6o 



THE ORDERS. 



U .. — rus f 



vomer in expanded extremities, which do not become united by bone 

 either with one another or with the vomer. The anterior part of the 

 nasal septum, in front of the vomer, is frequently ossified, and the 

 interval between it and the pre-maxilla filled up with spongy bone ; 

 but no union takes place between this ossification and the vomer." 



Dealing next with the group in which the maxillo-palatines are 

 united, we find that a large number of birds have the vomer " either 

 abortive or so small that it disappears from the skeleton. When it 

 exists it is always slender, and tapers to a point anteriorly. The 

 maxillo-palatines are united across the middle line, either directly or 

 by the intermediation of ossifications in the nasal septum." And the 

 posterior ends of the palatines, and the anterior ends of the pterygoids 

 articulate directly with the rostrum, as they do in the Schizognathas. 

 Under such circumstances the skull is " Desmognathous.'' 

 Of such a skull we have an example in that here given of the 



Goose. We need not repeat the 

 references. The diiiferences in the 

 structure of the palate, and con- 

 sequently of the whole skull are 

 clear enough. This type of skull 

 is represented in the Birds of 

 Prey, the Cuckoos, Kingfishers, 

 Swans and Ducks, Storks and 

 Cormorants, and others. To this 

 group has since been given the 

 name of Saurognathas, and then 

 it includes the Woodpeckers, the 

 Picidffi, in whom the vomerine 

 halves are permanently distinct and 

 the maxillo-palatines arrested. 



But it will perhaps be more 

 satisfactory to give Huxley's group- 

 ing in tabular form, so far as it 

 affects the families we have been 

 endeavouring to identify, taking 

 no note of exceptions, for there are 

 exceptions, and leaving the student 

 who takes any interest in the matter 

 to pursue the modifications for 

 himself. 



SauruRjE— as the Archaeopteryx, only found fossil. 

 RatiTjE— as the Ostrich, breast bone unkeeled; no 



British representatives. 

 CARiNATiE — with keeled breast bone. 



---W— -S'TRRv 



Carinat^. 



1. DromaognaihcB— vomer broad behind. 



2. Schizognathce — vomer narrow behind, pointed in front ; 



maxillo-palatines free. 



