50 MR. W. P. PYCRAFT ON THE [May 2, 
of those on either side. In section the shaft is subeylindrical. 
Me. I. is long, as in the Passeres. 
The pelvic limbs of the Eurylemide and Cotingide can be 
distinguished from the limbs of the syndactyle members of the 
Coraciiformes by the fact that, m the latter, the tarso-metatarsus 
is either broad and flat, or deeply grooved anteriorly, and is more 
or less triangular in section. Further, the cnemial crests of the 
tibio-tarsus are, in the Coraciiformes having this type of feet, but 
feebly developed. 
x. SUMMARY. 
Regarded, by common consent, as. the most lowly of the 
Passeriformes, the Eur ‘ylemidz are at the same time an extremely 
specialised group ; much more so than has been hitherto recognised. 
Such a condition might have been expected indeed, inasmuch as 
this is a common feature among primitive groups. 
Nowhere is this specialisation more conspicuous than in the 
skull. The basipterygoid processes have entirely disappeared ; 
the maxillo-palatines have been reduced from broad triangular 
plates to rod-like splints; and a singularly perfect fronto- nasal 
hinge has been developed. In some genera, as in Corydon, the 
beak has vastly increased in size, and has acquired a markedly 
hooked shape, as well as a great increase in breadth. Nor is this 
all. The vomer presents a number of gradations in the direction 
of reduction and degeneracy ; and this is true also of the nasals, 
whereby the anterior narial fossa—which, by the way, is only in 
fact a narial fossa in so far as its extreme anterior end is concerned— 
is enormously enlarged. The lachrymal has been reduced to a 
mere vestige embedded, though still free, in the anterior face of 
the antorbital plate as im Calyptomena, or it is wanting as in 
Corydon. The palato-pterygoid articulation is also specialised ; 
so too is the nature of the vomerine support, this haying been 
transferred from the pterygoids to that of the palatines. The 
hemipterygoid element appears to be wanting, but traces of this 
may turn up in the nestlings of Calyptomena. 
Evidence of yet further specialisation is obtained from a study of 
the nestling skull. Besides the disappearance of the hemipteryg oid 
just referred to, the squamosal gives unquestionable proof in this 
direction; yet, at the same time, having preserved the essential 
characters of its shape, this element, more than any other bone 
in the skull, affords testimony of no uncertain kind as to the truly 
Passerine character of the group. Roughly L-shaped, there can 
nevertheless be no doubt, from the general contours of the bone, 
that it has been derived from a larger and more conical plate 
resembling that which obtains in the Corvide for example. 
Further, as in all the Passeres, the long axis of this bone is 
continued upwards and forwards beyond the parietal so as, in short, 
to overlap the frontal. So far as I have yet been able to ascertain, 
such an extension does not obtain anywhere among the Coracii- 
