378 STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS 



The liver is equilobed, with a gall bladder. The intestines 

 are 18 inches long, the short caeca (^ ilnch) being 1^ inch 

 from cloaca. 



Both carotids are present. 



The skull of the sun bittern has been described ^ and 

 figured by Parker. 



It presents several points of likeness to that of Bhino- 

 chetus, notably in the ardeine character of the palatines,^ 

 which are cut off squarely behind and are of approximate 

 length throughout ; each palatine, moreover, has a fenestra, 

 as in Tigrisoma leucolophum (and also in Numenius phmopus 

 and Anous stolidus). The interorbital septum- is widely 

 fenestrate ; there are no occipital foramina. As in Psophia 

 (q.v.), Bkinochetus, and cranes, there is a rudimentary ' snagj' 

 from the anterior part of maxillo-palatine. , 



The nostrils are schizorhinal, and the curves of the 

 various surfaces of the bones are such that if the very 

 narrow anterior chink were closed a well-rounded and quite 

 typical holorhinal skull would be the result. 



Eurypyga has a one-notched sternum with well-developed 

 spina externa. There are eighteen cervical vertebrae, and 

 three dorsals are fused. 



The pelvis is a little less rail-like than in Grus, Bhino- 

 chetus, Psophia, &c., in being wider, and in the more hori- 

 zontal plane of ilia, which do not meet. 



Family Aptornithidae.^ — The two species of Aptornis, A. 

 defossor and A. otidiformis, from New Zealand quaternary 

 deposits, were originally referred to the Dinornithidae, and 

 more lately to the rails. F drbeingbr has, however, advanced 

 certain reasons for relegating them to the neighbourhood of 

 Bhinochetus, and I follow him in placing them in the present 

 group. The chief reason which persuaded Furbringbe to 

 this conclusion was the schizorhinal nostrils, quite evident 



' ' On the Osteology of the Eagu,' Tr. Z. S. vol. vi., and ' On .Egithogna- 

 thous Birds,' ibid. vol. i. p. 307, pi. liv. figs. 7, 8, 9. 

 " See, however, footnote, p. 373. 

 ' OwBN, ' On Dinomis,' pt. xv. Tr. Z. S.vii. p. 353. 



