46 
AVES. 
Swamp, Province Otago, New Zealand, of the remains of 10 species of 
Dinornis and 2 varieties, and also complete skeletons of Cnemiornis 
calcitrans. 
Panceri, Paolo. Intorno ad alcune Crittogame osservate nell’uovo 
dello Struzzo. Atti Acc. Nap. vi. pi. [sep. copy]. 
Describes certain Cryptograms found on the inner lining of an 
Ostrich’s egg. On the plate, their position is shown, and their form is 
also drawn, magnified 700 diameters. 
Parker, W. K. Encyclopaedia Britannica (9th edn.), iii. pp. 699-728. 
Article “Birds,” [See Netvton, Alfred.] 
In Professor Parker’s contribution to this article, he treats of the 
anatomy of Birds, the development and structure of the skull being a 
prominent feature in his work. The common fowl is taken as the sub- 
ject of this part of his investigations, and the author’s paper in Phil. 
Tr. 1869, as the basis of his remarks. Numerous woodcuts illustrate 
the diiferent stages of development, and explain the text. Passing 
from the skull of the fowl, skulls of other birds typical of the main 
groups are described, and then more briefiy the different portions of the 
skeleton. Then, in short paragraphs, follow descriptions of the muscles, 
the brain, organs of sense, alimentary canal, heart, respiratory, vocal, 
renal, and reproductive organs, and lastly, the integum e nt and feathers. 
This article is prefaced with a classification of birds, based upon Prof. 
Huxley’s now well-known system, but into which some minor modifica- 
tions are introduced. Upon the form of the vomer, a high value is set 
in the Carinatce, whereby the author is induced to place Thinocorus 
and Tumix, together with the Swifts and ordinary Passerine birds, 
in the group ^githognathce. The Goat- suckers (Caprimulgidce), part 
of Huxley’s Coccygomorphce, are placed in the Schizognathce^ and 
next them the Trochilomorphce, or Humming-birds. There are other 
points in the author’s “Classification” to which the Recorder would 
allude, did space permit; suffice it to say, that the paper is full 
of materials which will serve to aid in framing a future Classification of 
Birds. 
Parker, W. K. On iEgithognathous Birds. (Part i.) Tr. Z. S. ix. 
pp. 289-352, pis. liv.-lxii. 
In this paper, the author investigates the structure of the skull of 
many genera of.®githognathous birds (^.e., Passerine, as now usually under- 
stood). The form and relationship of the anterior portion of the vomer, with 
respect to the nasal cartilages, is specially dwelt upon. The importance 
of studying the structure of the skull as giving a character to the rest of 
the skeleton, is, according to the author, essential to a right classifica- 
tion. The genus Turnix^ usually placed in the Gallince^ is shown to have 
an incomplete JEgithognathous palate, as also has Thinocorus, a genus of 
Limicolce. The greater portion of the paper is devoted to descriptions 
of the palates of a number of genera of Passeres, from various parts of 
the world ; and these, being drawn on an enlarged scale, are very clear in 
their details. 
