312 
Dll. it. w. shupeldt’s morphological 
The maxillo -palatines (PI. XVII. fig. 6, mxp.) are markedly 
long and slender in Ampelis, and mesially separated by an unusual 
interval. They slightly exaggerate, however, the conditions 
in which we commonly find them among the Passeres generally. 
This remark applies also to the vomer (v.), which, too, is rather 
broad, though it bears out its Passerine character in being ante- 
riorly truncate with somewhat produced lateral tips at that 
extremity to meet the cartilaginous wings of the nasal septum. 
Among the Tyrannidce , the palatine heads of the pterygoids 
meet each other beneath the rostrum of the sphenoid; these 
parts are separated by quite an interval in Ampelis (PI. XVII. 
fig. 6 , pt.), as they are also, though to a less extent, in the 
Thrushes (e. g., H. ncevia). Here, again, the Chatterer agrees 
with the typical Oscinine bird. In general form the pterygoids of 
Ampelis agree with those bones as we find them in other Passeres. 
In view of the fact that the general characters of the skull of 
a Passerine bird are well known, and as I believe that I have 
now thoroughly directed attention to the most important 
departures therefrom, or similarities therewith, in the fore- 
going paragraphs, there is nothing else that remains worthy of 
special record in this skull of Ampelis , and the notes thus far 
made will meet all requirements of reference for what has to 
follow. 
The mandible of Ampelis is but feebly developed when com- 
pared with that bone as we find it in others of this great group 
of birds. It has more the appearance of a Swallow’s jaw than 
that of either a Thrush or a typical Flycatcher. In general 
form, however, it is essentially passerine, having an outline not 
very unlike the mandible of Otocoris alpestris (fig. 29 of my 
memoir upon the Osteology of that Lark). A minute ramal 
vacuity is present, which is found to be larger in the Tyrannidce , 
and of a still greater size in Hesperocichla. As might be ex- 
pected, the mandible in the Flycatchers is a much stronger and 
comparatively heavier bone than it is in these Oscinine types. 
22. The hyoid arches in our subject are likewise typically 
Passerine in character, having their several elements delicately 
constructed, with first and second basibranchial in one piece ; 
with a cartilaginous glosso-hyal, and with comparatively large 
and free cerato-hyals. Lanius is a bird that shows very well the 
