310 
DK. It. W. SHUFELDt’s MORPHOLOGICAL 
far as this character goes, then, Ampelis agrees, as it does in so 
many other particulars already defined above, with the Oscines 
rather than with the Clamatores. 
We also notice that upon the underside of the superior osseous 
mandible in the Tyrant Flycatchers the greater portion of that 
space which occurs between the anterior limbs of the palatines is 
filled in by a continuous plate of bone, wliicli joins them, while 
in Ampelis (PL XVII. tig. 6) this space is open, as we likewise find 
it in most (or perhaps all) Oscines. In the Tyrants the osseous 
nasal septum unites with this bony inter-palatine plate above and 
along its median longitudinal line. 
There is but little to detain us upon the superior aspect of the 
skull ; all the three specimens shown in PL XVII. figs. 3-5 are 
rat-lier broad in this region, between the orbital margins, while a 
moderately well-marked median furrow is to be seen, which is 
best exemplified in the Thrush, and least so iu the Tyrant Fly- 
catcher. All the higher Thrushes have the facio-cranial line 
fairly well defined on this aspect. I liave already remarked that 
it is barely traceable in Ampelis. 
Upon the lateral view of the skull of this Chatterer (Pl. XVII. 
fig. 4) there are two or three points presented of more 
or less interest. The “ pars plana,” or antorbital plate, is found 
to be ample, and completely divides the orbit from the rhinal 
chamber. In front of this, on either side, is to be found 
a freely articulated little ossicle which I take to represent the 
lacrymol. It shows a constriction at its middle, giving rise to 
enlarged superior and inferior extremities. The superior end 
is wedged in between the antorbital plate and the postero- 
superior edge of the corresponding nasal. Below, its inferior 
dilatation rests upon the maxillary bar. Behind, it is applied 
against the anterior surface of the pars plana, while in front it 
is only iu contact with the nasal superiorly, as already described. 
I fiud this bone present in all of the North- American Tijrannidce , 
in the true Corvidce, in the genus Sturnella, but absent in the 
Icteridce , in the true Thrushes ( Merula , Hesperociclila, PL XVII. 
fig. 5), in Otocoris , and others. I am not prepared, as yet, to 
say of what value it will eventually prove to be as a taxonomic 
character; but in the present instance it is just as well to note 
that this free lacrymal bone is found in Ampelis and the 
Clamatores ( T.yrannidre ), and not in the true Thrushes. 
