, as in Caprimulgus and Trochilus ; 

 and the maxillo-palatines are closely adherent to them and to the 

 vomer, though a true anchylosis does not appear to have taken 

 place" (fig. B). 



