ACCIPITRES 



477 



loops to be long and twisted, a circumstance which recalls 



the structure of the loops in the stork (see fig. 208, p. 437). 



The following are a few intestinal measurements : — 



The skull of the Falconidse is described and figured by 

 Huxley,' Parker,^ and Shufbldt.^ The palate is described 

 as desmognathous ; but it is always the case that a large 

 portion of the maxillo-palatines — the posterior region — are 

 not in contact. In two skulls of Lophoaetus occipitalis the 

 palatal surfaces of the bones were nowhere in contact, and 

 were only in contact for a minute space in a skull of Vultur 

 calvus. Neither is Elanus desmognathous, according to 

 Shufeldt. The maxillo-palatines are large and swollen. 

 The vomer is long and knifeblade-shaped ; ^ there is often a 

 medio-palatine, for instance in Haliaetus albicilla, where it is 

 embraced by the bifurcate posterior extremity of the vomer. 

 The lacrymal is large and has a separate ossification, the so- 

 called infraorbital, attached to its posterior extremity in many 



• In P. Z. 8. 1867. ' Linn. Trans. (2) i. 



' ' Some Comparative Osteological Notes on the N. American Kites,' Ibis, 

 1891 p. 228 ; ' Osteology of Circus hudscmianus,' J. Comp. Med. 1889. 



* It has been found to be bifid in front, after the charadriif orm plan, in young 

 of Tinnunctilm (cf . Suschkin, ' Zur Anat. u. Entwicklungagesch. d. Sohadel d. 

 Eaubvogeln,' Anat. Ann. xi. p. 767). 



