1901.] 



AlfATOMY OP RHYNCH.15A. 



5!)3 



uiTaugeuient. These differences are correlated ^\ith different 

 habits in feeding. 



Text-fig. 61. Text-fig. 62. Text-fig. 63. 



f»i, kit' 



i! ' 



Text-fig. 61. — Extremity of bony bill of Scoiopax rusticula. X 3. 

 Text-fig. 62. — ,, ,, Tringa canntus. X o. 



Text-fig. 63. — „ ,. Bhi/nchma oapensis. 



On the ventral aspect of the skull various features call for notice. 

 The shape of the foramen magnum is as in Tringa, Scohpax, and 

 GalUnago ; it is, that is to say, somewhat heart-shaped, the pos- 

 terior margin being bayed out between the occipital foramina at 

 the sides. It is interesting to notice that in Hydrophasimms there 

 is, just above the foramen magnum, a small perforation which seems 

 to possibly represent in a rudimentary way this baying out of the 

 foramen magnum itself ; it cannot be, I think, a vestige of the 

 lateral occipital foramina. The latter are well developed in 

 Rhynchcea as in all typical Limicolines, with, as it appears, the 

 occasional exception of Machetes ^ 



^ Shufelclt states that the occipital foramina axe absent in Haraatofus, while 

 Forbes asserts their presence. In view of this conflicting testimony, I may 

 remark that in one of two examples of H. ostralegus the foramina were present 

 and conspicuous : in the other they were represented by minute perforations, 

 which might readily be missed. 



