322 
DR. It. W. SHUFELDt’s MORPHOLOGICAL 
paper.) Indeed, I can fully verify Forbes's statement that 
the Trogons are not desmognathous birds, but very decidedly 
schizognathous ; and, furthermore, I am inclined to believe that 
there is a fair measure of truth in the words of this anatomist 
when he stated “ that the structure of the palate has not that 
unique and peculiar significance that has been claimed for it in the 
classification of birds.” My eyes were opened to this fact more 
thoroughly than ever wdien I came to find such a bird as Chor- 
deiles completely desmognathous, while certain forms of Capri- 
onulgus and PTialcenoptilus were segithognathous, as defined by 
Professor Huxley in his well-known “ Contribution to the 
Classification of Birds ” (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 468). 
Large basipterygoid processes are developed both in T. mexicanus 
and T. puella , which in each case are articulated with ample facets 
upon the pterygoids themselves. 
The palatine heads of the pterygoids are widely separated in 
the median line ; while, as I have already stated, the palatines 
opposite their place of meeting them are in contact to their very 
ends. The outer edge of a pterygoid is quite sharp, while this 
bone is compressed from above downwards and articulates in the 
most usual manner by a ball-and-socket joint with the corre- 
sponding quadrate. 
A quadrate develops a long orbital process with dilated tip. 
Its mandibular foot supports two facets upon it, which are sepa- 
rated from each other by an intervening valley. There are also 
two such facets upon the squamosal head of the quadrate. 
Otherwise this element is notable for the unusually long apophysis 
it offers laterally to meet and articulate with the posterior end 
of the quadrato-jugal bar. 
The underside of the basisphenoidal rostrum is much thickened 
and rounded for its entire length, thus affording a broad sliding 
surface for the articulation of the ptery go-palatine ends. Barely 
an apology for a bony scale overhangs the entrances to the Eu- 
stachian tubes, while immediately behind them the base of the 
cranium is very broad between the aural apertures. The occipital 
condyle is comparatively very small indeed, though the subcircular 
foramen magnum is fully up to the average iu point of size. Upon 
either side of it, we find the usual group of foramina for the 
passage of nerves and vessels (PI. XVIII. fig. 8). 
I have made no special examination of the interior of the 
cranial casket in these birds, but we are to note the great delicacy 
