HERODIONES 443 



falcons only among the Accipitres were examined) there is a 

 tendency for the intestine to be thrown into spirally twisted 

 loops ; but Mitchell is of opinion that this is really no 

 more than a convergent resemblance, for as the simpler 

 types are considered the spiral arrangement becomes less 

 and less obvious, thus indicating its special development, and 

 independent development, in both. 



The second point concerns the syrinx, which as a special- 

 ised organ is wanting in both storks and Cathartidse. In 

 neither group are there intrinsic muscles. This point of 

 resemblance rests, however, upon mere negativity. The 

 details of the conformation of the lower part of the larynx 

 are, as may be inferred from the preceding explanations and 

 figures, extremely different in both ; it seems as if the syrinx 

 has degenerated in both, but along quite different lines, the 

 loss of the intrinsic muscles being about the only point in 

 common. And we know from other groups that this muscle 

 may be independently lost. There is, to my mind, as much 

 to be said for a derivation of the Aceipitres from the crane as 

 from the pelargine stock, the fact being that we must 

 probably seek for the origin of both from a low branch, 

 perhaps common to all. The matter is further dealt with 

 under the section devoted to the Grues. 



The skull of the flamingo is not duck-like. The back 

 view of it, with the occipital fontanelles, might, it is true, be 

 mistaken for that of an anserine bird ; but there are no 

 sahent likenesses elsewhere. There are but rudimentary 

 basipterygoid facets, and the palatines have (which they 

 have not in the duck tribe) a well-developed internal lamina, 

 which, as is so often the case, is sharply bent downwards at 

 its edge. In front of the fused maxillo-palatines there is no 

 palatal vacuity, as in nearly all Anseres. The lacrymals, 

 like those of the Anseres, are certainly large ; but their size is 

 not so conspicuously marked in the length of their base of 

 attachment to the margin of the orbit as in the length and 

 great breadth of the descending process, not a feature of the 

 anserine skull. The ectethmoids seem hardly ossified. The 

 interorbital septum is largely deficient in front, as in Cliauna, 



