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Show 444 PROF. HUXLEY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. [Apr. 11, The only Trogon skull I have had the opportunity of examining is that of T. reinwardti. It possesses basipterygoid processes, in which respect it resembles Caprimulgus, and is unlike all the other genera which remain to be mentioned. The palatines have a general resemblance to those of the Musophagidee. The vomer seems to be equally rudimentary ; and the maxillo-palatines, though less spongy, unite in the middle line. Fig. 26. Under view of the skull of Cuculus canorus. From a specimen in the Museum of the Royal College of Surgeons. The letters as before. Among the Cuculidce, Cuculus canorus is devoid of basipterygoids ; the palatines are rounded off postero-externally; the internasal septum is well ossified and unites with the maxillo-palatines. In Geococcyx the principle of construction is quite the same; but the postero-external angles of the palatines are distinctly indicated, and the beak is produced into an elongated triangular form. A slight oblique ridge marks off the flat surface of the maxillary process of the palatine from the excavated body of the bone. Leptosoma and Phcenicophaus present no important differences from Geococcyx. In Bucco the general form and arrangement of the parts are as in Geococcyx ; but the shorter palatines are produced postero-externally into a distinct backwardly directed point; the oblique ridge is much more distinctly defined, and the antero-internal angles of the palatines bend towards one another and nearly meet. Galbula closely resembles Bucco; but the antero-internal angles of the palatines completely meet. In Rhamphastos the only important difference from Bucco lies in the circumstance that the antero-internal angles of the palatines not only meet, but are united by bone, while the oblique ridge of the palatines is obsolete. The rostrum moves on the skull by a hinge, almost as freely as in the Parrots. |