SKULL OF THE ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 285 



grooved and not carinate as in Parus and Suthora ; this groove ends in a triangular rest 

 for the recurrent lamina, as in Parus and Cyclorlds. 



The pedicle of the maxillo-palatine is straightish and narrow ; it is only slightly bent 

 outwards, and terminates in a broad irregular spatula, which is scooped above and fenes- 

 trate ; the air-cell lies rather on than in it ; its inner edge is thick, and its whole form 

 the almost precise counterpart of that of Parus ater. 



The vomer is like that of its congeners ; its fore edge is convex, and sends out an ear 

 of bone on each side. Further back the bone broadens rapidly, not gently as in Parus, 

 StitJiora, and Cyclorhis. Then the strong crura lie near each other, but are parallel ; 

 they have coalesced with the sharp fore end of the ethmo-palatine on each side. In my 

 specimen the nasal structures were all soft ; it may, however, have been a bird of the 

 first winter. The ecto-ethmoid projects moderately, and runs into a square pars plana, 

 and has but a slight excavation laterally ; the nerve-passage above is a common chink. 

 The lower angle of the pars plana is almost acute ; it shows no os uncinatum ; nor does 

 my specimen possess a lacrymal. 



Example 60. Bearded Titmouse (Panurus hiarmicus). Family " Panuridse," Newton. 



Group Oscines. 

 Eahitat. Great Britain. 



The names given to this bird show how various have been the views of naturalists as 



to its zoological position. My opportunities of studying this type I owe to Professor 



Alfred Newton, F.E.S.^ who first sent me incubated eggs and then three adult birds; 



from the latter I make my observations, as embryos only show general characters. 



My first report to Mr. Newton was given in the autumn of 1873 ; and then I thought 



" Magdalene College, Cambridge, 

 lltli June, 1873. 



' " Mt Deah Paekee, — By this post I am sending you some incubated eggs of a bird about the affinities of 

 which there has long been much uncertainty. I hope they may be of some use to you ; but I have my doubts ; 

 for, though I only got them yesterday, I suspect they have been taken for some weeks, and I am sure they 

 will require immediate attention. They belong to the bird known to naturalists as Panurus hiarmicus, with 

 which ' at large ' I yesterday for the first time made acquaintance, though, of course, specimens and even Uve 

 examples in cages have long been known to me. The Norfolk ' broadsmen ' call it the Reed-Pheasant ; 

 Edwards figured it as the Least Butcher-bird ; and most English and foreign writers call it a Titmouse ; but 

 there have been grave doubts expressed. MacgiUivray showed that its digestive organs were those of a 

 ' Deglubitor.' Tomes has touched upon its osteology. My own opinion I purposely refrain from giving 

 you now. 



" I am sure this is a case in which you might be of the greatest service to us taxonomists ; and as you are 

 fresh from the Titmouse and other small birds, you would be in particularly good trim to ' fix ' us, provided 



only that these specimens are in trim and good. 



" Yours very truly, 



"alfred newton." 

 2k2 



