30 MR. W. P. PYCRAFT ON THE [May 2, 
3. Contributions to the Osteology of Birds.—Part VII.* 
Hurylemide ; with Remarks on the Systematic Position 
of the Group. By W. P. Pycrart, F.Z.S., M.B.0.U. 
[Received March 30, 1905. | 
(Plate I]. + and Text-figures 13-15.) 
CoNnvTENTS. 
i. Introductory Remarks, p. 30. vil. The Pelvic Girdle, p. 48. 
ii. The Skull of the Adult, p. 30. viii. The Pectoral Limb, p. 48. 
ili. The Skull of the Nestling, p. 40. ix. The Pelvic Limb, p. 49. 
iv. The Vertebral Column, p. 43. x. Summary, p. 50. 
v. The Ribs, p. 45. xi. List of Literature referred to, p. 56. 
vi. The Sternum and Shoulder-girdle, xii. Explanation of Plate II., p. 56. 
p. 45. 
1. LnrropucTORY REMARKS. 
The present paper is intended to form the first of a series on 
the osteology of the Passeres, and, in order to increase its value 
to the systematist, characters other than osteological will be 
discussed where necessary. By this means it is hoped that that 
most difficult of ornithological problems—the classification of the 
Passeres—will be materially aided. 
The labours of Garrod, Forbes, and Firbringer have resulted in 
the accumulation of a considerable pile of facts concerning the 
soft parts of the Kurylemide, but comparatively little has been 
done in the way of osteology. 
My work, it may be. as well to state here, has been hampered 
by paucity of material, since several genera are entirely 
unrepresented in the Collection of the British Museum (Natural 
History). Doubtless these gaps will be filled in course of time, 
and the lacune, unavoidable in this contribution, can then be filled 
up. Skeletons of nestlings are especially wanted. 
11. THE SKULL OF THE ADULT. 
The skull of the Eurylemide is remarkable for the extreme 
specialisation which it displays, though these birds are of an 
undoubtedly primitive type. ‘That changes so considerable as 
are here to be noticed should have taken place in the skull is 
unfortunate, since thereby valuable evidence on questions of 
ancestry has been lost. 
It is not an easy matter to express exactly what are the 
characteristic features of the Eurylemid skull, or, rather, it is not 
easy to set down diagnostic characters, since it presents considerable 
and often wide differences in d werent genera. Superficially it 
* For Part VI. see P. Z.S. 1903, vol. i. p. 258. 
+ For explanation of the Plate, see p. 56. 
