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Show 1873.] MR. GARROD ON THE NASAL BONES OF BIRDS. 37 Larus. Pterocles. Sterna. Lestris. Recurvirostra. Totanus. Limosa. Rhinochetus. Tringa. Machetes. Rhynchops. Turnix. Numenius. Rissa. Uria. Parra. Sarciophorus. Vanellus. Platalea. Scolopax. And all the Columbidse proper. From the above list it is evident that nearly all the schizorhinal birds are included among Professor Huxley's Schizognathse. Going further into detail, they may be said to embrace all the Charadrio-morphee, with the exception of CEdicnemus (I have not seen Cur-soiius). Among the Geranomorphse, they comprise the Gruidae, together with Rhinochetus and Eurypyga, but not the Rallidse (from which family Parra should be removed to the Charadriomorphse), nor Psophia, Otis, and Cariama. Among the Cecomorphse they include the Laridse and Alcidse, but not the Procellariidse nor the Colymbidse. Among the Spheniscomorphse none are schizorhinal. Among the Alectoromorphse Turnix and the Pteroclidse are so ; and the Peristeromorphee are all schizorhinal. In the other main divisions, the Desmognathse and the iEgithognathse, only the Hemiglot-tides of Nitzsch, belonging to the Pelargomorphse, are schizorhinal. The linking together of the Plovers and the Gulls by any osteological feature has long been a desideratum, as Professors Newton and Huxley have remarked *; and the facts brought forward by the latter have greatly assisted in this respect. But Professor Huxley's classification does too much; it places the Petrels nearer to the Gulls than the latter to the Plovers, and it includes the Rails in the same category as the Cranes, which is more than collateral evidence justifies. If the nasal bones have the significance in classification which I would put upon them, and their conformation be employed in dividing up the schizognathous birds (with which, notwithstanding their des-mognathism, Platalea and Ibis must be placed), a result is arrived at which pterylosis and internal anatomy greatly tend to justify. The following table represents m y idea of such an arrangement, though I do not wish to give m y sanction to the naturalness of the non-schizorhinal schizognathous group, which I believe to be open to criticism :- SCHIZOGNATHOUS BIRDS (Huxley) + Hemiglottides (Nitzsch). Schizorhinal Birds. 1. Columbse, Pteroclidse, and Turnicidse. 2. Limicolse (excluding CEdicnemus, and including Parra). 3. Laridse. 4. Gruidae. 5. Eurypygidse and Rhinochetidse. 6. Hemiglottides. . 7. Alcidse. * Ibis, 1868, pp. 92 & 360. |