SKFLL OF THE .EGITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 259 



maxillary is very variable if the whole Class be considered ; but in by far the majority ol 

 the Coracomorphse the palatine runs on the inner side of that process. In this species 

 and in the next, both of them belonging to the Meliphagidse, the palatine runs on the, 

 outer side (Plate XLVII. figs. 1-4, p, px, 2ir.pa) : these are the only instances found 

 by me at present amongst the Passerines. This exceptional character in the Melipha- 

 gidae is not so striking as the uniformity of the rest of the group as to a modification 

 so slight ; but altogether their close kinship is evident in all their structure, and their 

 variations, from family to family, gentle in the extreme. 



The following Table will show how mobile is the articulation of the splintery ele- 

 ments of the fore palate : — 



1. Apex of prsepalatine some distance behind palatine plate of prsemaxillary. 



Examples. Struihio camelus (adult), Rhea americana, Dromoeus ater, Casuariiis Bennettii. 



2. Apices of prsepalatine bar and palatal process of prsemaxillary united by suture. 



Examples. Struihio camelus (one third of incubatory period), Oallus domesticus (at time of 

 hatching). 



3. Praepalatine bar passing over the palatal process of prsemaxillary, as well as to the inside. 



Examples. Faleo tinnunmliis (fledgeling), Ardea cinerea (fledgeling). 



4. Prsepalatine bar let into the under surface of the large palatal process of the prsemaxillary. 



Example. Platalea leucorodia. 



5. Prsepalatine bar passing outside the palatal process of prsemaxillary. 



Examples. Tinamus variegatus, Oallus domesticus (adult), Picidse and Yungidse, McHphagidse. 



6. Prsepalatine bar passing inside the palatal process of prsemaxillary. 



Examples. Dicholophus cristatus and the Aetomorphse generally, the Coracomorphse (with the above 

 exception), Cuculus canorus, Oorythaix huffoni, Megal<ema asiatica, Caprimulgus enropcnis, 

 Trochilus (Patagona) gigas, Colymhus septentrionalis. 



As in those low types, the Ehea and the Tinamou (' Ostrich's Skull,' pis. iv., xv.), 

 the palatine process of the prsemaxillary (Plate XLVII. figs. 1 & 2, p.px) is very large, 

 long, and lathy. Between the two, at their root, there is a short median process, 

 which hides the recurrent horns of the trabeculae, and ends the groove in which the 

 prsenasal cartilages lay. All the fore part of the long decurved rostrum is narrow, the 

 dentaiy edge {d.i}x) sharp ; the median line deeply scooped. The frail maxiUary {mx) 

 is entirely confluent with the rostrum in front and the jugal {j) behind ; at its middle 

 it is bowed somewhat outwards, and expanded inwards : this wide part has a large 

 fenestra, and a long maxillo-palatine bar {mx.p) ; and nearly half the length of this is 

 taken up by the filiform pedicle ; the greater half is a free lanceolate leaf of bone. 

 This process here is more retrally developed than usual; it is peculiarly ornithic. At 



VOL. X. — PART VI. No. 2. — June 1st, 1878. 2o 



