41 
nasals and nasal process of the premawxillary rise as a transverse bar (Pl. V. fig. 2, 2). 
with a convex anterior border, above the rostral divisions of these bones; in this cha- 
racter Pezophaps resembles Treron and Didunculus ; while in Didus the premaxillary 
and nasal portions of the elevated basal tract are indicated by grooves therein, In 
both genera, as in recent doves, 15 and 22/ are confluent with 11. Beyond the conflu- 
ence the divisions of the nasal pair are separated by the nasal process of the pre- 
maxillary (227), The inner division or normal part of the nasal is 1 inch $ lines in 
length; it extends forward for half that length along the outside of the premaxillary, 
then inclines mesiad beneath that bone, coming into contact with its fellow for six 
lines extent of their terminal pointed end; they underprop the nasal process of the 
premaxillary ; and thus we have, in the extreme variation of an extreme segment of 
the vertebral axis, the hemal spine closing the tubular series by overlapping the 
neural spine of its own segment, The under surface of the nasal process of the pre- 
maxillary is impressed by the shallow channel receiving the underpropping fore part of 
the midnasals, 
The nasal process of the premaxillary retains its primitive or normal character as a 
pair of bones in a greater degree than in Gowra, and much greater than in Didus. In 
the male Pezophaps an interspace of 4 millims. separates their basal portions; and the 
narrower fissure in the female skull extends halfway towards the tip of the bone, ‘The 
anterior confluent portions of the premaxillaries terminate in the “core” of the beak, 
the shape of which, more columbaceous than in Didus, is shown in Pl. V., 22, The 
* maxilla,” or upper mandible, formed, as in other birds, by the nasals, premaxillaries, 
maxillaries, and palatines, inclusive of the vomer, here magnified, with parts of the 
molars, and of the turbinals, constitutes, as in Goura, one half of the length of the 
skull, 
‘The excavated under surface of the core (Pl. V. fig. 5) is divided by a mesial septum, 
which expands into a longitudinal channel prior to the separation of halves of the pre- 
maxillary (ib.22). The wall of the excavation is reticulate, as in Didus, The inner 
surfaces of the “halves,” 22, are at first channelled, and then become transversely convex. 
The line of their confluence with the similarly long and narrow palatines, 20, is defaced. 
‘The palatal plate, 21, of the maxillary overlies the premaxillo-palatine beam, 20-22, The 
lateral confluence of the maxillary and premaxillary is obliterated; the maxillary ex- 
pands vertically as it recedes, and divides into its palatal, jugal, and nasal portions. 
‘The jugal part is continued by the confluent jugal and squamosal style to the arti- 
cular pit at the onter and lower part of the tympanic (28); it is straight beneath the 
orbit (Pl. V. fig. 1, 27), and has no postorbital rising or process as in Dinornis. 
The inner wall of the orbit is formed mainly by the orbito-sphenoids, which deliver 
the optic nerves to their organs near the back part of ‘the cavity. Though much com- 
pressed, as in all birds, they form a complete interorbital septum. 
The roof of the orbit is formed by the frontal exclusively ; the septum rapidly expands 
