XXIX 



completely fused with each other. The descending process is thickened at its lower (free) 

 edge, and anteriorly incurved, so as to just meet its fellow of the other side. The bones, 

 however, though in contact, do not fuse. Between the palatines may be seen the vomer, 

 which is a strongly compressed vertical bone, deeper anteriorly than posteriorly, and terminating 

 in a sharp oblique edge just behind the bridge formed by the union of the maxillo-palatines. 

 The pterygoids are straight, cylindrical externally, but becoming dilated and compressed 

 internally, the ascending part of each becoming completely fused with the ascending process of 

 the palatines. There are no basipterygoid tracts. The foramen magnum looks more directly 

 downwards than in the Galbulidse. The postorbital process is very strong, and connected by 

 fibrous tissue with the malar. The space between it and the quadrate is divided by a sharp, 

 forward and downwardly directed osseous spine. The lachrymals are firmly ankylosed to the 

 nasals; and their descending process, which below joins the maxilla and malar at their union, 

 is separated by only a narrow chink from the spongy ectethmoids. The end of the quadrate has 

 two distinct articular facets, the inner one globose and strongly convex, the outer nearly longi- 

 tudinal in direction and nearly flat. 



The symphysis mandibulse is much shorter than in the Galbulidse, not exceeding one third 

 of the total length of the rami. There is a strong angular process, directed inwards and upwards, 

 with a truncated triangular posterior face and pointed apex. 



There are fourteen cervical vertebrae. The atlas is nearly triangular in shape, viewed from 

 front, the apex of the triangle being the articular cup. The fifth, sixth, and seventh cervical 

 vertebrae have the anterior zygapophyses connected with the transverse processes by a narrow 

 bony ridge. The last two (thirteenth and fourteenth) have good cervical ribs. There are four 

 dorsal vertebrae ; so that the total number of praesacral vertebrae is eighteen, of which the last 

 becomes ankylosed to the sacral mass. The last cervical, as well as the three true ribs defined 

 as such by articulating with the sternum directly, have uncinate processes. All four dorsal 

 vertebrae have distinct median hypapophyses, of which the anterior are bifurcated below, like the 

 three preceding ones on the cervical vertebrae *. There are twelve sacral and five free caudal 

 vertebrae, making a total of thirty-five vertebrae, neglecting the pygostyle, which is conical, 

 truncated posteriorly, and has distinct transverse processes. 



The sternum f much resembles that of the Galbulidae. The costal processes are longer, and 

 have only three articular faces for the ribs. The posterior notches are deeper, the manubrium 

 longer and more distinct from the carina sterni, and the external xiphoid processes more divergent 

 at their origin from the internal and from the body of the sternum. The coracoids are long, and 

 but little divergent. The clavicles are expanded at their scapular ends, as in the Galbulidae. 

 They are convex forwards and somewhat twisted on their axes ; when viewed from before, the 

 united bones are V-shaped. At their symphysis is developed a strong backwardly directed hypo- 

 cleidium, similar to that in the Passeres J. 



* In this specimen, as also to a less extent in the others examined, the hypaphophyscs of the last three cervical vcrtebrce 

 are unsymmetrical, the left of the two processes, in which they terminate iuferiorly, being itself furcate owing to tho 

 development on it of a small descending process. This is absent altogether on tho right side. 



t Por figures of this bone in the Bucconidae, vide the plates of Ijlanchard and Eyton, already quoted. 



J The absence of this process is given by Professor Huxley (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 466) as one of tho characters of his 

 " Coccygomorphse." But a similar process, it may be observed, exists in tho Trogonidse, though it is there of smaller size. 



