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THE SKULL IN BIRDS. 287 



golds. In most birds, the palatines converge, posteriorly, 

 towards the basi- sphenoidal rostriim, and unite with it by 

 an articular surface, which allows of a sliding motion of the 

 palatines upon the rostrum. Such an articvdation does not 

 exist in Batitce, or in the Tinamous, among the Carinatce. 

 In these, (with the exception of Stridhio), the palatines are, 

 as it were, borne off from the rostrum by the divergent 

 ends of the great vomer, and the disposition of the parts 



FiR. 84. 



.Jfac 



fig. 84. — The under surface of the cranium of the Secretary bird ( G;/- 

 pogeranus), as an example of the Desmognathous arrangement. Mxp , 

 maxillo-palatine process; Bpt., basi-pterygoid processes. 



is more lacertiUian than in other birds. The outer, or 

 posterior, end of the pterygoid bone presents a fossa for an 

 articular head, which is developed upon the inner side of 

 the distal end of the quadrate. The inner, or anterior, ends 

 of the pterygoids meet in almost all birds, and may become 

 articulated with the basi- sphenoidal rostrum. In all em- 

 bryonic birds, in all the Batitce, and in many Carinatce, such 

 as the Tinaniomorphce, CharadnomorpluB, AlectoromorpTuB, 



