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if  Ji 


HOLOGY  LIBRARY 


IN  MEMOBrAM. 


THE    COLLECTED 


SCIENTIFIC    PAPERS 


OF  THE  LATE 


WILLIAM  ALEXANDER  FORBES,  M.A., 

FELLOW  OF  ST.  JOHN'S  COLLEGE,  CAMBRIDGE  ;    LECTURER  ON  COMPARATIVE  ANATOMY  AT 
CHARING  CROSS  HOSPITAL  ;    PROSECTOR  TO  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OP  LONDON. 


EDITED 

BY 

F.    E.    BEDDARD,    M.A., 

PROSECTOR  TO  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LONDQN. 


WITH  A 

BY 
P.    L.    SC  LATER,    M.A,,    PH.D.,    F.R.S., 

SECRETARY  TO  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  SOCIETY  OF  LON1>ON. 


LONDON: 

E.  H.  PORTER :  6  TENTERDEX  STREET,  W. 

1885. 


UfiRXKY 


PRINTED  BY  TAYLOR  AND  FRANCIS, 
RED  LION  COURT,  FLEET  STREET. 


F57 


I1BRARY 


PAGE 

PREFACE  v 

LI8T  OF  SUBSCRIBERS ix 

TABLE  OF  CONTENTS  ri 

LIST  OF  PLATES  XT 

SCIENTIFIC  PAPERS ....  1 


PREFACE. 


WILLIAM  ALEXANDER  FORBES,  Fellow  of  St.  John's  College, 
Cambridge,  Prosector  to  the  Zoological  Society  of  London,  and 
Lecturer  on  Comparative  Anatomy  at  Charing  Cross  Hospital, 
was  born  at  Cheltenham  on  June  24,  1855,  the  second  son  of 
Mr.  J.  S.  Forbes,  the  well-known  Railway  Director.  He  was 
educated  at  Kensington  School  and  Winchester  College,  which  he 
entered  at  the  early  age  of  eleven.  On  leaving  Winchester  in 
1872  Forbes  passed  a  year  at  Aix-la-Chapelle,  studying  German, 
and  then  became  a  student  of  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  where 
he  pursued  the  regular  medical  course,  paying  special  attention  to 
Zoology  and  Botany,  and  commencing  collections  of  insects  and 
plants.  In  1875  Forbes  transferred  his  residence  to  London,  and 
entered  himself  as  a  student  of  University  College,  with  the  idea 
of  taking  a  medical  degree  in  the  metropolis.  Here  he  quickly 
became  intimate  with  other  zoologists,  who  were  very  soon 
attracted  by  the  astounding  general  knowledge  of  zoology  and  the 
acute  intelligence  of  one  so  young.  By  the  advice  of  the  late 
Prof.  Garrod  and  other  friends  Mr.  Forbes  was  induced,  in  October 
1876,  to  leave  London  and  to  enter  as  an  undergraduate  at 
St.  John's  College,  Cambridge,  where  he  was  subsequently  elected 
Scholar,  and  took  his  B.A.  degree  with  a  First  Class  in  the  Natural 
Sciences  Tripos  in  1879.  The  post  of  Prosector  to  the  Zoological 
Society  of  London  having  become  vacant  in  October  1879,  by  the 
lamented  death  of  Prof.  Garrod,  Forbes  was  appointed  (omnium 
consensri)  to  that  office  in  the  January  following  :  indeed  Garrod  on 
his  death-bed  had  designated  him  as  his  most  obvious  and  proper 
successor,  and  appointed  him  his  literary  executor. 


VI  PREFACE. 

Forbes  entered  upon  the  duties  of  his  office  with  characteristic 
energy ;  and  during  the  three  following  sessions  of  the  Zoological 
Society  brought  before  the  scientific  meetings  a  series  of  most 
interesting  and  valuable  communications,  mainly  derived  from  his 
studies  of  the  animals  that  came  under  his  examination.  He 
had  a  happy  knack  of  presenting  abstruse  points  of  anatomy  in  an 
easily  comprehensible  form,  and  especially  directed  himself  to  the 
investigation  of  the  muscular  structure  and  voice-organs  of  birds,  in 
continuation  of  the  researches  of  his  predecessor  Garrod  on  the 
same  subjects. 

In  the  summer  of  1880  Forbes  made  a  short  excursion  to  the 
province  of  Pernambuco,  Brazil,  of  which  he  published  an  account 
in  '  The  Ibis '  for  1881 ;  and  in  the  following  year  passed  his 
holiday  in  the  United  States,  in  order  to  make  the  acquaintance 
of  his  American  brethren  in  science  and  their  collections.  In 
July  1882  he  left  England  on  what  promised  to  -be  a  splendid 
opportunity  of  visiting  the  eastern  tropics  with  every  advantage 
and  without  risk.  Detained  at  Shonga  (a  station  some  400  miles 
up  the  Niger,  below  Rabba)  by  the  breaking-down  of  his  commu- 
nications, Forbes  fell  a  victim  to  dysentery,  and  died  on  the  14th  of 
January,  1883,  thus  adding  another  name  to  the  long  list  of 
martyrs  to  science  in  the  deservedly  dreaded  climate  of  Western 
Africa. 

Forbes  was  carefully  nursed,  during  his  last  illness,  by  Mr. 
Greenshields,  agent  of  the  United  African  Company  at  Shonga. 
His  remains,  deposited  at  first  within  the  compound  of  the 
factory  at  Shonga,  were  subsequently  disinterred  under  the  kind 
care  of  the  same  excellent  friend  and  brought  to  England,  and 
buried  on  April  1st,  1884,  in  the  quiet  churchyard  of  West 
Wickham  in  Kent,  in  the  presence  of  his  sorrowing  relatives 
and  friends.  Forbes's  family  have  specially  requested  me  also  to 
mention  the  name  of  Mr.  M'Intosh,  Manager  of  the  United 
African  Company,  as  having  most  kindly  assisted  them  in  the 
somewhat  difficult  arrangements  necessary  for  this  purpose. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  Zoological  Club  (of  which  Forbes  had  been 


PREFACE.  Vll 

a  prominent  member)  held  on  the  20th  of  November,  1883,  it 
was  resolved  that  a  Committee,  consisting  of  Prof.  Flower,  Prof. 
Bell,  Mr.  H.  H.  Johnston,  Prof.  Mivart,  and  the  writer  of  this 
Preface,  should  be  appointed  to  consider  what  would  be  the 
most  appropriate  memorial  of  our  much-loved  friend  and  fellow- 
worker.  After  some  consideration  it  was  unanimously  agreed 
that  the  best  and  most  enduring  memorial  would  be  the  republi- 
cation  of  Forbes's  Contributions  to  Science  in  a  volume  similar 
to  that  containing  Garrod's  Scientific  Papers,  which  Forbes  had 
himself  edited. 

Such  was  the  origin  of  the  present  volume,  which  has  been 
carefully  edited  by  Mr.  Frank  Evers  Beddard,  Forbes's  successor 
in  the  Prosectorship  of  the  Zoological  Society  of  London. 
Miss  Garrod  has  prepared  the  Index,  Mr.  H.  H.  Johnston  has 
kindly  contributed  the  life-like  etching  which  forms  the  Frontis- 
piece, while  Prof.  Bell  has  undertaken  the  task  of  collecting  and 
expending  the  necessary  subscriptions. 

P.  L.  S. 

3  Hanover  Square, 
May  1st,  188-5. 


Churchyard  of  West  Wickham,  Kent,  with  Forbes's  grave  (beneath  the  two  trees). 


LIST    OF   SUBSCRIBERS. 


B.  W.  Adam,  Esq. 
H.  F.  Amedroz,  Esq. 
H.  Amerhoff,  Esq. 

Dr.  John  Anderson,  F.R.S. 
H.  Ansdell,  Esq. 
Lt.-Col.  H.  Barclay. 
J.  Wolfe  Barry,  Esq. 

F.  E.  Beddard,  Esq. 

J.  H.  Beddington,  Esq. 

Prof.  F.  Jeffrey  Bell. 

Dr.  G.  Bennett. 

W.  T.  Blanford,  Esq.,  F.R.S. 

Prof.  W.  Blasius. 

Prof.  Barboza  du  Bocage. 

Prof.  Bonney,  F.R.S. 

G.  A.  Boulenger,  Esq. 
Major-Gen.  H.  Clerk,  F.R.S. 
Lord  Clifton. 

C.  M.  Clode,  Esq.,  C.B. 

E.  H.  Cooper,  Esq. 
A.  E.  Craven,  Esq. 
C.  A.  Craven,  Esq. 

F.  Crisp,  Esq. 

C.  Critohett,  Esq. 
P.  Crowley,  Esq. 
C.  G.  Danford,  Esqv 

G.  E.  Dobson,  Esq.,  F.R.S. 
Prof.  Dohrn. 

A.  Dowsett,  Esq. 

J.  W.  Dunning,  Esq. 

A.  H.  Evans,  Esq. 

Prof.  Cossar  Ewart. 

Sir  J.  Fayrer,  K.C.S.I.,  F.R.S. 

Prof.  Flower,  F.R.S. 

H.  O.  Forbes,  Esq. 

W.  Forbes,  Esq. 

Prof.  M.  Foster,  Sec.  R.S. 

Prof.  Furbringer. 

Dr.  Gadow. 


J.  C.  Galton,  Esq. 

Dr.  Garrod. 

Mrs.  Garrod. 

Miss  Garrod. 

A.  E.  Garrod,  Esq. 

H.  B.  Garrod,  Esq. 

Dr.  Garson. 

J.  P.  Gassiot,  Esq. 

F.  D.  Godman,  Esq. 

Lt.-Col.  Godwin-Austen,  F.R.S. 

F.  E.  Goodhart,  Esq. 

Lt.-Col.  Grant,  C.B.,  C.S.I. 

A.  Grote,  Esq. 

Dr.  Giinther,  F.R.S, 

Prof.  Haddon. 

Miss  Browning  HalL 

Col.  Harcourt,  M.P. 

M.  Harris,  Esq. 

Hubert  Herkoruer,  Esq.,  R.A, 

Rev.  E.  Hill. 

W.  E.  Hoyle,  Esq. 

Prof.  Huxley,  P.R.S. 

H.  H.  Johnston,  Esq. 

J.  B.  Johnston,  Esq. 

J.  M.  0.  Johnston,  Esq. 

Prof.  Ray  Lankester,  F.R.S. 

Lewis  Levy,  Esq. 

Lord  Lilford. 

Sir  J.  Lubbock,  Bart,  M.P.,  F.R.S. 

Manchester  Free  Library. 

H.  S.  Marks,  Esq.,  R.A. 

Lord  Mayo. 

Dr.  Meyer. 

Captain  Moloney. 

J.  Morgan,  Esq. 

Prof.  Moseley,  F.R.S. 

W.  F.  Mulvaney,  Esq. 

John  Murray,  Esq. 

Prof.  Newton,  F.R.S. 


LIST  OF  SUBSCRIBERS. 


R  Nicholson,  Esq. 

H.  F.  Osborn,  Esq. 

Prof.  T.  Jeffery  Parker. 

T.  Parkin,  Esq. 

F.  P.  Pascoe,  Esq. 

Dr.  yon  Pelzeln. 

C.  B.  Phillip,  Esq. 

Henry  Pollock,  Esq. 

H.  N.  Pym,  Esq. 

Dr.  Quain,  F.R.S. 

Dr.  B.  W.  Richardson,  F.R.S. 

Rev.  E.  Richardson. 

S.  O.  Ridley,  Esq. 

Briton  Riviere,  Esq.,  R.A. 

C.  P.  Sandberg,  Esq. 

J.  E.  Sandys,  Esq. 

W.  A.  Sanford,  Esq. 

Howard  Saunders,  Esq. 

H.E.  Count  Schimmelpenninck  de 

Nyenhuis. 

P.  L.  Sclater,  Esq.,  F.R.S. 
W.  L.  Sclater,  Esq. 
J.  Scully,  Esq. 


A.  Sedgwick,  Esq. 

H.  Seebohm,  Esq. 

Rev.  E.  W.  Sergeant. 

R.  B.  Sharpe,  Esq. 

Captain  Shelley. 

The  Bishop  of  Southwell. 

H.  Stevenson,  Esq. 

J.  B.  Sutton,  Esq. 

Rev.  C.  Taylor. 

W.  B.  Tegetmeier,  Esq. 

O.  Thomas,  Esq. 

Prof.  Turner,  F.R.S. 

Lord  Walsingham. 

Captain  R.  G.  Wardlaw-Ramsay. 

Prof.  Morrison  Watson. 

John  Way,  Esq. 

W.  F.  R.  Weldon,  Esq. 

Dr.  Westermann. 

John  White,  Esq. 

Prof.  E.  P.  Wright. 

C.  A.  Wright,  Esq. 

Herr  F.  C.  Zillesen. 

Zoological  Society  of  London. 


CONTENTS. 


PAGE 

1.  Late  Appearance  of  Cetonia  aurata , 1 

2.  Arrested  Development  in  Timarcha  coriaria  and  Lagria  hirta     1 

3.  Note  on  Chrysomela  marginata 2 

4.  Note  on  Mr.  Wallace's  Distribution  of  Passerine  Birds    3 

5.  On  the  Bursa  Fabricii  in  Birds    3 

6.  Recent  Observations  on  the  Parrots  of  the  Genus  Eclectus  19 

7.  On  the  Nesting  of  the  Spoonbill  in  Holland.     (Written  in  conjunction  with 

P.  L.  SCLATER,  M.A.,  F.E.S.,  &c.)  26 

8.  Lepidoptera  captured  during  an  Excursion  to  Switzerland  and  the  Italian 

Lakes  29 

9.  Melanism  in  Lepidoptera 32 

10.  Reports  on  the  Collections  of  Birds  made  during  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S. 

'  Challenger.' — No.  VII.  On  the  Birds  of  Cape  York  and  the  neighbouring 
Islands  (Raine,  Wednesday,  and  Booby  Islands) 34 

11.  On  a  small  Collection  of  Birds  from  the  Samoan  Islands  and  the  Island  of 

Rotumah,  Central  Pacific 43 

12.  Letter  concerning  the  Locality  of  Garrulus  lidthi 45 

13.  Staphylimis  fulvipes  in  the  New  Forest  46 

14.  On  the  Anatomy  of  the  African  Elephant  (Elephas  africanus,  Blum.)    46 

15.  On  the  Systematic  Position  of  the  Genus  Lathaimis  of  Lesson.     (Plate  I.)    ...  62 

16.  A  Synopsis  of  the  Meliphagine  Genus  Myzomela,  with  Descriptions  of  two  new 

Species.    (Plates  II.  &  III.)    71 

17.  On  the  Systematic  Position  and  Scientific  Name  of  "  Le  Perroquet  Mascarin" 

of  Brisson  96 

18.  Notes  on  Butterflies  observed  in  the  Valais  of  Switzerland  in  1878    100 

19.  The  Glacial  Period  and  Geographical  Distribution    104 

20.  On  the  External  Characters  and  Anatomy  of  the  Red  TJakari  Monkey  (Bra- 

chyurus  rubicundus) ,  with  Remarks  on  the  other  Species  of  that  Genus. 
(Plates  I V.-VL)    105 

21.  On  the  Cause  of  Death  of  a  Leopard  127 

22.  On  Antilocapra  amcricana 127 


Xll  CONTENTS. 

PAGE 

23.  On  some  Points  in  the  Structure  of  Nasiterna  bearing  on  its  Affinities 131 

24.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds. — Part  I.  On  the  Structure 

of  the  Stomach  in  certain  Genera  of  Tanagers  133 

25.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds.— Part  II.  On  the  Syrinx 

and  other  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Eurylcemidce 138 

26.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds. — Part  III.  On  some  Points 

in  the  Structure  of  Pkilepitta,  and  its  Position  amongst  the  Passeres    144 

27.  On  the  Anatomy  of  Leptosoma  discolor   149 

28.  On  two  rare  Ploceine  Birds  now  or  lately  Living  in  the  Society's  Menagerie. 

(Plate  VII.)   159 

29.  Note  on  a  Specimen  of  Denham's  Bustard  (Eupodotis  denhami) 162 

30.  Remarks  on  Dr.  Gadow's  Papers  on  the  Digestive  System  of  Birds  163 

31.  Three  Weeks'  Butterfly-collecting  in  the  Alps    165 

32.  On  a  little-known  Cranial  Difference  between  the  Catarrhine  and  Platyrrhine 

Monkeys 170 

33.  On  the  Male  Generative  Organs  of  the  Sumatran  Rhinoceros  (Ceratorhinus 

sumatrensis)   170 

34.  On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Koala  (Phascolarctos  cinereus)   .........  173 

35.  On  the  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  and  ClassiScation  of  Birds  made  by  the 

late  Prof.  Garrod,  F.R.S 189 

36.  Notes  on  the  Unfinished  Work  left  by  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  on  the  Anatomy 

of  Birds  213 

37.  Note  on  Mr.  Bar tlett's  Communication  on  the  Habits  of  the  Darter  216 

38.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds. — Part  IV.  On  some  Points 

in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Genus  Conopophaga,  and  its  Systematic  Position  ...  217 

39.  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  and  Systematic  Position  of  the  Jaganas  (Parridcs) 220 

40.  On  the  Petrel  called  Thalassidroma  nereis  by  Gould,  and  its  Affinities  229 

41.  On  the  Conformation  of  the  Thoracic  End  of  the  Trachea  in  the  "Ratite" 

Birds   232 

42.  Eleven  Weeks  in  North-eastern  Brazil 242 

43.  The  Descent  of  Birds 280 

44.  Note  on  the  Systematic  Position  of  Eupetes  macrocercus  281 

45.  Note  on  the  Structure  of  the  Palate  in  the  Trogons  ( Trogonida)    282 

46.  On  the  Anatomy  and  Classification  of  the  Petrels,  based  upon  those  collected 

by  H.M.S.  'Challenger'    284 

47.  Observations  on  the  Incubation  of   the  Indian  Python  (Python  molurus), 

with  special  regard  to  the  alleged  Increase  of  Temperature  during  that 
Process 285 

48.  Observations  on  the  Incubation  of  the  Indian  Python  (Python  molurus)    292 

49.  The  Insectarium  at  the  Zoological  Gardens    293 

50.  Remarks  upon  the  Horns  of  the  Prongbuck 295 


CONTENTS.  Xlll 

PAGE 

51 .  On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Great  Anteater  (Myrmecophaga  jubata). 

(Plate  VIII.) 296 

52.  Note  on  an  Abnormal  Specimen  of  Pithecia  satanas 312 

53.  Supplementary  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Chinese  Water-Deer  (Hydropotes 

inermis)  313 

54.  Notes  on  the  External  Characters  and  Anatomy  of  the  Californian  Sea-Lion 

(Otaria  gillespii).     (Plates  IX.-XI.)  316 

55.  Note  on  the  Gall-bladder,  and  some  other  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the 

Toucans  and  Barbets  (Capitonida} 323 

56.  On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Indian  Darter  (Plotus  melanog aster), 

and  on  the  Mechanism  of  the  Neck  in  the  Darters  (Plotus),  in  connexion 
with  their  Habits  326 

57.  Description  of  the  Pterylosis  of  Mesites,  with  Remarks  on  the  Position  of  that 

Genus 331 

58.  Note  on  a  Peculiarity  in  the  Trachea  of  the  Twelve-wired  Bird-of-Paradise 

(Seleucides  nigra)  335 

59.  On  the  Convoluted  Trachea  of  two  Species  of  Manucode  (Manucodia  atra  and 

Phonygama  gouldi) ;  with  Remarks  on  similar  Structures  in  other  Birds...  338 

60.  On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Todies  (  Todidai),  and  on  the  Affinities 

of  that  Group 345 

61.  Note  on  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  an  Australian  Duck  (Sistiwa  lohata).  354 

62.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds. — Part  V.  On  the  Structure 

of  the  Genus  Orthonyx 357 

63.  On  the  Rudimentary  Hallux  of  Birds 359 

64.  Contributions  to  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds. — Part  VI.  On  Xenwus  and 

Acanthisitta  as  Types  of  a  new  Family  (Xenicid<B)  of  Mesomyodian  Passeres 
from  New  Zealand     360 

65.  Report  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Petrels  (  Tubinares)  collected  during  the  Voyage 

of  H.M.S.  « Challenger.'     (Plates  XII.-XXIV.)    363 

66.  On  the  Variations  from  the  Normal  Structure  of  the  Foot  in  Birds    440 

67.  On  a  new  Species  of  Hernipode  from  New  Britain.     (Plate  XXV.)    444 

68.  The  last  Journal  of  W.  A.  FORBES  ..  ..446 


LIST    OF   PLATES. 


PAGE 

Portrait  of  the  late  WILLIAM  ALEXANDER  FORBES Frontispiece 

Plate  I.  Structure  of  Lat/tamus   62 

„  II.  Fig.   1.    Myzomela    chloroptera.        Fig.   2.    M.   rubrobrunnea.  \ 

Fig.  3.  M.  adolphina V     71 

„          III.  Fig.  1.  Myzomela  chermesina.    Fig.  2.  M.  sclateri   J 

„  IV.  Brachyurus  rubicundus   ...1 

„  V.  Head  of  Brachyurus  rubwundus  (nat.  size) >    105 

„  VI.     Brachyurus  melanocephalus  J 

„          VII.     Fig.  1.   Vidua  splendens.    Fig.  2.  Pytelia  wieneri 159 

tt        VIII.  Anatomy  of  Myrmecophaga  296 

„  IX.     Otaria  gillespii    \ 

„  X.     Head  of  male  Otaria  gillespii  (one  fourth  the  size  of  nature)  ...  J-   316 

„  XL  Anatomy  of  Otaria  gillespii J 

XII. 


'  |  Alimentary  Canal,  Tongue,  and  Palate  of  Petrels 
XVI. 


XIII  '  -^xterna^  characters  of  Petrels 
XIV. 

XV, 

,,.„.,.,-'  ^  Myology  of  Petrels.    Anterior  extremity    , 

XVIII.  I 
XIX  J         "  "          Tensor  patagu  muscles 

XX.  „  „          Hinder  extremity 

XXI.    Osteology  of  Petrels.     SkuU  and  limb-bones 

XXII.            „                 „  Skull,  pelvis,  and  limb-bones..., 

[  -I 

xxiv'.J      »  »       stema  j 


363 


xxin. 

XXIV. 
XXV.     lurnix  saturata  ..  444 


SCIENTIFIC   PAPERS 


OF 


WILLIAM    ALEXANDER    FORBES. 


1.  LATE  APPEARANCE  OF  CETONIA  AURATA*          Ent.M.M.xi. 

p.  208  (1875). 

AT  p.  178,  vol.  x.  of  the  *  Entomologist's  Monthly  Magazine,'  Mr.  Scott 
records  the  appearance  of  Cetonia  aurata  on  the  15th  October.  I  have 
now  to  chronicle  an  even  later  date  for  that  species,  as  I  found  a 
specimen  of  it  at  ivy -bloom,  in  the  daytime,  on  the  29th  October  last 
year,  in  a  garden  at  West  Wickham.  This  specimen  was  unusually 
small,  but  otherwise  in  an  excellent  condition,  and  seemed  to  have  but 
just  entered  into  the  imago  state. 

[These  exceptional  appearances  are  no  doubt  due  to  the  fact  that  the 
Cetonia  (like  Lucanus  cervus,  and  some  other  beetles)  assumes  the  perfect 
state  late  in  the  autumn,  but  remains  ordinarily  in  the  cocoon  till  the 
following  summer.  Hence  these  abnormal  specimens  should  rather  be 
regarded  as  "  early,"  not  '*  late,"  their  appearance  being  perhaps  due  to 
sudden  rise  of  temperature  combined  with  individual  precocity. — EDS.] 


2.  ARRESTED  DEVELOPMENT  IN  TIMAECHA  Ent.M.M  *i. 

CORIARIA  AND  LAGRIA  HIRTAj 

THE  following  instances  of  arrested  development,  causing  a  want  of 
symmetry  in  the  legs  of  insects,  are  interesting,  and  seem  to  me  to  be 
worth  publishing,  insomuch  as,  so  far  as  I  know,  no  similar  instance 
has  been  recorded.  In  a  $  specimen  of  TimarcJia  coriaria  taken  last 
autumn  in  Switzerland,  this  want  of  development  occurs  in  the  right 
middle  leg,  all  the  others  being  of  normal  size.  The  following  are  the 
dimensions  of  the  stunted  right  leg,  and  its  normal  fellow  on  the  left 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xi.  p.  208  (1875).  t   Ibid.  xi.  p.  279  (1875). 

B 


2  ON  CHRYSO^ELA  MARGWATA. 

side : — Femur,  L.  3  rnillim.,  E.  very  slightly  shorter  ;  tibia,  L.  3  millim., 
R.  1-75  millim.  ;  tarsi,  L.  2  millim.,  E.  1  millim. :  the  claws  being  ex- 
ceedingly minute,  and  barely  projecting  beyond  the  last  tarsal  joint,  all 
of  which  are  present  and  equally  developed,  though  not  attaining  the 
normal  size. 

In  a  specimen  of  Lagria  hirta,  the  dwarfing  occurs  in  the  posterior 
pair  of  legs,  and  in  this  case,  again,  the  right  leg  is  the  stunted  member. 
The  measurements  of  this  specimen  are : — Femur,  about  2  millim.  in 
both  legs;  tibia,  L.  2  millim.,  E.  1-75  millim.;  tarsi,  L.  T50  millim. 
(last  joint  wanting),  E.  1  millim. 

In  both  cases  the  want  of  symmetry  caused  by  the  arrested  growth  is 
more  conspicuous  than  would  appear  from  the  above  figures. 


Ent.M.M.xii.  3.  NOTE  ON  CHRYSOMELA  MARGINATA* 

p.  135  (1875). 

THIS  species,  originally  found,  I  believe,  near  Pegwell  Bay,  near  Eams- 
gate,  seems  decidedly  scarce  on  this  side  of  the  border,  though  not  so 
uncommon  in  Scotland,  where  it  has  been  found  by  Dr.  Syme  in  Orkney 
(on  Plantayo  rnaritima),  and  by  Mr.  Champion  at  Braemar,  by  sweeping 
alongside  the  Dee.  Near  Edinburgh  it  is  not  uncommon,  though  very 
local.  As  far  as  I  know,  it  is  confined  to  one  particular  spot  on  Arthur's 
Seat,  a  much  exposed  valley  between  the  summit  of  the  hill  and  a  lesser 
peak  known  as  the  Lion's  Haunch,  about  700  feet  above  the  sea,  where 
the  grass  forms  a  short  velvety  turf,  and  the  surface  of  the  ground  is 
covered  with  scattered  fragments  of  the  neighbouring  basalt  rocks. 
Beneath  these  fragments  Chrysomela  marginata  is  to  be  found,  singly,  or  in 
twos  and  threes.  When  disturbed,  it  persistently  feigns  death.  It  begins 
to  appear  about  the  middle  of  June,  and  is  most  common  about  the  first 
week  in  July,  when  I  have  taken  as  many  as  thirty  specimens  in  the 
course  of  an  afternoon's  work,  by  assiduously  turning  over  stones  &c. 
in  its  locality.  I  have  never  seen  the  larva  or  pupa,  and  do  not  know 
for  certain  what  its  food-plant  at  Edinburgh  is,  as  no  Plantago  maritima 
grows  near.  The  short  turf  of  the  hill  is  composed  in  great  part  of 
millefoil  (Achillea  millefolium),  and  on  that  the  beetles  may  feed,  as  some 
I  kept  in  captivity  fed  voraciously  on  this  by  night,  returning  to  their 
shelter  at  the  bottom  of  the  plants  by  day.  I  have  never  seen  it  moving 
about  in  the  daytime  like  its  congeners  C.  mentliastri  and  (according  to 
Mr.  Champion)  cerealis,  but  only  found  it  under  the  stones.  In  Wilson's 
*  Entomologia  Edinensis,'  the  Calton  Hill  is  also  given  as  a  locality ;  but 
I  have  never  found  it  there,  chiefly,  no  doubt,  owing  to  my  not  having 
looked  there  at  the  right  time. 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xii.  p.  135  (1875). 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 


4.  NOTE  ON  MR.  WALLACE'S  DISTRIBUTION  •  Nature,'  xr. 

OF  PASSERINE  BIRDS.*  P- 58  (1876). 

IN  Mr.  Wallace's  recently  published  work  on  Geographical  Distribution, 
in  more  than  one  place  the  results  arrived  at  from  an  inspection  of  his 
elaborate  tables  of  genera  and  families  do  not  agree  with  the  numbers  he 
uses  considering  the  general  bearing  of  the  facts  adduced.  Thus,  in  his 
"  General  Remarks  on  the  Distribution  of  the  Passeres,"  vol.  ii.  pp.  299- 
302,  he  says  (1.  c.  p.  300) : — "  The  families  that  are  confined  to  single 
regions  are  not  very  numerous,  except  in  the  case  of  the  Neotropical 
region,  which  has  Jiue,  the  Australian  has  only  three,  the  Oriental  one, 
Ethiopian  one,  and  the  other  regions  have  no  peculiar  families." 

Adopting  his  tables  of  the  families  of  the  Passeres,  I  find  the  numbers 
should  be  really  as  follows  : — 

Neotropical  7 Fams.  Nos.  39a,  40,  41,  42,  44,  45,  46. 

Australian  5    „         „    21,  22,  25,  49,  50. 

Oriental  3    „         „    11,  12,  43. 

The  Nearctic  region  should  also  be  mentioned  as  possessing  one 
peculiar  family,  i.  e.  ChamaeidaB.  The  statement  that  none  of  the  turdoid 
Passerine  families  are  exclusively  American  must  also  be  modified  to 
meet  this  fact.  There  are  three  families  (i.  e.  Paictidae,  Pittidae,  Eury- 
laemidoo)  instead  of  two  of  the  Formicaroid  Passeres  in  the  Old  World, 
of  which  the  Pittidae  can  hardly  be  said  to  have  only  a  "  very  restricted 
distribution." 

The  Australian  genus  Struthidea,  of  doubtful  position,  seems  omitted 
altogether. 


5.  ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS.f  P.Z.S.  1877, 

p.  304. 

PROF.  GAEEOD,  in  his  paper  on  Plotus  mihinga  (P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  344) 
says  : — "  In  the  urino-genital  system  of  Plotus  anliinga,  in  both  sexes,  the 
ducts  open  in  the  normal  manner  into  the  cloaca,  just  above  its  lower  orifice. 
This  orifice,  however,  is  not  on  the  surface,  but  is  into  a  cavity  behind 
the  cloaca,  which  opens  externally  .quite  close  to  the  place  where  the  two 
communicate.  Except  for  the  nearly  marginal  orifice,  the  second  cavity 
is  a  csDcal  sac,  oval  in  shape,  and  about  1|  inch  high,  covered  at  its  blind 

*  '  Nature,'  xv.  p.  58  (1876). 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1877,  pp.  304-318.    Read  April  17,  1877 

B2 


4  ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS, 

end  with  the  crypts  of  shallow  glands,  \vhich  also  run  down  its  sides. 
That  it  is  a  modification  of  the  bursa  Fabricii  cannot  be  doubted." 

The  disposition  of  the  parts  described  aboye  seemed  peculiar  enough 
to  be  worthy  of  further  investigation ;  with  that  end  my  kind  friend 
Prof.  G-arrod  requested  me  to  undertake  a  series  of  observations  on  the 
bursa  in  other  birds,  in  order  to  throw  further  light  on  the  structure  of 
this  organ,  and  to  discover  what  characters,  if  any,  it  afforded  for  classi- 
P.  Z.  S.  1877,  ficational  purposes.  The  ample  materials  of  the  Prosector's  department 
p.  305.  kave  gjven  me  opportunities  for  examining  this  organ  in  a  considerable 
number  of  species  of  birds  of  various  orders ;  and  though  I  regret  to  say 
my  investigations  have  not  turned  out  so  satisfactorily  as  regards  taxono- 
mic  characters  as  I  had  hoped,  I  venture  to  bring  such  results  as  I  have 
obtained  before  the  Society  this  evening.  As  the  subject  of  the  bursa 
Fabricii  has  hardly  attracted  any  notice  in  this  country  since  the  days  of 
Harvey,  I  have  added  to  my  own  notes  a  brief  resume  of  the  most  im- 
portant observations  and  opinions  as  regards  its  structure  and  functions 
that  have  been  brought  forward  by  foreign  anatomists. 

The  organ  in  question  seems  first  to  have  been  noticed  by  the  naturalist 
whose  name  it  bears,  Fabricius  of  Acquapendente.  In  his  treatise  '  De 
formatione  ovi  et  pulli '  *,  p.  5,  he  says  : — "  Tertium  quod  in  podice  est 
adnotandum  est  duplex  vesicula  quse  in  ima  ejus  parte  ad  os  pubis 
supereminet,  et  conspicua  exteriorque  apparet,  simulatque  uterus  jam 
propositus  conspectui  sese  offert :  quse  cum  sit  pervia,  ita  ut  ab  ano  ad 
ipsum  uterum  et  ab  utero  in  ipsam,  ut  puta  superius,  infra  foramen  pateat, 
ex  altero  autem  extreme  clausa  sit,  hunc  existimavimus  esse  locum,  in 
quern  gallus  semen  immittit  porrigitque  ut  inibi  servetur."  From  this 
and  other  passages  in  his  works  it  is  clear  that  he  considered  its  function 
that  of  a  receptaculum  seminis  in  the  female ;  its  use  in  the  male,  on  such 
a  theory,  he  does  not  explain.  Harvey,  in  his  work  *  De  Generatione 
Animalium '  (London,  1651),  as  quoted  in  the  Sydenham  Society's  trans- 
lation of  his  works  (1847,  p.  183),  refutes  Fabricius's  ideas  on  this  point. 
"  The  foramen  into  which  Fabricius  believes  the  Cock  to  inject  his  fluid, 
is  discovered  between  the  orifices  of  the  vulva  and  the  rump.  I,  however, 
deny  any  such  use  to  this  foramen ;  for  in  young  chickens  it  is  scarcely 
to  be  seen,  and  in  adults  it  is  present  indifferently  in  males  and  females. 
It  is  obvious  therefore  that  it  is  both  an  extremely  small  and  obscure 
orifice,  and  can  have  no  such  important  function  to  fulfil ;  it  will  scarcely 
admit  a  fine  bristle  and  needle,  and  it  ends  in  a  blind  cavity ;  neither 
have  I  ever  been  able  to  discover  any  spermatic  fluid  within  it,  although 
Fabricius  asserts  that  this  fluid  is  stored  up  there  even  for  a  whole  year, 
and  that  all  the  eggs  contained  in  the  ovary  may  be  thence  fecundated, 
as  it  is  afterwards  stated."  Harvey,  however,  fell  into  error  in  asserting 

*  Hieronymi  Fabricii  ab  Aquapendente  opera  anatomica.     Patavii,  1625. 


ON  THE  BUESA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS.  £> 

that  in  "  young  chickens  it  was  scarcely  to  be  seen  ;"  as  we  shall  after- 
wards see,  it  is  developed  more  in  young  than  adult  birds.  This  fact 
was  first  pointed  out  by  Tannenberg  in  1789,  in  his  disquisition  '  Circa 
geiiitales  partes  mascularuin  avium '  (Grottingae),  and  has  subsequently 
been  recognized  by  most  authors  who  have  written  on  the  subject  (vide 
Cuvier  *,  Milne-Edwards  t,  and  Gegenbaur  J).  Barkow,  in  a  paper 
**  On  the  Cloaca  of  birds  "  in  Meckel's  'Archiv '  §,  describes  its  condition 
in  specimens  he  had  examined  of  the  Fowl,  Duck,  Hooded  Crow,  Jack-  P.Z.S.  1877, 
daw,  Bittern,  Eared  Owl  (Ohrkauze),  Honey-Buzzard,  and  Coot,  showing  P! 
that  it  is  fully  developed  in  young  birds,  but  absent  in  old  ones.  He 
figures  the  bursa,  together  with  the  arteries  supplying  it  (derived  from 
the  left  pudeudal),  in  both  sexes  of  Gallus  domesticus  and  Falica  atra 
(op.  cit.  tab.  ix.  fig.  13,  15,  19,  22-24,  and  t.  x.  f.  26).  Berthold  devotes 
a  special  memoir  to  it  ||,  in  which  he  describes  its  nervous  and  vascular 
supply.  Emil  Huschke^[  describes  its  development,  showing  that  it 
arises  in  the  superior  part  of  the  cloaca,  in  which  it  is  differentiated  in 
the  embryo  of  the  Fowl  from  the  8th  to  the  9th  day  of  incubation, 
acquiring  by  degrees  a  more  perfect  form,  but  that  after  a  time  it  in- 
creases but  slowly  in  comparison  with  the  other  parts  of  the  embryo. 
M.  Martin  St.-Ange,  in  his  fine  paper  "  Etudes  sur  1'appareil  repro- 
ducteur  dans  les  cinq  classes  des  vertebres  "  **,  figures  and  describes  the 
bursa  in  the  Common  Pigeon.  In  one  adult  two-year-old  Pigeon  he  found 
the  interior  of  the  bursa  filled  up  with  a  sort  of  calculus,  forming  a  complete 
cast  of  its  interior.  In  all  others  of  both  sexes,  it  was  reduced  to  about  half 
its  size,  and  the  cavity  entirely  obliterated.  He  found  that  in  the  egg  it  was 
better  developed  in  proportion  than  other  organs,  but  that  after  the  age 
of  about  six  months  in  Pigeons,  and  eight  in  Fowls,  it  began  to  lose  its 
functional  activity,  and  to  become  reduced  in  size.  Lastly,  in  a  paper 
published  in  the  *  Atti  della  Societa  Ttaliana  di  Scienze  Naturali,'  1875, 
vol.  xviii.  pp.  133-169  (for  calling  my  attention  to  which  I  am  indebted  to 
Mr.  Salvin),  Signer  Vincenzo  Alesi,  of  Naples,  has  published  an  exhaus- 
tive essay  on  the  structure  and  development  of  this  organ,  accompanied 
by  two  plates  of  histological  details.  His  observations  have  been  made 
on  specimens  of  Meleayris  mexicana,  A.nser  cinereus,  Anas  boschas, 
Columba  livia,  Turtur  auritus,  Corvus  monedula,  Turdus  menda,  and 
CoturnLv  communis ;  and  he  has  also  examined  the  cloaca  of  a  female 
llhea  americana,  preserved  in  the  Naples  Museum.  To  his  observations 

*  Le§ons  d' Anatomic  comparee,  2nd  ed.  vol.  viii.  p.  276. 

t  Physiologic  et  Anatoraie  comparee,  vol.  viii.  p.  514,  and  vol.  vii.  p.  347. 

|  Vergleichende  Anatomic,  p.  799,  note. 

§  Archiv,  1829,  p.  443  et  scq. 

||  Acad.  Cses.-Leop.  Nova  Acta,  1828.  xiv.  pp.  913-918. 

^|  De  Bursas  Fabricii  origine.     Jenae,  1838. 

**  Mem.  pres.  Ac.  Sc.  Frari9.  par  savants  divers,  1856,  pp.  1-232, 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 


on  the  histological  structure  and  process  of  atrophy  of  the  bursa  I  will 
return  after  having  briefly  described  the  ordinary  form  and  relations  of 
this  organ  in  the  birds  I  have  examined.  These  are  90  in  number ;  and 
of  many  of  them  I  have  examined  more  than  one  specimen. 


P.  Z.  8.1877, 
p.  307. 


PASSERES. 
Oriolus  galbula. 
Garrulax  chinensis. 
Citta  thalassina. 
Fregilus  graculus. 
Amblyrhamphus  Tiolosericeus. 
Cissopis  leveriana. 

COCCYGOMOEPHJE. 
Podargus  cuvieri. 
Dacelo  gigantea. 
Colius  castanonotus. 
Momotus  lessonii. 
Merops,  sp. 
Megalcema,  sp. 
RhampTiastos  ariel. 
Pteroglossus  wiedi. 
Trogon  puella. 
Cuculus  canorus. 
Cacomantis,  sp. 
Chrysococcyx,  sp. 
Geococcyx  affinis. 
Guira  piririgua. 

PSITTACI. 

Stringops  habroptilus. 
Psittcwus  erithacus. 
Pionus  violaceus. 
Tanygnaihus  muelleri. 
Pyrrhulopsis  splendens. 
Platycercus  icterotis. 

ACCIPITEES. 

Gyparchus  papa. 
Buteo  jackal. 
Archibuteo  lag&pus. 
Geranoaetus  aquila. 
Spizaetus  coronatus. 
Haliaetus  vocifer. 
Strix  flammea. 


STEGANOPODES. 
Sula  bassana. 
Plotus  anhinga. 
Phalacrocorax  carbo. 
P.  brasiliensis. 

HEEODIONES. 
Ciconia  alba. 
C.  boyciana. 

Abdimia  sphenorhyncha. 
Xenorliynchus  australis. 
Ibis  falcinellus. 
I.  rubra. 
Ardea  cocoi. 
Cancroma  cochlearia 

PALAMEDE^E. 
CTiauna  derbiana. 

ANSEEES. 

Cygnus  olor. 
Tadorna  rutila. 
Fulica  rufigula. 

COLUMB^;. 

Pterocles  arenarius. 
Phaps  chalcoptera. 
Goura  coronata. 


Craoc  sclateri. 
Tetrao  urogallus. 
Lag  opus  scotlcus. 
Ortyx  virginianus. 
Odontophorus  guianensis. 
Calllpepla  gambeli. 
Arboricola  torqueola. 
Caccabis  cliukar. 
C.  melanocepliala. 
C.  saxatllis. 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRIC1I  IN  BIRDS.  7 

Francolinus  vulgaris,  GAVI^B. 

F.  Ucalcaratus.  Larus  ridibundus. 

Euploctimus  cristatus. 

PTGOPODES. 
Argus  yis/anteus. 

Meleagris  meviccma.  Uria  troile' 

Alca  torda. 

ALECTORIDES.  TINAMI. 

Otis  tarda.  Rhynchotus  rufesccns. 

Grus  carunculata.  Crypturus  tatupa. 
Serpentarius  reptilivorus. 

Oeydromm  australis.  STRUTHIONES. 

Porphyno  alien i.  Struthio  camelus. 

P.  marlinieus.  Rhea  americana. 

P.  poliocephalus.  Dromceus  novce-hollandice. 

Hydrophasianus  chiruryus.  Casuarius  beccarii. 

C.  picticollis. 

GEALLJ;.  ^  uniappendiculatus. 

(Edicnemus  crepitans.  Apteryx  mantdli. 

Attagis,  sp.  A.  oweni. 

For  an  opportunity  of  examining  a  specimen  of  the  last  I  am  indebted 
to  Prof.  Newton's  kindness. 

If  the  cloaca  of  an  ordinary  bird  be  taken  and  laid  open  in  front  (i.  e.  p.  z.  S.  1877, 
on  the  ventral  surface)  along  the  middle  line,  the  rectum  will  be  seen  P*  ^' 
to  terminate  at  the  top  of  a  more  or  less  well-marked  chamber,  which 
usually  is  iwore  capacious  than  the  terminal  part  of  the  alimentary  tract, 
from  which  it  is  generally  separated  off  by  a  more  or  less  plain  valvular 
constriction,  the  different  nature  of  the  two  parts  being  also  frequently 
shown  by  the  differences  in  the  character  of  the  mucous  membrane  lining 
them.  Below  the  entrance  of  the  rectum,  on  the  posterior  wall  of  the 
cloaca,  and  disposed  symmetrically  as  regards  the  median  line  on  the 
sides  of  which  they  He,  are  the  openings  of  the  uro-genital  ducts,  fre- 
quently elevated  on  papillae,  which  vary  in  shape  in  different  birds.  Of 
these  the  ureters  open  nearest  the  middle  line ;  externally  to  them  are 
the  openings  or  opening  of  the  vasa  deferentia  or  oviduct,  which  latter 
is  fully  developed  only  on  one  side,  though  sometimes  a  trace  of  it  may 
be  seen  on  the  other  also.  Above  the  uro-genital  papillae  in  many  birds 
(e.  g.  Meleagris  mexicana  and  Tetrao  urogallus)  is  a  well-marked  valvular 
fold  of  mucous  membrane,  which  thus  separates  off  the  upper  portion 
of  this  "  cloaca  "  from  that  part  into  which  the  urino-genital  ducts  open. 
Below  these,  again,  is  a  similar,  but  usually  better-marked  fold  (the 
vesical  sphincter  of  St.-Ange),  which  is  present  in  all  the  birds  I  have 
examined,  in  a  more  or  less  developed  state.  Below  this  in  the  middle 
line,  and  also  on  the  posterior  wall,  is  seen  (if  the  specimen  be  not  too 
old)  a  circular  hole  of  varying  dimensions.  This  is  the  opening  of  the 


8 


ON  THE  BUESA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 


"  bursa  Fabricii."  This  third  part  of  the  "  cloaca"  is  bounded  below  by 
the  external  sphincter  muscles,  which  often  form  in  birds  a  great  thick 
fleshy  mass ;  this  chamber,  from  lodging  the  penis  or  clitoris,  is  deno- 
minated "  loge  copulatrice  "  by  M.  St.-Ange.  In  many  birds  additional 
glands,  opening  by  large  pores,  or  forming  irregular  arborescent  patches, 
are  developed  in  the  walls  of  the  cloaca  in  this  region.  It  results  there- 
fore from  the  above-described  disposition  of  parts  that,  in  its  most  deve- 
loped form,  a  bird's  "  cloaca  "  is  divided  into  three  chambers  communi- 
cating with  each  other,  and  into  which  open  respectively  (from  above 
downwards),  first  the  rectum,  secondly  the  urino-genital  ducts,  thirdly  the 
bursa  Eabricii*.  This  disposition  of  parts  is  seen  in  fig.  1.  The  bursa 

Fig.  1. 


Cloaca  of  Chauna  derbiana,  laid  open  from  before. 

a.  Rectum,  b.  Opening  of  ureters,  b'.  Genital  papillae,  c.  Fold  of  mucous  membrane 
d.  "Vesical  sphincter  "  of  M.  St.-Ange.  e.  Opening  of  bursa  Fabricii.  /.Bursa 
Fabricii  (supposed  to  be  seen  through  the  posterior  wall  of  the  cloaca). 

Eabricii,  when  well  developed,  consists  of  a  sac-like  pouch,  usually  with 
thick   glandular  walls :    it  is  blind  above   and  constricted  below,  and 

*  Prof.  Huxley  describes  it  ('  Anatomy  of  Vertebrate  Animals,'  p.  308)  as  opening 
into  the  "  anterior  and  dorsal  region  of  the  cloaca."  If  "  anterior  "  mean  here,  as  I 
suppose  it  does,  "  anterior  "  as  regards  the  whole  length  of  the  digestive  tract,  this  is 
an  error  ;  for,  as  I  have  above  stated,  the  opening  of  the  bursa  is  in  the  lowest  chamber 
of  the  cloaca  (i.  e.  that  nearest  the  vent),  and  therefore  into  the  most  "  posterior  "  one 
as  regards  the  general  direction  of  the  alimentary  canal. 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS.  9 

opens  by  a  simple  rounded  orifice  without  any  valve*  into  the  cloaca  at  P'Z'|^g877' 
the  point  already  indicated.     The  bursa  lies  on  the  posterior  wall  of  the 
cloaca  (to  which  it  is  usually  attached  by  a  kind  of  aponeurosis)  in  the 
space  between  the  cloaca  and  the  pelvis.     This  disposition  of  parts,  as 
seen  from  behind,  is  shown  in  fig.  2,  in  the  common  Guillemot.     The 

Fig.  2. 


~d 

Back  view  of  Cloaca  of  Uria  troile. 
a.  Bursa  Fabricii.       b.  Oviduct.      c,  c.  Ureters.       d.  Sphincter  muscles.       e.  Caeca. 

bursa  when  laid  open  frequently  contains  faecal  matter,  more  or  less 
hard,  or  may  be  empty.  The  walls  may  be  thin,  as  in  the  Passeres, 
Parrots,  &c.,  or  thick  and  markedly  glandular,  as  in  the  Gallinae, 
Herodiones,  &c.  The  bursa  is  usually  constricted  below  into  a  narrow 
peduncle,  with  a  narrow  central  channel ;  above,  the  contained  cavity  is 
more  considerable  but  of  varying  dimensions. 

Signor  Alesi,  in  the  paper  already  referred  to,  has  described  at  great 
length  the  minute  structure  of  the  bursa  Fabricii  in  the  common  Fowl 
and  some  other  birds.  I  must  here  content  myself  with  giving  a  brief 
resume  of  his  conclusions  as  regards  the  histological  structure  of  the 
organ  in  question.  A  transverse  section  of  the  wall  in  the  neighbour- 
hood of  one  of  the  ridges  into  which,  in  the  Fowl  and  allied  forms,  the 


*  Barkow,  I.  s.  c.,  describes  the  lower  part  of  the  peduncle  of  the  bursa  as  projecting 
into  the  cloaca  in  the  common  Fowl,  and  there  forming  a  conical  sort  of  flap  (Zipfel) 
over  the  opening.  I  have  never  myself  seen  any  thing  like  this  "  Zipfel "  in  any  bird 
I  have  examined ;  and  all  other  writers  are  equally  silent  on  the  point.  Most,  indeed, 
say  expressly  that  there  is  no  valve  or  flap  of  any  kind. 


10  ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 

P.Z.S.1877,  interior  of  the  bursa  is  raised  shows  the  following  constituent  parts: — 
(1)  an  external  layer  of  connective  tissue,  covering  (2)  a  thick  layer  of 
elastic  membrane ;  inside  this  is  (3)  a  thin  layer  of  mucous  membrane, 
which  unites  together  and  connects  the  "lymphatic  follicles."  These 
"  lymphatic  follicles  "  consist  of  masses  of  minute  rounded  cells,  on  an 
average  0-04  millim.  in  diam..,  enclosed  in  capsules  of  connective  tissue, 
in  which  ramify  their  nutrient  vessels  &c.  The  lymphatic  follicles  are 
bound  together  by  processes  of  the  connective  mucous  membrane  into 
raised  processes,  which  project  on  the  interior  of  the  bursa,  forming 
ridge-like  "  crests,"  and  are  covered  with  epithelium  internally,  the  cells 
of  the  latter  being  lanceolate  with  oval  nuclei.  In  Rhea,  however,  the 
follicles  are  not  closely  bound  together  in  masses  forming  ridges,  but  are 
attached  by  peduncles  of  elastic  tissue  to  a  central  stem,  the  whole  having 
somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  bunch  of  grapes  with  a  few  berries  on  it. 
As  we  have  already  seen,  Tannenberg  in  1789  was  the  first  to  point  out 
that  the  bursa  was  more  developed  in  young  than  old  birds,  it  being 
gradually  reduced  and  obliterated  in  the  latter.  This  process  of  atrophy 
seems  to  obtain  in  all  birds,  so  far  as  I  can  make  out,  though  the  periods 
of  final  disappearance  seem  to  vary  much  in  different  groups.  M. 
Martin  St.-Ange  found  that  the  bursa  began  to  lose  its  functional  activity 
in  Pigeons  after  six  months,  and  in  Fowls  after  eight ;  as  a  rule  it  seems 
to  atrophy  at  about  the  period  of  full  growth.  On  the  other  hand,  in 
some  cases  it  persists  for  long  periods,  and  probably  throughout  life ;  for 
I  found  it  well  developed  and  quite  open  in  a  specimen  of  Platycercus 

P.  Z.  S.  1877,  icterotis  that  had  lived  in  the  Society's  Gardens  for  eleven  years.  As  a 
p.  311.  rule,  the  central  cavity  of  the  bursa  becomes  diminished  and  the  com- 
munication with  the  cloaca  obliterated  in  the  process  of  atrophy;  and 
finally,  in  some  cases  at  least,  the  whole  organ  completely  disappears, 
losing  its  characteristic  form  and  structure,  and  becoming  fused  with 
the  tract  of  abdominal  aponeurosis  that  covers  the  back  wall  of  the  ali- 
mentary canal,  ultimately  forming  a  flat  riband-like,  or  round  cord-like, 
ligamentous  structure.  Spangenberg  observed  the  conversion  of  the 
bursa  Fabricii  into  a  round  cord-like  ligament  in  the  Duck ;  and  Alesi 
has  observed  it  (and  described  it  minutely,  with  figures  showing  the 
histological  changes  that  go  on)  in  the  Fowl.  He  sums  up  the  process 
of  atrophy  in  the  last-named  bird  as  follows : — The  epithelium  which 
covers  the  internal  surface  of  the  bursa  becomes,  as  it  were,  invaginated 
into  the  thickness  of  the  mucous  layer,  becoming  pressed  in  between  the 
lymphatic  follicles.  The  connective  tissue  between  the  latter  increases 
rapidly  in  bulk,  and  becomes  full  of  numerous  small  oval  corpuscles; 
at  the  same  time  the  follicles  become  absorbed,  and  the  whole  of  the 
bursa  becomes  obliterated  and  fused  with  part  of  the  abdominal 
aponeurosis.  The  epithelium  gradually  becomes  confined  to  certain 
irregular  tracts  in  the  thickness  of  the  mass  of  connective  tissue ;  but 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 


11 


even  these  disappear  finally.     The  process  of  atrophy  in  the  other  species 
which  he  observed  is  essentially  the  same  as  that  in  the  Fowl. 

I  now  proceed  to  describe  the  general  characters  of  the  bursa  Fabricii 
in  the  groups  of  birds  I  have  examined.  In  the  Passeres  it  is  usually 
small,  pyriform,  with  a  small  opening  and  glandular  walls  without  ridge- 
like  elevations  on  the  interior.  It  seems  to  disappear  completely  in 
adult  birds.  In  the  RhamphastidaB  it  disappears  in  the  adult,  only  leaving 
a  small  pore  to  mark  its  place  of  opening.  In  the  Cuculidae  it  presents 
a  very  characteristic  shape,  the  peduncle  being  long  and  thin,  and  the 
extremity  club-shaped,  giving  the  whole  somewhat  the  appearance  of  a  P.  Z.  S.  1877, 
shortened  and  clumsy  antenna  of  a  butterfly  (see  fig.  3).  It  disappears  P*  ~' 

Fig.  3. 


Cloaca  and  Bursa  of  Geococcyx  affinis. 

The  cloaca  is  cut  short  and  laid  open  from  before.  The  narrow  peduncle  of  the 
bursa  is  supposed  to  be  seen  through  the  cloaca,  a.  "Yesical  sphincter.'  b. 
Bursa.  c.  Opening  of  same,  d,  d'.  Ureter  and  opening,  e,  e' .  Vas  deferens 
and  opening. 

completely  in  adult  birds.  In  specimens  of  Dacelo  gigantea,  Merops, 
and  Momotus  lessoni  it  was  sac-like  and  of  considerable  size.  In  the 
Parrots  it  is  well  marked  and  bag-like,  opening  by  a  small  pore.  As 
already  mentioned,  in  an  old  specimen  of  Platycercus  icterotis  I  found  the 
bursa  well  marked,  though  its  opening  into  the  cloaca  was  nearly 
obliterated.  In  a  specimen  of  Stringop*  I  found  no  bursa.  In  the 
Accipitres  it  forms  a  moderate-sized  pyriform  sac ;  in  old  birds  this 
becomes  reduced  to  a  sort  of  small  conical  pouch  in  the  substance  of  the 
back  wall  of  the  cloaca  at  the  place  of  aperture.  Of  the  Steganopodes, 
in  Phalacrocorax  (2  species)  and  Sula  bassana  the  bursa  is  a  large  sac, 
l|-2  inches  in  length,  which  opens  by  a  small  pore  in  the  usual  places. 
The  walls  of  the  bursa  are  very  thick ;  they  are  traversed  by  about  seven 
rows  of  large,  irregular,  crypt-like  pores,  separated  by  smooth,  narrowed, 
raised  ridges.  The  ridges  and  pores  disappear  towards  the  base  of  the 
bursa ;  but  the  upper  part  has  a  curious  honeycomb-like  appearance,  some- 
what like  that  of  the  Ruminant  reticulum.  The  internal  surface  is  covered 
with  numerous,  small,  opaque,  granular-looking  corpuscles,  especially 


12  ON  THE  BUESA  FABRICII  IN  BIEDS. 

towards  the  apex.  In  a  young  specimen  of  Plotus  arihinga  (  $> )  that  I 
dissected,  the  appearance  and  disposition  of  the  parts  agreed  very  well 
with  Prof.  Garrod's  description.  1  noticed,  however,  that  the  opening 
of  the  bursa  was  very  slightly  constricted  by  a  slight  fold  of  mucous 
membrane  on  each  side,  so  that  the  bursa  hardly  opened  by  its  entire 
width  into  the  cloacal  chamber.  In  other  respects  it  showed  a  strong 
approximation  to  the  disposition  of  these  parts  that  I  shall  presently 
describe  in  the  Ostrich  and  its  allies. 

In  the  Herodiones  the  bursa  is  large  and  sac-like,  with  a  small  or 
moderate  opening ;  its  interior  surface  has  no  ridges  or  sulci,  but  large 
crypt-like  pores  collected  in  patches.  In  aged  birds  it  seems  to  disappear, 
though  in  a  specimen  of  Abdimia  that  had  lived  in  the  Gardens  more 
than  three  years  it  was  still  present,  |  inch  long,  with  the  opening  still 
unobliterated. 

In  Ckawia  the  bursa  is  a  glandular  pyriform  sac,  about  1  inch  in 
length,  with  a  moderate- sized  opening  (see  fig.  1,  p.  8).  It  seems  to 
disappear  entirely  in  old  birds.  In  a  specimen  of  Cygnus  olor  it  was  a 
large  conical  sac,  1|  inch  long,  with  a  wide  mouth,  but  slightly  constricted 
off,  and  with  no  large  glands.  In  aged  specimens  of  Fuliyula  rufiiia, 
which  had  lived  sixteen  years  in  the  Gardens,  and  of  Tadorna  rutila, 
which  was  nearly  eighteen  years  old,  the  bursa  had  disappeared,  in  the 
former  having  assumed  the  appearance  of  a  round  cord-like  ligament,  in 
the  latter  having  become  fused  with  the  abdominal  aponeurosis.  In  each 
case  a  small  pore  marked  the  place  of  aperture. 

In  Pterocles,  Goura  (in  a  nine-months-old  bird),  and  PJiaps  I  have 
never  found  any  thing  more  than  a  small  blind  pore  in  the  usual  place  of 
the  opening ;  as  we  know  from  M.  St.-Ange,  the  bursa  disappears  very 
early  in  Columba  livia  as  well. 

P.  Z.  S.  1877,  In  the  Galling  the  bursa  has  a  tubular  or  pyriform  shape,  with  numerous 
well-marked  alternating  ridges  and  furrows,  the  latter  highly  glandular, 
on  its  internal  surface.  These  ridges  are  most  marked  towards  the 
superior  (blind)  end,  and  are  formed  by  the  projection  into  the  interior 
of  collections  of  lymphatic  follicles.  These  last  do  not  open  by  distinct 
pores  into  the  cavity  of  the  bursa,  but  are  entirely  closed,  as  shown  by 
Signer  Alesi  and  Leydig.  In  the  process  of  atrophy  the  peduncle  be- 
comes sclid  ;  also  the  cavity  of  the  bursa  becomes  shut  off  from  the  cloaca 
and  persists  in  this  state  for  some  time.  Finally,  however,  the  bursa 
seems  to  become  reduced  to  a  ligament-like  structure,  or  to  become  fused 
with  the  general  aponeurosis.  In  the  Turkey  the  bursa  is  a  long  tubular 
sac,  2  inches  long,  with  very  well  marked  ridges  and  sulci.  In  all  a  pore 
marks  the  opening  of  the  atrophied  bursa.  In  Serpentarius  the  bursa  is 
a  large  globular  sac,  with  the  glandular  area  confined  to  the  apical  region 
and  a  small  aperture  into  the  cloaca.  In  these  respects  it  resembles  Otis 
and  Grus.  In  Forphyrio  and  Ocydromus  it  assumes  the  form  of  a  long, 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 
Fig.  4. 


13 


Cloaca  of  Casuarius  uniappendiculatus,  viewed  from  behind. 

a,  a.  Cut  surface  of  posterior  wall  of  bursa.  b.  Opening  of  cloacal  chamber  into 
bursa.  c.  Pointer  passing  from  cavity  of  bursa  to  exterior,  d'.  Pointer  passed 
from  cloaca  into  bursa  through  opening  b  ;  the  upper  part  is  supposed  to  be  seen 
through  the  wall  of  cloaca,  e.  Clitoris. 

narrow,  cylindrical  tube,  the  central  cavity  of  which  becomes  closed  up 
as  atrophy  advances.  In  (Edicnemus  there  is  a  similar  form  of  bursa. 
In  Attac/is,  on  the  other  hand,  the  form  is  pyriform,  more  like  that  of  the 
Passeres  and  Gallinse. 

In  Larus  I  found  the  bursa  represented  by  a  small  pouch.  In  the 
young  Uria  troile  it  is  large  and  sac-like,  and  slightly  curved  from  side 
to  side  (see  fig.  2,  p.  9).  The  walls  are  very  glandular,  and  so  thick 
that  the  central  cavity  is  but  small.  There  are  no  crests.  In  an  adult 
Alca  tor  da  it  was  reduced  to  a  pore-like  opening. 

In  none  of  the  Tinami  that  I  have  dissected  have  I  found  any  bursa ; 
on  the  other  hand,  the  posterior  wall  of  the  third  cloacal  chamber  is 
covered  with  numerous  glands  arranged  in  a  tree-like  manner. 

In  all  the  birds  hitherto  mentioned  (with  the  exception  of  Plotus)  the 
bursa,  as  we  have  seen,  opens  by  a  more  or  less  constricted  aperture  into 
the  general  cavity  of  the  cloaca.  In  the  Struthious  birds,  however,  the 
very  opposite  is  the  case.  The  cloaca  (or  at  least  as  much  of  it  as 
corresponds  to  the  first  and  second  chambers)  opens  into  the  bursa  Fabricii. 
This  will  perhaps  be  best  explained  by  looking  at  fig.  4,  represent- 
ing the  cloaca  and  bursa  of  a  not  full-grown  Cassowary  (Casuarius 


P.  Z.  S.  1877, 
p.  314. 


14 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 


uniappendiculatus)  from  behind.  The  bursa  is,  as  one  sees,  a  large, 
somewhat  triangular  sac,  attached  above  by  a  broad  riband-like  muscle  to 
the  posterior  wall  of  the  alimentary  canal.  Most  of  the  back  wall  of  the 
bursa  has  been  cut  away  (a),  to  show  the  opening  into  its  cavity  of  the 
cloacal  chamber  (6),  out  of  which  a  pointer  (d')  is  seen  passing  up  into 
the  rectum  above  through  the  recto-cloacal  valve.  Prom  this,  I  think,  it 

Fig.  5. 


Vent  of  young  Ernu  (Dromceus  novce-hollandiM}  with  the  parts  still  in  situ, 

viewed  from  the  outside. 

A.  External  sphincter.      B.  Cavity  of  bursa.      C.  Wall  of  cloaca.     D.  Opening  of 
cloaca  into  the  bursa.     E.  Clitoris.     F.  Glandular  pores. 

will  at  once  be  evident  that  the  cloaca  does  not  open  directly  to  the  outer 
surface,  but  indirectly  through  the  bursa  by  means  of  its  large  posterior 
and  inferior  aperture  b.  A  similar  condition  of  things  is  seen  in  fig.  5^ 
in  a  young  Emu  (Dromceus  novce-hollandice) — where  the  parts  are  undis- 
P.  Z.  S.  1 877,  turbed  and  in  situ, — and  in  fig.  6,  in  an  Ostrich  (Struthio  camelus,  immature 


p.  315. 


female) — where  the  bursa  has  been  nearly  all  removed  to  show  the  pos- 
terior opening  of  the  cloaca  into  its  cavity,  and  the  communication  of 
the  latter  with  the  exterior,  as  indicated  by  the  direction  of  the  pointer 
(D  D').  The  same  is  the  case  in  the  young  Nandou  (liliea  americana). 
In  all  these  birds  the  walls  of  the  bursa  are  thickly  glandular ;  there  are 
no  regular  crests  and  sulci,  however,  but  the  glands  are  arranged  in 
patches,  the  whole  having  a  honeycomb-like  or  dendritic  appearance. 
This  disposition  of  parts,  however,  is  not  permanent.  As  the  birds  grow 
older,  the  size  of  the  bursa  gradually  diminishes  and  its  walls  become 
less  glandular;  its  mouth  is  no  longer  equal  in  extent  to  the  whole 
width  of  the  outermost  chamber,  but  becomes  narrowed  ;  and  finally  the 
whole  bursa  disappears,  its  remains  becoming  lost  in  the  muscles  of 
the  back  of  the  cloaca.  This  state  of  alrophy  of  the  bursa  is  represented 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS.  15 

Fig.  6. 


Cloaca  and  Bursa  of  young  Ostrich  (female),  viewed  from  behind.    Most  of  the 

posterior  wall  of  the  bursa  has  been  removed. 

A.  External  sphincter  muscle.  B.  Cut  surface  of  bursa.  C.  Opening  of  cloaca  into 
bursa.  D,  D'.  Pointer  passing  from  bursa  to  exterior.  E,  E.  Ureters.  F. 
Oviduct.  G-.  Clitoris.  H,  H'.  Pores ;  beneath  them  the  smooth,  non-glandular 
part  of  the  bursa. 

in  Casuarius  picticollis  in  fig.  7  (p.  16),  the  only  remains  of  its  existence 
being  seen  in  the  few  irregular  circular  folds  on  the  mucous  membrane 
at  A.  At  what  age  this  change  supervenes  is  not  yet  quite  clear.  The  p.  z.  S.  1877, 
specimen  of  C.  beccarii  that  died  in  the  Society's  Gardens  last  year,  appa-  P-  3i6- 
rently  an  adult  female,  corresponded  entirely  in  the  disposition  of  these 
parts  with  the  specimen  of  C.  uniappendiculatus  above  described,  which 
died  shortly  before,  and  was  quite  a  young  bird  when  received  in  1874.  On 
the  other  hand,  in  C.  picticollis  the  bursa  was  entirely  atrophied.  This 
specimen,  which  also  arrived  in  1874,  was  then  not  quite  adult ;  so  that 
at  the  period  of  its  death  it  must  have  been  about  three  years  old. 
Whether  Apteryx  agrees  in  these  points  also  with  the  other  StrutJiiones 
I  am  unable  to  say,  as  both  the  specimens  I  have  dissected  presented  no 
trace  of  a  bursa.  Probably  therefore  in  this,  too,  when  adult  the  bursa 
disappears  almost  completely.  I  have  mentioned  above  the  singular 
differences  shown  by  Signer  Alesi  to  exist  in  the  structure  of  the  lym- 
phatic follicles  of  the  bursa  of  RTiea  as  compared  with  other  birds. 


16 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 
Fig.  7. 


A. 


Cloaca  of  Casuarius  picticottis,  adult  male ;  viewed  from  before. 

A.  Circular  folds  of  mucous  membrane,  being  the  last  remains  of  the  Bursa.  B. 
Rectum,  b.  Recto-cloacal  valve.  0.  Cut  surface  of  external  sphincter  muscle. 
c.  Vesical  sphincter.  D.  Urino-genital  papillge.  E.  Glandular  pore.  P.  Penis. 

Although  at  first  sight  the  relation  of  these  parts  in  Rliea,  Struihio, 
&c.  seems  so  different  from  that  which  obtains  in  other  birds,  yet  a 
little  reflection  will,  I  think,  convince  one  that  it  is  not  so  in  reality.  I 
have  represented  diagram matically  (figs.  8  and  9)  what  I  conceive  to 
be  the  true  relations  of  the  parts  in  question,  denoting  the  homologous 
regions  in  the  two  forms  (Serpentarius  as  illustrating  the  normal  type, 
Casuarius  the  abnormal  one)  by  similar  letters.  If  we  imagine  B  in 
fig.  8  to  lose  the  constriction  at  its  aperture  into  D,  and  D  to  become 
P.  Z.  S.  1877  proportionately  deeper,  we  should  have  a  form  corresponding  to  fig.  9, 
p.  317.  in  which  B  passes  uninterruptedly  and  without  constriction  into  D,  the 
cavity  B  D  thus  formed  receiving  the  aperture  of  C.  In  such  a  form 
as  Plotus,  where  the  opening  is  but  very  slightly  constricted,  we  have  a 
type  connecting  the  two  extremes  ;  and  I  have  seen  RJiea  in  a  stage 
very  similar  to  that  mentioned  above  in  Cygnus  olor.  In  confirmation  of 
this  view  as  to  the  true  relation  of  these  parts,  in  the  Ostrich  &c.  the 
lower  part  of  the  bursa,  in  the  region  corresponding  to  D  in  figs.  8 
and  9,  is  not  glandular  (vide  fig.  6,  p.  15,  where  the  non-glandular  part 
of  the  bursa  is  seen  beneath  the  pores  H  H'). 

"With  regard  to  the  function  and  homologies  of  the  bursa  Fabricii, 
great  differences  have  prevailed  amongst  authors.  Thus  Milne-Edwards 
says*,  "  Fabrice  d'Acquapendente,  a  qui  Ton  doit  la  decouverte  de  cette 

*   Phys.  et  Anat.  Comp.  vol.  viii.  p.  514. 


ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 

Fig.  8.  Fig.  9. 


17 


Diagram  showing  two  chief  Types  of  Development  of  the  Bursa  Fabricii. 

R.  Rectum.     B.  Bursa.     C.  Cloacal  chamber.     D.  Lowest  chamber  of  "cloaca." 

d.  Openings  of  urino-genital  ducts. 

bourse,  la  considerait  comme  uii  reservoir  seminal,  tandis  que  d'autres 

naturalistes  *  la  regardent   comme   une  vessie  urinaire.     Perrault   et 

quelques  auteurs  modernest  y  voient  1'analogue  des  glandes  anales  des 

Mammiferes,  et  Geoffr.  St.-Hilaire  1'assimile  aux  glandes  du  CowperJ; 

enfin,  M.  Martin  St.-Ange  la  compare  a  la  prostate."     Emil  Huschke, 

in  the  paper  mentioned  above,  has  studied  its  development,  and,  after  a 

comparison  of  the  organs  of  similar  appearance,  is  inclined  to  consider  it 

as  the  primitive  urinary  vesicle  of  the  Wolfian  bodies,  from  the  fact  that 

the  ducts  of  this  gland  take  origin  from  just  that  part  of  the  cloaca  which 

afterwards  assumes  the  form  of  the  bursa.     Harvey  and  others  have 

sufficiently  disproved  Fabricius's  ideas  as  to  its  serving  as  a  spermotheca; 

nor  can  the  bursa  be  regarded  as  a  urinary  bladder, — first,  because  it  is 

not  devoted  to  containing  the  urine ;  secondly,  because  in  other  Sauro- 

psida  and  also  in  the  Mammalia  the  urinary  bladder  is  ventral,  not  dorsal, 

in  position.     For  a  similar  reason,  as  well  as  from  the  fact  that  they  are 

paired  organs,  the  "  bursce  anales  "  of  the  Testudinata  can  be  in  no  way  p.  z.  S.  1877, 

related  to  that  under  discussion.     The  anal  glands  of  Mammals,  again,      P-  318- 

open  externally  on  the  skin,  and  are  in  fact  cutaneous  glands.     The 

prostate  and  glands  of  Cowper  are  purely  male  glands,  and  probably 

play  some  important  function  in  the  act  of  reproduction ;  so  that  they 

can  hardly  well  correspond  to  an  organ  that  is  common  to  both  sexes, 

and  only  proportionally  developed  in  the  young.     It  would  be  premature 

to  accept  Huschke's  views  without  further  observations  on  the  subject. 

On  the  other  hand,  as  pointed  out  by  Signor  Alesi,  a  lymphatic  organ, 

constructed  on  a  similar  principle,  but  in  a  simpler  form,  exists  in  the 


*    E.g.  Berthold,  Acad.  Caes.-Leop.  Nova  Acta,  xiv.  p.  917  (1828    and  Geoffrey  St.- 
Hilaire,  Mem.  du  Museum,  1823,  t.  ix.  p.  394. 
t  E.  g.  Carus,  '  Zootomia.' 
I  Ticdcmanr,  '  Anat.  der  Vogel,'  1810. 

C 


18  ON  THE  BURSA  FABRICII  IN  BIRDS. 

patches  of  lymphatic  follicles  (which  do  not,  however,  in  this  instance 
project  outside  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  intestine)  in  the  appendix 
to  the  caecum  of  the  rabbit  (described  by  Frey,  '  Untersuchungen  iiber 
die  Lymphgefasse  des  Darmkanales,'  Leipzig,  1863).  An  organ  still 
more  closely  corresponding  in  its  general  shape  and  position  with  the 
bursa  Fabricii  is  the  sac-like  pouch  which  opens  into  the  dorsal  wall  of  the 
cloaca  in  many  Elasmobranchs  *.  The  glands  of  this,  however,  differ  in 
structure  from  those  of  the  bursa  Fabricii ;  so  that  at  present  it  seems  to 
me  that  we  can  assign  no  very  definite  analogue  or  homologue  for  the 
latter,  but  that  it  is  a  glandular  outgrowth  of  the  cloaca  peculiar  to 
birds. 

In  conclusion,  I  may  briefly  recapitulate  the  chief  conclusions  arrived 
at  in  this  paper  : — 

(1)  That  the  bursa  Fabricii  exists  in  both  sexes,  and  probably  in  all 
species,  of  birds. 

(2)  That  it  is  most  developed  in  young  birds,  but  becomes  atrophied 
and  more  or  less  obliterated  in  adults,  the  period,  however,  of  the  com- 
mencement and  conclusion  of  this  process  differing  greatly  in  various 
birds.     In  some  it  probably  persists,  though  in  a  state  of  functional 
inactivity,  throughout  life. 

(3)  That  in  the  majority  of  birds  the  bursa  is  a  moderate-sized  or 
small  sac,  that  opens  by  a  narrow  aperture  on  the  dorsal  wall  of  the 
cloaca  into  the  lowest  "  chamber  "  of  that  organ. 

(4)  That  in  the  Struthious  birds,  on  the  contrary  (the  state  of  Apteryx 
as  regards  these  points  being  doubtful),  the  cloaca  opens  into  the  bursa 
by  a  posterior  aperture,  owing  to  the  fact  that  the  bursa  is  not  constricted 
off  at  the  neck,  but  is  commensurate  in  extent  with  the  third  or  outer 
chamber  of  the  cloaca,  the  two  being  united  into  one.     This  condition, 
however,  is  only  to  be  found  in  young  birds. 

(5)  That  the  bursa  is  a  glandular  organ,  of  which  lymphatic  follicles 
are  the  essential  constituents,  but  has  no  exact  homologue  in   other 
classes  of  Yertebrata. 


*  Signer  Alesi,  in  his  paper,  s.  <?.,  alludes  to  this  pouch  as  being  ventral  in  position, 
which  it  certainly  is  not.  It  is  figured  in  Squafina  vulgaris  by  Gegenbaur  (Vergl. 
Anatomic,  fig.  267  c,  &  p.  798).  It  is  absent  in  Chimcera.  Leydig  has  described  its 
structure  ('  Beitrage  z.  microscop.  Anat.  u.  Entwickel.  der  Rochen  u.  Haie,'  Leipzig, 
1852),  and  found  that  it  consisted  of  collections  of  glands  similar  to  the  glands  of 
Brunner. 


OX  THE  PARROTS  OF  THE  GEXUS  ECLECTUS.  19 


6.  RECENT  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE          . 
PARROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS* 

THE  large  red  and  green  Parrots  forming  the  genus  Edectus  of  Wagler 
have  long  been  well  known  to  naturalists,  who  have,  until  recently,  enter- 
tained no  sort  of  doubt  that  the  red  species  were  perfectly  distinct  from 
the  green  ones.  So  much  was  this  the  case,  that  a  subgenus,  denominated 
Polychlorus  in  1857  by  Sclaterf,  has  been  formed  for  the  reception  of 
the  green  species,  the  red  ones  being  retained  under  Edectus  proper.  ^'  275 
Dr.  Finsch,  whose  excellent  work,  *  Die  Papageien,'  must  be  regarded  as 
our  "  Standpunkt "  in  all  matters  concerning  Parrots,  recognizes  (I.  c. 
vol.  ii.  p.  332)  seven  species  of  the  genus  (as  restricted  by  Wagler),  and 
gives  the  following  table  of  them  : — 

a.  Green  Eclecti. 

1.  polychlorus,  Scop.     Under  wing-coverts  and  sides  red.     Wing  10"  5'". 

2.  intermedius,  Bp.     Like  the  last,  but  green  darker  and  size  smaller. 

Wing  8"  9"'. 

3.  westermanni,  Bp.     Like  the  last,  but  without  red  on  sides. 

b.  Red  Eclecti. 

4.  grandis,  Gm.      Band   over  the  upper  back  and  the   under   surface 

violet-blue  ;  tail-feathers  and  under  tail-coverts  }^ellow.     Wing  10'' 
3'". 

5.  cardinalis,  Bodd.     Like  the  last,  but  darker  red ;  under  tail-coverts 

orange-red.     Wing  8"  5'". 

6.  linnwi,  Wagl.     Like  the  last,  but  with  a  narrow  blue  ring  round  the 

eye  ;  under  tail-coverts  red. 

7.  cornelice,  Bp.     Without  any  blue  at  all. 

The  distribution  of  the  species  (as  given  by  Finsch)  is  represented  in 
the  following  table,  the  habitat  of  two  species  (E.  westermanni  and  E. 
cornelice),  both  originally  described  by  Bonaparte  from  specimens  living 
in  the  "  Natura-Artis-Magistra "  Gardens  at  Amsterdam,  being  still 
unknown. 


*  Ibis,  1877,  pp.  274-283. 
t  P.Z.S.  1857,  p.  226. 

c2 


20 


ON  THE  PARROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS. 


Ibis,  1877, 
p.  276. 


O 

ns 
C 

£ 

<D 

"t 

•j 

d 

. 

s 

To 

'rt 

§ 

i 

Ceram. 

Bouru. 

1 

a 

1 

JD 

'o 

5 

Morota 

'1 

3 

O 

f 

I 

1 

1 

3 

K 

1 

1 

2 
i—  i 

Eclectus 

polvchlorus  .    .  . 

* 

# 

intermedius 

grandis    

g 

# 

£ 

^ 

^ 

cardiualis     

* 

* 

* 

^ 

£. 

^ 

# 

This  being  the  case,  ornithologists  were  not  a  little  surprised  when 
Dr.  A.  B.  Meyer  announced,  on  his  return  to  Europe  from  his  adven- 
turous travels  in  New  Guinea  and  the  adjacent  islands,  that  the  green 
species  of  Eclectus  were  simply  the  males  of  the  red  ones  —  also  that  all 
the  so-called  species  were,  in  his  opinion,  referable  to  one  species,  and 
one  only,  namely  Eclectus  polychlovus.  In  his  paper  on  the  subject  in 
the  '  Zoologischer  Garten'  for  May  1874,  p.  161,  Dr.  Meyer  says  that 
his  attention  was  first  called  to  this  matter  by  finding  that  he  had  deter- 
mined all  the  specimens,  six  in  number,  of  the  E.  polychlorus  (green) 
that  he  had  procured  in  the  Papuan  island  of  Mafoor  (in  G-eelvink  Bay) 
as  males,  whilst  nine  E.  linncei  (red)  were  all  females.  Struck  by  this 
curious  coincidence,  he  inquired  of  his  Malay  hunters  if  they  knew  any 
thing  of  the  matter.  They  replied  that  it  was  a  well-known  fact  that 
these  green  and  red  Parrots  were  man  and  wife.  One  asserted  that  he  had 
seen  parents  of  both  colours  engaged  in  incubation,  one  replacing  the 
other.  Though  Dr.  Meyer,  warned  by  former  experience,  did  not  trust 
implicitly  to  any  statements  made  by  his  native  hunters,  these  accounts 
strengthened  him  in  his  suspicions;  and  he  determined  to  investigate 
the  matter  thoroughly.  Three  green  Eclecti  he  obtained  in  Jobi  were 
all  males,  three  red  all  females.  These  results  were  afterwards  fully 
confirmed  by  the  examination  of  a  great  number  of  specimens  on  the 
mainland  of  New  Guinea.  These  were  too  numerous  to  bring  all  back 
to  Europe  ;  but  he  returned  with  thirty  specimens  of  the  genus,  four  of 
which  were  preserved  entire  in  spirits  of  wine,  as  well  as  a  living  pair  of 
birds  (green  and  red).  To  place  the  parallelism  in  the  distribution  of  the 
red  and  green  forms  (already  noted  by  Piusch,  I.  c.)  in  a  stronger  light, 
he  divides  the  Eclecti  into  three  groups,  of  which  E.  cornelice  and  ivester- 
manni  (the  habitats  of  which  are,  as  already  remarked,  unknown)  consti- 
tute one.  The  other  two  are  :  — 


polychlorus  (green)] 
linna*  (red)  v 

grandis  (red)  ) 


igu?  Mygo]> 


OX  THE  PARROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS.        21 

intermedia  (green)  1  ^^  Amb  Buru  Ibia,  1877, 

cardinalis  (red)        J  p.  277. 

From  this  it  is  clear  that  the  range  of  one  green  form  (E.  polychlorus} 
corresponds  with  that  of  two  red  {E.  linncei  and  E.  grandis).  "As  I 
cannot  hesitate  a  moment,"  says  Dr.  Meyer,  "  in  ascribing  the  conditions 
found  in  E.  polychlorus  and  E.  linncei  from  New  Guinea,  Mafoor,  and 
Jobi  to  the  other  allied  form  (namely,  that  the  green  are  the  males  and 
the  red  the  females  of  one  and  the  same  species),  the  interesting  fact 
comes  out  (unparalleled,  so  far  as  I  know,  in  the  ornis  of  the  whole 
world),  that  differently  coloured  females  correspond  to  one  and  the  same 
male  in  different  localities  ;  for  E.  linncei  and  E.  yrandis  show  at  first  sight 
such  differences,  that,  so  long  as  we  did  not  know  their  true  relations  to 
E.  polychlorus,  they  were  universally  considered  different  species.  Thus, 
therefore,  the  male  remains  constant,  whilst  the  female  varies."  Dr. 
Meyer  then  proceeds  to  show  that  no  theories  of  "  sexual  "  or  "  natural 
selection  "  can  account  for  these  facts,  of  the  causes  of  which  we  are 
completely  ignorant.  Schlegel  (Ned.  Tijd.  v.  d.  Dierk.  iii.  p.  332,  1866), 
he  observes,  has  already  united  E.  intermedium  and  E.  polychlorus  into  one 
species,  the  examples  from  Grebe  and  Waigiou  being  intermediate  in  their 
characters  between  these  two  forms.  Moreover  an  authentic  specimen 
of  E.  intermedius  from  Ceram,  received  from  the  Leyden  Museum,  and 
now  in  the  Imperial  Cabinet  at  Vienna,  quite  agrees  with  Dr.  Meyer's, 
series  from  New  Guinea,  Mafoor,  and  Jobi.  Hence  E.  polychlorus 
(including  under  this  term  E.  intermedius)  possesses  in  different  islands 
three  females,  differently  coloured  according  to  the  locality,  viz. : — 

(1)  linncei,  in  New  Guinea,  My  sol,  Waigiou,  and  Gebe ; 

(2)  grandis,  in  Gilolo,  Batjan,  and  Morotai ; 

(3)  cardinalis,  in  Ceram,  Buru,  and  Aniboyna. 

Dr.  Meyer  then  goes  on  to  argue  that  E.  wesfermanni  and  E.  cornelice, 
both  remarkable  for  being  nearly  uniform  in  colour,  must  also  be  regarded 
as  forms  of  E.  polychlorus.  He  urges  that  E.  cornelice  may  well  be  a 
fourth  female  of  E.  polychlorus,  as  we  already  know  that  the  females  of 
this  species  are  variable,  whilst  E.  westermanni,  he  considers,  is  probably  ^s>  ^®^» 
an  individual  that  has  retained  its  juvenile  plumage  and  has  been  unable 
to  assume  its  adult  colouring  owing  to  captivity. 

Here  I  must  join  issue  with  Dr.  Meyer  on  several  grounds.  First  of 
all,  several  examples  of  each  of  these  condemned  species  have  lived  at 
various  times  in  the  Zoological  Gardens  of  London  and  Amsterdam,  and 
no  noteworthy  difference  has  been  detected  in  these  specimens.  Again, 
specimens  of  both  species  have  lived  for  considerable  periods  at  Amsterdam 
without  undergoing  any  change  in  coloration  (vide  Finsch,  I.  s.  c.).  More- 
over Parrots,  as  a  rule,  including  those  of  the  present  genus,  do  remarkably 
well  in  captivity,  and  show  no  tendency  to  lose  or  to  fail  to  acquire  their 
brilliant  colours  or  to  retain  their  immature  dress.  Eclectus  cornelice  and 


22        ON  THE  PARROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS. 

E.  westermanni  can  hardly  be  man  and  wife,  owing  to  their  disparity  in  size 
(the  wing  of  the  former  being  given  by  Pinsch  as  9"  5'",  of  the  latter  7''  8"' 
to  8"  5'",  and  other  measurements  in  proportion).  Hence  we  may  conclude 
that  in  the  former  case  the  male,  in  the  latter  the  female,  remains  to  be 
discovered,  as  well  as  the  exact  habitat  of  each.  When  we  reflect  on  the 
little  knowledge  we  still  have  of  the  great  mass  of  New  Guinea,  as  well  as 
of  some  of  the  neighbouring  islands,  it  is  evident  that  ample  area  for  such 
a  discovery  is  still  left.  This  conclusion  is  strengthened  by  the  fact  that 
certain  other  Parrots  belonging  to  the  same  region,  likewise  first  de- 
scribed from  captive  specimens,  and  undoubtedly  distinct  (e.  g.  Lorius 
*i&iafta,Scl.  P.Z.S.  1871,  p.  449,  and  TricJwglossus  mitcMli,  G.  E.  Gray), 
have  their  exact  habitat  still  unascertained.  The  recent  discovery  of 
Loriinse  (a  group  of  which  the  geographical  range  coincides  remarkably 
with  that  of  Edectus,  as  has  been  pointed  out  by  Mr.  Wallace)  in  such 
unexpected  localities  as  Ponape  (in  the  Caroline  group),  where  Chalcopsitta 
rubiginosa  occurs*,  and  Fanning  Island,  in  the  mid  Pacific  t,  renders  it 
even  possible  that  an  Edectus  may  turn  up  in  some  equally  "unlikely" 
locality  J. 

J^j7'  Dr.  Meyer  then  goes  on  to  show  that  Bernstein's  determinations  of 
the  sexes  of  the  specimens  he  forwarded  to  the  Leyden  Museum  are 
probably  erroneous,  as  in  his  three  years'  experience  he  found  the  sexes 
about  equally  numerous,  whereas  Bernstein's  determinations  would  show 
great  disparity  in  their  relative  abundance  (in  one  case  six  males  to  one 
female,  in  the  other  twelve  females  to  two  males).  The  juvenile 
plumage  of  Edectus  is  unfortunately  still  unknown;  but  Dr.  Meyer 
concludes  that  it  is  probably  green,  from  the  fact  that  twelve  out  of 
fourteen  of  his  red  specimens  still  preserve  evident  traces  of  green 
feathers. 

In  reply  to  these  arguments  Prof.  Schlegel  §  not  unnaturally  hesitates 
to  accept  Dr.  Meyer's  conclusions,  because,  of  72  specimens  of  red 
Eclecti  in  the  Leyden  Museum,  20  have  been  determined  by  the  collectors 
as  males,  and  the  remainder  (52)  as  females,  and,  on  the  other  hand,  of  77 
green  specimens  in  the  same  museum,  56  are  marked  as  males  and  21  as 
females.  Hence,  if  Dr.  Meyer  be  right,  a  considerable  proportion  of 
these  specimens  must  have  been  wrongly  sexed  by  the  four  travellers  by 
whom  they  were  collected,  viz.  Salomon  Miiller,  Bernstein,  Hoedt,  and 
Von  Rosenberg. 

Dr.  Meyer  returns  to  the  charge  in  a  paper  in  the  '  Mittheilungen  aus 

*   Vide  Finsch,  '  Journal  des  Museum  Godeffroy,'  Heft  xii.  1876. 
t  Coriphilus  Jcuhli,  P.Z.S.  1876,  p.  421. 

|  Prof.  Bietmann's  "shining-red  Parrots"  in  Guadalcanal-  (P.Z.S.  1869,  p.  127) 
might  well  be  E.  cornelia. 

§  Mus.  Pays-Bas,  Psittacidir,  1874,  p.  17. 


ON  THE  PARROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS.        23 

dem  k.-k.  zoologischen  Museum  zu  Dresden'  (I.  c.  pp.  11-13).  He  repeats 
his  former  observations,  and  gives  some  additional  ones,  amongst  which 
are  some  remarks  on  a  living  pair  of  Eclectus  in  his  possession,  green  and 
red,  the  green  bird  on  being  introduced  to  the  red  at  once  having  become 
friendly  with  the  latter.  A  green  Eclectus  that  died  soon  after  it  came 
into  his  possession  was  dissected  and  turned  out  to  be  a  male.  As 
regards  the  specimens  in  the  Leyden  Museum,  Dr.  Meyer  disposes  of 
them  by  saying  that  those  collected  by  S.  Miiller  have  been  long  in  the 
Museum,  and  may  very  probably  have  had  their  labels  transposed — that 
Bernstein,  during  the  latter  part  of  his  residence  in  the  Malay  archi- 
pelago (as  he  himself  learned  from  one  of  his  hunters,  who  had  also 
collected  for  Bernstein,  and  knew  the  latter  well),  suffered  severely 
from  illness,  and  therefore  may  well  have  made  mistakes  in  the  deter-  Ibl8> 
mination  of  the  sexes  of  his  specimens — that  Hoedt  had  no  pretensions 
to  any  scientific  knowledge — and  that  Rosenberg  has  in  other  instances 
made  blunders  of  a  similar  kind — so  that  their  evidence  counts  for  little. 
Dr.  Meyer  adds  some  mathematical  calculations  showing  that  the  chances 
are  32,700  to  1  against  his  having  killed  six  all  males  of  the  green 
Eclectus,  and  nine  all  females  of  the  red  one  in  the  same  island,  if  they 
really  were  distinct  species. 

So  far  Dr.  Meyer.  Important  evidence  in  corroboration  of  part  of  his 
theory  is  given  by  the  Italian  naturalists  who  have  lately  visited  New 
Guinea.  Beccari,  in  his  Ornithological  Letters  to  Count  Salvador!  *, 
says,  "  Though  it  seems  strange,  it  is  nevertheless  true  that  the  green 
Eclecti  are  males  of  the  red  ones.  I  learnt  this  at  Aru  from  my  hunters; 
and  the  young  have  the  same  differences."  Salvadori  says  again  (I.  c. 
pp.  756,  757),  speaking  of  the  sexual  differences  in  E.  grandis,  that  there 
is  "no  longer  any  doubt  on  this  subject.  D'Albertis  has  assured  me  that 
it  is  a  well-known  fact  amongst  the  natives  of  the  Moluccas  and  New 
Guinea."  In  his  various  papers  on  Papuan  ornithology  in  the  same 
journal,  the  green  specimens  of  Eclectus  are  always  determined  as  males> 
the  red  as  females. 

Prof.  Garrod  also  tells  me  that  during  his  prosectorship  the  only  two 
Eclecti  that  have  died  in  the  Zoological  Society's  Gardens  were  one 
E.  polychlorus  and  one  E.  grandis,  respectively  male  and  female.  On  the 
other  hand,  the  Rev.  George  Brown,  C.M.Z.S.,  who  has  lately  sent  over 
to  this  country  such  interesting  collections  from  New  Britain  and  the 
adjacent  islands,  says,  in  a  letter  to  Mr.  Sclater,  dated  Sydney,  October 
22,  1876,  "  This  "  (i.  e.  the  green  and  red  Eclecti  being  specifically  iden- 
tical) "  is  a  gross  error.  Our  attention  was  directed  to  this  subject ; 
and  I  am  quite  sure  they  are  two  different  birds.  We  shot  the  green 

*  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Storia  Natur.  Geneva,  vol.  vii.  p.  701  (1875),   and  Ibis,   1876, 
p.  253. 


24        ON  THE  PAKROTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS. 

ones,  both  male  and  female/'  Two  skins  in  the  collection  are  referable 
to  E.  polychlorus  and  linncei  ;  the  latter  is  marked  female.  It  is  to  be 
hoped  Mr.  Brown  will  renew  his  investigations  into  this  subject,  as  the 
*817'  determination  of  the  sexes  is  not  always  very  easy  without  careful 
dissection,  the  suprarenal  bodies  in  birds  being  particularly  liable  to  be 
mistaken  for  the  testes  when  the  latter  are  not  developed  to  the  extent 
that  they  are  during  the  breeding-season.  On  the  whole,  I  think,  we 
must  conclude,  in  company  with  Dr.  Meyer  and  Count  Salvadori,  that; 
the  green  Eclecti  are  really  males,  the  red  females. 

With  regard  to  Dr.  Meyer's  conclusion  that  all  the  species  hitherto 
described  must  be  regarded  simply  as  forms  of  one  species  (E.  poly- 
chlorus), I  have  already  adduced  reasons  for  believing  that  E.  ivestermanni 
and  E.  cornelice  are  good  species.  As  regards  the  other  five,  a  careful 
examination  of  a  large  series  of  skins  from  different  localities  (we  now 
know  that  Eclectus  extends  east  as  far  as  Tule  Island  and  Duke-of-York 
Island)  will  be  necessary  before  coming  to  any  definite  conclusion  on  the 
subject.  Count  Salvadori,  however,  who  has  probably  had  as  large  a 
series  of  specimens  from  different  Papuan  islands  of  this  genus  as  any- 
body, recognizes  three  distinct  species  (besides  the  two  of  unknown 
habitat),  which  he  says  may  always  be  recognized  as  distinct  at  any  age 
or  in  either  sex.  He  gives  the  following  table  of  these  species  as  under- 
stood by  him  (I.  c.  p.  756)  :  — 

1.  Virides:  lateribus  rubro-puniceis.     (Mares.) 

a.  Majores. 

a'.  Viridis,  colore  obscuriore,  cauda  minus  caerulea  ..................  1.  polychlorus. 

b'.  Viridis,  colore  laetiore,  cauda  magis  caerulea    .....................  2.  cardinalis*. 

b.  Minores.     Cauda  \-ix  cserulea  .............................................  3.  ffrandis*. 

2.  Kubrse  :    fascia  interscapulari  et  abdomine  cyaneo  vel  violaceo. 

(Feminse.) 

a.  Annulo  periophthalmico  cyaneo  ..........................................     1.  polychlorus- 

b.  Annulo  periophthalmico  nullo 

a'.  Subcaudalibus  auroreis  vel  rubro-flayis  ..............................     2.  cardinalis. 

b'.  Subcaudalibus  pure  flav  is    ..........................  .  ..................     3. 


In  this  table  the  green  E.  cardinalis  is,  I  suppose,  the  intermedius  of 
most  authors,  whilst  the  red  E.  polychlorus  is  clearly  what  is  usually 
called  E.  linncei, 

Ibis,  1877,       On  the  whole  it  seems  probable  that  we  must  be  content  with  ascribing 

p.  282.     f.0  Eclectus  the  most  marked  sexual  differences  in  colour  of  any  Parrots 

hitherto  known.    Aprosmictus  (at  least  in  some  species,  e.  g.  A.  scapulatus) 

also  presents  very  well-marked  sexual  differences  in  coloration,  and,  as 

Prof.  Garrod  has  shown  (P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  494),  agrees  very  closely  with 

*  In  the  original  paper  Count  Salvadori  has  accidentally  transposed  these  two 
names,  as  I  have  ascertained  from  a  corrected  copy  of  his  paper  that  he  forwarded  to 
Mr.  Sclater. 


ON  THE  PARKOTS  OF  THE  GENUS  ECLECTUS.       25 

Eclectus  in  anatomical  structure.  Eclectus,  however,  differs  from  all 
known  Parrots  in  having  the  female  more  gaudily  coloured  than  the  male. 
Can  it  be  possible  that,  as  in  the  few  other  analogous  instances  where 
the  female  is  the  more  brightly  coloured  (e.  g.  Turnix,  Rhynchcea,  &c.*), 
the  duties  of  incubation  devolve  on  the  male  ?  If  such  be  the  case,  we 
can  easily  understand  the  use  of  the  green  coloration  being  retained  by  the 
male.  Unfortunately  we  are  still  totally  ignorant  of  the  habits,  nidifica- 
tion,  and  immature  plumage  of  these  Parrots.  Let  us  hope  that  Signer 
D'Albertis  or  Mr.  Brown  will  soon  throw  some  light  on  this,  as  well  as 
on  the  other  interesting  points  noted  above,  which  still  require  further 
examination. 

In  conclusion,  supposing  that  we  assume  the  new  views  as  to  the 
sexual  differences  of  the  Eclecti  to  be  correct,  the  following  list  of  the 
species  will  show  concisely  their  sexual  differences  and  geographical 
distribution. 

1.  ECLECTUS  POLYCHLOKTJS  (Scop.). 

Maximus :  mas  viridis  colore  obscuriore,  lateribus  rubro-puniceis,  caudd 
minus  cceruled :  femina  rubra,  fascia  inter scapulari,  abdomine  et  annulo 
perioplitlialmico  cyaneis. 

Hab.  in  insulis  Papuanis  et  Moluccanis  Ternate,  Gilolo,  Batchian, 
Morotai,  Guebe,  Waigiou,  Mysol,  Gage,  Ke,  Aru,  Papua,  Nova  Hibernia, 
et  Nova  Britannia. 

2.  ECLECTUS  GRAKDIS  (Gin.). 

Major  :  mas  viridis,  lateribus  rubro-puniceis,  caudd  vix  cceruled :  femina 
rubra,  fascia  interscap.  et  abdomine  cyaneis,  subcaudalibus  purbflavis. 
Hab.  in  insulis  Ternate,  Gilolo,  Batchian,  Morotai,  et  Gage. 

3.  ECLECTUS  CARDINAUS  (Bodd.).  Ibis,  1877, 
Minor  :  mas  viridis,  E.  polychloro  similis,  at  colore  Icetiore  cauddque       P* 

magis  cceruled  distinguendus  :  femina  rubra,  fascia  interscapulari  et 
abdomine  cyaneis  ;  subcaudalibus  auroreis  vel  rubro-Jlavis. 
Hab.  in  insulis  Moluccanis  Ceram,  Bouru,  et  Amboyna. 

4.  ECLECTUS  WESTERMANNI,  Bp. 

Minor  :  mas  viridis,  lateribus  concoloribus.     Femina  adhuc  ignota. 
Hab.  ?     (Viv.  Nat.  Art.  Mag.  et  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.) 

5.  ECLECTUS  CORISTELI^B,  Bp. 

Mas  ignotus :  femina  punicea,  colore  cyaneo  neque  dorsi  neque  lateris 

inferioris  ullo. 
Hab.  ?    (Viv.  Nat.  Art.  Mag.  et  Zool.  Soc.  Lond.) 

*  Vide  Darwin's  '  Descent  of  Man/  vol.  ii.  p.  200  et  seq.  (1871). 


26  ON  THE  NESTING  OF  THE  SPOONBILL  IN  HOLLAND. 


Ibp!'4i2.7'  7.   ON  THE   NESTING  OF  THE   SPOONBILL  IN   HOL- 
LAND.    By  P.  L.  SCLATER  and  W.  A.  FORBES.* 

THAT  the  Spoonbill  (Platalea  f  leucorodia)  breeds  in  Holland  is  a  fact 
well  known  to  every  ornithologist ;  and  most  egg-collectors  are  aware 
that  specimens  of  its  eggs  obtained  in  that  country  are  to  be  purchased 

at  a  very  cheap  rate  in  the  London  egg-shops.     But  we  are  not  sure  that 
Ibis  1877 
p.'  413. '   anJ  ornithologist,    at   least   of   this  country,  h#s   actually  visited   the 

nesting-places  of  this  bird,  or,  at  any  rate,  has  published  any  account  of 
them.  In  May  1867,  as  is  recorded  in  Gould's  '  Birds  of  Great  Britain  ' 
(vol.  iv.  part  30),  Sclater  paid  a  visit  to  a  nesting-place  of  he  Spoonbill 
at  Nieuwerkerk,  near  Eotterdam ;  but  though  he  saw  many  Spoonbills, 
the  nesting  had  not  then  begun ;  and  the  lake  which  he  visited  is  said  to 
have  been  drained  since  that  time.  We  hope  therefore  that  it  may 
interest  readers  of  '  The  Ibis '  to  have  an  account  of  our  recent  expe- 
riences on  this  subject. 

Being  in  Holland  in  the  first  week  of  May  this  year,  Sclater  made 
many  inquiries  as  to  where  the  Spoonbills  could  be  seen  performing  the 
duties  of  reproduction,  and  finally  ascertained  from  Hr.  A.  A.  Van  Bem- 
melen,  Director  of  the  Zoological  Gardens  at  Eotterdam,  that  the  most 
likely  place  to  witness  this  interesting  phenomenon  was  the  .Horster 
Meer,  between  Amsterdam  and  Utrecht.  At  Amsterdam  it  was  ascer- 
tained that  the  first  week  in  July  would  be  a  convenient  period  for  the 
proposed  excursion  with  this  object,  as  about  that  time  the  birds  would 
have  commenced  incubation. 

On  the  3rd  of  July,  therefore,  we  found  ourselves  at  the  Amstel  Hotel, 
at  Amsterdam ;  and  upon  visiting  Mr.  Hegt,  the  Assistant-Director  of 
the  Zoological  Society's  Gardens  there,  found  that  he  had  kindly  made 
every  necessary  arrangement  for  our  proposed  expedition  next  day.  No 
railway-station  being  very  convenient  for  the  Horster  Meer,  he  had 
ordered  a  carriage  to  take  us  from  Amsterdam  to  the  scene  of  action. 

Next  morning  we  started  about  8  o'clock,  and  had  about  three  hours' 
drive,  passing  the  villages  .of  Abgouda  and  Vreeland  before  arriving  at 
Overmeer  an  de  Vecht,  the  little  village  in  which  Hr.  van  Dyk,  the  lessee 
of  the  Horster  Meer,  resided.  The  Horster  Meer  consists  of  a  large 
tract  of  water  reed- beds  and  swamp,  lying  on  the  right  bank  of  the  Vecht, 
and  immediately  to  the  south  of  the  Zuyder  Zee.  It  is  between  the 


*  Ibis,  1877,  pp.  412-416. 

t  Mr.  Dresser  (B.  Eur.  pt.  23-24)  uses  Platea  as  the  generic  name  of  the  Spoonbill 
instead  of  Platalea.  It  may  be  hoped,  however,  that  this  is  a  mere  oversight,  and  that 
Mr.  Dresser  is  not  prepared  to  dissent  from  the  canon  that  Linnean  names  are  to 
remain  inyiolate. 


ON  THE  NESTING  OF  THE  SPOONBILL  IN  HOLLAND.  27 

railways  going  from  Amsterdam  to  Utrecht  on  one  side,  and  from  Ibis,  1877, 
Amsterdam  to  Amersfoort  on  the  other.  It  belongs  to  a  rich  proprietor 
in  Amsterdam,  but  is  farmed  out  at  a  considerable  rent  for  the  sake  of 
the  fish,  reeds,  and  bird's  eggs  which  it  produces.  The  last-mentioned 
objects  are  collected  from  the  nests  in  which  they  are  laid,  twice  a  week 
during  the  months  of  May  and  June,  and  sold  in  Amsterdam  to  such 
persons  as  require  a  large  supply  of  fresh  eggs  without  being  particular 
as  to  the  source  from  which  they  are  derived. 

On  arriving  at  Overmeer  we  were  received  by  Hr.  van  Dyk  and 
escorted  to  a  boat,  which  conveyed  us  along  a  short  canal  into  the 
Horster  Meer.  No  sooner  had  we  arrived  on  the  lake  than  the  air  above 
us  was  filled  with  an  enormous  flight  of  Cormorants,  who  well  knew  what 
a  visit  to  their  domain  portended.  A  few  minutes  afterwards  about  500 
Spoonbills  were  circling  in  the  air  over  our  heads,  their  long  legs  stretched 
behind  them,  and  their  white  bodies  glistening  in  the  sun.  The  Meer, 
so  far  as  visible,  was  not  a  very  extensive  piece  of  water,  being  closed  in 
on  all  sides  by  enormous  reed-beds,  the  homes  of  these  and  other  aquatic 
birds.  Having  landed  at  the  end  of  a  ditch  which  penetrated  into  one  of 
these  beds  of  reeds,  we  pursued  a  track  which  led  us  first  to  a  breeding- 
place  of  the  Cormorants.  Here  was  a  circular  space,  perhaps  fifty  yards 
in  diameter,  cleared  of  reeds,  in  which  the  Cormorants'  nests  stood  thick 
together  on  the  swampy  soil.  They  were  formed  of  rather  large  sticks, 
piled  somewhat  loosely  together  to  a  height  of  about  18  inches  above  the 
surface.  The  top  of  the  nest  was  only  slightly  hollowed  out,  and  lined 
with  a  few  broken  reeds.  The  eggs  were  in  no  case  more  than  two  in 
number,  the  poor  birds  having  been  robbed  continuously  up  to  that  time, 
and  only  within  the  last  few  days  allowed  to  commence  incubation. 

Having  inspected  the  Cormorants'  breeding-place,  we  proceeded  about 
fifty  yards  further  through  the  reed-beds,  over  a  still  more  treacherous 
swamp,  to  the  breeding-place  of  the  Spoonbills.  The  nests  of  these  birds 
were  not  situated  so  near  together  as  those  of  the  Cormorants,  but  scat- 
tered about  two  or  three  yards  from  each  other,  with  thin  patches  of  reeds  j^is  ^77 
growing  between  then.  There  was,  however,  a  clear  open  space  in  the  p.  415. 
neighbourhood,  formed  of  broken-down  reeds,  in  which  the  birds  were 
said  to  congregate.  The  Spoonbill's  nest,  in  the  Horster  Meer  at  least,  is 
a  mere  flattened  surface  of  broken  reed,  not  elevated  more  than  two  or 
three  inches  above  the  general  level  of  the  swamp ;  and  no  other  sub- 
stance but  reed  appears  to  be  used  in  its  construction.  What  the  proper 
complement  of  eggs  would  be  if  the  birds  were  left  undisturbed  we 
cannot  say ;  for,  as  in  the  case  of  the  Cormorants,  the  nests  are  robbed 
systematically  twice  a  week,  until  the  period  when  it  is  known  by  expe- 
rience that  they  cannot  produce  any  more  eggs.  Then  at  last  the  birds 
are  allowed  to  sit  undisturbed.  At  the  time  of  our  visit  the  season  for 
collecting  eggs  was  just  past ;  but  we  helped  ourselves  to  eight  fresh 


28  ON  THE  NESTING  OF  THE  SPOONBILL  IN  HOLLAND. 

eggs,  from  different  nests,  laid  since  the  last  collection  had  been  made. 
During  all  the  time  that  we  were  in  the  reed-beds  the  Cormorants  and 
Spoonbills  were  floating  about  over  our  heads,  fully  aware  that  there  was 
an  enemy  in  the  camp.  We  were  told  that  there  were  several  other 
nesting-places  of  the  Spoonbill  in  different  parts  of  the  Horster  Meer, 
containing  altogether  several  thousand  nests ;  so  that  we  may  hope 
that  it  will  be  some  time  before  this  fine  bird  becomes  extinct  in  this 
locality. 

The  only  other  bird  we  found  nesting  in  the  Horster  Meer  was  the 
Black  Tern,  of  which  we  captured  two  young  chicks. 

After  refreshing  ourselves  at  the  hostelry  of  Overmeer,  we  returned  to 
Amsterdam  in  the  evening  by  a  different  route,  highly  satisfied  with  our 
day  with  the  Spoonbills. 

We  may  observe,  in  conclusion,  that  on  looking  over  Mr.  Dresser's 
account  of  the  Spoonbill  in  his  '  Birds  of  Europe,'  we  find  him  quoting 
from  Schlegel  that  this  bird  "  is  found  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  large 
rivers,  at  Biesboch,  Nieuwerkerk,  on  the  Tssel  at  B-ozenburg,  and  on  the 
Maas  ;  and  breeds  in  Holland,  arriving  there  in  April  and  leaving  in 
September."  Again,  a  few  pages  further  on,  Mr.  Dresser  says,  "It 
breeds  in  Holland ;  but  I  do  not  find  any  record  of  its  having  of  late 
been  found  nesting  elsewhere  in  Northern  Europe,  though  in  Hungary 
p'  416. '  an^  South-eastern  Europe  it  breeds  numerously."  In  Mr.  Gould's  folio, 
too,  no  more  detailed  account  is  given,  with  the  exception  of  the  record 
of  Sclater's  unsuccessful  expedition  ten  years  ago.  Now  our  experiences 
as  to  the  position  of  the  Spoonbill's  nest  certainly  agree  with  the  details 
given  by  Messrs.  Dickson  and  Ross,  who  met  with  it  breeding  near 
Erzeroum  (P.  Z.  S.  1839,  p.  134) ;  and  this  seems  to  have  been  the  fullest 
account  known  to  Mr.  Dresser  at  the  time  of  writing  his  article.  So, 
although  there  seems  to  be  no  reasonable  doubt  that  in  some  cases  it 
nests  in  lofty  trees,  we  may  claim  to  have  established  the  fact  that  in 
Holland  it  breeds  on  the  ground  among  the  reed-beds,  and  to  be  able  to 
assure  those  naturalists  who  happen  to  be  in  Amsterdam  at  the  right 
time  that  there  is  no  better  way  of  spending  a  spare  day  than  an  excur- 
sion to  the  Spoonbills'  nesting-place  on  the  Horster  Meer. 

We  cannot  conclude  this  short  account  of  a  most  delightful  day 
without  thanking  Mr.  Hegt  most  heartily  for  his  kind  arrangements  for 
our  trip,  without  which  we  should  probably  have  encountered  con- 
siderable difficulty  in  reaching  our  destination.  It  is  to  be  feared  that 
in  England  we  could  hardly  promise  to  show  our  friends  an  equally 
interesting  sight  in  such  close  proximity  to  our  metropolis  ! 


LEPIDOPTERA  FROM  SWITZERLAND,  ETC.         29 


8.  LEPIDOPTERA  CAPTURED  DURING  AN  EXCURSION 
TO  SWITZERLAND  AND  THE  ITALIAN  LAKES.* 

THE  following  list  of  Lepidoptera,  observed  by  myself  and  a  friend  (Mr. 
M.  J.  Michael,  of  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge),  during  a  short  trip  in 
Switzerland  and  the  Italian  Lakes  last  summer,  may  be  of  interest  to 
entomologists  who  have  collected  on  similar  occasions,  as'  showing  how 
much  (or,  rather,  how  little)  can  be  done  in  entomology  on  a  tour  where 
this  is  not  the  only  object.  When  in  company  with  non-entomological 
friends  (we  were  in  all  a  party  of  four)  a  great  deal  of  collecting  has  to 
be  done  on  the  sly,  as  it  were, — I  mean  by  resorting  to  such  expedients 
as  walking  up  hills  when  travelling  along  the  roads ;  and  by  these  means 
a  number  of  additional  species  were  procured,  though  sometimes  perhaps 
at  the  expense  of  the  time  of  the  less  interested  members  of  the  party. 
Unfortunately,  the  time  for  departure  from  England  (about  the  middle 
of  August)  coincided  with  the  setting  in  all  over  Western  Europe  of  the 
spell  of  bad  weather  wrhich  prevailed  for  about  a  month  continuously ; 
and  this,  combined  with  the  lateness  of  the  season,  no  doubt  much  contri- 
buted to  the  lack  of  species  observed,  and  the  entire  absence  of  some 
usually  common,  e.  g.  Daplidice,  Palceno,  &c.  It  also  entirely  frustrated 
our  intention  of  visiting  Zerrnatt,  where  we  had  intended  to  have  spent 
some  days  collecting  the  insects  of  the  high  Alps.  The  total  number  of 
species  observed  in  the  month  was  107,  of  which  33  are  not  British 
species.  Por  naming  some  of  these  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  Staudinger, 
whose  nomenclature  I  have  throughout  followed. 

LIST  OF  SPECIES  OBSERVED. 

Papilio  podalirius — seen  near  Colico.  Papilio  machaon — Colico,  Bel- 
laggio,  Meuaggio.  Parnassius  apollo — one  2  specimen  at  rest  on  thistles 
near  Andeer.  Pieris  brassicce,  rapce,  napi — everywhere  in  cultivated 
grounds.  Leucophasia  sinapis — common  in  the  gardens  of  the  Villa 
Serbelloni  and  elsewhere  at  Bellaggio ;  also  at  Menaggio  and  Pallanza. 
Colias  Tiyale  occurred  nearly  everywhere,  and  usually  commoner  than  the 
next.  C.  edusa — with  the  last.  The  var.  hdice  occurred  at  Bellaggio 
and  Menaggio,  but  not  commonly.  .Rhodocera  rhamni — Villa  Serbelloni 
and  Pallanza.  Polyommatus  virgaurece — one  <3  specimen  near  the  village 
of  Spliigen.  P.  dorilis — Baden  ;  common  at  Bellaggio  and  Pallanza. 
In  this  species  the  J  is  quite  dark  above,  the  $  having  the  primaries 
orange  with  dark  spots,  and  an  orange  border  to  secondaries.  P. 
pliloeas — Baden,  Bellaggio,  Pallanza.  The  Italian  specimens  have  the 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xiv.  p.  243. 


30  LEPIDOPTERA  FROM  SWITZERLAND 

markings  less  distinct,  the  copper  colour  redder,  the  spots  smaller,  the 
costal  margin  of  the  primaries  darker,  and  the  marginal  band  broader 
and  narrower  than  any  English  examples  I  have.  The  underside,  too, 
of  the  primaries,  is  redder,  leaving  the  circumscriptions  of  the  eyes  and 
.  the  veins  of  the  wings  paler.  Lycwna  argiades — This  little  "tailed" 

blue  occurred,  but  not  commonly,  at  Baden  and  Bellaggio.  L.  argyrotoxus 
(wgori) — Colico  and  Bellaggio,  in  the  grounds  of  the  Villa  Serbelloni.  L. 
astrarche  (cigestis) — Bellaggio  *.  L.  icarus — Baden,  Kandersteg,  Colico, 
Menaggio,  Bellaggio.  L.  lellargus  (adonis) — Kanderthal,  Chur,  Bellaggio, 
Menaggio,  Val  Yedro.  The  var.  ceronus  (which  also  occurs  in  England) 
— at  Bellaggio.  L.  corydon — Kanderthal,  Chur,  Menaggio,  Val  Vedro. 
Two  c?  Swiss  specimens  have  all  the  blank  points  on  the  underside  of 
the  wings  much  smaller  and  less  distinct  than  in  English  ones  ;  in  one 
En<244 'rfs^n*  a^so  ^e  row  °^  oranSe  8P°ts  on  the  post-margin  of  the  underside  of  the 
secondaries  has  almost  disappeared.  L.  damon — Kandersteg,  Chur. 
Apatura  ilia.  The  ab.  clytie,  which  differs  from  the  type  in  having  the 
ground-colour  of  all  the  wings  reddish  ochreous  instead  of  white,  occurred 
commonly  on  the  poplars  lining  the  road  between  Chiavenna  and  Colico. 
This  species  flies  strongly,  but  does  not  soar  like  A.  iris,  and  sits  on  the 
leaves  sunning  itself  till  disturbed,  but  generally  too  high  to  be  in  reach 
of  an  ordinary  net.  The  females  have  much  less  metallic  gloss  than  the 
males.  Limenitis  Camilla — in  the  gardens  of  the  Hotel  Grande  Bretagne 
at  Bellaggio,  but  not  at  all  common  :  one  specimen  also  in  those  of  the 
Villa  Serbelloni  and  Menaggio.  Vanessi  io — near  Tiefenkasten.  V.  ata- 
lanta — Colico,  Bellaggio,  and  Menaggio.  V.  cardui — Bellaggio.  V.  anti- 
opa — We  only  saw  one  of  this  species  throughout  our  trip,  and  that  was 
at  Sargans,  on  the  railway  from  Zurich  to  Chur.  V.  c-album — Bellaggio 
and  Villa  Serbelloni.  Melitcea  athalia— Menaggio  and  Bellaggio,  in 
meadows.  M.  parthenie — Baden.  M.  didyma — This  species  was  not 
uncommon  on  the  railway  banks  near  "Waldshut,  and  a  timely  delay  of 
the  train  enabled  us  to  get  out  of  the  carriage  and  procure  some  speci- 
mens before  it  started  off  again.  Argynnis  dm — Baden  and  the  Via 
Mala.  A.  papliia — Baden,  Colico,  Bellaggio,  Menaggio,  and  the  Val 
Vedro.  The  var.  valezina  also  occurred  at  the  two  last-named  localities. 
A.  adippe,  var.  deodoxa — Bellaggio  and  Val  Vedro.  A.  niobe,  var.  eris — 
near  Spliigen :  also  at  Pallanza.  A.  latlwnia — common  at  Baden  ;  also 
at  Bellaggio  and  near  Tiefenkasten.  Melanargia  galatliea — a  worn  spe- 
cimen in  the  Val  Vedro,  and  another  on  the  hill  behind  Bellaggio.  Erebia 
stygne — Kanderthal,  near  Frutigen,  in  meadows  at  about  2500  feet  ele- 
vation; also  on  a  rocky  wooded  hill  behind  Bellaggio.  E.  nerine — a 
single  c?  specimen  of  this  rather  rare  species  near  Spliigen.  Erebia 


*  The  Bellaggio  specimens  have  both  the  red  and  black  spots  on  the  wings  larger, 
and  the  ground-colour  of  the  underside  greyer  than  in  English  specimens. 


AND  THE  ITALIAN  LAKES.  31 

pronoe,  var.  piifio — This  handsome  species  was  rather  common  in  sloping 
dry  meadows,  between  Frutigen  and  Kandersteg,  at  about  3000  feet 
elevation,  but  difficult  to  get  in  good  condition  *.  E.  cethiops  (blandina) — 
Thun ;  common  in  the  valley  of  the  Kander,  and  on  a  hill  behind  Bel- 
laggio.  E.  ligea — near  Spliigen.  Satyrus  hermione — Colico,  Menaggio, 
and  Bellaggio ;  frequented  a  rocky  wooded  hill  behind  the  latter,  and 
seemed  to  like  resting  in  shady  places.  On  the  wing  somewhat  resembles 
a  large  L.  Sibylla.  S.  circe — A  specimen  of  this  handsome  species  was 
seen  at  Baden.  S.  dryas  (phcedra) — This  fine  species  was  abundant  at 
Bellaggio,  frequenting,  like  S.  hermione,  a  rocky,  bushy  hill  behind  the 
town,  wheeling  in  its  flight  over  the  bushes,  the  roughness  of  the  ground 
making  it  a  matter  of  some  difficulty  to  catch  specimens.  The  female  is 
larger  and  lighter  in  colour  than  the  male ;  has  the  blue  eyes  on  the  pri- 
maries larger,  and  with  brighter  blue  pupils  than  in  that  sex,  and  is 
altogether  a  finer-looking  insect.  It  also  occurred  at  Menaggio,  where  it 
frequented  the  flowers  of  the  millet  (Milium  effusum),  which  is  grown  in 
the  vineyards  in  patches  between  the  rows  of  vines,  at  Pallanza  and  near 
Colico.  S.  actcea,  var.  cordula — with  the  last,  at  Bellaggio  and  Menaggio, 
but  much  less  common.  S.  semele — Menaggio  and  Bellaggio.  Pararge 
hiera — Villa  Serbelloni,  at  Bellaggio,  Menaggio,  and  Yal  Vedro.  P. 
cegeria — Bellaggio,  Menaggio.  I  think  those  I  saw  belonged  to  the  pale 
northern  form  egerides,  but  not  having  kept  specimens  cannot  say  for 
certain.  P.janira— Baden,  Colico,  Menaggio,  Bellaggio.  P.  tithonus —  ^ 
Bellaggio,  Menaggio,  and  Pallanza.  Coenonympha  pamphilus — Baden, 
Bellaggio,  Menaggio,  and  Yal  Vedro.  Spilothyrus  alcece — Bellaggio. 
SyriciJms  alveus — Baden,  Bellaggio,  and  Menaggio.  S.proto — gardens  of 
the  Villa  Serbelloni,  at  Bellaggio.  Hesperia  comma — everywhere :  on  the 
whole,  the  commonest  butterfly,  as  far  as  regards  our  experiences. 
Sphinx  convolvuli — gardens  at  Schafflhausen  and  Thun.  Macroglossa 
stdlatarum — common  in  gardens  at  all  places  visited,  except  in  the  Alpine 
valleys.  Zygoma  filipendulcK — Baden  and  near  Chur.  Lithosia  deplana 
— one  at  Thun.  Callimorpha  hem — Via  Mala ;  common  at  Bellaggio 
and  Menaggio,  fluttering  about  flowers  in  the  sunshine  like  a  butterfly. 
Cossus  ligniperda — a  full-grown  larva  picked  up  in  the  Via  Mala,  and  an 
empty  pupa-case  near  Liuno.  Bombyx  rubi — larvaB  common,  crawling  in 
the  roads,  near  Chur,  Spliigen,  and  in  the  Val  Vedro.  B.  trifolii — a  <$ 
specimen  picked  up  in  the  road  near  Menaggio.  Agrotis  c-nigrum — 
Thun.  Plusia  triplasia — Bellaggio.  P.  gamma — Schaffhausen,  Bellaggio. 
Catocala  paranympha — a  single  worn  specimen  in  the  inn  "  Belle  Vue  " 
at  Frutigen.  Addalia  perochraria — common  in  meadows  near  Baden, 
and  in  the  Kanderthal,  near  Frutigen.  A.  immorata — Baden.  A.  im- 
mutata — Bellaggio.  A.  strigilaria — common  at  Pallanza,  on  grassy 

*  The  var.  pitho  has  the  red  bands  uearly  obliterated, 


32  MELANISM  IN  LEPIDOPTERA. 

slopes  near  the  lake.  A.  ornata — common  at  most  places  we  visited,  but 
not  in  the  Alpine  valleys.  Timandra  ornata — Schaffhausen,  Liuno. 
Numeria  capreolaria — one  specimen  near  Chur.  Gnoplios  ylaucinaria  — 
one  specimen  near  Chur.  G.  dilucidaria — Baden,  Bellaggio.  Ortholitha 
limitata  (mensuraria) — Chur.  0.  bipunctaria — Chur  ;  larger  and  darker 
than  English  (chalk)  specimens.  Minoa  murinata  (cupkorbiata) — Pal- 
lanza.  Anaitis  plagiata — Baden,  Schaffhausen.  Lygris  popidata — com- 
mon in  fir-woods,  at  about  4500  feet  elevation,  near  Spliigen.  Some 
specimens  marked  with  dark,  but  I  saw  none  of  the  var.  musauaria. 
Cidaria  variata — two  on  the  Merkur-Berg,  near  Baden.  C.  ferrugata — 
Schaffhausen.  C.  ccesiata — in  company  with  L.  populata,  as  in  Scotland. 
G.  flavicinctata — one  specimen  in  the  hotel  at  Spliigen.  C.  verberata — 
common  in  all  the  Alpine  valleys  we  passed  through.  C.  bilineata — Baden, 
Schaffhausen,  Chur,  Liuno.  Eupithecia  euphrasiata — one  specimen  on  a 
hill  behind  Bellaggio.  Rivula  sericealis — Bellaggio.  Hypena  obesalis — a 
specimen  near  Andeer.  H.  obsitalis — common  in  passages  amongst 
vineyards,  near  Bellaggio.  Botys  purpuralis — meadows  at  Bellaggio. 
B.  cespitalis — Baden.  B.  nubilalis  (lupulinalis) — one  specimen  at  Bel- 
laggio. B.  lutealis — near  the  waterfall  on  the  Spliigen.  Eurycreon  ver- 
ticalis — Schaffhausen.  Pionea  forficalis — Baden.  Diasemia  litterata — 
This  pretty  little  species  was  common  at  Bellaggio,  flying  gently  in  the 
sunshine  just  above  the  top  of  the  grass,  in  grass  and  clover-covered 
meadows,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  vineyards,  &c.  Crambus  tristettus — 
Baden,  Bellaggio.  C.  culmellus — Baden,  Bellaggio.  C.perlellus — Chur, 
Bellaggio.  C.  geniculeus — Bellaggio.  Pempdia  semirubella  (carnella} — 
common  at  Bellaggio  and  Menaggio,  in  places  like  those  frequented  by 
litterata.  The  var.  sanguinella  (with  pale  costa)  also  occurred.  Myelois 
rosella — one  specimen  of  this  pretty  little  species  at  Menaggio.  Sericoris 
conchana — Baden.  Depressaria  Tieydeni — some  pupSB  picked  up  from 
moss  under  stones  whilst  searching  for  Coleoptera,  on  the  Spliigen,  near 
the  top  of  the  pass  (at  about  6500  feet),  produced  this  species,  for 
naming  which,  as  well  as  the  last,  I  am  indebted  to  Mr.  E.  Meyrick,  of 
Trinity  College,  Cambridge.— W.  A.  FOBBES,  West  Wickham,  Kent : 
January  Vlth,  1877. 


jiv.  9    MELANISM  IN  LEPIDOPTERA.* 

p.  Io(lo77). 

AFTER  Mr.  Burchell's  and  Dr.  Buchanan  White's  notes  on  this  subject 
(vol.  xiii.  pp.  130  and  145),  and  the  very  feasible  explanation  the 
theory  of  natural  selection  gives  of  the  prevalence  (though  not  the  cause) 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xiv.  p.  16. 


MELANISM  IN  LEPIDOPTERA.  33 

of  these  dark  varieties,  I  was  somewhat  surprised  to  see  what  may  be 
called  the  "  birthmark "  theory  revived  to  account  for  them  by  Mr. 
Fetherstonhaugh  (p.  215),  and  subsequently  supported  by  Mr.  Tugwell 
(p.  256).  It  is  almost  impossible  to  one  having  any  physiological  know- 
ledge to  see  how  any  impression  on  the  sensorium  of  the  parent  can 
produce  any  permanent  change  (except,  perhaps,  a  deficiency  in  some 
parts)  in  the  structure  of  its  offspring.  As,  however,  one  fact  is  worth 
a  hundred  theories,  I  may  perhaps  be  allowed  to  quote  here  a  passage 
from  Darwin's  'Animals  and  Plants  under  Domestication*  (1st  edit, 
vol.  ii.  p.  263),  which  seems  to  me  to  be  decidedly  "  ad  rem  "  as  regards 
the  subject  under  discussion.  He  says,  "  it  was  formerly  a  common  be- 
lief, still  held  by  some  persons,  that  the  imagination  of  the  mother  affects 

the  child  in  the  womb Dr.  William  Hunter,  in  the  last  century, 

told  my  father  that  during  many  years  every  woman  in  a  large  London 
lying-in  hospital  was  asked  before  her  confinement,  whether  anything  had 
specially  affected  her  mind,  and  the  answer  was  written  down  ;  and  it  so 
happened  that  in  no  one  instance  could  a  coincidence  be  detected  between 
the  woman's  answer  and  any  abnormal  structure ;  -but  when  she  knew  the 
nature  of  the  structure,  she  frequently  suggested  some  fresh  cause ! " 
Natural  selection  perfectly  explains  the  facts  adduced  by  Mr.  Tugwell 
about  Gnophus  obscuraria,  for  of  course  on  a  dark  soil  the  darker  indivi- 
duals, on  the  light  the  lighter  ones,  will  be  best  protected  by  their  colours 
and  will  therefore  have  a  better  chance  of  escaping  the  notice  of  their 
enemies.  That  the  dark  colour  of  the  soil  can  hardly  be  the  true  cause 
in  producing  these  variations  is,  I  think,  pretty  certain,  from  their  occur- 
rence in  many  places  where  the  soil  is  not  conspicuously  dark,  e.  y.  the 
Highlands  of  Scotland  and  the  Alps  *.  I  have  just  been  looking  through 
Dr.  Staudinger's  catalogue,  and  was  much  struck  by  the  fact  that  in 
nearly  every  case  where  a  local  form  (whether  a  "  var. "  or  "  ab. ")  from 
the  Alps  is  noticed,  it  is  characterized  as  being  "  obscurior  "  or  "  multo 
obscurior,"  or  with  some  of  the  markings  "  obsoleta."  The  great  number 
of  normally  dark  or  black  species  of  Lepidoptera  in  the  Alps,  as,  for 
instance,  the  Erebice,  Psodos,  and  some  Pyralides  (cf.  Jordon,  vol.  xiii. 
p.  60),  seems  to  me  also  to  be  worth  notice  in  connection  with  this  subject. 
In  a  few  cases,  Alpine  insects  are  only  sexually  melanic,  e.  g.  Pieris  napi 
$  ,  var.  bryonice,  A.  paphia  $  ,  var.  valezina,  Polyommatus  virgaurece  $  t 
var.  zermattensls.  These  cases  are  explicable  on  the  theory  that  sup- 
posing sexual  selection  to  have  been  such  an  efficient  agent  in  modifying 
species  as  Mr.  Darwin  believes,  it  may  have  been  more  important  for  the 
males  in  the  struggle  for  life  to  preserve  their  good  looks  than  to  have 
acquired  sounder  constitutions  at  the  expense  of  the  former.  That  the 

*  Conversely,  too,  one  would  expect,  if  this  theory  were  true,  to  find  more  melanic 
vars.  on  tbe  very  dark  soil  of  peat-mosses  and  fen-lands  than  is  actually  the  case. 

D 


34  ON  BIEDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  'CHALLENGER.' 

prime  agent  in  this  tendency  to  melanism  is  some  unfavourable  meteoro- 
logical element,  probably  connected  with  an  excess  of  moisture  and 
reduced  amount  of  sunshine,  is  strongly  suggested  by  the  fact  that,  as 
Ent.M.M.xiv.  noticed  by  Messrs.  Birchall  and  White,  these  dark  forms  are  most  fre- 
p.  17  (1877).  quent  in  the  north  of  England,  Scotland,  Ireland,  and,  as  I  have  stated, 
the  Alps.  Nor  is  this  tendency  confined  to  Lepidoptera.  L.  de  Tschudi, 
in  his  '  Monde  des  Alpes '  (2nd  edit.  1870,  p.  394),  says,  "  Les  differences 
d'altitude  produisent  encore  sur  les  insectes  des  modifications  d'une 
nature  particuliere.  Une  des  choses  qui  frappent  le  plus  celui  qui  visite  nos 
Alpes,  c'est  1'obscurcissementdes  couleursdans  les  coleopteres  alpins  comrne 
en  general  dans  une  grand  nombre  d'insectes.  Plus  nous  nous  elevens 
plus  nous  voyons  les  scarabees  qui  vivent  dans  les  trous,  comme  ceux  qui 
habitent  sur  les  plantes,  dans  les  fumiers  ou  dans  1'eau,  devenir  unicolores. 
Ceux  qui  sont  les  plusrepandus  dans  les  Alpes  sont  en  generalnoirs  ou  d'un 
brun  fonce  ;  et  ceux  qui  dans  les  zones  inf erieures  sont  ornes  de  couleurs 
a  reflets  metalliques  deviennent  dans  les  hauteurs  d'un  noir  uniforme. 
Une  foule  des  coleopteres  verts  et  cuivres  sont  sur  les  hautes  Alpes 
d'un  noir  pur,  un  petit  nombre  seulement  d'un  bleu  d'acier,  et  d'un  bleu 
fonce :  ceux  qui  sont  bruns,  olivatres,  et  d'un  vert  dore,  passent  egale- 
ment  au  noir  pur  ou  au  noir  bleuatre :  merne  la  Chrysomda  alpina  jaune 
devient  noir  sur  les  Alpes."  He  then  goes  on  to  suggest  as  the  probable 
cause  of  this,  the  fact  that  Alpine  species  live  and  undergo  their  meta- 
morphoses for  a  great  part  of  the  year  under  a  thick  bed  of  snow,  and 
consequently  in  profound  darkness.  A  similar  darkening  in  the  coloration 
of  some  of  our  English  Coleoptera  may  be  seen  as  we  go  northwards,  e.  g. 
the  Highland  dark  forms  of  Carabus  catenulatus  and  the  mountain 
Calathus  nubigena.  It  would  be  interesting  to  hear  if  similar  cases  occur 
in  other  orders.  The  most  probable  conclusion  seems  that  darkness  of 
coloration  is  in  some  mysterious  way  correlated  with  a  constitution  better 
fitted  to  encounter  unfavourable  conditions  of  life,  more  especially 
meteorological. 


p.z.s.1878,  10.  REPORTS  ON  THE  COLLECTIONS  OF  BIRDS  MADE 
P.  120.  DURING  THE  VOYAGE  OF  H.M.S.  <  CHALLENGER.'— 

No.  VII.  ON  THE  BIRDS  OF  CAPE  YORK  AND 
THE  NEIGHBOURING  ISLANDS  (RAINE,  WED- 
NESDAY, AND  BOOBY  ISLANDS).* 

THE  collection  of  Birds  made  by  H.M.S.  '  Challenger '  at  Cape  York  and 
in  its  neighbourhood,  of  which  the  following  is  an  account,  comprises 

*  Proc.  Zool  Soc.  1878,  pp.  120-128.     Read  Feb.  5,  1878. 


ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  85 

61  skins,  referable  to  37  species.  As  might  have  been  expected,  all,  or 
nearly  all,  belong  to  well-known  Australian  forms,  one  or  two  only  being 
left  uncertain  for  want  of  more  materials  and  on  account  of  the  immature 
condition  of  the  specimens.  Most  of  the  skins  are  in  excellent  condition  ; 
and  their  value  is  much  increased  by  the  notes  in  Mr.  Murray's  journal 
as  to  the  colour  of  the  soft  parts  &c.  Besides  Cape  York,  Raine  Island 
(at  the  end  of  the  Barrier  Reef),  Wednesday  Island  (in  Torres  Straits), 
and  Booby  Island  (also  in  Torres  Straits)  were  visited,  and  collections 
made.  I  copy  the  following  extracts  from  Mr.  Murray's  journal  as 
regards  the  localities  where  birds  were  obtained  : — 

"  Raine  Island,  Barrier  Beef,  Australia.  Ship  landed  two  boats  for 
nearly  three  hours.  The  following  birds  were  taken"  (several  sea-birds, 
Rallus  pectoralis,  and  Strepsilas  interpret). 

"  Cape  York,  Somerset.  Ship  arrived  on  evening  of  1st  Sept.,  1874  ; 
left  Cape  York  on  Sept.  8th."  (44  skins  were  obtained  here.) 

"  Wednesday  Island,  Torres   Straits.     Parties   landed  the  same  day 
(Sept.  8).     Most  of  the  birds  seen  were  the  same  as  those  shot  about   p.  z.  S.  1878, 
Cape  York.     The  following  two,  however,  have  not  been  procured  at       P-  1-1- 
Cape  York  ;  they  were  shot  on  shore  (Totanus  incanus  and  ^gialites 
inornatus).      A  great  many  flocks  of  Bee-eaters  were  noticed  making 
passages  between  the  islands. 

"  On  9th  Sept.,  1874,  a  party  landed  on  Booby  Island,  a  very  small 
island,  with  only  a  few  shrubs  on  it.  The  following  land  birds  were  shot 
or  brought  on  board ;  and  in  addition  a  Rail  was  seen,  a  Mec/apodius,  and 
one  other  land  bird."  (The  species  obtained  were  Todirhamphus  sanctus, 
Merops  ornatus,  Zosterops  luteus,  Pacliycephala  sp.,  Ptilopus  superbus,  and 
Syncecus  cervinus.) 

In  the  following  list  I  have,  with  a  few  exceptions,  followed  the 
arrangement  and  nomenclature  of  Mr.  Gould's  *  Handbook  to  the  Birds 
of  Australia.' 

1.  NINOX  BOOBOOK  (Lath.). 

Ninox  boobook,  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  ii.  p.  168, 

Spiloglaux  marmoratus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  73. 

One  male  skin  of  this  species  from  Cape  York.  No.  167.  "  Stomach 
contained  insects  "  (Murray,  MS.). 

The  specimen  sent  agrees  generally  with  two  skins  in  Mr.  Godman's 
collection  from  the  same  locality,  and  with  Mr.  Gould's  description  of 
Spiloylaux  marmoratus,  which  Mr.  Sharpe,  in  the  second  volume  of  his 
catalogue,  treats  as  "  the  adult  of  the  large  form  of  JV.  boobcok "  (I.  c. 
p.  170). 

2.  PODA.RGTTS  PAPUENSIS,  Quoy  &  Gaim. 

Podaryus papuensis,  Quoy  &  Gaim.  Voy.  de  1'Astrol.  Ois.  t.  13 ;  Gould, 
B.  of  Austr.  Supp.  pi. ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  91. 


36  ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  *  CHALLENGER.' 

"  No.  186,  ? .  Eyes  red,  feet  and  bill  light  yellow.  Stomach  con- 
tained insects."  Cape  York,  one  specimen. 

3.  MEEOPS  OENATTJS,  Lath. 

Merops  ornatus,  Grid.  B.  of  Austr.  ii.  pi.  16 ;  id.  Handb.  i.  p.  117. 

In  all  four  specimens  of  this  common  Australian  species.  Two  females 
from  Booby  Island  (Nos.  199,  200),  and  a  pair  (  rf  &  £ )  from  Cape 
York  (nos.  147  and  178).  Of  all  the  eyes  are  stated  to  be  "  red,"  and 
the  feet  and  legs  black,  except  the  female  from  Cape  York,  which  is  de- 
scribed as  having  the  legs  "  with  violet  tint."  The  three  females  differ 
considerably  from  one  another  in  the  length  of  the  produced  middle  tail- 
feathers  ;  in  the  male  the  produced  part  is  thinner  and  at  least  twice  as 
long  as  in  the  other  sex. 

4.  TODIBHAMPHUS  SANCTUS  (Yig.  &  Horsf.). 

Todirhamphus  sanctus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  128 ;  Sharpe,  Alced. 
pi.  91. 

One  specimen  from  Booby  Island.  "  No.  192,  <$ .  Eyes  black ; 
mandibles  black,  except  base  of  lower  one,  which  is  whitish.  Stomach 
had  remains  of  a  crab." 

P'Z1221878>       5'  HALCTON  MACLEATI,  Jard.  &  Selby. 

Halcyon  macleayi,  Jard.  &  Selby,  111.  Orn.  vol.  iii.  pi.  101 ;  Grid.  B.  of 
Austr.  ii.  pi.  24 ;  Sharpe,  Ale.  pi.  78. 

Cyandlcyon  macleayi,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austral,  i.  p.  133. 

One  male  specimen  from  Cape  York.  "  No.  161.  Eyes,  bill,  and  legs 
black.  Stomach  contained  insects." 

6.  AETAMTJS  LEUCOPYGIALIS,  Gld. 

Artamus  leucopygialis,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  ii.  pi.  33 ;  id.  Handb.  i.  p.  154. 
One  specimen  from  Cape  York.     "No.  177,  rf.     Bill  blue  tipped 
with  black,  feet  black.     Stomach  contained  insects." 

7.  GEATJCALUS  HTPOLEUCUS,  Gld. 

Graucalus  hypoleucus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  ii.  pi.  57 ;  id.  Handb.  i.  p.  196. 
One  skin  of  this  species  from  Cape  York.     "  No.  151,  $  .     Legs,  bill, 
and  eyes  black.     Stomach  contained  insects." 

8.  PACHTCEPHALA,  sp.  inc. 

"  No.  196,  c? .  Pachycephala.  Eyes  brown,  bill  and  legs  horn-colour. 
Stomach  had  insects." 

A  single  skin  of  a  Pachycephala  from  Booby  Island,  immature,  still 
retaining  some  of  the  rufous  feathers  characteristic  of  immaturity  in  its 


ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  37 

wings.  It  is  certainly  one  of  the  species  which,  when  adult,  are  yellow 
beneath,  the  under  tail-coverts  being  bright  gamboge-yellow.  The  species 
of  this  group  are  so  hard  to  determine,  unless  males  and  in  adult  plu- 
mage, that  it  seems  better  to  leave  this  bird,  although  not  exactly  like 
any  PachycepJiala  I  have  been  able  to  examine  in  the  British  Museum  or 
in  Mr.  Godman's  collection,  without  a  name  for  the  present,  more 
particularly  as  Mr.  Sharpe  is,  I  believe,  now  working  at  this  group  for 
the  next  volume  of  his  catalogue. 

9.  PlNAROLESTES  RUFIGASTEB  (Gld.), 

Colluricincla  rujiyaster,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  i.  p.  xxxvii ;  id.  Handb.  B. 
Austr.  i.  p.  226. 

Pinarolestes  mifigaster,  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  iii.  p.  296. 

«  No.  170,  2  •     Shrike." 

One  specimen,  from  Cape  York,  of  this  difficult  genus.  Mr.  Gould, 
to  whom  I  showed  the  specimen,  was  inclined  to  identify  it  with  his 
Colluricincla  parvissima*  (Ann.  &  Mag.  N.  H.  ser.  4,  x.  p.  114),  and  has 
kindly  lent  me  the  type  of  that  species  (which  Mr.  Sharpe,  t.  c.  p.  297, 
treats  as  the  young  of  P.  rujlgaster)  for  comparison.  I  find,  however, 
that  the  Cape-York  bird  has  a  distinctly  shorter  wing,  a  stronger  and 
more  arched  bill,  and  is  less  rufous  on  the  underside.  Mr.  Sharpe,  who 
has  recently  worked  up  this  group  for  his  catalogue,  has  examined  this 
specimen,  and  refers  it  to  P.  rujigaster. 

10.  MANUCODIA  GOULDI,  Gray.  P.  Z.  S.  1878, 

Manucodia  gouldi,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  236  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.       P' 
iii.  p.  181. 

Manucodia  Iceraudreni,  Gld.  B.  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  9. 

Two  female  specimens.  "  No.  152.  Bower-bird.  Eyes  orange,  bill 
and  legs  black.  Stomach  contained  small  seeds.  For  curious  loop  in 
the  wind-pipe  see  body.  This  bird  was  shot  on  the  island  opposite 
Somerset  by  Moseley."  The  colours  of  the  soft  parts  and  contents  of 
the  stomach  are  the  same  in  the  other  specimen. 

The  two  skins  sent  agree  well  with  Mr.  Sharpe's  description  and  differ 
from  Mr.  Elliot's  figure  of  the  New-Guinea  species  (M.  Jceraudreni)  in 
the  points  noticed  in  Gray's  original  description  of  the  species.  The 
curious  conformation  of  the  trachea  in  M.  Tceraudreni  has  long  been 
known,  having  been  originally  described  by  Lesson.  Beccari  (Ibis,  1876, 
p.  252)  says  he  thinks  it  probable  that  this  is  a  peculiarity  of  the  male 
sex.  Mr.  Murray's  notes,  however,  would  seem  to  contradict  this  vie\v, 
unless,  as  is  hardly  likely,  two  species  otherwise  so  nearly  allied  should 
differ  in  this  peculiarity. 

*  Count  Salvador!  suggests  that  this  really  =  P.  megarhynchus  of  New  Guinea. 


38      ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  'CHALLENGER/ 

11.  PTILOEHIS  ALBERTI,  Elliot. 

Ptiloris  alberti,  Ell.  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  583 ;  id.  Mon.  Farad,  pi.  xxiv. ; 
Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  iii.  p.  156. 

Ptiloris  magnificus,  Gould,  B.  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  51. 

Craspedophora  magnified,  id.  Handb.  i.  p.  595. 

Six  skins  of  this  Rifle-bird  from  Cape  York,  four  of  which  are  adult 
males  in  full  plumage,  and  one  a  female.  Another,  marked  $ ,  is  either 
a  young  male  corning  into  fall  plumage,  or  more  probably  an  aged  female 
assuming  male  plumage,  as  some  of  the  feathers  on  the  top  of  the  head 
show  traces  of  a  metallic  blue  colour,  as  also  does  the  shoulder,  whilst 
more  or  fewer  of  the  primaries  on  each  side  have  acquired  the  black 
colour  characteristic  of  the  male.  Of  Nos.  164  and  165  it  is  noted  in 
Mr.  Murray's  journal : — "  Males  :  eyes,  bill,  and  legs  black,  soles  of  the 
feet  yellow.  The  stomach  contained  a  red  fruit,  with  a  large  stone  about 
the  size  of  a  pea.  Some  parts  of  insects  in  165."  Of  No.  184,  "  Female  : 
eyes  black  ;  stomach  contained  ants  and  grubs."  Besides  the  specimens 
sent,  several  others  seem  to  have  been  procured.  An  interesting  account 
of  the  shooting  of  these  specimens  will  be  found  in  Lord  George  Camp- 
bell's 'Log  Letters  from  the  '  Challenger,' '  p.  185. 

12.  MIMETA  VIEIDIS  (Lath.). 

Mimeta  viridis,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  462. 

Oriolus  viridis,  G-ld.  B.  Austr.  iv.  pi.  13;  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  iii.  p.  212. 
A  young  male  from  Cape  York,  agreeing  generally  with  Mr.  Sharpe's 
description  (I.  c.)  of  the  young  bird.     "  No.  169,  rf  .     Thrush." 

13.  MIMETA  FLAVOCI^CTUS  (King). 

Mimeta  flavocincta,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  466. 
P.  Z.  S.  1878,        Oriolus  flavocinctus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  14. 
p.  124.  Oriolus  flavicinctus,  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  iii.  p.  206. 

An  adult  male  from  Cape  York,  agreeing  with  skins  in  Mr.  Godman's 
collection,  collected  by  Cockerell.  "  No.  189,  <$ .  Shrike.  Eyes  red, 
bill  red,  feet  bluish." 

14.  SPHECOTHEEES  FLAYIYEJSTTBIS,  Gld. 

Sphecotheres  flaviventris,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  37 ;  id.  Handb. 
B.  Austr.  i.  p.  468  ;  Sharpe,  Cat.  of  B.  iii.  p.  225. 

Three  specimens  from  Cape  York,  of  which  two  are  males  in  full 
plumage,  agreeing  with  specimens  in  Mr.  Godman's  collection.  "  Nos. 
172,  173.  Eyes  black,  feet  flesh,  bill  black."  The  third  specimen  is 
marked  female  ("  No.  174,  $> .  Eyes  black,  bill  horn,  legs  brownish. 
Stomach  contained  insects  and  seeds  "),  but,  as  there  are  traces  of 
yellow  on  the  breast,  is  more  probably  a  young  male  assuming  the  adult 


ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  39 

plumage.  The  orbits  in  this  bird  (in  the  skin)  are  dark  brownish  black, 
not  yellow,  though  this  is  probably  accidental.  In  other  points,  too, 
particularly  in  the  plainly  striated  under  tail-coverts,  and  the  colouring 
of  the  upper  surface  of  the  head,  the  specimen  hardly  agrees  with 
Mr.  Gould's  description  of  the  female  S.flaviventris.  Mr.  G  ould,  to  whom 
I  have  shown  it,  would  give  no  decided  opinion  on  it ;  but  Mr.  Sharpe 
has  examined  it,  and  pronounces  it  to  be  of  this  species. 

15.  PTILOTIS  CHKY.SOTIS,  Lewin. 

Ptilotis  chrysotis,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  32. 

Ptilotis  lewinii,  Swains. ;  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  503. 

Three  skins  of  this  common  Australian  species,  which  is  not  recorded 
from  N.  Australia  in  the  4  Handbook  ' — two  from  Cape  York,  one  from 
Cape-York  Island.  "No.  ]50,  $.  Eyes  brown,  legs  slate,  bill  black. 
Stomach  contained  insects."  "No.  157,  <J.  Eyes  brown,  bill  black, 
legs  blue,  different  from  No.  156  (P.  filigera).  Stomach  contained  insects, 
same  as  156." 

16.  PTILOTIS  ITLIGEEA,  Gld. 

Ptilotis  filiyera,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  42 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr. 
i.  p.  522. 

A  single  example,  from  Cape-York  Island,  of  this  distinct  Honey- 
eater,  originally  described  by  Mr.  Gould  from  this  district.  "  No.  156, 
c? .  Eyes  brown,  bill  black,  legs  bluish.  Stomach  contained  insects  and 
small  brown  bodies  like  seeds." 

17.  PHILEMON  BUCEEOIDES,  Swainson. 

Tropidorhynchus  buceroides,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  44 ;  id.  Handb. 
B.  Austr.  i.  p.  547. 

One  specimen  from  Cape  York,  agreeing  with  specimens  in  Mr. 
Godman's  collection.  "  No.  160,  $ .  Leatherhead.  Eyes  dark  red, 
bill  and  skin  about  the  head  black.  Stomach  contained  beetles  and  other 
insects." 

18.  MYZOMELA.  OBSCURA,  Gld.  P.  z.  S.  1878, 

Myzomela  obscura,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  67 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.      P' 
i.  p.  559. 

A  single  skin  from  Cape  York.     "  No.  159,  d  .     Eyes  brown  *." 

19.  DICTUM  HIBUNDINACETTM  (Shaw). 

Dicceum  hirundinaceum,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  ii.  pi.  34 ;  id.  Handb.  B. 
Austr,  i.  p.  581. 

*  Mr.  Gould  says  "  bright  red." 


40  ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 

/ 

A  single  specimen  in  full  plumage,  from  Cape  York.  "  No.  149,  <$ . 
Eyes  black,  legs  and  bill  black.  Stomach  contained  green  fruit." 

20.  NECTARINIA  FRENATA,  Milll. 

Nectarinia  australis,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  45 ;  id.  Handb.  B. 
Austr.  i.  p.  584. 

Three  specimens  from  Cape-York  Island  (two  males  in  full  plumage, 
and  a  female)  of  this  Sun-bird,  which  Mr.  Sclater  has  recently  shown  to 
be  the  Nectarinia  frenata  of  Miiller  (see  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  104).  "  No. 
153,  <?;  154,  rf;  155,  $.  Eyes  brown,  legs  and  bill  black.  Stomach 
contained  small  insects." 

21.  ZOSTEROPS  LUTEUS,  Gld. 

Zosterops  luteus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  83 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i. 
p.  590. 

One  specimen  from  Booby  Island  ("  No.  197,  $  .  Eyes  brown,  feet 
and  bill  with  a  bluish  tinge.  Stomach  had  small  seeds  "),  which  agrees 
with  a  specimen  of  this  species  collected  by  Macgillivray,  kindly  lent  to 
me  by  Mr.  Gould  for  comparison. 

22.  CACOMANTIS  FLABELLIFORMIS  (Lath.). 

Cacomantis  flabelUformis,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  i.  p.  618. 

Cuculus  cineraceus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  86. 

A  female,  from  Cape  York,  of  this  Cuckoo,  agreeing  with  specimens  in 
Mr.  Godman's  collection,  except  in  having  the  breast  and  underparts 
much  duller  rufous,  and  faintly  freckled  and  banded  with  dusty — indica- 
tions, probably,  of  a  young  bird.  "  No.  146,  $  .  Cuckoo.  Eyes  brown, 
legs  yellow  on  hind  aspect,  brown  on  front,  bill  brown.  Contained 
insects  in  stomach." 

23.  CENTROPUS  PHASIANFS  (Lath.). 

Gentropus  jphasianus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  iv.  pi.  92 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr. 
i.  p.  634. 

A  female  from  Cape  York.  "No.  163.  Legs  bluish,  bill  horn. 
Stomach  contained  insects." 

24.  MICROGLOSSUM  ATERRIMUM  (Gmel.). 

Microylossum  aterrimum,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  61 ;  id.  Handb. 
B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  27 ;  Finsch,  Pap.  i.  p.  370, 

P.  Z.  S.  1878,       A  pair  of  specimens  from  Cape  York.     "  No.  185,  tf :  eyes  black ; 
p.  126.          stomach  contained  seeds  and  fruit.      No.  188,  $  :  stomach   contained 
fruit,  same  as  185."     The  male  has  the  beak  larger,  and  feathers  of  the 
crest  more  developed  than  the  female. 


OX  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  *  CHALLENGER.'      41 

25.  TRICHOGLOSSUS  SWAINSONII,  Gld. 

Triclioglossus  swainsonii,  Grid.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  28. 

Triclioglossus  multicolor,  Grid.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  93. 

A  pair  of  this  well-known  species  from  Cape  York.  "  No.  145,  J . 
Legs  and  eyes  grey.  Bill  orange,  with  a  darker  tinge.  Green  fruit." 
«  No.  166,  tf .  Same  as  145." 

This  species  of  Trichoglossus  is  not  recorded  from  the  north  part  of 
Australia  in  Mr.  Gould's  Handbook,  though,  as  noticed  by  Finsch  (Papag. 
ii.  pp.  822  and  824),  it  extends  northwards  as  far  as  Cape  York. 

26.  PTILOPUS  SUPEEBUS  (Temm.). 

Ptilonopus  superbus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  57. 

Lamprotreron  superbus,  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  108. 

Two  males  and  a  female,  from  Booby  Island,  of  this  Fruit-pigeon. 
"  No.  193,  $  ;  194,  tf .  Eyes  yellow,  bills  greenish,  feet  red.  Stomachs 
had  nothing  in  them."  "  No.  198,  rf.  Dove;  same  as  194.  Stomach 
contained  nothing." 

27.  CABPOPHAGA  ASSJMILIS,  Gld. 

Carpophaga  assimilis,  Gld.  B.  Austr.  Suppl.  pi.  67. 

Megaloprepia  assimilis,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  111. 

A  male  from  Cape  York,  agreeing  in  coloration  and  size  with  specimens 
in  Mr.  Godman's  collection.  "  No.  180.  Feet  green,  eyes  red,  bill 
greenish  yellow,  red  at  base  and  about  nostrils." 

28.  GEOPELIA  HUMERALIS  (Temm.). 

Geopelia  humeralis,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  72. 
Eryihrauclicena  humeralis,  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  142. 

One  from  Cape  York.  "No.  171,  rf.  Eyes  red,  feet  purple,  bill 
black.  Stomach  contained  fruit." 

29.  GEOPELIA  TRANQUILLA,  Gld. 

Geopelia  tranquilla,  Gld.  B.  Austr.  v.  pi.  73;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii. 
p.  144. 

A  single  specimen,  apparently  immature,  of  this  little  ground-dove 
from  Cape  York.  "  No.  148,  $  .  Eyes  white,  cere  blue,  bill  slate,  legs 
pale  flesh-colour.  Stomach  contained  small  seeds." 

30.  MEGAPODIUS  TUMULUS,  Gld. 

Megapodius  tumulus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  79 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  Austr. 
ii.  p.  167. 

A  single  specimen,  unsexed,  of  a  Megapode,  from  Cape  York,  agreeing 
with  Mr.  Gould's  description  of  M.  tumulus.  "No.  168." 


42  ON  BIRDS  COLLECTED  BY  THE  4  CHALLENGER.' 

P.Z.S.  1878,       31.  TALEGALLA  LATHAMI  (Gray), 
p.  127. 

Talegalla  lathami,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  77. 

A  male  from  Cape  York,  a  district  from  which  it  is  not  recorded  by 
Mr.  Gould. 

"No.  187.  Eyes  yellow*,  head  red.     Stomach  contained  seeds." 

32.  TUENIX  MELANOTA,  Gld. 

Turnix  melanotus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  182. 

Hemipodius  melanotus,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  v.  pi.  84. 

Two  females  of  this  species,  originally  described  by  Mr.  Gould  from 
Moreton  Bay,  agreeing  perfectly  with  the  description  in  the  '  Handbook/ 
"No.  176.  Cape  York,  Albany  Island.  Eyes  white,  feet  yellow,  bill 
yellow  and  black.  Stomach  contained  insects."  "No.  195.  Booby 
Island.  Eyes  white,  legs  yellow,  base  of  bill  yellow,  tip  black.  Stomach 
contained  small  round  seeds." 

33.  SYNCECUS  CEBYLNTIS,  Gld. 

Synoecus  cervinus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  195. 

A  Quail,  from  Cape-York  Island,  which  agrees  with  specimens  of  this 
species  in  Mr.  Gould's  collection.  "  No.  175,  tf .  Eyes  brown,  feet 
yellow,  (bill?)  bluish  black." 

34.  ./EOIALITES  INOBNATTTS  (Gld.). 

Hiaticula  inomata,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  vi.  pi.  19. 

Ochthodromus  inornatus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  237. 

A  female,  from  "Wednesday  Island,  agreeing  with  specimens  in  Mr. 
Godman's  collection,  but  with  the  markings  on  the  face  and  the  pectoral 
band  somewhat  darker.  "No.  191.  Wednesday  Island.  Eyes,  legs, 
and  bill  black." 

35.  TOTANUS  INCANUS  (Gm.). 

Tetanus  pulverulentus,  Miill.  Natuurk.  Yerhand.  Land-  en  Volkenk. 
p.  152. 

Totanus  griseopygius,  Gld.  B.  of  Austr.  vi.  pi.  38. 

Gambetta  pulverulentus,  Gld.  Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  268. 

One  from  Wednesday  Island.  "No.  190,  $  Sandpiper.  Legs  yellow, 
bill  blackish,  eyes  black.  Stomach  contained  remains  of  Crustacea." 

36.  STBEPSILAS  INTEBPRES,  L. 

Three  specimens  from  Eaine  Island.  "  No.  128,  3 .  Eyes  brown, 
feet  light  red  with  black  claws,  bill  black.  Stomach  contained  small 

*  "  Brown,'  according  to  Mr.  Gould ;  his  was  probably  a  younger  bird. 


ON  BIRDS  FROM  THE  SAMOA  ISLANDS.  43 

calcareous  particles."     "No.  129,   $.     Same  as  128."     "No.  142,   $. 
Same  as  128." 

37.  BALLUS  PECTOEALIS,  Gld. 

liallus  pcctoralis,  Gld.  B.  Austr.  vi.  pi.  76. 

Two  males  and   a  young  female,  from   Raine   Island,  of  this   well- 
known    species.     The  voung   bird,   No.    130,   resembles   the   old    one  P.  Z.  S.  1878, 
generally  in  coloration,  but   has  all   the  colours  duller,  the  transverse      P- 128< 
barring  of    the   lower   surface   much   less  conspicuous   and   altogether 
wanting  on  the  breast,  the  white  spots  of  the  scapularies  absent,  those 
on  the  wing-coverts  smaller,  and   those  on  the  tertiaries  also  smaller, 
and  tinged  with  rufous ;  the  primaries  also  are  less  conspicuously  banded 
with  rufous. 

"Nos.  126,  127,  males.  Eyes  red,  upper  mandible  dark,  the  lower 
with  a  slight  red  tinge,  feet  light  brown.  Stomach  contained  beetles, 
egg-shells,  and  small  calcareous  particles." 


11.  ON  A  SMALL  COLLECTION  OF  BIRDS  FROM   THE  P.  z.  s.  1878, 
SAMO AN  ISLANDS  AND  THE  ISLAND  OF  ROTUMAH,      p' J 
CENTRAL  PACIFIC.* 

MR.  SCLATER  has  lately  put  into  my  hands  for  determination  a  small 
collection  of  birds  from  the  above  localities,  made  by  the  Rev.  G-.  Brown, 
C.M.Z.S.,  of  the  Wesleyan  Mission.  It  consists  of  47  skins  referable 
to  19  species.  Of  these  all  but  4  skins,  of  two  species,  are  from  the 
Samoan  Islands  of  Upolu  and  Savaii,  and  are  well  known  already  as 
inhabitants  of  these  islands.  They  require  no  further  notice  here,  except 
one. 

PACHTCEPHALA  ICTEROIDES,  Peale;  Finsch  &  Hartl.  Faun.  Centr.- 
Polyn.  p.  76. 

Three  examples  of  this  species,  in  different  stages  of  plumage,  though 
none  are  quite  adult,  traces  of  the  rufous  plumage  of  immaturity 
remaining  to  a  greater  or  less  extent.  All  are  marked  "  from  Upolu ;" 
and  the  native  name  given  is  "  Vasavasa."  Mr.  Layard  (P.  Z.  S.  1876, 
p.  494)  doubts  the  occurrence  of  this  species  in  Samoa,  and  refers  the 
bird  from  those  islands  to  P.flavifrons  (Peale),  which,  as  Dr.  Finsch  has 
shown  (J.  f.  O.  1872,  p.  39),  is  the  adult  male  of  P.  icteroides. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1878,  pp.  351-353.     Read  March  19,  1878. 


44  ON  BIRDS  FROM  THE  SAMOA  ISLANDS. 

The  island  of  Eotumah  is,  as  far  as  I  am  aware,  entirely  unknown 

ornithologically ;  and  the  three  skins  in  this  collection  from  that  locality 

are,  I  believe,  the  first  that  have  ever  been  received  from  the   island.     It 

is  a  small  island,  4  or  5  miles  in  extent  from  north  to  south,  and  was 

discovered  by  Captain  Edwards  in  his  search  for  the  'Bounty'  in  1791. 

It  lies  nearly  midway  between  the  Fijis  and  the  Ellice  group,  in  about 

P.  Z.  S.  1878,  long.  177°  E.,  lat.  12|°  S.     Some  account  of  it  will   be  found  in  the 

p.  352.        <  South-Pacific   Directory,'  3rd   edition,  p.    627    (London,  1871).     The 

two  species  of  birds  of  this  island  represented  are : — 

APLONIS  VITIENSIS,  Layard,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  502. 

Aplonis  tavuensis,  F.  &  H.  Faun.  Centr.-Polyn.  p.  1 03,  t.  x.  f .  2  (nee 
Gmelin). 

One  skin  of  this  species,  agreeing  with  skins  from  Fiji  in  the  British 
Museum,  and  others  from  the  same  islands  in  the  *  Challenger '  collections, 
determined  by  Dr.  Finsch  as  "Aplonis  vitiensis,  Lay."  (conf.  Finsch, 
P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  735).  The  native  name  is  given  as  "  Husila." 

MTZOMELA  CHERMESINA,  Or.  E.  Gray,  G.  B.  i.  pi.  38 ;  id.  Cat.  B.  Trop. 
Islands,  p.  11. 

This  species  was  figured  by  Mitchell  in  the  *  G-enera  of  Birds,'  but  not 
described ;  nor  was  any  locality  mentioned  for  it  in  the  list  of  species 
of  Myzomela  in  the  same  work.  Bonaparte,  however,  in  his  '  Conspectus,' 
gave  "New  Guinea"  as  the  habitat,  though  what  reason  for  this  he  had, 
other  than  at  that  time  "  Nova  Guinea  "  was  a  convenient  "  refuge  for  the 
destitute,"  is  not  known.  The  figure  in  the  '  Genera '  represents  a  bird 
with  a  uniform  scarlet  under  surface ;  but  fortunately  the  original  specimen 
is  still  in  existence,  mounted  in  the  Bird  Gallery  of  the  British  Museum. 
Two  specimens  of  a  Myzomela,  certainly  distinct  from  any  other  known 
as  inhabiting  the  Pacific  Islands,  were  contained  in  Mr.  Brown's  collec- 
tion from  Eotumah;  and  a  look  at  Gray's  figure  sufficed  to  indicate 
considerable  differences  between  the  two  birds.  On  examining,  however, 
Gray's  type  of  his  M.  chermesina,  it  became  evident  at  once  that  the  two 
birds  were  really  identical,  and  that  the  apparent  difference,  consisting 
in  the  belly  and  vent  being  of  a  uniform  red  in  the  plate,  instead  of  a 
brownish-black,  was  due  to  a  mistake  on  the  artist's  part.  As  Myzomela 
chermesina  has  not  yet  been  described,  and  is  irrecognizable  from  Gray's 
figure,  I  herewith  proceed  to  give  a  diagnosis  and  description. 

MYZOMELA  CHEEMESINA,  G.  E.  Gray,  Gen.  B.  i.  pi.  38 ;  id.  B.  Trop. 
Isl.  Pacif.  p.  11 ;  Bp.  Consp.  Av.  i.  p.  394.  sp.  3  ("  ex  Nova  Guinea" !); 
Gray,  Hand-1.  B.  i.  p.  154.  no.  1989  ("  New  Guinea  ?"). 

J  (ad.  ?).  Fusco-nigricans,  alls  caudaque  nitore  nonnullo  metallico ; 
mento,  gula,  pectore  lateribusqiie  abdominis,  cum  dorso  uropygioque^ 


ON  THE  LOCALITY  OF  GARRULUS  LIDTHI.  45 

nitide  coccineis,  plumis  basi   nigris  ;  rostra   nigro,  pedibus   brunneo- 
corneis.     Long.  tot.  circa  4|,  rostr.  |,  al.  3,  caud.  2  (poll.  Angl.). 

Male.  Fuscous-black ;  interscaplars  and  wing-coverts  darker,  and 
with  a  slight  metallic  gloss,  which  extends  onto  the  tail;  primaries 
browner,  the  internal  web  narrowly  margined  with  whitish,  except 
at  tip  ;  wings  beneath  pale  greyish- brown ;  chin,  throat,  breast,  sides  of 
belly  till  near  legs,  back,  rump,  and  upper  tail-coverts  shining  crimson- 
scarlet,  the  feathers  black  at  base ;  beak  black ;  legs  dark  horn-colour. 

A  second  specimen,  marked  female,  resembles  in  general  that  described,   P.Z.  S.  1878, 
but  is  rather  smaller,  and  all  the  colours  are  duller,  particularly  the  red       p'  353< 
of  the  throat  and  chest,  so  that  the  black-brown  of  the  back  forms  a 
broad  ring  between  the  chin  and  breast.     The  under  wing-coverts  are 
whitish,  and  the  pale  internal  margin  of  the  primaries  more  conspicuous. 
It  is  probably  a  younger  bird. 

Habitat.  Island  of  Eotumah,  Central  Pacific.  Native  name  "  Aramea." 
I  ought  to  mention  that  Mr.  Sharpe  has  lately  received,  in  a  collection 
from  Erromango,  one  of  the  New  Hebrides,  a  specimen  of  this  bird 
almost  identical  with  mine  in  every  respect.  This  is  very  curious  ;  for 
Erromango  is  far  removed  from  Eotumah,  and  the  neighbouring  island 
of  Tanna  is  inhabited  by  a  distinct  species  (Myzomela  cardinalis  (Gin.), 
figured  in  Latham's  Synopsis,  vol.  i.  pi.  xxxiii.  fig.  2). 


12.  LETTER  CONCERNING   THE  LOCALITY  Ibis,  1878, 

OF  GARRULUS  LIDTHI.*  *  m' 

To  the  Editors  of '  The  Ibis: 
SIES, — 

In  Messrs.  Blakiston  and  Pryer's  list  of  the  birds  of  Japan,  published 
in  the  July  number  of  '  The  Ibis  '  for  the  present  year  (pp.  209-250), 
but  two  species  of  Garrulus,  G.  brandti  and  G.  japonicus,  are  recorded 
as  being  natives  of  Japan.  To  these  Garrulus  lidthi  of  Bonaparte  (P.  Z.  S. 
1850,  p.  80,  t.  xvii.)  should  certainly  be  added ;  for  though  for  a  long 
time  its  exact  patria  was  uncertain,  yet  now  there  can  be  little  doubt 
(con/.  Count  Salvadori's  observations  in  Atti  Ace.  Eeale  Tor.  vii.  pp. 
473-476  [1872],  duly  noticed  in  'The  Ibis'  [1873,  p.  478]  and  'Zoo- 
logical Record  '  [1872,  p.  53])  that  Japan  is  the  true  habitat  of  this  fine 
Jay.  I  believe,  however,  that  the  exact  island  or  islands  where  it  occurs 
have  yet  to  be  ascertained. 

*  Ibis,  1878,  p.  491. 


46      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 


Ent.M.M.*iv.     is.  STAPHYLINUS  FULVIPES  IN  THE  NEW  FOREST.* 

p.  233  (1878). 

ON  two  occasions  last  year,  whilst  staying  at  Lyndhurst  for  a  few  days, 
I  had  the  good  fortune  to  meet  with  a  specimen  of  this  rare  and  very 
pretty  insect.  Both  captures  were  decidedly  "  flukes/'  as  I  shook  the 
first  out  of  moss  in  Beecham  Lane  on  March  29th,  whilst  the  second  was 
taken  running  on  the  ground  in  a  grassy  ride  at  night,  attracted  thither 
by  the  light  of  a  sugaring-lantern,  at  the  end  of  July.  This  second 
capture  was  effected  in  the  same  wood  where,  in  1876,  I  took  Qaedius 
dilatatus  at  sugar.  Staphylinus  fulvipes  has  not,  I  think,  been  recorded 
from  this  district  before  ;  hitherto,  Folkestone,  Home  Fen,  and  the 
Glasgow  district  seem  to  have  been  the  localities  most  favoured  by  it. 


p.z.s.1879,  14.  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT 
P'420'  (ELEPHAS  AFRICANUS,  BLUM.).f 

ALTHOUGH  the  African  Elephant  was  well  known,  both  in  their  wars 
and  games,  to  the  Romans,  till  within  the  last  few  years  hardly  any 
specimens  of  this  species  had  been  seen  in  Europe  since  the  days  of  the 
Roman  Empire.  With  but  one  exception,  as  far  as  I  can  find  out,  all 
our  knowledge  of  the  soft  structures  of  the  Proboscidea  has  been,  till 
the  present  year,  derived  from  examination  of  the  Asiatic  species.  In 
his  'Memoires  pour  servir  a  Fhistoire  naturelle  des  Animaux'^, 
published  in  1734  by  the  Academie  Royale  des  Sciences  of  Paris,  Claude 
Perrault  describes  an  African  Elephant  "  du  Royaume  de  Congo,"  which 
P.Z.S.1879,  was  presented  to  the  King  of  France  by  the  King  of  Portugal,  and 
p.  421.  lived  from  1668  to  1681  at  Versailles,  when  it  died  and  came  into  his 
hands  for  dissection §.  In  his  memoir  on  this  specimen  (which  extends 
over  fifty  pages)  the  anatomy  of  most  of  the  soft  parts  is  described, 
though,  as  a  rule,  somewhat  briefly,  that  of  the  trunk,  structure  of  the 
nasal  organs,  and  female  reproductive  organs  only  being  described  at 
greater  length.  In  the  following  account  I  shall  make  reference,  where 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xiv.  p.  233  (1878). 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1879,  pp.  420-435.     Eead  May  6,  1879. 

J  Tome  iii.  partie  3,  pp.  101-156,  pis.  19-24. 

§  This  animal  was  a  female,  and  was  supposed  to  be,  when  it  arrived  in  Paris, 
about  four  years  old.  (It  was  probably  much  older.)  It  was  then  7£  feet  high,  but 
during  the  thirteen  years  it  lived  at  Versailles  only  grew  1  foot  in  height.  M.  Per- 
rault gives  a  figure  of  this  specimen  on  pi.  19  of  his  memoir ;  this  figure  clearly 
shows  the  enormous  ears  characteristic  of  the  African  Elephant,  but  is  very  defective 
as  regards  the  hind,  and  particularly  the  fore,  feet. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT.      47 

necessary,   to    Perrault's   figures   and    descriptions   under   the   organs 
described*. 

Within  the  last  fifteen  years  African  Elephants  have  been  imported 
in  considerable  numbers  from  Nubia  and  other  parts  of  the  Upper-Nile 
basin,  via  Egypt  and  Trieste  into  Europe  t.  Altogether  considerably 
more  than  a  hundred  must  have  reached  Europe  alive ;  but  although 
some  of  these  must  surely,  ere  now,  have  fallen  victims  to  the  numerous 
diseases  that  attack  animals  in  captivity,  nothing,  as  far  as  I  can  learn, 
has  been  published  on  the  anatomy  of  any  of  these  animals  till  the 
current  year.  In  the  first  part  of  the  '  Archiv  fur  Naturgeschichte '  for 
the  present  year  (1879),  Dr.  August  von  Mojsisovics,  of  Gratz,  has 
published  an  article  "Zur  Kenntniss  des  afrikanischen  Elephanten,"i  in 
which  he  describes  certain  portions  only  of  the  visceral  anatomy — 
namely,  the  structure  of  the  pharynx,  particularly  as  regards  the 
existence  of  a  "  pharyngeal  pouch "  (hereafter  to  be  alluded  to),  and  of 
the  bronchi,  the  pancreas  and  pancreatic  duct,  and  the  male  genital 
organs ;  and  of  these  figures  are  given  on  three  plates. 

During  the  past  winter  one  of  the  African  Elephants  in  the  possession 
of  the  Alexandra  Palace  Company  succumbed  to  the  severity  of  the 
weather.  By  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Jones,  the  Secretary  of  the  Company, 
the  body  was  made  over  to  Mr.  Bartlett,  and  was  sent  up  to  the  Society's 
Gardens  so  as  to  be  more  easily  examined §.  As  our  anatomical 
knowledge  of  this  species  is  still  so  rudimentary,  I  make  no  hesitation 
in  laying  before  the  Society  the  following  notes  on  such  parts  of  its 
anatomy  as  I  examined,  the  more  so  as  the  very  considerable  differences 
which  occur  in  the  various  accounts  of  those  who  have  dissected  the  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
Indian  species  ||  make  it  advisable  to  put  on  record  any  observations,  p* 


*  Besides  this,  there  are  a  few  short  statements  on  various  parts  of  the  anatomy  of 
E.  africanus  in  Prof.  Flower's  lectures  on  the  digestive  organs  of  Mammalia  (alluded 
to  below)  and  in  Prof.  Macalister's  recently  published  '  Morphology  of  Vertebrata.' 
Donitz  has  described  the  kidney  (Reichert  &  Du  Bois-Reymond's  Archiv,  1872,  p.  85). 

t  For  an  account  of  the  introduction  of  African  Elephants  into  Europe,  see  a  letter 
by  Carl  Hagenbeck,  the  well-known  animal-dealer  of  Hamburg,  in  '  Land  and  Water,' 
March  29,  1879. 

J  L.  c.  pp.  56-92,  t.  v.-vii. 

§  Unfortunately  this  was  not  effected  till  about  one  week  after  the  death  of  the 
animal.  This  fact,  as  well  as  the  deaths  of  several  other  large  animals  requiring 
examination  at  the  same  period,  made  the  preliminary  dissections  rather  hurried,  and 
must  be  an  excuse  for  any  errors  or  omissions  in  the  following  descriptions. 

||  The  amount  of  literature  on  the  anatomy  of  the  Indian  Elephant  is  very 
considerable.  A  rfaumt,  of  the  principal  papers  on  the  subject  will  be  found  in  Messrs. 
Miall  and  Greenwood's  '  Anatomy  of  the  Indian  Elephant '  (pp.  6,  7),  recently  pub- 
lished, a  book  which  is  itself  a  useful  compendium  of  our  present  knowledge  of 
Proboscidean  anatomy.  The  myology,  however,  is  described  at  greater  length  than 
any  other  parts. 


48      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

however  fragmentary,  for  the  benefit  of  future  dissectors  of  either  of 
these  huge  animals. 

The  subject  of  these  notes  was  a  young  female,  which  had  been  in  the 
possession  of  the  Alexandra  Company  only  about  eighteen  months,  but 
was  probably  four  or  five  years  old  at  the  time  of  its  death.  I  took  the 
following  measurements  of  the  carcass  : — 

inches. 
From  forehead  to  root  of  tail  (along  back)   78 

Length  of  tail,  from  root  26£ 

Height  at  shoulder  (measured  to  spines  of  vertebrae  over  body)  58 

Circumference  of  right  foot,  fore 25 

Circumference  of  right  foot,  hind 25 

Length  of  ear,  from  front  of  meatus     19 

Greatest  depth     27 

These  measurements  show  that  the  ordinarily  accepted  rule  that  the 
height  of  an  Elephant  =  twice  the  circumference  of  its  feet  very  nearly 
expresses  the  truth. 

As  usual  in  this  species,  the  fore  limbs  were  provided  with  four,  the 
hind  with  three  nails. 

There  were  eight  molars  in  all  in  place.  In  all  those  of  the  upper  jaw 
I  counted  five  plates ;  in  those  of  the  lower,  there  were  six  in  the  first, 
and  seven  in  the  second,  tooth,  of  each  side. 

The  most  remarkable  point  observed,  when  the  ribs  and  other  walls 
of  the  right  side  of  the  body  had  been  removed,  was  the  enormous  extent 
of  the  thoracic  cavity,  which  extended  backwards  above  till  near  the 
sacrum,  and  the  comparatively  small  part  occupied  by  the  abdominal 
viscera ;  this  was,  as  far  as  I  could  judge,  not  more  than  about  one  third 
of  the  whole  trunk.  As  is  usually  the  case  with  Elephants,  there  was 
no  fat  visible,  either  in  the  subcutaneous  tissue  or  in  any  part  of  the 
abdominal  cavity. 

Mouth  and  Tongue. — The  palate,  gums,  and  cheeks  were  throughout 
smooth,  with  no  ridges  or  papillae,  except  a  few  small  caruncular 
projections  near  the  anterior  ends  of  the  lower  gums. 

The  tongue  (fig.  1,  p.  49),  as  in  the  Indian  species,  is  small  for  the 
size  of  the  animal,  much  compressed,  and  rather  deep*.  Its  anterior 
end  alone  is  free  for  about  2|  inches,  and  is  bent  down  at  an  angle 
with  the  rest  of  the  organ,  and  somewhat  pointed.  The  length  of  the 
tongue  in  a  straight  line  was  13|  inches,  along  the  curve  15  inches. 
The  filiform  papillae  are  extremely  fine  and  small,  so  that  the  tongue  has 
an  almost  velvety  touch.  At  the  sides  of  the  anterior  part,  extending 

*  Dr.  Mojsisovics's  figure  (I.  c.  Taf.  v.  fig.  1)  is  evidently  taken  from  a  preserved  and 
distorted  specimen,  and  fails  to  show  accurately  the  real  shape  of  the  tongue  when 
fresh. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT.      49 

from  near   the   papilla  of   Wharton's  duct   towards  the   tip,  where  it  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
becomes  obsolete,  is  a  slightly  raised  longitudinal  line.     Below  this  are      p*   * 
the   openings   of    a   considerable   number   of    small    glands,   situated, 
apparently,  in  the  substance  of   the  tongue  itself.     Above  and    behind 

Fig.  1. 


W.D.  M.O. 

Tongue  of  the  African  Elephant  (reduced). 

W.D.  Wharton's  duct.  M.O.  Mayer's  organ. 

this  line  are  scattered  about  a  few  fungiform  papillae;  but  these  get 
smaller,  and  ultimately  disappear,  towards  the  middle  line,  and  extend 
but  a  small  distance  backwards  over  the  sides  of  the  tongue. 

In  a  line  with,  and  continued  back  from,  this  raised  line,  a  single 
series  of  rather  conspicuous,  elevated  papillae,  apparently  of  a  glandular 
nature,  is  seen.  These  are  continuous  behind  with  "  Mayer's  organ  "  *, 
a  series  of  vertical  slit-like  depressions,  the  larger  of  which  are  each 
provided  with  a  pair  of  glandular  papillae,  probably  connected  with 
mucous  glands  in  the  substance  of  the  tongue.  I  counted  about  thirty- 
three  slits  in  this  organ,  which  extends  backwards  on  the  sides  of  the 
tongue  for  5^  inches,  till  within  about  an  inch  of  the  circumvallate 
papillae.  The  slits  are  largest  and  deepest,  and  have  their  glands 
proportionately  larger,  a  little  before  the  end  of  the  organ :  the  longest 
slit  is  |  inch  long.  In  the  anterior  part  of  the  organ  the  papillae  of  the 
sides  of  the  tongue  stand  on  the  ridges  between  the  slits;  but  more 
posteriorly  this  arrangement  disappears.  The  circumvallate  papillae  are 
situated  near  the  back  of  the  tongue,  and  nearer  the  middle  line  than  the 
glands  and  papillae  just  described.  On  the  right  side  there  are  four,  on 
the  left  three,  with  indications  of  a  fourth.  The  posterior  ones  are 
considerably  the  larger  (f  inch  in  diameter).  The  tongue  is  rounded  off 
and  considerably  narrowed  behind  the  circumvallate  papillae.  In  the 
walls  of  the  pharynx  in  this  region  are  a  few  irregular,  raised,  glandular 
patches,  which  attain  a  considerable  size  in  the  middle  line. 


*  So  called  in  honour  of  its  discoverer,  Dr.  C.  Mayer  (cf.  Nov.  Act.  Acad.  C.  L. 
vol.  xx.  p.  746). 

E 


50      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

The  tonsils  are  rather  large  and  deep  depressions.     In  the  bottom  are 

seen  the  openings  of  many  conspicuous  and  rather  large  solitary  glands. 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,    The  length  of  each  tonsil  is  about  2  inches.     Between  the  tonsils  the 

p.  424.  rook  o£  thg  tongue  is  narrowed   to  about  an  inch,  so  that   the  fauces 

become  extremely  small.     Between  the  two  posterior  pillars  a  few  thin 

wrinkled  folds  of  mucous  membrane  run  across  in  front  of  the  epiglottis, 

forming  the  "plica  palato-epiglottlca "  of   Mojsisovics*.     The  epiglottis 

is  short,  thick,  and  evenly  rounded.     I  failed  to  detect  any  "  pharyngeal 

pouch,"  such  as  that  described  by  Dr.  Watson  t,  or  even  to  recognize  the 

"leicht   zu  iibersehende,  seichte   Grube,"  which   Dr.   Mojsisovics  (L  c. 

p.  60)  found  as  its  sole  representative  in  the  animal  he  examined.     In 

other  respects  my  observations  on  the  pharynx  closely  agree  with  the 

descriptions  and  figure  (1.  c.  Taf.  v.  fig.  1)  of  the  last-named  naturalist, 

as  also  with   the   description   of   the   pharynx   by   Messrs.   Miall   and 

Greenwood  in  the  Indian  species  (I.  c.  p.  52).     The  former,  however, 

does  not  apparently  recognize  the  subdivision  of  his  "  inner  "  pharyngeal 

sac  (1.  c.  Taf.  v.  fig.  1,  I)  into  two  by  a  vertical  fold  of  mucous  membrane, 

which  runs  from  the  transverse  fold  in  front  backwards  to  a  level  with 

the  hinder  part  of  the  larynx,  and  there,  after  getting  deeper,  terminates, 

sending  off  a  fold  to  the  laryngeal  mass  on  one  side  and  to  the  palato- 

pharyngeus  on  the  other.     Such  an  arrangement  is  clearly  described  by 

Messrs.  Miall  and  Greenwood  (L  c.  p.  52)  in  their  subject;  but  they 

mention  only  a  single  gland  in  each  of  the  inner  chambers,  whereas  I 

find  that  there  are  several  glands  on  the  outer  -walls  only  of  each  of  the 

two  innermost  chambers  of  each  side.     The  external  chamber  on  each 

side  is  free  from  glands,  as  noticed  by  Dr.  Mojsisovics  (I.  c.  p.  62). 

The  relations  of  the  various  parts  of  the  hyoid  arches  to  each  other, 
and  to  the  muscles  in  connexion  with  them,  exactly  agree  with  those 
that  obtain  in  the  Indian  species,  as  first  pointed  out  by  Prof.  GarrodJ. 
Between  the  digastric  and  the  stylo-pharyngeus  pass  the  vessels  sup- 
plying the  thyroid  glands. 

Salivary  Glands. — The  parotid  gland  is  large  §;  Stenson's  duct  opens 
in  the  cheek  in  the  usual  position. 

The  submaxillary  gland  is  small  and  oval ;  it  measured  2  inches  long 
by  |  inch  deep  and  J  inch  thick.  Wharton's  duct,  8  inches  long,  opens 
on  each  side  on  a  single  linear  papilla  beneath  the  tongue  on  the  frcenum 
linguce,  about  3  inches  from  the  tip. 

The  sublingual  is  5  inches  long,  1  inch  wide,  and  J  inch  thick.  It 
opens  by  many  ducts  beneath  the  tongue. 

*  L.c.  p.  62,  Taf.  v.  fig.  l,pe. 
t  Journ.  Anat.  Phys.  viii.  1873,  p.  91. 
}  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  365,  and  figure. 

&  This  was  unfortunately  damaged  in  removing  the  brain  ;  consequently  I  can  give 
no  details. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OP  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT.      51 

Besides  the  above  glands,  which  are  usually  present   in   Mammalia, 
there  is  a  large,  more  superficially  situated,  gland  that  lies  in  front  of 
the  angle  of  the  jaw  on  its  inner  side.     This  gland  is  much  lobulated,  is 
about  8  inches  long,  1  inch  wide  at  its  greatest  width,  and  \  inch  thick. 
It  opens  by  many  ducts,  some  situated  on  raised  papillae,  in  the  cheek*. 
It  probably  corresponds  to  the  molar  glands  found   in  many   animals,   P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
particularly  Rodents.     Dr.  Watson  and  Messrs.  Miall  and  Greenwood       p<       ' 
only  found  the  parotid  gland  present  in  their  examples  t. 

Alimentary  Canal. — The  oesophagus  is  of  but  small  calibre;  at  its 
entrance  into  the  stomach,  when  cut  open  and  stretched  out,  it  measures 
4  inches. 

The  stomach  in  shape  resembles  that  of  the  Indian  Elephant  as  figured  by 
Camper  and  others.  Its  long  axis  lies  almost  vertically  in  the  animal, 
with  the  cardiac  end  directed  upwards,  the  pyloric  being  downwards. 
In  a  straight  line  it  measures  26  inches  from  the  cardiac  to  pyloric  ends  ; 
from  the  extremity  of  the  cul-de-sac,  along  the  greater  curvature  to  the 
pylorus,  35^  inches  ;  along  the  lower  curvature  18|  inches.  Its  greatest 
depth  is  9  inches,  at  the  pylorus  only  3|.  The  rounded  cul-de-sac,  to 
the  left  of  the  entrance  of  the  oesophagus,  is  9|  inches  long  by  7|  deep. 
Perrault  gives  3|  feet  by  14  inches  as  the  dimensions  of  the  stomach  in 
his  adult  animal.  In  his  figure  of  this  viscus  (I.  c.  pi.  20)  the  cardiac 
cul-de-sac  is  represented  as  nearly  conical ;  and  in  other  respects  his 
representation  is  not  good. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  cardiac  cul-de-sac  is  raised  up  into  about 
fifteen  thick  zonary  folds,  which  are  arranged  with  considerable  regularity 
in  that  part  of  the  stomach,  but  decrease  both  in  size  and  regularity  as 
they  approach  the  pyloric  part ;  so  that  the  posterior  third  of  the  inner 
part  of  the  stomach  is  almost  smooth,  with  only  slight  and  irregularly 
disposed  rugaej.  The  folds  are  very  expansible ;  but  in  the  ordinary  state 
none  exceeds  about  1  inch  in  depth.  The  greater  part  are  continuous  all 
round  the  stomach ;  but  others  blend  with  adjacent  folds ;  so  that  it  is 
not  possible  to  count  the  exact  number  with  any  great  accuracy.  The 
mucous  membrane  of  the  oesophagus  is  sharply  marked  off  from  that  of 
the  stomach :  here  it  is  covered  by  numerous  short  slit-like  depressions 

*  My  friend  Mr.  W.  Ottley,  of  University  College,  was  kind  enough  to  help  me  by 
dissecting  out  and  measuring  these  glands. 

t  Mr.  Bartlett  tells  me  that  in  both  sexes  of  the  African  Elephant  the  peculiar 
temporal  gland,  which  is  found  in  the  Indian  species,  and  opens  externally  between 
the  eye  and  ear,  is  certainly  present.  I  omitted,  unfortunately,  to  look  for  it. 

t  Mayer's  figure  (Nor.  Act.  Acad.  0.  L.  vol.  xxii.  pt.  1,  pi.  iv.  fig.  3,  1847)  of  the 
stomach  of  the  Indian  species  does  not  sufficiently  indicate  the  regularly  zonary  nature 
of  these  folds ;  in  that  of  Sir  James  Emerson  Tennent  ('  The  Wild  Elephant,'  p.  59 
[1867]),  on  the  other  hand,  these  folds  are  represented  as  much  too  regular  and 
sharply  defined. 

E2 


52 


P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
p.  426. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 
Fig.  2. 


View  of  liver  of  E,  indicus,  from  above. 


View  of  liver  of  E.  indicus,  from  below. 

All  the  figures  much  reduced.     Figs.  2  and  4  from  drawings  by  Prof.  Garrocl. 
L.L.  Left  lateral.    L.C.  Left  central.    B.C.  Bight  central.    B.L.  Bight  lateral.     B. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFEICAN  ELEPHANT. 


53 


P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
p.  427. 


View  of  liver  of  E.  africanus,  from  above. 


Fig.  5. 


ir.r. 


View  of  liver  of  E.  africanus,  from  below. 


Eight  lobe  of  liver.     V.H.  Hepatic  vein.     V.P.  Vena  Porte.     H.D.  Hepatic  duct. 
L.E.  Eound  ligament.    L.S.  Suspensory  ligament.    TJ.F.  Umbilical  fissure. 


54      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

(probably  mucous  canals)  in  the  anterior  two  thirds  ;  but  in  the  posterior 
third  these  disappear  or  become  obsolete. 

About  4 1  inches  from  the  oesophagus,  in  the  middle  line  of  the  lesser 
curvature,  is  a  small,  blunt,  slightly  elevated,  circular  prominence,  pitted 
in  the  centre,  of  ^  inch  diameter,  which  is  probably  glandular  in  nature 
Prof.  Garrod,  in  his  MS.  notes,  records  small  glands,  apparently  formed 
by  the  aggregation  of  several  of  these,  as  occurring  in  a  similar  position 
in  the  Indian  species.  The  pylorus  has  no  distinct  valve. 

The  length   of  the  small  intestine  was  27  feet  4  inches,  of  the  very 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,   capacious  large  intestine  16  feet  *.     The  latter  was  arranged  on  a  meso- 

p.  428.         colon,  just  as  in  Prof  Flower's  description  t  of  the  Indian  species.     The 

caecum  was  large  and  sacculated,  forming  a  broad  and  blunt  cone  22  inches 

long.     It  lay  on  the  right  side,  near  the  middle  line  of  the  belly,  pointing 

forwards.     Prof.  Mower  (I.  c.)  found  it  in  a  similar  position  on  the  left 

side  in  a  foetal  African  Elephant. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  duodenum  is  raised  up  into  irregularly 
transverse,  almost  dendritic,  closely  set,  slightly  elevated  rugae.  These 
continue  throughout  the  whole  length  of  the  small  intestine,  but  towards 
the  ileum  become  arranged  more  longitudinally.  For  about  6  inches 
before  its  opening  into  the  large  intestine  the  ileum  is  surrounded  inter- 
nally by  large,  elevated,  pitted  glandular  patches,  caused  by  a  breaking- 
up  and  intersection  of  the  rugae,  and  somewhat  resembling  an  immensely 
broadened  Peyer's  patch.  For  about  the  last  1|  inch  of  the  ileum  these 
patches  disappear,  leaving  the  mucous  membrane  only  slightly  longitu- 
dinally wrinkled.  The  longest  of  these  elevated  patches  is  about  1|  inch 
long.  The  ileo-caecal  valve  is  only  represented  by  the  prominent  edges 
of  the  ileum,  which  project  into  the  colon  in  a  ring-like  manner.  The 
ileum  is  here,  when  cut  up  and  laid  flat,  4|  inches  across.  The  mucous 
membrane  of  both  colon  and  caecum  is  smooth,  with  only  slight  irregular 
folds. 

Liver. — All  authors  from  Perrault  onwards  have  described  the  Elephant's 
liver  as  being  composed  of  two  lobes.  In  his  lectures  on  the  organs  of 
digestion  of  the  Mammalia,  published  some  years  since  in  the  '  Medical 
Times  and  Gazette/  Prof.  Flower  (I.  c.  Oct.  5,  1872,  p.  372)  thus  de- 
scribes this  organ  (presumably  in  the  Indian  form): — "  The  liver  is  small 
for  the  size  of  the  animal  and  of  simple  form,  being  only  divided  by  an 
umbilical  fissure  into  two  lobes,  of  which  the  right  is  the  larger."  But 
this  statement  does  not  quite  accurately  describe  the  facts  of  the  case. 
As  may  be  seen  from  the  annexed  figures  (figs.  2  and  4,  p.  52)  taken 

*  Perrault  gives  38  feet  and  22  feet  as  the  lengths  of  the  small  and  large  intestines 
respectively  in  his  specimen ;  so  that  the  ratios  of  the  two  measurements  are  nearly  the 
same.  The  caecum  measured  1£  foot. 

t  Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  Oct.  5,  1872,  p.  372. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT.      55 

from  drawings  by  Prof.  Grarrod  (who  was  the  first  to  point  this  out  to 
me),  of  the  liver  of  Elephas  indicus ,  the  suspensory  ligament  runs  not  in, 
but  a  little  to  the  right  of,  the  large  notch  which  has  been  taken  for  the 
umbilical  fissure  by  most  authors,  and  is  there  connected,  as  usual,  by  a 
thin  membranous  expansion  with  the  round  ligament.  In  this  species 
there  is  no  umbilical  notch  visible*. 

In  Eleplias  africanus  (figs.  3  and  5,  p.  53),  the  suspensory  ligament 
lies  still  further  to  the  right  of  the  large  notch,  and  there  is  a  conspicuous 
umbilical  notch  (about  2\  inches  deep),  visible  on  both  surfaces  of  the 
liver. 

From  a  comparison  of  the  two  livers  it  becomes  clear  that  in  both 
species  the  liver  consists  of  three  lobes,  a  right  lobe  (slightly  divided  in 
both  species),  a  left  central  lobe  (extremely  small  in  E.  indicus,  but  p.  z.  s.  1879, 
clearly  marked  off  in  E.  africanus),  and  a  left  lateral  lobe,  of  large  size  in  P-  ^29. 
both  species.  In  E.  indicus,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  figures,  the  right 
margin  of  the  liver  is  slightly  notched,  apparently  marking  out  the  distinc- 
tion of  right  central  and  lateral  lobes  :  in  E.  africanus,  however,  there  are 
two  such  notches,  both  very  shallow  and  superficial.  In  both  species 
there  is  a  large  area  behind  the  transverse  fissure  on  the  under  surface  of 
the  liver  bare  of  peritoneal  covering  (indicated  by  the  portion  within  the 
dotted  lines  in  figs.  4  and  5).  The  angulated  line  of  attachment  of  the 
suspensory  ligament  in  this  species  will  also  be  noticed  (fig.  3). 

The  liver  in  my  specimen  weighed  13  Ib.  5  oz. :  its  greatest  length 
transversely  was  20^  inches,  the  greatest  breadth  (from  behind  forwards) 
16  inches.  In  Perrault's  example  it  measured  3  j  ft.  x  2±  ft.  His  figure 
(pi.  20)  is  not  at  all  like  my  specimen ;  nor  is  Mayer's  drawing  (I.  c. 
pi.  v.  fig.  1 — which,  by  the  way,  clearly  shows  the  above-described  rela- 
tions of  the  suspensory  ligament  to  the  large  median  notch)  of  that  of 
E.  indicus  very  satisfactory. 

As  in  the  Indian  species,  there  is  no  gall-bladder  ;  but  the  hepatic  duct 
has  its  epithelium  reticulated  at  the  lower  end,  and  is  very  spacious, 
measuring  9  inches  long  by  1§  broad. 

The  pancreas  is  a  lobulated,  elongated  gland,  17  inches  long.  It 
opens  by  a  single,  wide  and  short  duct  (one  inch  long)  into  the  hepatic 
duct  at  the  junction  of  the  latter  with  the  wall  of  the  duodenum,  through 
which  the  common  duct  is  continued  for  3|  inches.  The  common  duct 
is  provided  with  distinct  circular  valve-like  folds,  exactly  as  shown  by 
Camper  (conf.  also  Dr.  Mojsisovics's  figure,  I.  c.  Taf.  vi.),  and  opens  on  a 
slightly  raised  nipple-like  projection  on  the  sides  of  the  duodenum ;  its 


*  In  a  liver  of  E.  indicus  in  tLo  Eoyal  College  of  Surgeons  (810  F)  there  is  visible, 
at  the  place  where  the  round  ligament  is  lost  in  the  substance  of  the  liver,  a  narrow 
fissure,  which  runs  obliquely  for  some  way  towards  the  margin,  but  does  not  reach  it ; 
so  that  there  is  no  notch  Conned. 


56      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

aperture  is  about  |  inch  broad.  Like  Perrault  and  Dr.  Mojsisovics,  I 
saw  nothing  of  any  secondary  pancreatic  duct  opening  into  the  intestine 
separately  from  the  hepato-pancreatic  one,  such  as  has  been  described 
by  many  naturalists  (conf.  Mojsisovics,  1.  c.  pp.  72,  75)  in  E  indicus. 

Spleen. — This  viscus  was  of  a  very  long  irregular  oval,  with  the  attached 
margin  nearly  straight,  the  other  somewhat  irregular.  It  measured  23| 
inches  by  5^-  across  *  :  it  was  flattened  and  thin,  and  of  a  slaty-grey 
colour. 

Thyroid  Gland. — This  consists  of  two  circular  cake-like  lobes  of  con- 
siderable consistency,  united  by  a  short  isthmus.  Each  lobe  measures 
about  4|  inches  in  diameter. 

Heart.— The  ventricles  were  not  separated  at  the  apex  by  any  deep 
groove,  such  as  is  noticed  by  Mayer  (I.  c.  p.  44)  and  Messrs.  Miall  and 
Greenwood  (I.  c.  p.  68)  in  E.  indicus.  This  separation  of  the  ventricles 
is  probably  an  individual  feature,  as  neither  Hunter  ('  Observations/  ii. 
p.  172)  nor  Vulpian  and  Philipeaux  (as  quoted  by  Miall  and  Greenwood, 
I.  s.  c.)  observed  it.  The  fossa  ovalis  was  very  deep,  admitting  the  first 
two  joints  of  the  index  finger.  Hunter  also  (I.  c.)  found  the  remains  of 
the  foramen  ovale  distinct.  The  ductus  arteriosus  was  of  the  size  of  a 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,  <lunl  Pen'  an(^  aDout  one  inch  l°ng>  Dut  quite  impermeable.  The  aorta 
p.  430.  gives  off  an  innominate  artery,  which  is  only  an  inch  long  and  then 
divides  into  right  brachial  and  right  and  left  carotids.  The  left  brachial 
is  given  off  immediately  after  the  innominate.  This  agrees  with  the 
descriptions  of  E.  indicus  as  given  by  Hunter,  Owen,  Vulpian  and  Phili- 
peaux, Watson,  and  Miall  and  Greenwood.  On  the  other  hand,  Cuvier 
and  Mayer  found  three  trunks,  namely  two  brachials  and  a  common 
carotid.  I  found  no  "  arteria  thyroidea  inferior  simplex  "  coming  off  from 
the  point  of  division  of  the  two  carotids,  such  as  is  figured  by  Mayer 
(I.  c.  pi.  11.  fig.  3)  and  Watson  (Journ.  Anat.  &  Phys.  vi.  pi.  vi.  fig.  1). 
The  weight  of  the  heart  and  great  vessels,  cut  short  and  cleaned  of  blood, 
was  7  lb.  There  was  no  os  cordis ;  and  the  same  was  the  case  in 
Perrault's  specimen ;  nor  is  any  such  bone  recorded  in  E.  indicus  by 
recent  anatomists. 

Respiratory  System. — The  lungs  were  very  simple  in  form,  each  lung 
being  undivided  and  bluntly  triangular  in  general  outline,  the  Jett  being 
shorter  and  broader.  In  the  undistended  state  they  measured  as 
follows  : — Eight  lung  23  inches  long  by  12  broad,  left  21  inches  by  14. 
I  found  no  accessory  lobe  on  the  right  side,  such  as  has  been  observed 
by  some  anatomists  in  E.  indicus.  There  is  no  extra  bronchus. 

The  trachea  is  short,  measuring  about  a  foot  in  length,  and  not  quite 
two  inches  in  external  diameter.  It  is  composed  of  28  rings,  which  are 
nearly  complete,  leaving  hardly  any  space  behind  between  their  ends. 

*  Perrault  gives  3  feet  by  7  inches. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFEICAN  ELEPHANT.  57 

They  vary  considerably  in  size  in  different  parts  of  their  circumference. 
The  first  three  rings,  as  in  E.  indicus,  are  truncated  obliquely  behind,  the 
space  so  formed  being  covered  in  by  the  body  of  the  cricoid  cartilage. 

The  larynx  (fig.  6)  is  of  considerable  size.  The  epiglottis,  when 
covered  by  its  soft  parts,  is  short,  thick,  and  rounded.  The  thyroid 
consists  of  two  rhoinboidal  wings,  4  inches  long,  and  3|  deep,  which  are 
united  in  front  superiorly  for  about  one  inch,  the  deep  and  narrow  notch 
left  between  the  remaining  part  of  the  wings  being  filled  up  by  connec- 
tive tissue.  The  superior  cornua  are  short  and  scarcely  project.  The 
posterior  are  about  one  inch  long,  and  are  directed  downwards  and  for- 
wards in  close  proximity  with  the  body  of  the  thyroid  cartilage,  to  which 
they  are  attached  by  connective  tissue.  The  postero-inferior  angle  of 
the  thyroid  cartilage  also  develops  an  articular  facet ;  and  this  is  enclosed 
with  that  of  the  posterior  cornu,  in  the  common  capsule  of  the  crico- 
thyroid  articulation.  The  cricoid  (see  fig.  6)  is  of  the  usual  type.  Its 
anterior  part  is  1  inch  deep,  the  posterior  (somewhat  pentagonal)  part  2 
inches.  The  processes  for  articulation  with  the  thyroid  stand  out  in  a 
step -like  way,  and  are  more  or  less  clearly  divided  into  two  facets, 
corresponding  to  the  double  articulating  surfaces  of  the  thyroid. 

The  arytaenoids  (see  fig.  6)  are  vertically  elongated.     Each  measures 


P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
p.  431. 


Larynx  of  African  Elephant  (about  half  nat.  size)  viewed  somewhat  obliquely  from 
behind.  The  thyroid  cartilage  has  been  removed,  a,  points  to  the  double  facet 
of  the  crico-thyroid  ariculation. 

about  2f  inches  long  by  1|  broad.     They  have  a  conspicuous,  vertically    p-  z-  s-  1879, 
directed,  raised  spine-like  process,  and  a  large  notch  behind  the  supero- 
posterior  angle.     The  cartilage  of  each  side  articulates  with  its  fellow 
both  above  and  below  this  notch.     The  processus  vocalis  is  short  and 


58      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,  blunt.  The  true  vocal  cords  are  well-marked  and  thick  elastic  folds,  2| 
p.  431.  inches  long.  The  false  vocal  cords  hardly  exist.  Between  the  two  is  a 
slight  laryngeal  pouch,  which  extends  backwards  a  little  way,  as  in  the 
Indian  Elephant  (Miall  and  Greenwood,  1.  c.  p.  76).  The  muscles  of  the 
larynx  closely  agree  with  those  described  by  the  last-named  anatomists. 
The  superior  fibres  of  the  crico-arytcenoideus  posticus  run  transversely 
across  in  the  interval  left  above  by  the  more  inferior,  diverging  fibres  of 
that  muscle. 

Urino-genital  System. — The  kidneys  lie  in  the  usual  position.  Their 
shape  is  an  irregular  oval.  The  following  details  refer  to  the  single 
kidney  (right)  which  I  preserved  for  further  examination.  The  length 
is  10  inches,  the  breadth  about  6.  The  hilus  is  not  marginal,  but  lies 
about  1  inch  from  the  side  ;  its  length  is  4|  inches.  The  weight  of  the 
kidney  is  3  Ib.  The  kidney  is  indistinctly  divided  into  eight  lobes, 
which  are  of  varying  size  and  shape  ;  one  lobe  is  scarcely  visible  on  the 
hilar  surface.  These  lobes  are  essentially  distinct,  each  consisting  of  a 
cortical  and  medullary  part,  not,  however,  very  clearly  marked  off  from 
each  other.  The  Malpighian  corpuscles  are  clearly  visible.  Perrault's 
figure  of  the  kidney  (I.  c.  pi.  20)  is  too  elongated  and  shows  no  lobes. 
The  number  of  lobes  in  the  kidney  of  E.  indicus  has  been  variously  stated 
at  from  two  to  eight  or  nine.  The  suprarenal  bodies  resemble  those  of 
the  Indian  species. 

The  ureters  open  into  the  bladder  by  semilunar  slits  about  2  inches 
from  its  orifice.  The  neck  of  the  bladder  is  short  and  thick. 

The  female  organs  are  formed  on  precisely  the  same  type  as  those  of 
the  Indian  species*,  consisting  of  a  long  urino-genital  passage  ("  the 
common  vagina,  which  is  common  to  the  urine  and  penis  "  of  Hunter), 
P.  Z.  S.  1879  a  secondary  vagina  ("  the  proper,  or  rather  uncommon,  vagina,  which 
p.  432.  the  penis  cannot  enter  "),  a  corpus  uteri,  with  two  horns,  and  Fallopian 
tubes  and  ovaries.  The  ovaries  lie  in  pouches  of  peritoneum,  attached 
by  peritoneal  folds  to  the  kidneys  :  the  one  I  examined  resembled  in 
form  those  figured  by  Mayer  in  the  Indian  species.  It  was  a  little  over 
an  inch  long,  and  generally  smooth,  with  only  a  few  small  lobular  pro- 
cesses and  erupted  Grraafian  follicles  near  the  line  of  attachment  to  the 
peritoneal  pouch.  The  latter  is  continuous  with  the  opening  of  the 
Fallopian  tube,  and  is  of  considerable  size :  its  walls  are  thickened  by 
muscular  fibres,  prolonged  into  it  apparently  from  the  Fallopian  tubes. 
The  tubes  are  of  small  calibre,  of  the  size  of  a  crow-quill,  about  3  or  4 
inches  long,  and,  after  a  tortuous  course,  open  into  the  cornua  uteri  at 
the  side  of  that  tube,  as  well  shown  in  Mayer's  figure  (1.  c.  pi.  vi.  fig.  2). 

The  two  cornua  are  about  \  inch  across  at  their  commencement,  and 

*  Cf.  Hunter,  '  Observations,'  &c.  ii.  p.  175 ;  Mayer,  /.  c.  p.  37,  t,  vi. ;  Owen,  Anat. 
Vert.  iii.  p.  692;  Miall  and  Greenwood,  I.  c.  p.  62,  pi.  iv. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

Fig.  7. 


59 


Corn 


P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
p.  433. 


«.  Uterus  and  vagina  of 
African  Elephant  (about  half 
natural  size),  viewed  from  behind. 
b  The  vagina  (To^.)  and  urino- 
genital  canal  (u.g.}  have  been 
laid  open  from  behind.  Carn.ut. 
Cornua  uteri  cut  short  above. 
Ut.  True  uterus,  formed  by  the 
coalescence  of  the  two  cornua, 
but  not  marked  off  externally 
from  the  conjoined  cornua  by  any 
constriction,  o.u.  Above  this  is 
the  valve-like  structure  corre- 
sponding to  the  Os  uteri.  Ur. 
Prominence  on  which  the  urethra 
opens  ;  above  it  are  seen  the 
Malpighian  canals  ;  below  the 
letters  is  the  papilla-like  free 
point  (vide  fig.  8).  Ves.  Bladder. 
b.  Section  of  the  conjoined 
uterine  cornua,  half  the  natural 
size,  to  show  the  distinctness  of 
the  two  tubes  internally  at  this 
point. 


60      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT. 

have  very  thick  muscular  and  elastic  walls.  For  the  last  4|  inches  of 
the  course  of  the  cornua  they  are  united  together  (as  seen  in  fig.  7,  p.  59) 
into  a  single  tube,  which  is  about  1  inch  across  at  the  point  of  junction. 
This  tube  is  externally  single  ;  but  nevertheless,  on  cutting  it  across,  the 
two  comparatively  small  cavities  of  the  cornua  are  seen  lying  beside  one 
another,  but  separated  by  a  considerable  septum.  Without  any  difference 
in  the  external  calibre  of  the  tube,  the  two  cornua  open  together  into  a 
common  cavity  2|  inches  long,  wrhich  is  the  true  "  corpus  uteri."  At  their 
opening  each  cornu  admits  a  large  knitting-needle.  There  is  no  valve  of 
any  kind  at  the  opening.  Both  cornua  and  corpus  are  lined  by  smooth, 
longitudinally  plaited,  mucous  membrane.  A  similar  arrangement  to  that 
here  described  would  seem  to  be  indicated  by  Perrault's  description  : — 
"  Ces  comes,  au  lieu  de  s'ecarter  et  de  se  separer  comme  elles  font  ordi- 
nairement,  etoient  jointes  1'une  centre  1'autre,  montant  jusqu'au  hauteur 
d'un  pied,  et  n'etant  separes  que  par  une  cloison  mitoyenne ;  ensuite 
elles  se  separent  en  deux  branches."  In  his  example  (nearly  or  quite 
adult)  each  horn  measured  2  feet  8  inches,  and  was  1|  inch  across  at  the 
commencement.  The  female  genital  organs  he  pictures  on  pi.  21 :  this 
shows  the  conjoined  cornua,  which  are  separate  till  near  their  end,  as  seen 
in  section. 

The  next  part  of  the  genital  organs  is  the  dilated,  sac-like,  "  secondary  " 
or  "  uncommon,"  vagina.  This  is  about  5|  inches  long,  and  is  lined  by 
smooth  mucous  membrane,  with  slightly  raised  longitudinal  folds,  run- 
ning from  the  opening  into  it  of  the  corpus  uteri.  This  opening  is  small, 
only  admitting  the  tip  of  the  little  finger,  and  is  provided  behind  with  an 
irregularly  bilobed  thick  valve  of  mucous  membrane.  This  constriction 
and  valve  undoubtedly  represent  the  "  os  uteri."  Perrault  describes  this 
"  secondary  vagina  "  as  the  "  corps  ovale ;"  in  his  specimen  it  measured 
18  inches  by  6  inches,  and  was  smooth  and  polished  within.  It  is  well 
shown  in  his  figure  (1.  c.  pi.  21)  ;  but  the  "  valvule  frangee  aux  embou- 
chures des  cornes  de  la  matrice  "  is  not  quite  like  the  valve  in  my  specimen. 
In  the  text  he  says,  "Deux  trous  au  dedans... etoient  entoures  par  un 
appendice  de  la  membrane  interne... en  maniere  de  la  f range  ou  de 
pavilion."  It  would  appear,  then,  that  in  his  animal  there  was  no  "  corpus 
T>  v  a  IQ^O  uteri,"  such  as  that  which  exists  in  mine,  but  that  the  two  cornua 

r.  L.  o.  lo/y, 

p.  434.  opened  separately  into  the  "corps  ovale  "  (  =  secondary  vagina).  Mayer 
apparently  (I.  c.  pi.  6,  p.  38)  found  a  similar  arrangement  in  E.  indicus. 
Hunter,  Owen,  and  Miall  and  Greenwood  all  indicate  an  arrangement 
like  that  which  obtained  in  mine*. 

*  In  a  specimen  (2776  A)  in  the  College  of  Surgeons  of  the  uterus  &c.  of  E.  indic-us, 
the  "  corpus  uteri "  is  very  much  more  capacious  than  in  my  (young)  specimen,  is 
about  7  inches  long,  and  is  only  separated  off  from  the  "  secondary  vagina  "  by  a  pro- 
minent zonary  fold  of  mucous  membrane.  The  calibres  of  these  two  chambers  are 
about  the  same. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OP  THE  AFRICAN  ELEPHANT.      61 

Fig.  8. 


Opening  of  urethra  (U)  into  the  urino-genital  canal,  about  natural  size  (somewhat 
diagrammatic).  The  walls  of  the  urino-genital  canal  are  cut  close  round  the 
urethral  eminence.  M.C.  Malpighian  canals ;  below  (anterior  to)  the  letters  is 
seen  the  constriction  separating  the  vagina  from  the  urino-genital  canal ;  on  the 
top  of  the  urethral  eminence  is  seen  the  small  free  point ;  below  it  is  the  cul-de-sac 
of  the  urino-genital  canal. 
N.B.  In  the  natural  position  the  lower  parts  of  the  figure  are  anterior,  the  upper 

parts  posterior. 

The  secondary  vagina,  which  lies  behind  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  is 
separated  by  a  constriction,  leaving  only  a  very  small  opening,  from  the 
urino-genital  chamber,  which  is  marked  off  by  the  livid  blue  colour  of 
its  mucous  membrane  from  the  parts  already  described.  On  each  side 
of  this  median  constriction  lies  a  small  obliquely-placed  slit,  about  |  inch 
long,  and  admitting  a  probe  for  about  the  same  distance  into  the  small 
sacs  (canals  of  Malpighi),  of  which  they  are  the  openings.  Exactly  the 
same  arrangement  occurs  in  the  Indian  Elephant.  There  is  no  trace  of  p.  z.  S.  1879. 
any  hymen-like  organ  dividing  this  median  constriction  into  two,  such  P-  435- 
as  noticed  by  Miall  and  Greenwood  (I.  c.  pi.  iv.  fig.  3,  h).  This  point 
about  corresponds  with  the  entrance  of  the  genital  organs  into  the  pelvis. 

Perrault  describes  and  figures  (pi.  22)  in  his  example  two  "  valves 
sigmoides,'*'  which  guarded  the  "  orifice  interne  de  la  matrice,"  and  also 
a  "  rebord  qui  s'avan9oit  au-devant  du  col  de  la  matrice  de  la  longueur 
d'environ  deux  pouces."  "What  the  two  sigmoid  valves  are  I  do  not  see, 
as  in  his  figure  he  indicates  the  two  Malpighian  canals  as  well.  The 
"  rebord  "  probably  corresponds  to  the  tumid  rounded  eminence  (fig.  8, 
S'iprd)  about  one  inch  long,  terminating  above  and  behind  in  a  little  point, 


62  ON  THE  GENUS  LATH AMUS. 

on  which  the  urethra  opens  by  a  somewhat  narrow  aperture,  just  below 
and  in  front  of  the  opening  into  the  secondary  vagina*.  In  front  of 
this  eminence  the  urine-genital  canal,  as  the  remaining  part  of  these 
organs  may  be  called,  is  produced  into  a  small  cul-de-sac.  The  total 
length  of  this  canal  is  about  20  inchest ;  the  clitoris,  which  resembles 
the  same  organ  in  E.  indicus,  and  which  has  similar  relations  to  the  urino- 
genital  canal,  is  about  15  inches  from  the  attachment  of  its  crura  to  the 
pelvis  to  its  extremity.  The  glans  clitoridis  is  about  two  inches 
long,  rounded  anteriorly,  flattened  and  grooved  posteriorly,  where  it 
is  in  contact  with  the  urino-genital  canal.  There  is  a  well-marked 
preputial-like  reversion  of  the  integuments  round  the  glans,  as  in 
E.  indic.us. 

The  brain  was  removed  with  but  little  injury ;  but  its  description 
must  be  deferred  till  some  future  occasion. 

As  will  be  seen  from  the  foregoing  account,  but  little  difference,  on 
the  whole,  exists  in  the  visceral  anatomy  of  the  only  two  remaiDing 
species  of  Proboscideans.  What  differences  there  are  chiefly  relate  to  the 
stomach,  liver,  and  female  organs  ;  but,  till  more  specimens  of  E.  africanus 
have  been  dissected,  it  is  impossible  to  say-  how  many  of  the  points  above 
noticed  are  due  to  individual  peculiarities  or  those  of  age  and  the  like. 
There  appears,  therefore,  little  ground,  from  an  anatomical  point  of  view, 
to  separate  Loxodon  as  a  genus  from  EuelepJias. 


P.z.S.  1879,       15.  ON  THE  SYSTEMATIC  POSITION  OP  THE  GENUS 
P- 166.  LATHAMUS  OP  LESSONJ. 

(Plate  I.) 

IN  their  paper  on  Australian  birds  in  the  Linnean  Society's  Trans- 
actions for  1828  (vol.  xv.  p.  74),  Messrs.  Vigors  and  Horsfield  established 
a  genus  Nanodes,  of  which  the  Psittacus  discolor  of  Shaw§  was  made 
the  type,  and  full  generic  characters  were  given.  Besides  Nanodes 
discolor,  three  other  species  (those  now  generally  known  as  Melopsittacus 
undulatus,  EupTiema  pulcJiella.  and  Platycercus  venustus)  were  included  in 
the  genus,  which  was  considered  by  its  authors  to  be  allied  to  Pezoporus 

*  This  raised  part,  on  which  is  the  opening  of  the  urethra,  is  probably  identical 
with  the  "  Klappe"  figured  by  Mayer  (1.  c.  pi.  vi.  fig.  1)  as  existing  between  the  two 
orifices  of  the  bladder  and  vagina. 

t  In  Perrault's  adult  example  the  length  was  3  feet  6  inches. 

\  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1879,  pp.  166-174,  PI.  XVI.    Eead  Feb.  18,  1879. 

§  White's  Voyage,  pi.  263  (1790).  For  the  synonymy  of  the  species,  see  Finsch, 
Papag.  ii.  p.  863. 


ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS.  63 

and  Platycercus,  and  as  connecting  these  Australian  forms  with  the  South- 
American  Psittacarce  ( =  Conurus  auct.).  Nanodes  having  been  already 
used  by  Schonherr  for  a  genus  of  Rhynchophorous  Coleoptera*,  Lessont 
substituted  for  this  name  that  of  Lathamus,  including  under  that  head 
four  other  species  (one  a  Euphema,  one  a  Cyanorhamphus,  and  two  Tri- 
choglossi,  as  now  understood),  remarking  that  Swainson  "  a  parfaitement 
etabli  ses  caracteres  "  in  his  '  Zoological  Illustrations '  J,  where,  however, 
E.  pulchella  is  considered  the  type  of  the  genus  §.  As  will  be  seen  from 
the  species  associated  with  it,  all  these  authors  were  evidently  puzzled  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
by  the  characters  of  this  peculiar  little  Parrakeet;  and  the  same  seems  P*  •'•• 
to  have  been  the  case  with  all  subsequent  naturalists  who  have  treated  of 
it.  The  majority,  however,  seem  to  have  considered  that  it  had  Tricho- 
glossine  affinities. 

Thus  Bonaparte  ||  included  Lathamus  as  "  dernier  des  Trichoglossiens;" 
and  Grould,  likewise  acknowledging  the  validity  of  the  genus,  places  it 
amongst  the  Trichoglossidae.  He  says  : — "  Having  had  ample  oppor- 
tunities of  observing  the  bird  in  a  state  of  nature,  I  concur  in  the  pro- 
priety of  separating  it  into  a  distinct  genus  ;  in  its  whole  economy  it  is 
most  closely  allied  to  the  Trichoglossi,  and  in  no  degree  related  to  the 
EuphemcB  "  (Handb.  B.  Austr.  ii.  p.  89).  Dr.  Finsch,  in  his  great  work 
on  Parrots^,  after  a  careful  examination  of  its  peculiarities,  came  to  the 
conclusion  that  these  were  not  sufficient  to  justify  its  separation  as  a 
distinct  genus,  and  included  it  as  a  Trichoylossus.  More  lately,  the 
same  position  (*.  e.  that  of  a  member  of  the  family  Trichoglossidse)  has 
been  assigned  to  it  by  Gray**,  Sclatertt,  Wallace^,  and  others.  On  the 
other  hand,  Sundevall  in  his  '  Tentamen  '§§  placed  it  in  his  fourth  family 
"  Platycercini"  remarking,  "  Haec  species,  plerumque  cum  sp.  Tricho- 
glossinis  (Ps.  concinno  &c.)  consociata,  vera  tamen  est  species  Platycercina, 
maxilla  inferiori  tumida,  &c.,  Euphemce  maxime  affinis."  In  his  paper  on 
the  anatomy  of  the  Parrots,  Prof.  Garrod||  ||  shows  that  Lathamus  differs 
from  Lorius  and  its  allies  in  having  a  superficial  left  carotid,  a  feature 
common  to  it  and  Platycercus,  Psephotus,  &c.,  from  which,  however, 


*  Schonh.  Curcul.  Disp.  Metb.  p.  322  (1826). 

t  Traite  d'Orn.  p.  205  (1831).  J  2nd  series,  vol.  i.  part  5,  no.  21  (1829). 

§  Swainson,  however,  in  his  '  Classification  of  Birds  '  (vol.  ii.  p.  304,  1837),  makes 
Lathamus  a  member  of  bis  "  subfamily  Platycercinae,"  in  wbicb  he  also  includes 
Coracopsis,  Pezoporus,  Platycercus,  and  Calopsitta,  with  the  remark  that  it  is  a  "  sub- 
typical"  form. 

||  Comptes  Eend.  xliv.  p.  536  (1857).  f  Pap.  ii.  p.  863  (1868). 

**  Trichoglossus,  c.  Nanodes,  gen.  no.  2047,  Hand-1.  B.  ii.  p.  156  (1870). 
tt  List  Vert.  6th  ed.  p.  269  (1877). 
J$  Geogr.  Distrib.  Animals,  ii.  p.  327. 

§§  Methodi  Naturalis  Avium  disponendarum  Tentamen,  p.  71  (1872). 
HI!  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  586. 


64  01V  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS. 

it  differs  in  the  possession  of  a  furcula  *.  He  further  says : — "  It  may 
at  first  seem  very  heretical  to  remove  Laihamus  from  the  Loriinee,  the 
brush-tongue  being  considered  characteristic  of  that  subfamily.  To  the 
unbiased  student,  however,  the  brush-tongue  is  a  character  not  more  im- 
portant than  several  of  those  that  have  been  above  considered The 

character  of  the  papillae  is  somewhat  different  in  Lathamus  from  what  it 
is  in  Lorius,  they  being  blunter  and  shorter  in  the  former  genus  than  in 
the  latter." 

Having  undertaken  at  Prof.  Grarrod's  suggestion  an  investigation  of 
the  pterylosis  of  the  Parrots,  the  results  of  which  I  hope  to  communicate 
to  this  Society  at  no  distant  date,  Lathamus  was  one  oc  the  first  forms  I 
examined ;  and  I  at  once  saw  that  its  pterylosis  confirmed  the  relationship 
of  this  form  to  the  Platycercinae  already  insisted  on  by  Sundevall  and 
Garrod.  From  this  I  was  led  to  an  examination  of  some  other  parts  of 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  its  structure  ;  and  I  propose  to  lay  the  results  of  my  inquiries  before  the 
p.  168.  Society  to-night,  in  order  to  establish  the  view  that  Lathamus  must  be 
removed  from  the  brush-tongued  Trichoglossinse,  with  which  it  has  been 
so  generally  associated,  and  must  be  considered  a  (no  doubt  aberrant) 
member  of  the  Platycercine  group. 

The  pterylosis  of  this  form  having  first  struck  my  attention,  I  will 
describe  this  in  the  first  instance,  the  more  so  as,  as  far  as  I  know,  no 
description  of  this  part  of  the  structure  of  the  bird  in  question  has  yet 
been  published.  I  may  perhaps  anticipate  part  of  my  paper  on  the 
pterylosis  of  the  Psittaci  in  general,  and  point  out  briefly  the  general 
characters  of  the  distribution  of  the  feathering  in  these  birds,  so  as  to 
enable  the  reader  without  any  further  trouble  to  appreciate  the  points  of 
distinction  in  this  respect  between  Lathamus  and  the  other  species  with 
which  I  have  compared  it. 

As  will  be  evident  from  the  figures  (Plate  I.  figs.  1-6),  the  tracts  of 
contour-feathers  in  a  Parrot  may  be  arranged  as  follows  : — On  the  upper 
surface  of  the  body,  continuous  in  front  with  the  feathering  of  the  top 
and  sides  of  the  head,  is  a  long  narrow  tract,  the  "  superior  tract,"  which 
divides  behind  in  the  interscapular  region  in  a  fork-like  manner,  forming 
the  "  scapular  fork."  Behind  this,  occupying  the  hinder  part  of  the  back 
and  pelvis,  is  another,  more  or  less  Y-shaped  tract,  with  the  "  handle  " 
(which  is  usually  short)  of  the  fork  placed  close  to  the  posterior  extremity 
of  the  trunk,  whilst  the  more  lengthy  "  arms  "  of  the  Y  are  more  anterior 
and  run  in,  in  front,  between  the  corresponding  ones  of  the  "  scapular 
fork/'  usually  becoming  very  feebly  feathered  in  so  doing.  This  tract 
may  be  called  the  "  dorso-lumbar  "  fork.  Scattered  more  irregularly  and 

*  M.  Blanchard,  indeed,  says  (Compt.  Rend.  1857,  xliv.  p.  521)  that  Lathamus  has 
no  furcula ;  but  this  bone  is  present,  though  small  and  weak,  in  the  specimens  I  have 
seen :  cf.  also  Owen,  Cat.  Ost.  Ser.  E.  C.  S.  i.  p.  279  (1853). 


ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS.  65 

diffusely  over  the  sides  of  the  pelvis,  and  external  to  the  last-named 
tract,  is  the  "  lumbar  feathering,"  which  passes  posteriorly  on  each  side 
into  the  narrower  but  more  distinct  "  femoral  tracts."  These  are  con- 
tinued onto  the  legs  as  far  as  the  tarsi  as  the  "  crural  tracts,"  clothing  the 
legs  in  a  trouser-like  way.  On  the  inferior  surface,  on  each  side,  is  a 
continuous  tract,  running  from  the  upper  part  of  the  neck  (where  it  may 
or  may  not  unite  with  its  fellow  of  the  opposite  side),  over  the  breast 
and  abdomen,  to  the  anus.  This  "  inferior  tract,"  besides  one  or  two 
small  branches  running  towards  the  humerus  and  patagium  (the  first 
and  second  "  humeral  tracts  "),  gives  off,  at  about  the  commencement  of 
the  sternum,  a  more  or  less  separate  and  well-marked  external  branch, 
the  "  outer  pectoral "  tract,  which  runs  down  more  or  less  parallel  to  the 
main  part  of  the  inferior  tract  for  a  little  way,  but  ceases  before  the 
thighs. 

Amongst  the  various  species  of  Psittaci  I  have  examined,  well  marked 
differences  in  some  of  these  tracts  occur,  more  particularly  in  the  ar- 
rangement of  the  "  dorso-lumbar  fork,"  and  the  greater  or  lesser  develop- 
ment of  a  distinct  "  outer  pectoral "  branch  to  the  inferior  tract. 

In  Lathamus  discolor  (PI.  I.  figs.  1,  2)  the  inferior  tract  of  each 
side  starts  from  about  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  and  does  not  unite  with  its 
fellow.  On  the  sternum  it  is  about  eight  or  nine  feathers  broad  at  the 
widest  part,  the  feathering  being  rather  strong  and  not  close.  As  in  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
most  Parrots,  there  are  two  humeral  tracts.  The  space  on  the  carina  P*  " 
sterui  between  the  inferior  tracts  of  the  two  sides  is  not  wide.  There 
is  a  well-marked  outer  pectoral  tract,  about  1  inch  long,  distinguished 
by  its  rather  stronger  and  closer  feathering.  It  is  quite  separate  from 
the  main  part  of  the  inferior  tract,  the  space  between  the  two  tracts 
being  about  as  broad  as  the  latter  tract  itself.  The  outer  pectoral  has 
the  appearance  of  being  somewhat  dilated  at  its  free  end,  owing  to  the 
presence  of  a  few  irregularly  placed  and  small  feathers  lying  to  the  outside 
of  its  termination.  The  main  part  of  the  inferior  tract  is  rather  narrow, 
with  its  rows  of  four  and  five  feathers  each  separated  by  rather  consider- 
able spaces. 

The  scapular  fork  is  rather  long,  the  tracts  being  narrow  and  moderately 
strongly  feathered. 

The  dorso-lumbar  fork  is  elongated ;  each  arm  is  of  nearly  the  same 
length  and  breadth  throughout,  beginning  a  little  outside  the  scapular 
fork,  with  the  part  inside  the  arms  of  the  latter  represented  only  (as 
usual  in  the  Psittaci)  by  one  or  two  rows  of  small  feathers,  placed  singly 
or  in  pairs.  Each  arm  is  composed  of  about  fourteen  rows  of  feathers 
(counting  to  the  junction  with  its  fellow),  the  rows  being  four  feathers 
wide,  rather  close  together,  and  of  about  the  same  width  as  the  space 
between  the  tracts.  There  is  some  tendency  in  some  of  the  anterior 
rows  towards  a  dilatation  of  the  tract,  one  or  two  of  the  rows  being  five  . 


66  ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS. 

feathers  wide.  In  the  more  anterior  parts  of  each  arm  the  most  internal 
feather  of  each  row  is  often  placed  in  front  of  and  at  an  angle  with  the 
other  feathers  composing  it,  and  so  comes  to  stand  between  two  rows  of 
three  feathers  each ;  so  that  at  first  each  tract  looks  as  if  made  up  of 
rows  of  three  (or  four)  feathers  alternating  with  single  feathers.  This 
tendency  to  a  3.1.3  arrangement,  however,  disappears  in  the  more  pos- 
terior parts  of  the  tracts,  the  four  feathers  of  each  row  there  standing  in 
a  direct  line  with  one  another.  The  two  arms  unite  to  form  the  "  handle  " 
at  about  three  quarters  their  entire  length  ;  after  the  junction  the 
tract  narrows  rather  rapidly  towards  the  tail.  The  dorso-lumbar  fork  is 
throughout  quite  distinct  from  the  lumbar  feathering,  which  is  very  weak 
and  diffuse. 

In  all  the  truly  Platycercine*  forms  that  I  have  examined — namely 
Platycercus  eocimius  and  pennantii,  Psephotus  hcematogaster  (four  specimens) 
and  P.  hcematonotus,  Pyrrhulopsis  splendens  and  P.  personata,  Cyano- 
rhamphus  auriceps  and  0.  novce-zealandice — the  disposition  of  the  outer 
pectoral  tract  and  dorso-lumbar  fork  resembles  essentially  that  of 
Lathamus.  In  all  the  outer  pectoral  is  a  distinct,  more  closely  feathered, 
and  rather  narrowish  tract,  clearly  separated  throughout  from  the  main 
part.  In  Cyanorhamphus  this  tract  is  distinctly  hook-like,  dilated  at  the 
end.  In  all  the  same  lengtht,  and  uniformity  in  strength  and  width,  of 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  the  arms  of  the  dorso-lumbar  tract  is  observable,  the  inclosed  space  being 
p.  170.  Of  about  the  same  width  as  either  of  the  tracts  inclosing  it,  no  tendency 
to  a  dilatation  of  the  arms  at  their  junction  (though  there  is  some  in  front) 
being  present,  and  the  rows  of  feathers  in  front  having  a  more  or  less 
clear  3.1.3  arrangement.  The  lumbar  feathering  is  always  very  weak  ; 
so  that  the  boundaries  of  the  dorso-lumbar  fork  are  very  clearly  defined. 
Lathamus,  however,  differs  from  the  above-mentioned  forms  a  little  by 
its  longer  and  not  so  widely  divaricated  scapular  fork,  and  by  the  greater 
breadth  of  its  inferior  tract  on  the  sternum,  thereby  causing  a  correspond- 
ing diminution  in  the  breadth  of  the  carinal  space.  The  general  agree- 
ment, however,  of  the  pterylosis  in  the  two  types  will,  I  think,  at  once 
be  evident  from  the  figure  of  Lathamus  (PI.  I.  figs.  1,  2),  and  that  of 
Platycercus  pennantii  (PL  I.  figs.  3,  4),  which  I  have  represented  next 
to  it  for  the  sake  of  comparison. 

If  now  we  turn  to  the  TrichoglossinseJ  (see  PI.  I.  figs.  5,  6),  in 
which  so  many  naturalists  have  included  Lathamus,  we  shall  find  im- 
portant and  well-marked  differences  in  the  two  tracts  mentioned  above, 

*  I.  e.  excluding  Aprosmictus,  Potyteles,  Euphema,  Pezoporus,  &c. 

t  In  Pe.  pennanti  and  in  the  two  species  of  Pyrrhulopsis  I  counted  fourteen,  in 
C.  auriceps  thirteen,  in  Ps.  hcematonotus  thirteen,  and  in  Ps.  hcematogaster  eleven  rows 
of  feathers  in  the  arms  of  this  tract  to  their  junction. 

|  Of  these  I  have  examined  the  pterylosis  in  Eos  rvhra,  Trichoglossi  ornatus,  hesma- 
todes,  swainsoni,  concinnus  (two  specimens),  and  pusillus,  and  Coriphilus  fringilloceus. 


ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS.  67 

though  the  general  character  of  the  pterylosis  remains  the  same  in  all*. 
The  outer  pectoral  tract  is  never  so  narrow  and  distinct  here  as  it  is  in 
Lathamv.s  and  its  allies ;  it  is  usually  almost  triangular  in  shape,  and  so 
tolerably  broad,  shorter,  and  not  so  divergent,  the  interspace  between  it 
and  the  main  tract  being  much  narrower,  and  frequently  with  a  few 
scattered  feathers  in  it  uniting  the  two  tracts  together.  The  inferior 
tract  on  the  breast  is  always  much  broader,  and  the  carinal  space  narrower. 

Still  better-marked  characters  between  the  two  groups  are  to  be  seen 
in  the  disposition  of  the  dorso-lumbar  fork.  This  in  all  the  TrichoglossinaB 
is  extremely  weak  in  front,  the  tracts  not  getting  at  all  strongly  feathered 
till  some  way  (in  T.  cincinnus  j  inch)  from  the  ends  of  the  scapular 
fork.  Each  arm  is  much  shorter  (in  all  the  forms  I  count  about  eight 
rows  of  feathers  to  the  junction),  wider  and  more  diffusely  feathered 
than  in  the  Platycercinae,  and  becomes  dilated  and  more  strongly  feathered 
towards  its  junction  with  its  fellow,  which  takes  place  further  from 
the  tail  than  in  the  other  group.  The  united  tract  is  strongly  feathered 
and  rather  broad  at  first,  but  narrows  rapidly  again  towards  the  tail. 
Figs.  5  and  6,  PL  I.  represent  the  pterylosis  of  Trichoglossus  concinnus 
(a  bird  a  little  larger  than  the  "  Swift  Parrakeet "),  and  show  the  dif- 
ferences between  the  two  groups,  which,  if  somewhat  slight,  are  neverthe- 
less easily  appreciable  after  a  little  study,  and  are  as  well  marked  as  any 
others  I  have  as  yet  observed  in  the  pterylosis  of  this  order. 

Several  points  in  the  external  characters  of  Lathamus  show  that  it  has  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
in  fact  no  particular  relationship  to  the  TrichoglossinaB.  The  shape  of  P-  ^2- 
the  upper  mandible,  with  a  small  but  distinct  tooth,  is  obviously  (see 
fig.  1,  p.  68)  much  nearer  to  that  of  Psepnotus  (fig.  3)  than  it  is  to  that 
of  a  Lory  (fig.  5).  The  same  story  is  told  still  more  plainly  by  its 
maxilla,  which  has  none  of  the  laterally  compressed,  elongate,  and 
pointed  form  characteristic  of  the  Lories,  and  which  induced  Sundevall 
to  divide  all  Parrots  into  two  groups  "  Psittaci  proprii "  and  "  Psittaci 
orthognathi,"  the  latter  including  only  the  Lories  and  Nestor,  and  cha- 
racterized by  having  the  "maxilla  inferior  recta,  angusta,  altitudine 
longior."  In  Lathamus  the  maxilla  is  short  and  deep,  with  a  broad  and 
rounded  anterior  margin.  These  differences  will  be  seen  by  a  glance  at 
figures  5  and  1,  representing  the  heads  of  a  Trichoglossus  (concinnus)  and 
of  Lathamus. 

In  all  the  TrichoglossinaB  I  have  examined,  the  cere  is  rather  narrow 
from  before  backwards,  the  anterior  margin  only  sinuate,  and  the  nostrils 
elongated  and  ovate,  with  their  long  axis  directed  forwards  and  inwards, 
and  so  somewhat  transversely  to  the  direction  of  the  beak  (fig.  5,  p.  68). 
This  is  very  evident  in  the  living  birds,  and  is  also  to  be  made  out  in 

*  I  have  as  yet  been  unable  to  confirm  Nitzsch's  observation  (Pterylogr.,  Eng.  edit, 
p.  100)  that  in  Lorius  garrulus  and  L.  domicella  the  inferior  tracts  are  continuous  over 
the  lower  surface  of  the  neck. 

F2 


68 


ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS. 


P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
p.  171. 


Fig.  1.  Head  of  Lathamus  discolor. 

Fig.  2.  Foot  of  ditto. 

Fig.  3.  Head  of  Psephotus  hcematogaster. 

Fig.  4.  Foot  of  ditto. 

Fig.  5.  Head  of  Trichoglossus  concinnus. 

Fig.  6.  Foot  of  ditto. 


P.  Z.  S.  1879,  skins. 
p.  172. 


In  Lathamus,  however,  and  the  Platycercinae  generally,  the  cere 
g  jnuc  larger,  with  the  anterior  border  on  each  side  mearly  semicircular  ; 
and  the  nostrils  are  oval  and  directed  upwards,  more  nearly  parallel  with 
the  culmen  (see  figs.  1  and  3). 

In  the  small  size  of  the  nude  orbital  ring  Lathamus  agrees  with  the 
PlatycercinsB  rather  than  with  the  Lories,  in  which  it  is  of  fair  size  and 
rather  conspicuous  in  the  living  birds. 

In  the  shape  of  the  wings,  no  doubt,  Lathamus  is  somewhat  aberrant, 
and  nearer  the  Lories  than  the  Platycerci.  This  is,  however,  so  obviously 
an  adaptive  modification,  due  to  the  swift  flight  and  arboreal  habits  of 


ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS.  69 

both  these  birds  as  compared  with  the  more  ground-loving  mode  of  life 
of  the  Platycerci,  that  no  stress  can  be  laid  on  it  as  a  taxonomic  character. 
The  rounded  end  of  the  wing-feathers,  however,  of  Lathamus  still  point 
to  its  Platycercine  affinities.  Its  feet,  too,  though  not  typically  Platy- 
cercine,  differ  from  those  of  the  TrichoglossinsD  (cf.  figs.  2  and  6,  p.  68) 
by  their  more  elongated  and  slender  tarsi  and  toes,  with  the  latter  not  so 
much  flattened  and  fitted  for  grasping  branches,  &c.,  as  are  those  of  the 
Lories,  and  with  the  claws  not  so  strong  and  longer,  particularly  that  on 
the  third  digit.  In  both  these  points  more  resemblance  to  the  Platycerci 
is  shown  (cf.  fig.  4,  p.  68,  foot  of  Psephotus  Ticematog  aster),  though  the 
different  modes  of  life  *  have  here  again  induced  a  certain  amount  of 
change  from  the  form  observed  in  the  truly  terrestrial  Platycerci. 

A  thorough  study  of  the  osteology  of  the  Parrots  has  yet  to  be  made ; 
and  till  that  is  done  it  is  perhaps  somewhat  premature  to  generalize.   P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
Nevertheless,  having  examined  somewhat  carefully  a  considerable  number      P*  ^' 
of  the  skeletons  of  the  two  groups   with  which  Lathamus  has   been 
generally  associated,  I  have,  I  believe,  been  able  to  detect  certain  dif- 
ferences which  will  help  us  in  referring  the  bird  at  present  under  dis- 
cussion to  its  proper  place. 

First,  as  regards  the  skull.  This,  in  all  the  Trichoglossinse,  is  remark- 
able for  its  somewhat  depressed  form  and  the  lateral  compression  and 
elongation  of  the  upper  and  lower  jaws,  the  mandible  when  deprived  of 
its  horny  sheath  showing  even  more  clearly  the  peculiar  shape  of  the* 
lower  jaw  in  these  birds,  first  pointed  out  by  Sundevall  and  already 
alluded  to  above  (PI.  I.  fig.  7).  In  the  Platycerci  the  skull  is  less 
depressed  above  and  much  shorter  in  proportion,  and  the  mandible  is 
nbt  pointed,  but  has  its  symphysial  portion  wide,  deep  from  above  down- 
wards, and  somewhat  truncated.  The  same  is  the  case  in  Lathamus 
(PI.  I.  fig.  8). 

In  the  Lories  the  lengthening  of  the  beak  has  led  to  a  similar  elonga- 
tion in  the  anterior  limb  of  the  palatine  bones,  so  that  this  part  is  as  long 
as,  or  longer  than,  the  posterior  one;  and  the  latter  is  considerably 
shorter  than  the  pterygoids.  In  the  Platycerci  the  anterior  part  of  the 
palatines  is  not  so  elongated ;  but,  on  the  contrary,  the  posterior  limb  is 
somewhat  lengthened,  and,  in  fact,  nearly  as  long  as  the  pterygoids, 
Here,  again,  Lathamus  agrees  more  with  the  Platycerci. 

In  the  Lories  (PL  I.  fig.  9,  Eos  rubra)  the  anteorbital  processes  are 
much  larger  and  better-developed  than  in  the  Platycerci,  where  the 


*  Mr.  Gould  says  ('  Handb.  B.  Austr.'  ii.  p.  89) : — "  In  its  actions  and  manners  it  is 
closely  allied  to  the  Trichoglossi,  but  diners  from  them  in  some  few  particulars,  which 
are  more  perceptible  in  captivity  than  in  a  state  of  nature.  It  has  neither  the  musky 
smell  nor  the  jumping  motions  of  the  Trichoglossi.  I  have  never  observed  it  alight  ou 
the  ground,  or  elsewhere  than  among  the  branches." 


70  ON  THE  GENUS  LATHAMUS. 

hinder  margin  of  these  parts,  as  seen  from  above,  is  not  very  far  from 
being  on  a  level  with  the  cranio-rostral  suture,  and  so  causes  the  orbits 
to  take  up  a  larger  part  of  the  surface  of  the  skull  (in  a  view  from 
above)  than  in  the  other  group.  The  same  is  the  case  in  Lathamus  * 
(PL  I.  fig.  10). 

The  retention  of  the  furcula  is  no  doubt  associated  with  the  rapidity 
of  flight  of  this  bird,  whilst  in  the  more  slowly  moving  Platycerd  it  has 
disappeared  almost  entirely.  As  we  already  know  from  M.  Blanchard's 
researches  (Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  Zool.  xi.  pp.  84-85,  1859),  but  little  assistance 
as  regards  classification  can  be  gained  in  this  group  from  a  study  of  the 
sternum. 

The  pelvis,  however,  has  been  of  more  use  to  me. 

In  the  Lories  this  is  always  elongated  and  narrow  in  proportion,  the 

preacetabular  part  being  particularly  elongated,  and  the  iliac  fossae  on 

each  side  for  the  attachment  of  the  gluteal  muscles  being  deeper  and 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,  more  extensive.     In  the  Platycerd  and  Lathamus  the  pelvis  is  wider,  the 

p.  174.  preacetabular   part   much   shorter,  and  the   iliac  fossae   shallower  and 

smaller.     These  differences  will  be  visible  from   the   figures   which  I 

exhibit  (PI.  I.  figs.  11,  12),  in  which  are  shown  respectively  the  pelvis 

of  Lathamus  and  of  Lorius  tricolor. 

As  regards  internal  anatomy,  little  can  be  said  of  any  important 
characters,  except  the  difference  in  the  disposition  of  the  carotid  arteries 
in  the  two  groups,  first  pointed  out  by  Prof.  Garrod,  and  already  men- 
tioned above.  The  nature  of  the  tongue  in  Lathamus  requires  reexami- 
nation,  as  also  does  the  coloration  of  the  eyes,  this  presenting  very 
marked  characteristics  in  all  those  Trichoglossinse  I  have  been  able  to 
examine  alive  (of  the  genera  Lorius,  Eos,  Chalcopsitta,  and  Trichoglossus), 
and  being  quite  unlike  that  prevalent  in  the  Platycerd  and  most  other 
Parrots. 

In  coloration  Lathamus  is  no  doubt  aberrant,  but  is  no  more  clearly 
related,  as  far  as  I  can  see,  to  one  group  rather  than  the  other.  The 
external  rectrices  being  blue  is  perhaps  a  hint  of  its  Platycercine 
relations. 

To  conclude,  the  more  important  characters  of  Lathamus,  i.  e.  pterylosis 
and  superficial  left  carotid,  beaks,  nostrils,  cere,  feet,  skull,  and  pelvis,  all 
point  to  a  near  relationship  to  Psephotus,  Platycercus,  and  allied  genera. 

*  Bonaparte  (Compt.  Rend.  xliv.  p.  536,  1857),  following  Owen  (Cat.  Osteol.  Series 
E.  C.  S.  1853,  p.  279,  no.  1451),  says  that  in  Lathamus  the  orbit  is  completed  below  by 
the  junction  of  the  lacrymal  with  the  "  mastoid."  This  is  certainly  not  the  case  in  a 
skull  lent  to  me  by  Professor  Garrod,  and,  if  true,  would  be  an  anomaly  for  any 
member  of  either  of  the  above-mentioned  groups.  In  the  specimen  referred  to  in  the 
Museum  of  the  College  of  Surgeons  (no.  1451)  it  appeared  to  me  on  examination  that 
there  was  in  reality  no  bony  union  between  the  two  bones,  which  were  connected 
simply  by  ligament. 


PI. I 


P.Z-.S.1879.P1.XVL 


fig  7 


FUjf.f 


''••'/ 


10. 


Fuj.11.        If    f 


STRUCTURE  OT1  .LA.THA.. 


Hanharc  imp. 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  71 

The  abnormal  tufted  tongue,  the  retention  of  the  furcula,  and  the  sharp 
pointed  wings  may  be  regarded  as  adaptations  to  its  tree-  and  flower- 
loving  modes  of  life,  and  not  as  due  to  any  consanguinity  with  the 
TrichoglossinaB.  Lathamus  may  be  a  more  or  less  modified  remnant  of  a 
group  that  branched  off  from  the  common  stock  with  the  progenitors  of 
the  more  typical  Platycerci,  and  of  which  all  the  others  have  become  extinct 
(perhaps  due  to  the  competition  with  the  more  specialized  Trichoglos- 
sinae) ;  or  it  may  be  a  member  of  the  Platycercine  group  that  has  become 
specialized  to  modes  of  life  like  those  of  the  true  Lories  and  Lorikeets, 
and  so  has  come  to  resemble  them  in  some  few  superficial  particulars. 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  I. 

Figs.  1,  2.  Back  and  side  views  of  Lathamus  discolor,  showing  pterylosis. 
3, 4.  The  same  of  Platycercus  pennantii. 
5, 6.  The  same  of  Trichoglossus  concinnus. 

7.  Mandible,  deprived  of  horny  sheath,  ofEosrubra. 

8.  The  same  of  Lathamus  discolor. 

9.  Skull,  seen  from  above,  of  Eos  rubra. 

10.  The  same  of  Lathamus  discolor. 

11.  Pelvis  of  Lorius  tricolor. 

12.  The  same  of  Lathamus  discolor. 


16.    A    SYNOPSIS     OF    THE    MELIPHAGINE    GENUS  P.  z.  s.  1879, 
MYZOMELA,  WITH  DESCRIPTIONS  OF  TWO  NEW      p>266' 
SPECIES.* 

(Plates  II.  &  III.) 

THE  genus  Myzomela  t  was  instituted  by  Messrs.  Vigors  and  Horsfield 
in  their  paper  on  Australian  birds  in  the  Linnean  Society's  '  Transactions ' 
for  1826  (vol.  xv.  p.  316,  note),  Myzomela  sanguinolenta,  Lath,  (for 
M.  cardinalis,  Grm.  apud  Vig.  &  Horsf.  I.  c.,  is  clearly  not  that  species, 
but  the  smaller  Australian  one),  being  the  type. 

Lesson  (Traite  d'Orn.  p.  298)  in  1831  established  a  "  sous-genre  " 
PhylidonyriS)  in  which  were  included  Certhia  sanguinolenta,  Ginnyris 
rubrater,  and  Cinrtyris  eques;  but  this  name  must  be,  as  he  himself 
observes,  regarded  as  merely  a  synonym  of  Myzomela. 

Beichenbach  in  1851  (Handb.  d.  spec.  Orn.  p.  283)  made  Cinnyris 
eques  the  type  of  a  new  genus  Cosmeteira,  which  he  included  amongst  the 
Nectariniidae,  its  dull  colours,  with  no  metallic  gloss,  being  apparently 
the  chief  reason  for  the  separation.  This  species,  however,  in  tongue, 
bill,  feet,  and,  in  fact,  in  all  points  is  a  true  Myzomela,  though  it  has 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1879,  pp.  256-279,  Pis.  XXIV.  &  XXV.    Bead  Mar.  4, 1879. 
t  pi>£<i>,  I  suck  in,  /ieAi,  honey;  hence  Myzomela. 


72  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

been  included  amongst  the  Nectariniidse  till  within  the  last  few  years  by 
most  writers. 

On  similar  grounds  of  divergent  coloration,  Bonaparte  separated 
M.  pectoralis  *  under  the  name  Cissomela  (C.  R.  xxxviii.  p.  264,  1854)  ; 
but  as  no  generic  characters  whatever  are  given,  this  name  falls  to  the 
ground,  even  if  any  structural  differences  in  the  bird  exist,  which  as  yet 
I  have  been  unable  to  discover. 

Myzomela  is  characterized  by  its  Meliphagine  tongue,  rather  short, 
narrow,  and  slender  curved  bill,  which  is  depressed  and  broadened  at  the 
base,  rounded  and  compressed  anteriorly,  and  there  finely  serrulated  on 
its  cutting-margins.  The  nostrils  are  linear  and  curved,  extending  for 
almost  one  third  of  the  length  of  the  bill,  and  covered  in  by  a  con- 
spicuous opercular  membrane.  The  wings  are  moderately  long,  the 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  "  first "  t  primary  short,  the  3rd  to  5th  longest  and  subequal,  the  6th 
p.  257.  longer  than  the  7th,  which  about  equals  the  2nd.  The  tarsi  are  about  as 
long  as  the  bill,  rather  slender,  and  covered  with  6-7  scales  in  front,  the 
lower  ones  being  the  smallest  and  transverse.  The  2nd  and  4th  toes  are 
yery  slender,  about  equal  in  length,  and  shorter  than  the  3rd.  The 
hallux  is  unusually  stout  for  the  size  of  the  bird.  The  tail  has  12 
feathers,  is  short,  and  nearly  square. 

Most  of  the  species  have  more  or  less  red  in  their  plumage ;  but  this 
colour  is  altogether  absent  in  some,  and  becomes  only  a  slight  tint,  con- 
fined to  the  margins  of  the  feathers,  particularly  of  the  head,  wings,  and 
tail,  in  others.  As  yet  our  knowledge  of  the  phases  and  changes  of 
plumage  is  by  no  means  perfect.  In  one  group  (e.  g.  in  M.  sanguinolenta 
and  its  allies,  including  M.  nigrita)  the  females  seem  to  retain  throughout 
life  the  brown  plumage  of  immaturity ;  whilst  in  others  (e.  g.  M.  nigri- 
ventrw,  obscura,  &c.)  the  adults  of  each  sex  are  similar.  In  most  cases 
the  first  plumage  seems  to  be  nearly  uniform  brown,  lighter  beneath, 
with  the  wing-coverts  lighter  at  the  edges,  and  the  quills  margined 
externally  with  olive-yellow.  Throughout  the  group  there  is  seen  a  great 

*  Although  Bonaparte  expressly  states  "  Myzomela  nigra,  Gould,  est  pour  moi  le 
type  du  nouveau  genre  Cissomela,"  yet  it  is  evident  from  his  description,  "  Subtus  cum 
uropygio  alba,  torque  pectorali  nigro,"  that  M.  pectoralis  was  intended ! 

t  I  hare  here  adopted  the  system  of  notation  for  the  remiges  generally  in  use 
amongst  ornithologists.  But  would  it  not  be  better,  as  is  usually  done  in  other  cases 
of  serially-repeated  homologous  organs,  to  begin  counting  from  the  proximal  rather 
than  from  the  distal  end  of  the  series  ?  At  present,  if  a  bird,  for  instance  a  Passerine, 
be  said  to  have  a  "  long  first  primary,"  two  things  may  be  meant : — either  that  the  bird 
has  only  nine  primaries,  the  true  "  first "  (or  tenth)  being  absent,  and  the  (morpho- 
logically) "second"  (or  ninth)  being  of  the  ordinary  length  (as,  e.g.,  a  Finch,  or 
Drepanis) ;  or  that  there  are  ten  primaries,  with  the  "first"  (tenth)  fully  developed,  as 
is  the  case  in  the  "  Formicarioid "  Passeres  of  Wallace.  This  ambiguity  would  be 
avoided  by  counting  the  feathers  from  the  end  nearest  the  humerus ;  for  any  Passerine 
with  a  long  "  tenth  "  primary  could  then  only  be  a  "  Formicarioid." 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  73 

tendency  to  retain  these  markings  on  the  wings,  as  likewise  a  white 
margin  on  the  inner  web  of  the  primaries. 

The  eggs  seem  to  be  generally  whitish  or  buff,  spotted  with  darker, 
red  or  yellow.  According  to  Gilbert  (Gould,  Handb.  B.  A.  i.  p.  558) 
31.  niyra,  like  many  other  species  of  Meliphagidae,  lays  only  two  eggs. 
The  nests  are  small  and  cup-shaped,  rather  flirnsily  constructed  of  grass- 
stems,  hair,  spiders'  webs,  &c.,  and  often  placed  in  the  fork  of  a  tree 
or  bush. 

In  their  habits  the  Myzomelce  seem  to  resemble  the  other  smaller 
Honeysuckers,  frequenting  flowering  shrubs  and  trees,  not  apparently 
so  much  for  the  sake  of  the  nectar  of  the  flowers,  as  for  the  insects 
attracted  thereby. 

But  one  or  two  species  of  this  genus,  which  is  perhaps  most  nearly 
allied  to  Acanihorliynchus,  but  distinguishable  by  its  longer  beak  and 
different  coloration,  were  known  to  the  older  authors.  Bonaparte,  in 
his  '  Conspectus '  (p.  394,  1850),  enumerates  9,  one  of  which,  however 
(Certhia  sanguined,  Gmel.),  is  a  Drepanis,  whilst  M.  eques  is  omitted. 
Gray  (Hand-1.  B.  i.  p.  153,  1869)  gives  17,  though  here  again  M.  eques 
is  omitted,  being  included  as  "  Cosmeteira  eques "  amongst  the  Necta- 
riniidae  (no.  1337).  In  the  present  paper  26  species,  including  two  new 
ones,  are  recognized  as  distinct,  besides  one  other  which  remains  doubtful. 
Of  these  26  species,  24  are  known  to  me  autoptically.  Of  the  two 
which  I  have  not  seen,  one  (M.  lafargii)  is  unique  in  the  Paris  Museum, 
the  other  (M.  rubro-tincta)  has  lately  been  described  from  specimens  at 
Ley  den  by  Count  Salvadori. 

The  collection  in  the  British  Museum,  that  made  by  the  *  Challenger/ 
and  the  specimens  in  the  collections  of  Mr.  Sclater  and  Messrs.  Salvin 
and  Godman  have  formed  the  basis  of  my  present  paper.  In  addition 
to  these  I  have  to  thank  Canon  Tristram,  F.R.S.,  Dr.  A.  B.  Mejer,  and 
Count  Salvadori  for  the  very  liberal  way  in  which  they  have  lent  me 
valuable  series  of  specimens.  To  the  two  latter,  in  particular,  I  am  p.  z.  S.  1879, 
indebted  for  sending  over  to  me  the  types  of  the  species  described  by  P-  258' 
them  from  New  Guinea  and  its  islands,  and  several  others  which  I 
should  not  otherwise  have  been  able  to  examine,  and  for  their  kind 
permission  to  figure  any  of  them.  Count  Salvadori,  too,  has  sent  me 
some  very  valuable  notes  as  to  the  range  &c.  of  the  Papuan  species ; 
whilst  to  M.  Oustalet  I  am  much  obliged  for  information  on  the  type 
specimen  of  M.  lafargii  and  on  some  other  points. 

The  following  table  will  assist  in  the  determination  of  the  26  valid 
species.  It,  however,  only  holds  good  for  adult  birds,  and  in  many  cases 
only  for  the  males,  our  present  imperfect  knowledge  of  many  of  the 
species  making  a  table  that  would  have  included  all  stages  alike  an 
impossibility. 


74  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

A.  Oorpore  rubro  ornato,  aut  unicolori. 

a.  Corpore  subtus  plus  minusve  olivaceo-griseo  aut  albicante. 
a.  Fronte  coccinea. 

b.  Torque  pectoral!  nullo. 

c.  Capite  et  dorso  concoloribus. 

*   .  J  1.  sanquinolenta. 

I  Ahsfusco-mgris;  abdomine  flavido-gnseo \  2   caledonica. 

[  Alls  olivaceo-f uscis ;  abdomine  griseo-flavido 3.  chloroptera. 

c7.  Capite  rubro;  dorso  fusco    4.  adolphince. 

b'.  Torque  pectorali  fusco. 

J"  Abdomine  albicante  5.  boieei. 

I  Abdomine  fusco-griseo  6.  erythrocephala. 

a'.  Fronte  nigra. 

d.  Capite  supra  macula  rubra  ornato. 
e.  Gula  rubra. 

("  Gutture  summo  nigricante    7.  vulnerata. 

I  Gutture  croceo-flavo  8.  jugularis. 

e'.  Gula  nigra 9.  lafargii. 

d\  Capite  supra  omnino  nigricante 10.  sclateri. 

(3.  Corpore  subtus  dorso  concolori. 
a.  Corpore  nigro. 

f  Subalaribus  albis    11.  nigrita. 

I  Subalaribus  nigris  12.  pammel&na. 

a'.  Corpore  griseo-brunneo. 

b.  Stria  gulari  coccinea 13.  eques. 

b'.  Stria  gulari  nulla. 

rCapite  solum  rubro  tincto 14.  obscura. 

I  Alia  et  cauda  rubro  tinctis    15.  simplex. 

f    16.  rubrotincta. 
[Corpore,  ahs  et  cauda  rubro  tmctis {    ^   rubro.brunne^ 

a".  Corpore  rubro 18.  cruentata. 

y.  Corpore  subtus  nigro  et  rubro  vario. 
a.  Gula  coccinea. 

b.  Capite  toto  coccineo. 

c.  Abdomine  rubro ;  crisso  nigro 19.  rubratra. 

c'.  Abdomine  et  crisso  nigris. 

f   20.  niqriventris. 

d.  Pectore  coccineo    1    „.,          ,.     7. 

I    21.  cardinalis. 

d'.  Pectore  nigro    22.  lifuensis. 

b'.  Capite  supra  nigro  23.  chermesina. 

a'.  Capite  toto  nigro 24.  rosenbergi. 

B.  Corpore  nigro  alboque  vario. 

f  Gula  uropygioque  nigris   25.  nigra. 

iGula  uropygioque  albis 26.  pectoralis. 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,        1-  MYZOMELA  SANGUINOLENTA.. 

p.  259.  ?  Scarlet  Creeper,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  i.  pt.  2,  p.  740  (1782). 

?  Certhia  rubra,  Ghnel.  S.  N.  i.  p.  479  (1788). 

Sanguineous  Creeper,  Lath  Gen.  Syn.  Suppl.  ii.  p.  167,  t.  130  (1801). 
Certhia  sanguinolenta,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  Suppl.  p.  xxxvii  (1801). 
Cochineal  Creeper,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  Suppl.  ii.  p.  167  (1801). 
Certhia  dibapha,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  Suppl.  p.  xxxvii  (1801). 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  75 

Red-rumped  Creeper,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  Suppl.  ii.  p.  169  (1801). 

Certhia  eryihropygia,  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  Suppl.  p.  xxxviii  (1801). 

Certhia  australasice,  Leach,  Zool.  Misc.  i.  p.  30,  t.  11  (1814). 

Myzomela  cardinalis,  V.  &  H.  (nee  Gm.)  Linn.  Trans,  xv.  p.  316 
(1826). 

Myzomela  sanguinolenta,  Gld.  B.  A.  iv.  pi.  63 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  A.  i.  p.  555. 

cJ  ad.  capite,  dor  so  cum  uropygio,  pectore  et  lateribus  abdominis  coccineis  ; 
macula  anteoculari,  alis  caudaque  nigris  ;  alarum  lectricibus  conspicue 
albido,  remigibus  olivaceo-griseo  limbatis  ;  abdomine  sordide  flavido  ; 
subcaudalibus  griseo  alboque  variis ;  rostro  nigro,  pedibus  corneis. 
Long.  al.  2'4,  caud.  1*6,  rostr.  0*45,  tars.  0'5  (poll.  Angl.). 
$  sordide  griseo-brunnea,  subtus  dilutior ;  dorso  et  uropygio  rufescenti 
tinctis ;  alis  caudaque  fuscis,  remigibus  olivaceo,  tectricibus  alarum 
pallide  brunneo  marginatis. 

Hob.  in  Australia. 

The  phases  of  plumage  in  this  species,  the  type  of  the  genus  (for  M. 
cardinalis,  apud  Vig.  &  Horsf .  I.  s.  c.,  is  this  bird),  seem  to  have  caused 
some  confusion  amongst  the  older  authors.  It  seems  to  me  that  in 
all  probability  Latham's  "  Scarlet  Creeper/'  on  which  Gmelin  founded 
Certhia  rubra  in  his  edition  of  the  '  Systema  Naturae,'  really  applies  to 
this  species,  the  description  "  lower  part  of  belly  and  vent  white," 
together  with  the  size  (**  of  a  Wren  ")  and  the  locality  ("  from  some  part 
of  the  South  Seas  ")  quite  coinciding  with  this  bird,  and  not  at  all  with 
M.  cardinalis,  of  which,  in  his  Ind.  Oru.  (i.  p.  290,  1790),  Latham 
treated  it  as  being  the  female.  Besides  this,  Latham  bestowed  at  least 
three  other  Latin  names  (each  with  its  equivalent  vernacular)  on  this 
little  bird. 

Myzomela  sanguinolenta  is  perhaps  most  nearly  allied  to  M.  chloro- 
ptera,  which  differs,  however,  as  below  pointed  out.  Only  the  males 
possess  the  beautiful  red  plumage  ;  and  in  these,  if  not  quite  adult,  the 
variegation  of  each  breast-feather,  which  is  grey  at  the  base,  then  paler, 
and  red  only  at  the  tip,  produces  the  somewhat  mottled  appearance  of 
the  red  underparts. 

According  to  Mr.  Gould,  the  irides  are  "  dark  brown." 

Myzomela   sanguinolenta   is   the  commonest   species  of   Myzomela  in 
Australia,   and  is   familiarly   known  to  the   colonists   as  the   "Little 
Soldier."     Mr.  Bamsay,  in  his  list  of  Australian  Birds  (Proc.  Linn.  Soc. 
N.  S.  ~W.  ii.  1877),  records  it  from  Rockingham  Bay,  Port  Denison,  the 
"Wide-Bay  District,  the  Richmond-  and  Clarence-Biver  Districts,  New  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
S.  Wales,  the  interior,  Victoria,  and  S.  Australia ;  so  that  it  ranges  over      p* 
the  greater  part  of  Eastern  Australia. 

Mr.  Ramsay  has  given  us  a  good  account  of  the  habits  and  nesting  of 
this  species  near  Sydney,  where  it  is  a  summer  visitor,  arriving  in 
October  and  November,  in  *  The  Ibis'  for  1865  (p.  304). 


76  ON  THE  GENUS  MTZOMELA. 

2.  MTZOMELA  CALEDOFICA,  n.  sp. 

Myzomela  sanguinolenta  (ex  Nova  Caledonia)  auct. 

c?  jprcecedenti  simillima,  sed  tectricibus  alarum  marginibus  albidis  carens. 

Hob.  in  Nova  Caledonia. 

Mus.  H.  B.  Tristram. 

The  Myzomela  from  New  Caledonia,  although  no  doubt  very  closely 
allied  to  the  preceding  Australian  species,  is,  I  think,  fairly  entitled  to 
rank  as  a  distinct  species  ;  and  I  have  therefore  separated  it  under  the 
above  name.  My  attention  was  first  directed  to  this  form  by  a  speci- 
men kindly  lent  me  by  Canon  Tristram,  and  shot  by  Mr.  Layard  near 
Noumea.  This  bird,  a  fully-plum  aged  male,  differs  from  a  considerable 
number  of  Australian  specimens  with  which  I  have  compared  it,  in  the 
almost  entire  absence  of  the  conspicuous  greyish- white  margins  to  the 
feathers  of  the  wing-coverts,  so  that  they  are  nearly  entirely  black,  with 
only  a  trace  of  olive-colour  at  the  margins.  Besides  this,  the  red  colour 
of  the  body  is  hardly  so  bright,  and  extends  a  little  further  down  on  the 
abdomen,  and  the  margins  to  the  quills  are  more  of  an  olive-yellow. 
The  size  is  about  the  same  (wing  2-25),  Australian  specimens  varying  a 
little  in  this  respect.  Canon  Tristram  writes  me  that  he  has  six 
specimens  of  the  New- Caledonian  bird,  and  that  the  differences  which  I 
pointed  out  to  him  are  constant  in  the  series.  Mr.  Layard  gives  the 
following  notes  as  to  the  soft  parts  on  the  label  of  his  specimen : — 
"  Beak  black,  legs  brown-black,  iris  brown." 

Mr.  Layard  also  met  with  a  Myzomela,  which  he  referred  to  M.  san- 
guinolenta (Ibis,  1878,  p.  280),  in  the  New  Hebrides,  on  the  islands  of 
Vate,  Api,  and  Mallikollo,  and  remarks  that  a  specimen  procured  is 
identical  with  the  New-Caledonian  bird ;  so  that  it  seems  probable 
that  M.  caledonica  may  extend  its  range  as  far  as  these  islands  ;  but 
specimens  to  show  this  are  as  yet  wanting. 

3.  MTZOMELA  CHLOEOPTEEA.     (Plate  II.  fig.  1.) 

Myzomela  chloroptera,  Wald.  Ann.  N.  H.  4th  ser.  ix.  p.  399  (1872)  ; 
Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  vii.  p.  662  (1875). 

cJ  ad.  capite,  dorso  uropygioque,  cum  pectore,  coccineis  ;  corpore  subtus 
griseo-flavido ;  alis  caudaque  fuscis,  remigibus  et  tectricibus  alarum 
olivaceo  limbatis,  subalaribus  et  margine  interna  remigum  albis,  alee 
flexura  flavo-albida ;  macula  anteoculari  nigra ;  rostro  nigricante 
pedibus  obscure  cornels.  Long.  al.  2'2,  caud.  1'5,  rostr.  *55,  tars.  '50 
(poll.  Angl.~). 
Hab.  in  insula  Celebes. 

This  Myzomela,  the  westernmost  of  the  whole  genus,  was  described  by 

the  late  Lord  Tweeddale  from  imperfect   specimens   collected  by  Dr. 

^Z.  S.  1879,  Meyer  at  Menado,  where  it  has  also  been   obtained   by  Bruijn's  col- 

p.  261.        lectors ;   and  from  one  of  these  specimens,  kindly  lent  me  by  Count 


PHI. 


P.Z.S.1879P1.XXIV. 


J.Smi  tilth. 


l.MYZOMELA    CHLOROPTERA. 
2..  „  RUBROBRUNNEA 

3.  „  ADOPHINzE 


Ha,nhant  imp. 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  77 

Salvador!,  the  figure  is  taken.  As  yet,  I  believe,  it  has  only  occurred 
near  Menado;  and  the  young  and  female  remain  unknown,  or  at  least 
undescribed. 

Myzomela  chloroptera  resembles  the  Australian  M.  sanguinolenta,  but  is 
a  smaller  bird,  and  also  differs  in  the  smaller  extent  of  the  red  on  the 
chest,  and  in  that  colour  being  more  intense,  the  abdomen  yellower,  and 
the  wings  and  tail  not  so  black.  The  black  anteocular  spot  is  less 
conspicuous. 

In  his  original  description  Lord  Tweeddale  remarks  that  this  bird 
nearly  resembles  plate  54  of  the  '  Oiseaux  Dores,'  vol.  ii.,  representing 
"  L'Heorotaire  ecarlate  "  from  the  "  South  Seas,"  taken  from  a  drawing 
of  a  bird  in  the  Leverian  Museum.  The  figure  certainly  corresponds 
very  fairly  with  this  species,  but,  from  the  locality  given,  is  probably 
intended  for  the  Australian  one  (M.  sanguinolenta). 

4.  MYZOMELA  ADOLPHXN^.     (Plate  II.  fig.  3.) 

Myzomela  adolphince,  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  vii.  p.  946  (1875). 

cJ    pallio,   dorso   superiore,    alis    caudaque   olivaceo-fuscis,    tectricibus 
alarum,   remigibus   et  rectricibus  externe  subtiliter  olivaceo  limbatis  ; 
capite  uropygioque  coccineis  ;  macula  anteoculari  nigra  ;  corpore  subtus 
flavido-albido,  pectore  grisescenti  lavato  ;  subalaribus  et  remigum  mar- 
gine  interna  albis  ;  rostro  nigricante,  pedibus  corneis.     Long.  tot.  circa 
3*5,  al.  2'2,  caud.  1'5,  rostr.  *45,  tars.  '5  (poll.  Angl.). 
5  minor ;  femince  Myzomelse  boiaei  similis. 
Hab.  in  montibus  Arfak. 

This  is  one  of  the  numerous  discoveries  of  Beccari  and  Bruijn  in  the 
Arfak  Mountains,  and  only  a  few  specimens  have  as  yet  been  obtained. 
Count  Salvadori  writes  (1.  s.  c.)  : — "  This  species  resembles  M.  erythro- 
cepliala  of  Grould,  but  differs  from  it  in  its  much  smaller  dimensions,  by 
the  very  slight  olive  tint  of  the  back,  and  by  the  lower  parts  being  not 
grey-brown,  but  whitish,  very  slightly  tinged  with  yellowish  on  the 
breast  and  abdomen."  The  female  resembles  that  of  the  Banda  species 
(M.  boicei),  but  differs  as  pointed  out  under  that  species  (vide  infra). 

The  figure  (PI.  II.  fig.  3)  represents  an  adult  male,  one  of  the  types 
of  this  species,  most  obligingly  lent  me  by  Count  Salvadori. 

5.  MYZOMEIA  BCXLEI. 

Myzomela  boiei,  Sal.  Mull.  Verh.,  Land-  en  Volkenk.  p.  172  (1839-44) ; 
id.  Verb.,  Zool.  Aves,  p.  66,  t.  10.  fig.  1,  2. 

<J  capite,  dorso  uropygioque  coccineis,  plumis  ad  basin  nigris ;  macula 
anteoculari,  alis  caudaque,  cum  torque pectorali  nigris;  corpore  subtus 
griseo-albo;  subalaribus  et  remigum  margine  interna  albis;  rostro 
nigro;  pedibus  corneis,  plantis  flavis.  Long.  al.  2-2,  caud.  1*8,  rostr- 
•5,  tarsi  *6  (poll.  Angl.). 


78  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

$  minor,  capite  jpectoreque  sordide  griseis  olivaceo  lavatis  ;  dorso,  tec- 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  tricibus  alarum  et  uropygio  brunneis  ;  f route  anguste  gulaque  rubris  ; 

alis  caudaque  fuscis,  pennis  anguste  flavido  limbatis  ;  abdomine  et  sub- 
caudalibus  flavo-albidis  ;  rostro  pedibusque  cornels. 
Hob.  in  insula  Banda. 

This  species  is  confined  to  the  island  of  Banda,  where  it  is  not  un- 
common, according  to  Miiller,  in  the  nutmeg-plantations.  The  male 
resembles  M.  eryihrocephala  (ex  insulis  Aru),  but  differs  from  it  in  the 
black  and  white  colours  being  purer  and  more  contrasted.  The  female 
is  extremely  like  that  of  M.  adolpliince,  but  is  smaller,  has  the  breast 
greyer,  the  forehead  redder,  and  the  yellowish-olive  margins  to  the 
quills  more  conspicuous. 

The  iris  is  "  brown  "  (S.  Mutter ;  Murray). 

6.  MYZOMELA  EETTHEOCEPHALA. 

Myzomela  eryihrocephala,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1839,  p.  144 ;  id.  B.  A.  iv. 
pi.  64 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  A.  i.  p.  556  (nee  Meyer,  Sitzungsber.  Wien.  Akad. 
Ixx.  pp.  204-206). 

cJ  capite,  dorso  inferiore  et  uropygio  intense  coccineis ;  pallio,  dorso 
superiore,  alis  caudaque  cum  torque  pectorali  fuliginosis,  remigibus 
subtilissime  olivaceo  limbatis  ;  abdomine  et  subcaudalibus  sordide  oli- 
vaceo-griseis  ;  subalaribus  et  margine  interna  remigum  albis ;  macula 
anteoculari  nigra ;  rostro  nigricante ;  pedibus  nigro-corneis.  Long, 
tota  circa  4*0,  al.  2'4,  caud.  1*75,  rostr.  '55,  tars.  '55  (poll.  Angl.). 

Hab.  in  Australia  septentrionali,  insulis  Aru,  et  Nova  Guinea  meri- 
dionali. 

There  is  some  doubt  as  to  the  exact  range  of  this  species,  and  as  to 
whether  one  or  more  species  have  not  been  included  by  various  writers 
under  the  same  name.  Unfortunately  I  have  not  been  able  to  see  a 
sufficient  number  of  specimens  to  clear  up  the  question,  the  solution 
of  which  must  wait  till  a  larger  series  from  different  parts  becomes 
available  for  comparison. 

Myzomela  eryihrocepliala  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Gould  from  speci- 
mens from  Port  Essington,  and  was  characterized  as  "  intense  fusca, 
capite  et  uropygio  coccineis"  This  description  agrees  well  enough  with 
the  figures  in  his  folio  work,  and  with  the  skins  in  the  British  Museum 
from  Aru  collected  by  Wallace.  In  the  text,  however,  as  also  in  the 
'  Handbook,'  the  general  colour  of  the  plumage  is  described  as  "  deep 
chocolate-brown,"  a  term  which  can  hardly  be  said  to  agree  either  with 
"  intense  fusca  "  or  with  the  figures. 

In  one  of  his  expeditions  to  Southern  New  Guinea,  Signer  D'Albertis 
obtained  a  single  male  (nearly  or  quite  adult)  of  a  Myzomela  at  Mon, 
Hall  Bay,  of  which  Count  Salvadori,  in  the  account  of  the  collection 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  79 

(Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  vii.  p.  825,  1875),  says  that  it  in  no  way  differs 

from  one  from  Australia  with  which  he  has  compared  it,  and  further 

remarks  that  Gould's  plate  is  inaccurate  in  representing  the  back  &c. 

as  almost  black,  instead  of  only  slightly  darker  than  the  under  surface. 

In  a  letter  to  me,  however,  he  says  that  now  he  is  "  not  quite  satisfied 

as  to  this  bird  being  the  same  as  the  Australian  species ;  this  and  the 

Aru  bird  seem  to  me  much  darker,"  and  further  proposes  to  separate  it  p.  z.  S.  1879, 

and  the  Aru  form  as  a  new  species,  Myzomela  infuscata.     But  the  bird       P'  26<^ 

from  Mon,  which  Count  Salvadori  has  most  kindly  lent  me,  differs  from 

the  Aru  birds  in  its  much  lighter  colours  above,  which  are  moderately 

dark  greyish  brown,  not  brownish  black,  and  in  the  dark  colour  on  the 

breast  shading  off  more  gradually  into  that  of  the  flanks  and  abdomen,  so 

that  there  is  less  appearance  of  a  dark  pectoral  band.     The  anteocular 

spot  is  brown.     The  size  is  about  the  same  as  that  of  the  bird  described 

above  (from  a  specimen  in  Mr.  Godman's  collection,  collected  by  Cockerell, 

and  agreeing  with  Wallace's  Aru  skin  in  the  British  Museum).     Not 

having  seen  an  authenticated  adult  Australian  specimen,  I  cannot  say 

whether  the  New-Guinea   bird  is   or  is  not  identical   with  that  from 

Australia ;  but  it  certainly  differs  considerably  from  the  Aru  birds  in 

colour.     If  on  further  investigation  the  Aru  bird  proves  really  distinct, 

it  will  have  to  stand  as  Myzomela  infuscata,  Salvad.  in  litt.     On  the 

other  hand,  if  Mr.  Gould's  figure  and  description  are  correct,  it  would 

seem  that  the  bird  from  Southern  New  Guinea  is  distinct.     I  have  not 

seen  the  female  of  this  species.     Mr.  Gould  describes  it  as  "uniform 

brown  above,  lighter  beneath."  *     Count  Salvadori  describes  the  female 

of  M.  infuscata  thus  : — "  Brunneo-grisea,  subtus  pallidior,  fronte  et  gula 

late   rubris ;   remigibus  exterius  subtiliter  olivaceo-maryinatis ; "  and  this 

description  closely  agrees  with  a  young  male  from  the  Aru  Islands  in 

the   British   Museum,   in   which,   however,   there   are   also   some  red 

feathers  on  the  back. 

Gould  gives  the  irides  as  "reddish  brown,"  D'Albertis  as  "black." 
In  Australia,  Myzomela  eryihrocephala  is  confined  to  the  northern  dis- 
tricts, having  occurred  at  Port  Essington  (Gould),  Port  Darwin  (Masters), 
and  Cape  York  (Ramsay's  list  of  Australian  birds).  It  was  included  in 
Marie's  list  of  New- Caledonian  birds  (Ibis,  1877,  p.  362),  but  is  omitted 
by  Yerreaux  and  Desmurs,  and  Mr.  Layard  has  as  yet  not  found  it. 
M.  Oustalet,  too,  tells  me  that  he  has  not  seen  it  from  the  mainland  of 
New  Caledonia. 

7.  MYZOMELA  YTJLNEEATA. 

Nectarinia  (Myzomela)  vulnerata,  Mull.  Verh.,  Land-  en  Volk.  p.  172 
(1839-44) ;  id.  Verh.,  Zool.  pi.  10.  figs.  3,  4. 

*  In  the  plate  the  forehead  is  shown  as  tinged  with  red. 


80  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

Fusco-nlgr  leans,    capite   supra   macula  magna,   gula  et   uropygio  san- 
guineis ;    abdomine,  subcaudalibus,  subalaribus,  et  margine  remigum 
interna  albis  ;  rostro  nigro  ;  pedibus  plumbeis.    Long.  al.  2'2,  caud.  2, 
rostr.  '5,  tars.  '53  (poll.  Angl.). 
Hdb.  in  insula  Timor. 

This  very  distinct  species  is  confined  to  the  island  of  Timor.  It  is 
somewhat  allied  to  M.  boicei  and  erythrocephala,  but  is  at  once  distin- 
guished from  both  by  the  red  on  the  head  being  confined  to  the  vertex 
and  throat,  and  by  the  much  darker  tint  of  that  colour.  The  female  is 
similar  to  the  male,  but  smaller,  with  the  colours  less  distinct.  The 
irides  are  reddish  brown  (Sal.  Mutter). 

P.Z.S.  1879,      8.  MYZOMELA  JUGTJLAEIS. 

p' 264>  Myzomela  jugularis,  Peale,  U.S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  151,  t.  41.  f.  2  (1848) ; 

Cassin,  U.S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  176,  t.  12.  f .  2  (jr.)  (1858) ;  H.  &  F.  Orn. 
Centr.-Pol.  p.  54,  t.  7.  figs.  1,  2  (ad.  et  jr.). 

Myzomela  solitaria,  Hombr.  &  Jacq.  Voy.  Pole  Sud,  Zool.  iii.  p.  99, 
Atlas,  t.  22.  f.  6  (1853). 

Ad.  fusco-nigricans,  subtus  Jlavescenti-albida,  mento,  gula,  maculaque 
magna  occipitali  cum  uropygio  coccineis  ;  gutture  croceo-Jlavo  ;  remigi- 
bus,  primis  duobus  exceptis,  et  tectricibus  alarum  majoribus  flavido 
marginatis ;  rectricibus,  duabus  mediis  exceptis,  tectricibusque  alee 
minoribus  nonnullis  ad  apicem  albis ;  rostro  nigro  ;  pedibus  cornels. 
Long.  al.  2'45,  caud.  1-6,  rostr.  *6,  tarsi  '55  (poll.  Angl.). 
Jr.  macula  occipitali  nulla,  gutture  sordide  flavo,  et  uropygio  brunneo- 

olivaceo  distinguenda. 
Hab.  in  insulis  Vitiensibus. 

This  Myzomela  hardly  admits  of  being  mistaken  for  any  other  species. 
It  is  perhaps  most  nearly  related  to  M.  lafargii  of  the  Solomon  Islands, 
but  is  at  once  distinguishable  from  that  species  by  the  red  throat  and 
orange-yellow  chest,  besides  other  differences.  The  red  of  the  throat  is 
separated  from  the  yellow  of  the  chest  by  a  distinct  though  narrow 
black  line.  The  red  on  the  back  appears  last,  that  on  the  chin  first.  In 
not  fully  plumaged  birds  the  rump  and  lower  back  are  olivaceous.  The 
sexes  when  adult  are  nearly  alike,  the  female  being  only  distinguishable 
by  the  colours  being  less  bright.  Very  often,  too,  though  not  always, 
the  red  occipital  spot  is  absent  in  the  female. 

Mr.  Murray  records  the  iris  as  "  black,"  Mr.  Layard  as  "  brown,"  the 
legs  being  "  verditer  "  and  "  dark  livid  "  in  the  living  bird,  with  the  soles 
of  the  feet  yellow. 

This  bird  is  entirely  confined  to  the  Pijis,  where,  according  to  Mr. 
Layard's  list  (Ibis,  1876,  p.  391),  it  is  found  in  all  the  larger  islands  of 
that  group  *  ;  and  in  addition  to  the  islands  enumerated  by  him,  speci- 

*  See  also  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  431,  for  an  interesting  account  of  its  habits. 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  81 

mens  from  Matuku  are  in  the  British  Museum  (Rayner).  Its  occur- 
rence in  the  Samoan  group  has  not  yet  been  confirmed  (cf.  Whitmee, 
Ibis,  1875,  p.  447).  Hombron  and  Jacqumot  indicated  their  "  Myzomele 
solitaire"  as  being  from  the  "lies  Salomon "  with  some  doubt;  and, 
relying  on  them,  Mr.  Sclater  included  "  M.  solitaria "  in  his  list  of 
Solomon-Island  Birds  (P.  Z.  S.  1809,  p.  124),  where,  however,  only  M. 
lafargii,  so  far  as  is  yet  known,  occurs. 

9.  MYZOMELA  LAFAKGII. 

Myzomela  lafargii,  Hombr.  &  Jacq.  Yoy.  Pole  Sud,  Zool.  iii.  p.  98, 
t.  22.  f.  5  (1853). 

Oorjpore  supra  cum  capite,  gutture  et  pectore  superiore  nigris  ;  occipite 
coccineo  ;  abdomine  flavido-olivaceo  ;  alis  caudaque  nigris,  remigibus  P- z-  S- 1879, 
olivaceo-limbatis,  subalaribus  albis;  rostro  nigro,  pedibus  plumbeis. 

Sab.  in  insulis  Salomonis. 

This  species  was  obtained  by  the  French  Expedition  to  the  South 
Pole ;  and  the  type  specimen  in  the  Paris  Museum  remains,  I  believe, 
unique  in  Europe.  M.  Oustalet,  to  whom  I  wrote  for  information 
about  it,  kindly  replies  to  me,  on  comparing  it  with  the  figure  in  the 
Atlas  to  the  '  Yoyage : ' — "  Je  trouve  dans  celle-ci  quelques  inexactitudes. 
Les  proportions  de  1'oiseau  ont  ete  un  peu  exagerees  :  le  noir  de  la  gorge 
a  ete  trop  etendu  et  trop  marque.  L'oiseau  type  est  plus  petit,  et  il  a  le 
haut  de  la  gorge  seulement  noir,  le  bas,  vers  la  poitrine,  etant  un  peu 
mele  de  jaune  verdatre." 

M.  lafargii  is  somewhat  allied  to  M.  jugularis  of  the  Fijis,  but  differs 
from  the  latter  in  having  the  red  confined  to  the  top  of  the  head,  and  in 
the  throat  and  chest  being  black. 

10.  MYZOMELA  SCLATERI,  sp.  n.     (Plate  III.  fig.  2.) 

cJ  corpore  supra,  alis  caudaque  jusco-nigricantibus,  capite  saturatiore, 
plumis  dorsi  inferioris  apice  flavidis ;  remigibus,  alarum  tectricibus 
et  rectricibus  externe  olivaceo-flavo  limbatis  ;  gula  splendide  coccinea  ; 
corpore  subtusgriseo-flavido,  gutture  sordidiore  ;  subalaribus  et  margine 
interna  remigum  albis ;  rostro  nigro,  pedibus  obscuris.  Long.  tot. 
circa  4'5,  al.  3*65,  caud.  1*7,  rostr.  *6,  tars.  *55  (poll.  Angl.). 
Hab.  in  Nova  Britannia. 

A  few  weeks  ago  Mr.  Sclater,  after  whom  I  propose  to  name  this  new 
species,  lent  me  for  examination  a  single  specimen  of  it,  marked  "  male/' 
which  he  had  recently  received  in  a  letter  together  with  two  Pachycephalce, 
from  the  Rev.  G.  Brown,  C.M.Z.S.,  of  the  Wesleyan  Mission  at  present 
established  on  the  Duke-of-York  Islands.  The  exact  locality  given  on 
the  label  is  "  Palakiiru  Island,  New-Britain  coast."  I  have  not  been 
able  to  find  Palakiiru  Island  on  any  map ;  but  it  is  probably  only  an 
islet  lying  close  to  the  shores  of  the  larger  island. 

At  first  I  had  some  doubts  as  to  this  individual  being  adult ;  but  now 

G 


82 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 


from  the  absence  of  red  feathers  on  any  other  part,  and  from  the  singu- 
larly bright  and  shining  colour  of  those  on  the  throat,  I  have  little  doubt 
that  it  has  very  nearly  or  quite  attained  its  full  plumage.  Myzomela 
sclateri  hardly  admits  of  being  compared  with  any  other  species  of  the 
group,  the  entirely  dark  upperside  and  the  red  being  confined  to  the 
throat,  rendering  it  quite  unlike  any  species  yet  known  to  us. 


P.Z.S.  1879, 
p.  266. 


1858,   p.   173;   Salvador!, 
Sitzungsber.   Wien. 


11.  MYZOMELA  NIGEITA. 

Myzomela  nigrita,  G.   E.   Gray,  P.  Z.  S. 
RZ.S.  1878,  p.  97. 

Myzomela   erythrocephala,   Meyer  (nee    Gould), 
Akad.  Ixx.  p.  204  (1874). 

Myzomela  meyeri,  Salvadori,  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  vii.  p.  947  (1875). 

cJ  nitenti-niger,  subalaribus  et  remigum  margine  interna  albis  ;  rostro 
nigro,  pedibus  cornels. 

$   griseo-brunnea,  subtus  dilutior  ;  f rente  gulaque  rubro  lavatis  ;  remi- 
gibus  eocterne  olivaceis. 

Hob.  in  Nova  Guinea  occidentali  et  insulis  vicinis. 

This  Myzomela,  conspicuous  for  the  almost  entirely  black  plumage  of 
the  adult  male,  was  first  described  by  the  late  Mr.  Gray  from  specimens 
collected  in  the  Aru  Islands  by  Wallace,  where  it  was  obtained  again 
during  the  recent  voyage  of  the  '  Challenger/  It  also  occurs  on  the 
mainland  of  the  north-western  peninsula  of  New  Guinea,  at  Dorey 
(Wallace)  and  Eubi  (Meyer"),  and  in  the  islands  of  Jobi  and  Miosnom 
(Meyer  and  Beccari),  the  birds  from  the  mainland  and  these  islands  being 
considerably  bigger  than  those  from  Aru.  This  is  particularly  the  case 
with  those  from  Jobi  and  Miosnom,  so  that  Count  Salvador!  is  inclined 
to  separate  them  as  a  new  species.  But,  as  the  following  table  will  show, 
considerable  differences  in  the  measurements  of  this  species  occur  in 
various  localities ;  so  that  at  present  I  consider  it  better  to  retain  all 
forms  under  one  name. 


1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 
10. 
11. 
12. 


Wing. 

Aru? 2-2 

"Wokan    2-4 

Aru     2-35 

Eubi    2-5 

Dorey 2-4 

Miosnom 2*7 

Jobi     2-5 

jr.  Miosnom     2*6 

jr.  Eubi    2-3 

cj  jr.  Eubi   2-3 

$ .  Eubi    2-1 

$.  Aru? 2-1 


Beak 

(from  fore- 
Tail,          head).     Tarsi. 
1-65         -55         -5 

1-65 

•55 

•5 

1-7 

— 

•5 

2-0 

•65 

•5 

1-8 

•65 

— 

2-0 
2-0 
1-7 

•65 
•67 
•67 

•5    ^  "M.pluto," 
•5    >>     Salvador!, 
•53  J      inlitt. 

1-8 

•6 

•53 

1-8 

•58 

•5 

1-65 

•55 

•45 

1-4 

•55 

•45 

ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  83 

The  male  of  this  species  resembles  that  of  Myzomela  pammelcena  from 
the  Admiralty  Islands,  but  differs  as  below  specified.  The  female 
retains  more  of  the  normal  colouring  of  the  group,  and  approaches  those 
of  M.  boicei  and  M.  adolphince.  The  young  birds  resemble  the  female, 
the  red  on  the  head  in  the  young  males  being  obtained  before  any  indi- 
cation of  the  black  plumage.  Dr.  Meyer  obtained  only  females  and 
young  of  this  bird,  and  referred  these  with  considerable  hesitation  to 
M.  erythrocephala  of  Gould,  a  very  different  species.  Count  Salvadori  saw 
that  this  was  a  mistake,  and  proposed  the  name  meyeri  for  the  specimens 
collected  by  Dr.  Meyer.  But  on  subsequently  examining  the  birds  at 
Dresden,  he  found  that  in  reality  they  were  the  young  and  females  of 
the  present  species,  the  female  having  been  only  briefly  indicated  in 
Gray's  original  description. 

Mr.  Murray  notes  of  a  male  from  "Wokan,  Aru  Islands,  that  the  eyes  p.  z.  S.  1879, 
are  "  hazel,"  the  "  bill  and  feet  black."  P-  267. 


12.  MYZOMELA 
Myzomela  pammelcena,  Sclat.  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  553. 
cJ  ad.  nigerrimus,  remigum  marginibus  internis  cineraceo-albidis,  rostra 
pedibusque  nigris.     Long.  tot.  circa  5,  al.  2*7,  caud.  2,  rostr.  *65,  tars. 
•65  (poll.  Angl.). 
*Fun.  prcecedenti  similis,  sed  omnino  sordidior,  abdomine  et  subcaudalibus 

rufo-tinctis,  et  subalaribus  albis  distincta. 
Hob.  in  insulis  Admiralitatis. 

Two  specimens,  an  adult  male  and  a  young  bird,  of  this  Myzomela 
were  obtained  during  the  stay  of  the  '  Challenger  '  at  Nares  Harbour, 
Admiralty  Islands.  It  is  closely  allied  to  Myzomela  nigrita  of  the  Aru 
Islands  and  JNew  Guinea;  but  the  adult  male  of  the  new  species  differs 
from  the  more  western  one  by  its  black  under  wing-coverts  (although 
these  are  white  in  the  young  bird),  dirty  white  margins  to  the  remiges, 
and  longer  and  stouter  feet  and  tarsi.  In  size  it  exceeds  any  specimens 
I  have  seen  of  M.  nigrita  from  the  Aru  Islands,  but  is  equalled  in  length 
of  wing  and  tail  by  the  larger  birds  from  the  islands  and  shores  of  Geel- 
vink  Bay. 

Mr.  Murray  marks  the  irides  of  the  adult  bird  as  "  hazel-brown." 

13.  MYZOMELA  EQUES. 

Cinnyris  eques,  Less.  Yoy.  Coq.  p.  679,  t.  31.  fig.  1  (1826). 
Nectarinia  eques,  Miill.  &  Schleg.  Verhand.  p.  62  (1839-1844). 
Cosmeteira  eques,  Meyer,  Sitzungsber.  Wien.  Akad.  Ixx.  pp.  215-217 
(1874). 

Cosmeteira  minima,  Wald.  Ibis,  1870,  p.  50  (  ?  ). 

Omnino  cinerascenti-brunnea,  subtus  dilutior  ;  stria  gulari  nitide  cocdnea  ; 

G2 


84  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

rostro  pedibusque  nigro-corneis.  Long.  al.  3,  caud.  2'5,  tarsi  '6  (poll. 
Angl.).  ( <5  ex  Nova  Guinea.) 

Hob.  in  Nova  Guinea  et  insulis  vicinis. 

Although  generally  placed  amongst  the  Nectariniidae,  this  species  in 
structure  and  coloration  is  a  true  Myzomela,  allied  to  the  Australian 
M.  obscura,  from  which  it  is  at  once  distinguished  by  its  bright  red  gular 
streak.  The  sexes  are  similar ;  but  the  females  are  considerably  smaller 
than  the  males  ;  and  on  one  of  these  from  Mysol  the  late  Lord  Tweed- 
dale  founded  his  species  C.  minima. 

Dr.  Meyer  describes  (I.  s.  c.)  the  young  as  having  the  forehead  and 
top  of  the  head  tinged  with  reddish — an  interesting  fact,  as  showing  in 
the  young  bird  a  style  of  coloration  not  retained  in  the  adult,  but  occur- 
ring in  other  members  of  the  genus,  and  therefore  probably  a  more  primi- 
tive character. 

This  species  is  widely  distributed  over  New   Guinea,   occurring  at 

Dorey  (Wallace  and  Meyer),  Eubi,  Passim  (Meyer),  Sorong  (Mus.  Lugd., 

fide  Salvadori),  and  Wa  Samson  (Beccari) ;  and  D'Albertis  found  it  on 

the  Fly  River.     It  also  occurs  in  Waigiou  (Lesson,  Wallace,  and  Bern- 

P  Z  S  1879    ste^n}  and  ^7S°1  (Wallace  and  Hoedt).     Count  Salvadori  has  lent  me 

p.  268.          specimens  from  Salwatti,  and  says  that  in  the  Leyden  Museum  there  is 

one  said  to  be  from  Ceram  (Moens),  but  that  this  locality,  as  well  as 

Gilolo  (Forsteri),  are  in  all  probability  errors. 

14.  MYZOMELA  OBSCTJEA. 

Myzomela  obscura,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1842,  p.  136 ;  id.  B.  A.  iv.  pi.  67  ; 
id.  Handb.  i.  p.  559. 

Ptilotis  fumata,  "  Miill.  Mus.  Lugd.,  ex  Nova  Guinea,"  Bp.  Consp.  i. 
p.  392  (1853). 

Omnino  griseo-brunnea,  subtus  pallidior,  capite  vinaceo  tincto  ;  remigi- 
bus  externe  subtilissime  griseo  limbatis ;  alis  caudaque  subtus  griseis, 
remigum  margine  interna  albida ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigro-corneis. 
Long.  al.  2'7,  caud.  2'2,  rostr.  -6,  tars.  '6  (poll.  Angl.). 

Hob.  in  Australia  septentrionali  et  Nova  Guinea. 

This  plainly-coloured  Honey-eater  was  first  described  by  Mr.  Gould 
from  specimens  obtained  at  Port  Essington  by  Gilbert.  It  seems  to 
have  rather  a  wide  range  over  the  northern  parts  of  Australia,  occurring 
at  Port  Darwin  (Masters),  Cape  York  ('  Challenger '),  and  in  the  north  of 
Queensland  "as  far  south  as  the  Mary  river"  (Ramsay).  D'Albertis 
found  it  at  Naiabui  and  on  the  Fly  Biver ;  and  there  are  specimens  from 
the  river  Utanata  in  the  Leyden  Museum — the  originals  of  Bonaparte's 
"  Ptilotis  fumata"  (cf.  Salvadori,  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  xii.  p.  334,  1878). 

The  sexes  are  similar.     I  have  not  seen  young  birds. 

The  iris  has  been  variously  recorded  as  "  red "  (Gould),  "  brown  " 
(Murray),  and  "black"  (VAlbertis). 


ON  THE  GENUS   MYZOMELA.  85 

15.  MYZOMELA  SIMPLEX. 

Myzomela  simplex,  G.  E.  Gray,  P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  349. 

Sordide  griseo-brunnea,  subtus  dilutior  ;  remigibus  et  rectricibus  rubido 
limbatis  ;  margine  internet  remigum  albida  ;  rostro  pedibusque  corneis, 
his  pallidioribus.  Long.  tot.  5*2,  al.  2'3,  caud.  2,  rostr.  '5,  tarsi  '6 
(poll.  Angl.). 

Hob.  in  Halmahera  et  insulis  adjacentibus. 

This  plainly-coloured  Myzomela  was  first  discovered  by  "Wallace  in 
the  island  of  Batchian,  and  it  also  occurs  in  most  of  the  other  islands  of 
the  Halmahera  group  of  the  Moluccas,  but  is  replaced  on  Obi  by  the 
nearly  allied  Myzomela  rubrotincta.  Count  Salvadori  informs  me  that  he 
has  seen  "  many  specimens  in  the  Leyden  Museum  from  Gilolo  (Bernstein), 
Tidore  (Bernstein,  Von  Rosenberg),  and  Dammar  (Bernstein).  A  specimen 
from  Ternate  (Bruijn)  is  in  Turati's  collection.  A  single  specimen  from 
Morty  in  the  Museum  of  Leyden  is  much  darker  than  the  others." 

This  species  is  allied  to  M.  rubrobrunnea  and  M.  rubrotincta,  but  differs 
from  them  in  the  less  extent  of  the  red  colour,  which  is  confined  to  the 
margins  of  the  quills  and  tail-feathers.  The  sexes  are  probably  similar 
in  colour ;  I  have  not  seen  the  young  bird. 

16.  MYZOMELA  BFBBOTINCTA.  P.Z  S  1879 
Myzomela  rubrotincta,  Salvad.  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Genov.  xii.  p.  344  (1878).      p* 269t 

"  Brunnea,  dorso,  alis  et  cauda  pulcherrime  rubro  tinctis  ;  pectore,  ab- 
domine  et  subcaudalibus  obsoletius  rubro  tinctis.  Long.  tot.  '120  m., 
dice  -067,  caud.  -048,  rostri  -020,  tars.  -020." 

.Hob.  "  in  ins.  Obi  (Bernstein)"  Salvad.  I.  c. 

This  species  has  recently  been  described  by  Count  Salvadori  from  five 
specimens — two  males  and  three  females — the  two  sexes  are  similar — in 
the  Leyden  Museum.  He  says  it  "  resembles  M.  simplex  of  Gray  from 
Halmahera,  in  which  only  the  remiges  and  rectrices  (and  not  all  the  parts 
between  the  head  and  neck)  are  margined  with  red,  and  in  which  the  red 
colour  is  very  indistinct." 

17.  MYZOMELA  BUBBOBBTJNNEA.     (Plate  II.  fig.  2.) 

Myzomela  rubrobrunnea,  Meyer,  Sitzungsber.  Ak.  in  Wien,  Ixx.  p.  203 
(1874). 

c?  grisescenti-brunneus,  subtus  dilutior,  capite  saturatiore,  plumis  plus 
minusve  vinaceo  limbatis  ;  dorso  inferiore  et  uropygio,  cum  marginibus 
externis  remigum  et  rectricum  vinaceo-rubris ;  alis  cauddque  subtus 
griseis ;  margine  interna  remigum  albida ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigro- 
corneis.  Long,  tota  circa  4,  alee  2'4,  caud.  1'8,  rostr.  '6,  tars.  '55 
(pott.  Angl.). 

$  mari  similis,  sed  color ibus  minus  intensis  et  paullo  minor. 
Bab.  in  insula  Mysore. 

f 


86  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

Dr.  Meyer  first  discovered  this  beautiful  species  of  Myzomela,  during 
his  travels  in  and  about  New  Guinea  in  1873.  He  obtained  only  two 
specimens,  both  males,  at  Kordo,  the  chief  settlement  in  the  island  of 
Mysore  in  Geelvink  Bay.  Beccari  obtained  others  in  the  same  island,  to 
which  it  is  apparently  confined ;  and  from  one  of  his  specimens,  a  fine 
male,  kindly  lent  me  by  Count  Salvador!,  the  figure  is  taken. 

This  species  resembles  M.  simplex  and  M.  rubrotincta  of  the  Moluccas, 
but  differs  from  both  in  the  red  margins  to  the  feathers  being  continued 
over  a  larger  part  of  the  bird. 

18.  MYZOMELA.  CRTJENTATA. 

Myzomela  cruentata,  Meyer,  Sitzungsber.  Ak.  Wien,  Ixx.  i.  p.  202 
(1874)  ;  Gould,  B.  New  G-uin.  pi.  pt.  v. 

Myzomela  coccinea,  Eamsay,  Proc.  L.  S.  N.  S.  W.  ii.  p.  106  (1877)  ? 
(Ex  insulis  Ducis  Eboraci.) 

Myzomela  erythrina,  Eamsay,  Proc.  L.  S.  N.  S.  W.  ii.  p.  107  (1877)  ? 
(Ex  Nova  Hibernia.) 

c?  corpore   omnino  chermesino,  uropygio  splendidiore,  plumis  ad  basin 

nigris ;  alis  rubricantibus,  plumis  externe  rubris ;  remigibus  fuscis, 

primis  duobus  exceptis,  rubro  limbatis ;  rectricibus  rubido-griseis,  ex- 

P.  Z.  S.  1879,  terne  rubro  marginatis  ;  alis  caudaque  subtus  griseis  ;  rostro pedibusque 

P-  27°-  nigris.     Long.  tot.  circa  4,  al.  2'2,  caud.  1-5,  rostr.  -55,  tars.  *5  (poll. 

Angl.). 

Sab.  in  montibus  Arfak  NOVSB  Guinea. 

This  very  beautiful  Myzomela,  at  once  distinguished  from  all  others  of 
this  group  yet  described  by  its  uniformly  red  colour,  was  first  obtained 
by  Dr.  Meyer,  in  the  Arfak  Mountains,  in  1873.  Only  one  specimen,  an 
adult  male,  was  procured;  and  this  and  another  specimen,  likewise  a 
male  and  nearly  or  quite  adult,  procured  by  Bruijn's  collectors  in  the 
same  locality,  and  now  in  the  Genoa  Museum,  are,  I  believe,  the  only 
examples  yet  brought  to  Europe  of  this  splendid  little  bird. 

A  short  time  ago  Mr.  E.  P.  Eamsay,  of  the  Sydney  Museum,  described 
two  new  species  of  Myzomela,  both  remarkable  for  their  nearly  uniform 
red  coloration.  One  is  indicated  as  a  female  and  from  the  Duke-of-York 
Islands  (M.  coccinea)  ;  the  other,  a  young  male  (M.  erythrina),  is  from. 
New  Ireland.  Of  it  Mr.  Eamsay  says : — "This  species  is  smaller  than 
the  preceding,  and  the  bill  is  comparatively  stronger  and  stouter ;  other- 
wise I  should  be  inclined  to  consider  it  the  young  of  the  former."  From 
his  description  it  is  evidently  a  young  bird ;  and  after  having  carefully 
compared  both  it  and  that  of  the  other  species  with  Dr.  Meyer's  and 
Count  Salvadori's  specimens,  I  have  come  to  the  conclusion  that  both  M. 
coccinea  and  erythrina  are  probably  referable  to  M.  cruentata.  If  this  is 
so,  it  would  seem,  provided  Eainsay's  specimens  are  correctly  sexed,  that 
the  adults  of  this  species  are  nearly  or  quite  similar  in  coloration.  The 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  87 

species  probably  has  a  wide  range  through  New  Guinea  eastward  of  the 
Arfak  Mountains. 

19.  MYZOMELA  ETJBEATEA. 

Cinnyris  rubrater,  Less.  Yoy.  Coquille,  Zool.  p.  678  (1826) ;  id.  Man. 
ii.  p.  55  (1828) ;  Kittlitz,  Kupf.  Yog.  t.  8.  fig.  1  (1832). 

Myzomela  rubratra,  Bp.  C.  E.  xxxviii,  p.  263  (1854) ;  Hartl.  P.  Z.  S. 
1868,  p.  5;  Hartl.  &  Einsch,  P.Z.8.  1872,  p.  94;  Finscb,  Journ.  God. 
Mus.  xii.  p.  26  (1876). 

Myzomela  major,  Bp.  C.  E.  xxxviii.  p.  263  (1854).     (Ins.  Carol.) 

Myzomela  sanguinolenta,  pt.,  Gray  (nee  Lath.),  Gen.  B.  i.  p.  118  ;  Bp. 
Consp.  i.  p.  394  (1850). 

Ad.  coccinea,  alis,  cauda,  crisso  et  subcaudalibus  nigricanlibus  ;  alis 
caudaque  subtus  griseis,  remigum  margine  internet  albida  ;  rostra  ni- 
gricante,  pedibus  cornels.  Long.  al.  2*95,  caud.  2*3,  rostr.  "65,  tars. 
•75  (poll.  Angl.}. 

Jr.  olivaceo-brunnea,  remigibus  externe  olivaceis  ;  subalaribus  obscuris. 

Hob.  in  insulis  Pelewensibus,  Marianis,  et  Carolinis. 

This  species  belongs  to  the  group  of  M.  cardinalis,  nigriventris,  and 
chermesina,  but  is  at  once  distinguished  from  all  of  these  by  the  greater 
extent  of  the  red  colour  in  the  adult,  only  the  vent  and  under  tail-coverts 
being  black. 

Myzomela  major  was  founded  by  Bonaparte  on  specimens  of  this  bird 
from  the  Caroline  Islands,  and  characterized  as  "  Similis  M.  rubratrse,  sed  p.  z.  S.  1879, 
major  et  percoccinea."    But  any  such  difference  in  size  is  not  constant,  and      P-  27*' 
Dr.  Hartlaub  says  (I.  c.)  that  Pelew  birds  are  as  large  as  Caroline  ones. 

The  young  bird  is  nearly  uniformly  dark  olive-brown,  and  gradually 
attains  its  full  plumage  by  the  gradual  appearance  of  the  red  on  various 
parts  of  its  body. 

M.  rubratra  is  remarkable  for  its  wide  range  over  the  archipelagos  of 
the  North-eastern  Pacific.  Lesson  found  it  on  the  island  of  Ualan  in 
the  east  of  the  Caroline  group  (his  assertion  that  it  was  also  found  in 
the  Philippines  by  M.  Dussumier  being  of  course  erroneous),  as  did 
Kittlitz,  who  gives  an  interesting  account  of  the  habits  of  this  species 
as  observed  by  him  on  this  island  and  the  Marianne  Island  of  Guam 
(Denkwiird.  ein.  Eeise,  i.  pp.  364  and  381,  1858).  Kubary  found  it  on 
Ponape  in  the  east,  and  on  Yap  and  the  Mackenzie  Islands  in  the  west, 
of  the  Carolines  ;  so  that  it  is  probably  found  all  over  that  archipelago. 
Specimens  from  these  islands  are  in  the  Godeffroy  Museum ;  likewise 
examples  from  the  Pelews  (or  Palaos).  Gray,  in  his  Catalogue  of  Pacific 
birds,  gives  "  Island  of  Yanicoro  "  with  a  query ;  but  in  all  probability 
this  is  a  mistake,  for  as  yet  no  Myzomela  has  been  found  there. 

20.  MYZOMELA  JQGEIVENTEIS. 

Myzomela  nigriventris,  Peale,  U.S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  150,  pi.  41.  f.  2 


88  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

(1848) ;  Cassin,  U.S.  Expl.  Exped.  p.  175,  pi.  12.  f.  i.  (1858) ;  H.  &  E. 
Orn.  Centralpolyn.  p.  56,  t.  7.  f.  3  and  4  Cad.  and  jr.). 

Myzomela  rubratra,  Hartl.  (nee  Lesson),  Wiegm.  Arch.  1852,  p.  1.30 
(ex  Samoa). 

Myzomela  cardinalis,  Hartl.  (nee.  Gmel.),  "Wiegm.  Arch.  1852,  p.  109. 
"  Myzomela  arnouxi,  Verr.,"  Bonaparte,  C.  B.  xxxviii.  p.  263  (1854). 
Ad.  capite,  dorso  uropygioque  cum  pectore  fulgido-coccineis,  plumis  ad 
basin  nigris  ;  corpore  subtus,  macula  anteoculari,  alis  caudaque  nigris ; 
remigibus  interne  albidis  ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigris.     Long.  al.  2*75, 
caud.  1'8,  rostr.  '65,  tars.  *7  (poll.  Angl.). 

Jr.  olivaceo-fusca,  subtus  dilutior  et  flavido  lavata ;  uropygio  rubro 
tincto ;  remigibus  olivaceo-limbatis ;  subalaribus  et  margine  interna 
remigum  albis. 

Hab.  in  insulis  Samoensibus. 

This  species  is  very  closely  allied  to  M.  cardinalis,  which  it  replaces 
in  the  Samoa  group.  The  differences  between  the  two  I  have  pointed 
out  under  the  last-named  species. 

Erom  M.  rubratra,  with  which  it  was  at  first  confounded,  both  these 
species  differ  in  the  black  flanks  and  belly,  these  in  M.  rubratra  being 
red,  only  the  vent  and  under  tail-coverts  being  black,  whilst  the  red 
on  the  chest  in  all  three  of  these  species  easily  separates  them  from  M. 
lifuensis. 

M  nigriventris  is  confined  to  the  Samoan  Islands,  its  reported  occur- 
rence in  the  Eijis  being  erroneous  (cf.  Layard,  Ibis,  1876,  p.  391)  and 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  founded  on  a  mistake  of  Dr.  Graffe.     It  is  apparently  rather  a  common 
p'       "         bird  in  the  Samoan  group,  occurring  both  on  Savaii  and  Upolu. 

21.  MYZOMELA  CABDINALIS. 

Cardinal  Creeper,  Lath.  Gen.  Syn.  i.  pt,  2,  p.  733,  pi.  33.  f.  2  (1782). 

Certhia  cardinalis,  Gm.  S.  N.  i.  p.  472  (1788) ;  Lath.  Ind.  Orn.  i. 
p.  290  (1790). 

Cardinal  Honey-eater,  Lath.  Nat.  Hist.  ir.  p.  199,  pi.  71.  f.  2  (1822). 

Myzomela  cardinalis,  Gray,  B.  Trop.  Isl.  p.  10  (1859) ;  Tristram,  Ibis, 
1876,  p.  261. 

Myzomela  melanogastra,  Bp.  C.  E.  xxxviii.  p.  263  (1854). 

Ad.  capite,  dorso  uropygioque  cum  pectore  superiore  coccineis,  plumis  ad 
basin  nigris;  macula  anteoculari,  alis  caudaque  nigris,  Ms  nitore 
nonnullo  metallico  ;  corpore  subtus  f  uliginoso-nigro  ;  remigum  margine 
interna  albida  ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigris.  Long.  al.  2' 9,  caud.  2'], 
rostr.  *7,  tars.  '75  (poll.  Angl.). 

Jr.  Myz.  nigriventri  similis,  sed  supra  magis  brunnea,  et  subtus  dilutior  ; 
dorso  uropygioque  castaneo-brunneis,  nee  rubris. 

Hab.  in  JSTovis  Hebridibus. 

This  Honey-eater,  one  of  the  few  of  this  genus  known  to  the  older 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  89 

authors,  is  very  nearly  allied  to  M.  nigriventris  of  the  Samoan  group, 
which  it  replaces  in  the  New  Hebrides. 

The  adult  bird  (I  agree  with  Messrs.  Hartlaub  and  Einsch  in  con- 
sidering that  in  this  section  of  the  group  the  sexes  are  nearly  similar)  is 
distinguished  from  M.  nigriventris  by  the  scarlet  of  the  upper  parts  and 
chest  being  duller,  and  extending  not  quite  so  far  down  on  the  chest. 
The  black  of  the  lower  parts  is  less  intense,  being  tinged  with  brownish ; 
the  white  margin  to  the  remiges  internally  is  more  distinct ;  and  the 
bill  is  stouter.  It  is  also  a  slightly  larger  bird. 

The  young  bird  is  paler  and  browner  above  (not  so  much  dark  brown 
as  greyish  brown),  and  paler  and  yellower  below ;  the  rump  and  back 
are  washed  with  chestnut-brown.  Judging  from  the  series  of  specimens 
I  have  seen,  the  red  colour  in  this  species  seems  to  appear  first  on  the 
head,  and  not  on  the  back  as  in  M.  nigriventris.  The  remiges,  as  usual 
in  the  young  of  this  genus,  are  externally  lined  with  olive-yellow.  From 
M.  lifuensis  this  species  may  be  distinguished  by*  its  larger  size  and  by 
the  red  extending  on  to  the  breast.  Latham's  description  and  figure 
clearly  apply  to  this  bird,  not  to  M.  lifuensis. 

The  irides  are  marked  "  black  "  or  "  dark  brown." 

Latham  describes  this  bird  from  the  island  of  Tanna,  where,  he  says, 
it  is  called  "  Kuyameta  "  and  is  common,  sucking  the  juices  of  flowers  ; 
and  I  have  seen  specimens  collected  on  that  island  by  Mr.  Layard. 
There  are  specimens  in  the  British  Museum  from  Erromango  and  Anei- 
teum  (Owning);  and  Canon  Tristram  has  received  it  from  the  latter 
island,  as  well  as  from  Tanna  and  Aniwa.  It  thus  seems  to  be  confined 
rather  to  the  southern  portion  of  the  New-Hebridean  archipelago,  being 
replaced  in  the  north  by  M.  caledonica  ?  and  M.  chermesina. 

22.  MYZOMELA  LIFFENSIS.  p  2  s.  1879 

Myzomela  lifuensis,  E.  L.  and  L.  C.  Layard,  Ibis,  1878,  p.  258.  p*  m 

<5  capite,  dorso  uropygioque  coccineis ;  alis,  cauda  et  corpore  subtus  toto 
cum  macula  anteoculari  fuliginoso-nigris ;  alis  caudaque  nitore  non- 
nullo  metallico  ;  remigum  margine  interna  albida  ;  rostra  nigro,pedibus 
nigro-corneis.  Long,  iota  circa  4'2,  al.  2-5,  caud.  1-75,  rostr.  -55, 
tars.  '68  (poll.  Angl.). 
Hob.  in  Lifu,  ex  insulis  "  Loyalty  "  dictis. 

Canon  Tristram  having  kindly  submitted  to  me  two  skins  (now  in  his 
collection,  both  marked  "  males  "  and  adult)  collected  by  the  Messrs. 
Layard,  who  first  indicated  this  species,  I  can  give  a  more  complete 
account  of  it,  and  say  that  it  is  certainly  a  very  good  species.  It  is 
nearly  allied  to  M.  nigriventris  and  M.  cardinalis  of  the  Samoas  and  New 
Hebrides  respectively,  more  particularly  to  the  last,  but  is  at  once  dis- 
tinguished from  both  by  the  red  below  not  extending  beyond  the  head, 
the  breast  being  sooty-black  like  all  the  rest  of  the  lower  parts.  It  is 


90  ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 

also  a  considerably  smaller  bird  ;  the  bill  is  shorter  and  more  slender ; 
the  tarsi  are  not  so  stout,  and  the  claws  smaller.  From  Myzomela  erythro- 
cephala  it  is  easily  distinguishable  by  the  uniform  black  of  the  lower  parts. 

Mr.  Layard  notes  the  "  beak  black,  legs  very  dark  brown,  iris  dark 
brown,"  and  food  "  insects."  Both  specimens  were  obtained  at  Hepenehe, 
the  chief  town  in  the  island  of  Lifu,  the  largest  of  the  Loyalty  Islands. 

Whether  M.  erythrocephala  of  Marie's  list  (Ibis,  1877,  p.  362)  is  this 
bird,  remains  uncertain ;  as  yet,  M.  caledonica  is  the  only  Myzomela 
certainly  known  to  be  found  on  New  Caledonia  itself. 

23.  MYZOMELA  CHERMESINA.     (Plate  III.  fig.  1.) 

Myzomela  chermesina,  Gray  &  Mitch.  G.  B.  i.  pi.  38  (1840)  (fig.  mala)  ; 
Gray,  Cat.  B.  Trop.  Isl.  p.  11  (1859) ;  Forbes,  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  352. 

c?  ad.  fusco-nigricans,  alis  caudaque  nitore  nonnullo  metallico  ;  mento, 
gula,  pectore  lateribusque  abdominis,  cum  dorso  uropygioque  nitide 
coccineis,  plumis  ad  \asin  nigris  ;  subalaribus  nigris,  remigum  pogonio 
interno  griseo  ;  rostro  nigro,  pedibus  brunneo-corneis.  Long,  iota  circa 
4|,  oil.  3,  caud.  2,  rostri  ||,  tarsi  §  (poll.  Angl.). 

Hob.  in  insulis  Pacificis  E-otumah  et  Mallikollo. 

This  species  was  first  figured  by  Messrs.  Gray  and  Mitchell  in  their 
*  Genera  of  Birds ; '  but  no  description  was  given,  the  species  being  only 
mentioned  in  the  list  of  the  species  of  Myzomela ;  nor  was  any  habitat 
indicated.  Bonaparte,  and  Gray  later  on,  in  his  '  Hand-list '  (vol.  i.  no. 
1989),  gave  "New  Guinea?"  as  the  locality,  without  any  apparent 
reason  for  so  doing.  The  bird  was  never  recognized  agciin  till  last  year, 
when  Mr.  Sclater  received  two  specimens,  an  adult  male  and  a  nearly 
adult  female*,  from  the  Eev.  G.  Brown,  C.M.Z.S.,  of  the  Wesleyan 
P.  Z.  S.  1879,  Mission,  together  with  some  other  birds,  from  the  small  island  of  Eotu- 
p.  274.  mah,  north  of  the  Fijis.  Fortunately  Gray's  type  is  still  in  existence  in 
the  gallery  of  the  British  Museum ;  and  on  comparing  the  birds  from 
Eotumah  with  it,  it  was  at  once  evident  that  they  were  of  the  same 
species,  though  Gray's  figure  represents  a  bird  with  a  uniformly  scarlet 
underside.  About  the  same  time  Mr.  Sharpe  got  a  specimen  (from 
which  the  figure  is  taken)  of  the  same  bird,  apparently  identical  in  every 
respect,  from  the  island  of  Mallikollo  (in  my  paper,  1.  c.,  by  a  mistake  I 
wrote  Erromango)  in  the  New  Hebrides,  where  it  was  obtained  by  Mr. 
Wykeham  Perry,  H.M.S.  '  Pearl.'  The  species  thus  has  a  wide  range, 
though  I  believe  the  above-mentioned  four  specimens  (which  are  all 
nearly  or  quite  adult)  are  as  yet  the  only  ones  of  this  bird  ever  brought 
to  Europe.  The  female  is  similar  to  the  male  in  colour,  but  a  little 
duller  (<•/.  loc.  tit.  p.  353). 

24.  MYZOMELA  ROSENBEEGI. 

Myzomela  rosenbergi,    Schleg.  Ned.  Tijd.  Dierk.  iv.  p.  38   (1871)  ; 
*  These  birds  are  now  in  the  Paris  Museum. 


X 


P.Z.S.1879P1.XXV 


5t 


J.Smitlilh. 


l.MYZOMELA  CHERMESINA 
2.  SCLATERI. 


imp 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  91 

Eosenberg,  Eeist.  G-eelv.  Baai,  p.  138,  t.  xvi.  fig.  2  (1875) ;  Meyer, 
Sitzungsber.  Wien.  Akad.  Ixix.  i.  pp.  211,  212  (1874). 

rf  ad.  niger  nitore  nonnullo  metallic*) ;  collo,  dorso,  uropygioque,  cum 
pectore  splendide  coccineis  ;  rostro  nigro,  pedibus  cornels.  Long.  al. 
2*5,  caud.  1-7,  rostr.  a  culm.  -65,  tars.  *55  (poll.  Angl.). 

$  rufescenti-brunnea,  plumis  ad  basin  nigris,  ad  rhachin  pallidioribus  ; 
fronte,  pectore  uropygioque  coccineis,  mento  gulaque  nigricantibus ; 
alls  caudaque  fuscis,  remigibus  externe  olivaceo-limbatis,  tectricum 
alarum  apicibus  brunneis  ;  pogoniis  internis  remigum  albis. 

d  jr.  femince  similis,  sed  fronte,  pectore,  uropygio,  mento  gulaque  corpore 
concoloribus. 

Hab.  in  Nova  Guinea. 

This  beautiful  and  very  distinct  Myzomela  was  first  described  by  Prof. 
Schlegel  from  two  specimens,  both  males,  collected  by  Von  Eosenberg 
in  the  north-western  peninsula  of  New  Guinea.  Dr.  A.  B.  Meyer 
obtained  five  specimens  from  the  Arfak  Mountains  near  Hattam,  at  an 
elevation  of  about  3500  feet  above  the  sea,  during  his  expedition  to  New 
Guinea  in  1873.  Since  then  numerous  specimens  have  been  obtained 
by  various  travellers  in  the  same  district.  That  the  species  is  not  con- 
fined, however,  to  the  Arfak  Mountains  is  shown  by  the  fact*  that 
Signer  D'Albertis  obtained  two  skins  of  this  same  bird,  identical  with 
Arfak  specimens,  from  the  natives  of  the  neighbourhood  of  Epa,  near 
Hall  Bay,  S.E.  New  Guinea. 

According  to  Dr.  Meyer  the  adults  of  both  sexes  are  similar,  and  the 
bird  above  described  as  the  female  (from  two  nearly  identical  specimens 
so  sexed  by  Beccari)  is  really  the  young  assuming  adult  plumage.    Count 
Salvadori,  however,  writes  me  that  he  has  about  40  specimens  of  this 
species,  and  maintains  the  view  he  has  already  expressed  (Ann.  Mus. 
Civ.  Gen.  vii.  p.  947, 1875),  that  Meyer's  *'  young  "  are  in  reality  females. 
A  very  young  bird  (  <$  )  in  the  Genoa  Museum,  described  above,  has  only  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
a  trace  of  red  on  the  throat,  and  is  probably  a  bird  of  the  year.     The      P*  ^* 
varied  colouring  of  each  feather  gives  a  somewhat  flammulated  appear- 
ance to  the  head,  back,  and  chest  of  the  young  and  females. 

25.  MYZOMELA  NIGBA. 

Myzomela  nigra,  Gould,  B.  A.  iv.  pi.  66 ;  id.  Handb.  B.  A.  i.  p.  558 
[nee  Cissomela  nigra,  Bon.  C.  E.  xxxviii.  p.  261  (1854)]. 

cJ  capite,  dorso,  uropygioque  cum  pectore  superiore  et  linea  media  abdomi- 
nali  nigris  ;  lateribus  abdominis,  venire  et  subcaudalibus  albis ;  alis, 
subalaribus  caudaque  brunneis ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigris.  Long,  alee 
2-7,  caudce  1'7,  rostri  -65,  tarsi  '5  (poll.  Angl.). 

*  Cf.  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Geneva,  vii.  p.  799  (1875). 


92  ON  THE  GENUS  MTZOMELA. 

$  supra  brunnea,  subtus  albida,  mento,  gula  et  pectore  fusco  variegatis  ; 

stria  superciliari  et  remigum  margine  interna  albidis. 
Hob.  in  Australia. 

This  species,  which  differs  somewhat  in  coloration  from  the  other 
members  of  the  group,  has  a  wide  range  over  Australia.  Gould  found 
it  on  the  plains  of  the  Namoi ;  and  Gilbert  met  with  it  in  Western 
Australia  on  the  Swan  Kiver.  Mr.  Ramsay,  in  addition,  marks  it  in  his 
list  from  the  Port-Darwin  district,  from  the  interior,  Victoria,  and  S. 
Australia. 

26.  MTZOMELA  PECTOEALIS. 

Myzomela  pectoralis,  Gould,  P.  Z.  S.  1840,  p.  170  ;  id.  B.  A.  iv.  pi.  65  ; 
id.  Handb.  B.  A.  i.  p.  557. 

Cissomela  nigra,  Bon.  (nee  Gould),  C.  E.  xxxviii.  p.  265  (1854). 

cJ  ad.  niger,  uropygio,  mentoy..gutture  et  corpore  subtus  albis,  pectore 

fascia  angusta  nigra  transversim  notato  ;  rostro  pedibusque  nigris. 
$  (aut  jr.)  dor  so  medio  castaneo-brunneo  diver  sa. 

Long,  tota  4-5,  al.  2J,  caud.  1|,  rostr.  |,  tars.  §  (poll.  Angl.). 

Hob.  in  Australia  septentrionali. 

This  Myzomela,  which  in  its  black-and-white  coloration  departs  con- 
siderably from  the  general  coloration  of  the  group,  is  confined  to  the 
more  northern  parts  of  Australia.  Gould's  original  specimens  were  from 
the  N.W.  coast.  Mr.  Ramsay  in  his  list  records  it  from  Ports  Darwin 
and  Essington,  the  Gulf  of  Carpentaria,  Cape  York,  and  Rockingham 
Bay. 

It  is  not  as  yet  ascertained  with  certainty  whether  the  chestnut-backed 
birds  are  the  adult  females,  or  merely  the  young,  of  this  species. 

Besides  the  above  26  species,  which  are  all  founded  on  actual  speci- 
mens, and  which  are  here  recognized  as  valid,  there  remains  the  following, 
based  on  a  figure  of  one  of  the  older  authors,  but  never  yet  again  met 
with,  which  may  or  may  not  be  a  real  bird.  This  is 

P.  Z.  S.  1879       MYZOMELA  PUSILLA. 

p'  276'  Le  Kuyameta,  Vieill.  Ois.  Dor.  ii.  p.  92,  t.  58  (1802).   (Certhia  cardinalis, 

Gm.  in  text.) 

Myzomela  pusilla,  G.  R.  Gray,  B.  Trop.  Isl.  p.  10  (1859). 

M.  cardinalis,  pt.,  E.  &  H.  Orn.  Centralpolyn.  p.  57  (nota). 

This  extremely  doubtful  species  was  founded  by  Gray  on  a  drawing 
(from  a  bird  once  in  the  Leverian  Museum)  in  Vieillot's  "  Oiseaux 
Dores."  This  plate,  as  well  as  the  description,  indicates  a  black-and-red 
Myzomela,  like  M.  cardinalis  or  M.  rubratra,  but  smaller  (3|  inches  in 
length),  and  with  the  abdomen,  vent,  &c.  entirely  red,  only  the  wings, 
tail,  and  an  anteocular  spot  being  black.  In  the  letterpress  the  bird  is 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  93 

named  Certhia  cardinalis  of  Gmelin ;  and  the  habitat  assigned  is  "  New- 
Holland  and  Isle  of  Tanna,"  evidently  copied  from  Latham's  account  of 
the  last-named  species. 

GEOGEAPHICAL  DISTEIBUTION. 

The  genus  Myzomela  has  rather  a  wide  range,  from  Celebes  on  the 
west,  to  the  Fiji  and  Samoan  Islands  on  the  east,  and  from  Guam,  in 
the  Marianne  group  (in  13°  N.)  to  S.  Australia  and  Victoria  (in  38°  S.), 
but  is  strictly  confined  to  the  Australian  region,  in  three  out  of  the  5 
subregions  of  which  it  occurs,  being  absent  in  New  Zealand  and  in  the 
Sandwich  Islands. 

The  Papuan  subregion  is,  as  might  naturally  be  expected,  the  richest 
in  species,  having  16,  of  which  no  less  than  14  are  peculiar.  Australia 
proper  has  5  species,  of  which  three  are  peculiar,  two  occurring  also  in 
the  Papuan  subregion.  In  the  Pacific  subregion  7  species  occur,  of 
which  all  are  peculiar. 

Celebes  has  one  species  peculiar  to  itself  (M.  chloroptera),  as  likewise 
have  Banda  and  Timor  (M.  loicei  and  M,  vulnerata  respectively). 

The  Halmahera  group  (Gilolo,  Batchian,  Morty,  Ternate,  &c.)  have 
one  (M.  simplex),  which  on  Obi  is  replaced  by  M.  rubrotincta.  Curiously 
enough,  the  genus,  as  far  as  we  yet  know,  is  absent  from  the  Sula  Islands, 
from  the  Ceram  group,  and  from  the  islands  between  Timor  and  the 
Arus,  though  represented  in  all  the  islands  around  this  area,  and  even 
in  the  little  island  of  Banda. 

In  the  western  half  of  New  Guinea  six  species  occur,  of  which  M. 
adolphince  is  peculiar  to  the  Arfak  country.  M.  rosenbergi  reoccurs  in 
the  mountains  of  southern  New  Guinea ;  and  M.  cruentata  apparently 
extends  to  New  Ireland.  M.  nigrita  occurs  on  the  mainland,  as  well  as 
in  Jobi  and  Miosnom  (where  it  is  the  only  species),  and  in  the  Aru 
Islands.  My  sol,  Waigiou,  and  Salwatti  have  only  M.  eques,  which  also 
occurs  on  the  mainland  both  in  the  N.W.  peninsula  and  on  the  south 
coast.  M.  obscura  occurs  both  in  S.W.  and  S.E.  New  Guinea,  and  also 
in  N.  Australia.  Mysore  is  tenanted  by  a  single  peculiar  species  (M. 
rubrobrunnea) ;  whilst  the  Aru  Islands  have  two  species,  neither  peculiar, 
one  (M.  erythrocephala)  occurring  in  N.  Australia  and  S.  New  Guinea, 
if  specimens  from  all  these  three  localities  are  really  identical.  New 
Guinea  east  of  140°  has  four  species,  none  of  which  is  peculiar,  three  P.  Z.  S.  1879, 
occurring  on  the  mainland  of  the  west  part,  whilst  two  are  Australian  P"  **** 
(M.  obscura  and  M.  erytJirocephala}.  In  the  Admiralty  Islands  there  is  a 
single  peculiar  species,  M.  pammelcena,  replacing  M.  nigrita  of  the 
further  west.  One  species,  also  peculiar,  is  found  in  the  Solomons  {M. 
lafargii) ;  but  on  which  islands  has  yet  to  be  ascertained.  On  New 
Ireland  and  in  the  Duke-of-York  group  only  one  species,  which  is  pro- 


94 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA. 


P.  Z.  S. 

1879, 
p.  278. 


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M 


ON  THE  GENUS  MYZOMELA.  95 

bably  M.  cruentata,  occurs ;  whilst  M.  sclateri  alone  represents  the  genus 
in  New  Britain,  and  is  peculiar. 

In  N.  Australia  all  five  Australian  species  occur ;  and  M.  pectoralis  is 
confined  to  that  district.  M.  obscura  and  M.  eryihrocephala  are  confined 
to  this  region  in  Australia,  but  range  into  the  Papuan  Islands.  M.  nigra 
and  M.  sanguinolenta  have  a  wider  range  over  Australia ;  and  the  former 
is  the  only  representative  of  the  genus  in  W.  Australia :  both  are 
peculiar.  No  species  occurs  in  Tasmania. 

Proceeding  to  the  Polynesian  subregion,  we  find  the  Fijis  inhabited  by 
a  single  peculiar  species  (M.  jugularis)  •  and  the  same  is  the  case  in  the 
Samoas,  where  M.  nigriventris  occurs,  a  representative  form  of  M.  car- 
dinalis.  The  New  Hebrides  have  no  less  than  three  species,  of  which 
M.  cardinalis  is  peculiar  and  found  on  the  more  southerly  islands  of  the 
group  (Erromango,  Aneiteum,  Tanna,  &c.),  where  it  is  the  sole  species. 
Mallikollo  is  inhabited  (if  the  localities  given  can  be  trusted)  by  two 
species — M.  caledonica,  which  also  occurs  on  Vate  and  Api,  and  M.  cher- 
mesina,  which  has  managed  to  extend  its  range  to  the  isolated  islet  of 
Eotumah.  New  Caledonia  has  but  one  species,  M.  caledonica ;  whilst  on 
Lifu  occurs  M.  lifuensis.  The  Pelews,  Mariannes,  and  Carolines  are  all 
inhabited  by  one  species  peculiar  to  these  groups,  M.  rubratra.  It  is 
rather  remarkable  that  no  species  of  the  genus  has  yet  been  found  on 
the  Tonga  Islands,  although  these  are  situated  between  the  Fijis  and 
Samoan  Islands ;  but  our  present  knowledge  of  the  range  of  the  Poly- 
nesian species  is  very  imperfect. 

Many  other  of  these  islands  have  no  species  of  Myzomela  recorded 
from  them ;  but  I  have  little  doubt  that  several  species  remain  to  be 
discovered  both  here  and  further  west  in  the  islands  east  of  New  Guinea, 
as  well  as  on  the  mainland  of  that  great  island  itself. 

The  appended  Table  (p.  94)  will  show  the  geographical  distribution 
of  the  species  in  a  concise  form. 

P.S. — Since  the  above  has  been  in  print,  Mr.  Sclater  has  received  a   p  z  g 
further  consignment  of  birds  from  Mr.  Brown.     Amongst  these  are      *p.  279 
three  specimens  of  Myzomelce,  namely : — a  female  of  M.  sclateri ;  one  of 
an  entirely  red  species,  probably =Eamsay's  M.  coccinea  or  erythrina,  the 
receipt  of  which  will  enable  the  necessary  comparisons  of  these  species 
with  M.  cruentata  to  be  made  ;  and  one  of  a  species  new  to  science. 


96  ON  THE  "  PERKOQUET  MASCARIN  "  OF  BRISSON". 


ibis,  1879    17.  ON  THE  SYSTEMATIC    POSITION  AND  SCIENTIFIC 
P.  303.  NAME     OF    "LE    PERROQUET    MASCARIN »    OF 

BRISSON.* 

DUEING  a  visit  to  Paris  last  autumn  in  company  with  Mr.  Sclater  and 
Dr.  Hartlaub,  I  had  an  opportunity  of  seeing  for  the  first  time,  in  the 
gallery  of  the  Museum  of  the  Jardin  des  Plantes,  one  t  of  the  two  sole 
extant  specimens  of  "  Le  Perroquet  mascarin  "  of  Brisson,  the  "  Cora- 
copsis  mascarina"  of  most  authors.  This  specimen  is-  not  improbably 
that  described  by  Brisson,  and  is  still  in  a  fair  state  of  preservation, 
though  its  wings  and  tail  are  rather  damaged.  On  seeing  it  I  was  at 
once  struck  with  several  points  in  which  it  differed  conspicuously  from 
the  other  species  usually  placed  in  the  genus  Coracopsis;  and  after  my 
return  to  England,  at  my  request,  Prof.  Alphonse  Milne-Edwards  was 
kind  enough  to  have  life-sized  sketches  of  the  head  and  foot  of  this 
specimen  made  for  me,  which  are  here  reproduced,  all  the  figures  we 
have  of  this  species  being  more  or  less  reduced  in  size.  As  will  be 


Fig.  1. 


Head  of  Mascarinus  dttboisi. 


seen  from  the  drawing  (fig.  1),  the  beak  in  this  species  is  very  large 
and  deep,  not  so  compressed  and  elongated  as  in  Psitlacus  or  Coracopsis, 
but  more  like  in  shape  that  of  a  large-billed  species  of  Tanygnaihus  or 


*  Ibis,  1879,  pp.  303-307. 

T  The  other  is  in  the  Vienna  Museum  (cf.  Pelzeln,  Ibis,  1873,  p.  32). 


ON  THE  "  PERROQUET  MASCAR1N  "  OP  BRISSON.  97 

Palceornis.     Moreover  the  beak  is  red  *,  as  in  most  of  the  species  of  the 
two  last  named  genera ;  whereas  in  Psittacus  or  Ooracopsis  it  is  black,  or 
dirty  white.     The  head  is  fully  feathered  t,  the  frontal  plumes  covering  ibis,  1879, 
the  cere,  so  that  the  nostrils  are  concealed  by  them.     The  lores  also  are      P'  ^°4' 
fully  feathered,  and  there  is  only  a  narrow  circum orbital  ring  left  naked. 
In  all  the  species  of  Coracopsis  the  cere  is  large  and  conspicuous,  being 
quite  bare  of  feathers,  there  is  a  large  nude  circumorbital  ring,  and,  par- 
ticularly in  C.  vasa,  the  lores  are  sparingly  feathered  J.     In  Psittacus  the 
cere  and  nostrils  are  equally  conspicuous,  and  the  lores  and  cheeks  even 
more  sparingly  feathered. 

The  feet  (figs.  2,  3)  differ  from  those  of  Ooracopsis  in  their  shorter 
and  thicker  tarso-metatarsi  and  shorter  nails.     Prof.  Alphonse  Milne- 
Figs.  2  &  3. 


Feet  of  Mascarinus  duboisi. 

Edwards  extracted  the  lower  mandible  from  the  stuffed  specimen  in  the 
gallery  of  the  Museum,  and  has  figured  it  in  his  article  on  the  various 
forms  of  that  bone  in  the  different  groups  of  Parrots  §.  He  says  that  it 

differs  markedly  from  that  of  the  species  of  Coracopsis,  and  perhaps  more  Ibis,  1879, 

p.  305. 

*  Du  Bois  (cf.  Ibis,  1876,  p.  286)  calls  it  "  couleur  de  feu." 

t  The  figures,  both  of  D'Aubenton  (PI.  Enl.  35)  and  Levaillant  (Hist.  Nat.  Perr.  ii. 
pi.  139  [1805]),  show  a  red  beak,  narrow  naked  orbital  ring,  and  feathered  lores  and 
cere.  Hahn's  figure  does  the  same;  but  Wagler  says  the  cere  was  uncovered  (cf. 
Fiusch,  Pap.  ii.  p.  297). 

\  Wagler,  who  founded  the  genus  Coracopsis  (Abh.  Math.  Phys.  Akad.  Mun.  i. 
p.  501, 1832),  says,  in  his  characters  of  the  genus,  "Rostrum  basicerd  latd  nudd  cinctum 
.....  nares  maxima,  patulcs Pili  in  loris  et  prope  nares." 

§  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  Zool.  5ine  s^rie,  vol.  vi.  p.  105,  t.  ii.  fig.  4,  and  t.  iii.  fig.  8  (1866). 

H 


98          •    ON  THE  "  PERROQUET  MASCARIN  "  OF  BRISSOtf. 

nearly  resembles  that  of  the  genus  Chrysotis  than  any  other.  It  is  not 
at  all  related  to  the  mandible  of  LopTiopsittacus. 

From  these  considerations  it  is,  I  think,  clear  that  the  "Perroquet 
mascarin "  is  not  related  closely  to  Coracopsis,  but  must  be  referred  to 
another  genus.  It  is  also  clear  that,  of  the  two  species,  G.  mascarina 
and  C.  nigra,  for  which  Wagler  (I.  s.  c.)  founded  the  genus  Coracopsis, 
the  latter  must  be  considered  the  type,  as  it  alone  agrees  with  several  of 
the  generic  characters  he  gives  as  diagnostic  *. 

Lesson,  in  1831  (Traite  d'Orn.  p.  188),  founded  a  genus  Mascarinus, 

characterized,  amongst  other  things,  by  "  narines  cachees  par  les  plumes 

sur  le  bord  du front"  in  which  he  included,  besides  the  present  bird,  two 

species  of   Edectus   and   a    Tanygnathus.      Mascarinus  is   obviously   a 

Latinized  form  of  the  epithet  "  mascarin  -"  and  although  an  Edectus  is 

Ibis,  1879,  mentioned  first  in  the  list  of  species  included,  there  can  be  little  doubt 

p.  306.     that  jn  reality  Lesson  had  in  view,  when  he  made  the  genus,  the  bird  at 

present  under  discussion,  which  must  therefore  be  considered  the  type  of 

Mascarinus. 

As  regards  the  specific  name,  at  various  times  three  names  have  been 
proposed  for,  or  applied  to,  this  bird — mascarinus  of  Brisson  (Orn.  iv. 
p.  315,  1760,  " Psittacus  mascarinus"),  madagascariensis  of  Lesson 
(Traite,  p.  189,  1&31,  "Mascarinus  madagascariensis "),  and  obscurus  of 
Linnanis  (S.  N.  i.  p.  140,  1766,  "  Psittacus  obscurus  ").  If  the  bird  is  to 
be  placed  in  a  genus  Mascarinus,  the  first  of  these  specific  names 
obviously  cannot  be  applied.  As  regards  the  second,  we  already  know 
from  the  Messrs.  Newtons'  excellent  article  on  the  Mascarene  Psittaci  (Ibis, 
1876,  p.  285)  that  there  is  no  evidence  to  show  that  the  "  Mascarin"  ever 
occurred  elsewhere  than  in  Bourbon,  and  hence  "  madagascariensis "  is 
equally  inapplicable.  The  Psittacus  obscurus  of  Linnaeus  was  founded  on 
the  description  of  a  Parrot  in  captivity  observed  by  Hasselquist  during 
his  travels  in  the  east  (Iter  Pal.  p.  236,  1757),  and  about  which  no  sub- 
sequent information  has  ever  been  obtained.  Hasselquist's  description 
does  not  fit  any  species  of  Parrot  at  present  known,  and  certainly 
not  Mascarinus ;  and  as  Linnaeus's  diagnosis,  "Psittacus  macrourus^fuscus, 
genis  nudis  rubris,  vertice  cinereo-nigrescente  vario,  cauda  cinerea"  (S.  N.  i. 
p.  140,  1766),  is  equally  inapplicable,  the  name  "  obscurus  "  had  better  be 
relegated  to  the  region  of  mysteries,  and  entirely  dropped  t. 

This  being  the  case,  there  is  no  other  course  open  than  to  use  a  new 


*  It  is,  indeed,  doubtful,  on  reading  some  parts  of  Wagler's  diagnosis  of  the  genus 
(e.  g.  "Nares  maxima,  patula  .  .  .  Plumes  corvince,"  &c.),  whether  he  had,  at  that  time, 
seen  a  specimen  of  C.  mascarina. 

t  Linnaeus,  indeed,  quotes  Psittacus  mascarinus  of  Brisson  as  a  synonym  of  his 
P.  obscurus;  but  the  words  "  capistrum  nigrum"  after  the  diagnosis,  as  well  as  "genis 


ON  THE  "  PERROQUET  MASCAR1N  "  OF  BRISSON.  99 

specific  name;  and,  at  Prof.  Newton's   suggestion,  I  propose  that   of 
duboiti,  in  memory  of  the  French  voyager  Du  Bois,  who  visited  Mada- 
gascar and  Bourbon  in   1669-72,  and   described    the  various   Parrots   Ibis,  1879, 
observed  by  him  on  the  latter  island,  including  one  which  is  clearly  the      p'  307> 
present  bird  (cf.  Ibis,  1.  c.  p.  286). 

As  regards  the  systematic  position  of  Mascarinus  duboisi,  the  available 
material  is  so  scanty  that  we  shall  probably  never  (for  the  bird  is  certainly 
extinct)  be  able  to  arrive  at  any  satisfactory  conclusion  about  it.  In  the 
form  of  the  beak,  the  feathered  nostrils  and  lores,  the  narrow  orbital  ring, 
and  the  structure  of  its  feet,  it  more  resembles  the  genera  Tanygnathus 
and  Palceornis  than  any  of  the  African  genera  of  Parrots  now  existing 
(Psittacus,  Coracopsis,  PceocepTialus,  arid  Ayapornis)  ;  and  the  forms  of  the 
wings  and  tail  point  to  a  similar  conclusion.  In  its  general  coloration 
it  is  decidedly  aberrant ;  but  the  fact  of  its  beak  being  red  is  also  a  con- 
firmation of  its  Palaeornithine  affinities,  Prof.  Garrod  having  shown 
(P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  598)  that  none*  but  species  with  normal  carotids  (a 
group  including  Palceornis,  Tanygnathus,  &c.,  but  not  Coracopsis,  Psittacus, 
and  Pceocephalus)  have  their  beaks  so  coloured.  We  already  know  that 
in  both  Mauritius  and  Rodriguez  a  very  different  genus  t  of  Parrots 
existed  in  each  island,  along  with  a  species  of  Palceornis,  and  therefore 
there  is  no  primd  facie  reason  against  a  similar  state  of  things  having 
also  been  the  case  in  Bourbon.  On  the  other  hand  there  is  no  evidence 
that  Coracopsis  ever  occurred  in  a  state  of  nature  on  any  of  these  three 
islands. 

To  briefly  recapitulate,  then,  I  submit : — 

(1)  That  the  "Perroquet  mascarin"  of  Brisson  belongs  to  a  genus, 
Mascarinus,  distinct  from  Coracopsis. 

(2)  That,  failing  any  older  name  that  can  with  propriety  be  applied  to 
it,  it  may  be  termed  Mascarinus  duboisi. 

(3)  That,  so  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  material  that  exists,  Mas- 
carinus is  allied  rather  to  such  Palaeornithine  genera  as  Palceornis  and 
Tanygnathus  than  to  Psittacus,  Coracopsis,  or  allied  forms. 

Cambridge,  May  8,  1879. 


nudis  rubris,"  about  which  Hasselquist,  in  his  very  lengthy  description,  says  nothing — 
so  that  they  are  probably  only  a  paraphrase  of  Brisson's  phrase  "  oculorum  ambitu 
nvdo,  coccineo" — suggest  that  his  diagnosis  was  compounded  by  grafting  on  part  of 
Brisson's  diagnosis  an  abstract  of  Hasselquist's  description. 

*  Pionus  corallinus  is  the  only  exception  to  the  above  rule  that  I  have  yet  met  with. 

t  Lophopsittacus  and  Necropsittacus. 


H2 


100  ON  BUTTERFLIES  OBSERVED  IN 


EntM.M.xv.        18.  NOTES  ON  BUTTERFLIES  OBSERVED  IN  THE 
P.  275  (1879).  VALAIS  OF  SWITZERLAND  IN  1878.* 

DURING  the  early  part  of  last  summer,  in  company  with  my  friend,  Mr. 
P.  L.  Sclater,  F.R.S.,  and  party,  I  spent  about  three  weeks  in  the  Valais 
of  Switzerland,  and,  during  that  time,  we  devoted  a  considerable  part  of 
our  energies  to  butterfly-catching.  As  the  two  valleys  where  we  spent 
the  greater  part  of  our  time  are  rather  out  of  the  beaten  track  of  tourists, 
and  have  possibly  not  been  visited  by  English  entomologists  before,  I 
think  a  few  notes  on  our  captures  may  be  worth  inserting  in  this  Maga- 
zine. The  valleys  visited,  the  Vals  d'Herens  and  d'Anniviers,  are  two 
of  the  lateral  valleys  which  run  from  the  main  chain  of  the  Pennine  Alps 
into  the  Rhone  Valley,  debouching  into  it  between  the  better  known 
valleys  of  Chamounix  and  Visp. 

In  the  Val  d'Herens,  we  made  Evoleua  (about  4,500  ft.  above  the  sea) 
our  head  quarters,  staying  there  a  week,  and  making  excursions  thence 
higher  up  the  valley,  including  a  two  days'  stay  at  Arolla,  at  the  head  of 
the  valley  of  the  same  name,  a  most  lovely  spot  (about  6,500  ft.),  close 
to  the  Glacier  d' Arolla.  and  overshadowed  by  many  magnificent  snowy 
Ent.  M.  M  xv  peaks,  such  as  Mont  Collon,  the  Dent  d'Herens,  and  others.  Unf ortu- 
p.  276  (1879).  nately,  the  weather  at  this  period  was  not  propitious,  but  one  beautiful 
day  in  the  Val  d  Arolla  showed  what  might  have  been  done  with  better 
weather.  From  the  Val  d'Herens  we  went  over  the  Col  du  Torrent 
(about  8,000  ft.)  into  the  Val  d'Anniviers,  where  we  spent  a  week  at  Vissoye 
(about  4,500),  and  from  there,  after  an  ascent  of  the  Bella  Tola  (10,000 
ft.),  Sclater  descending  the  other  side  to  the  Turtman  Thai,  returned  to 
Sierre,  whence  I  returned  home,  via  Brieg  and  Paris,  whilst  Sclater  con- 
tinued over  the  Furka  and  thence  home  by  Lucerne,  obtaining  thus  a 
few  additional  species. 

The  time  (from  about  June  25th  to  July  15th)  was  probably,  on  the 
whole,  as  good  as  any  we  could  have  chosen,  though  certainly  too  early 
for  the  highest  ranging  species.  The  weather  was  only  moderately  good, 
fine  and  wet  days  being  in  about  equal  proportion.  Nevertheless,  we 
managed  to  see  or  capture  in  that  time  83  species  of  butterflies,  and 
brought  back  about  600  specimens  of  these,  as  well  as  about  150  Hetero- 
cera,  more  than  double  that  number  of  Coleoptera  and  Hemiptera.  In 
the  present  notes,  however,  I  only  notice  the  Rhopalocera,  not  having  as 
yet  determined  fully  the  other  groups.  I  may  perhaps  mention,  to  show 
the  abundance  of  butterflies  in  the  Alps  under  favourable  circumstances 
(i.  e.,  on  a  fine  day),  that  one  day  (July  6th),  at  Vissoye,  we  captured 
(or  saw)  no  less  than  45  distinct  species,  and  on  two  or  three  other  days, 

*   Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xv.  pp.  275-278  (1879). 


THE  VALAIS  OF  SWITZERLAND.  101 

both  there  and  in  the  Val  d'Arolla,  the  number  observed  exceeded  40. 
In  the  following  list  I  have  only  enumerated  the  more  interesting  species, 
and  have  followed  Dr.  Staudinger's  catalogue  (1871)  throughout. 

Papilio  machaon — only  a  few  specimens,  occurring  singly  in  various 
localities,  but  never  very  high  up.  Parnassius  apollo — common  about 
Vissoye,  also  a  few  at  Evolena  and  in  the  Arolla  Valley ;  this  species 
flies  slowly  and  steadily,  but,  if  alarmed,  goes  off  at  a  great  pace,  and  is 
not  then  easily  caught :  P.  delius — this  species  occurred,  flying  with  the 
last,  in  the  Val  d'Arolla,  and  was  rather  abundant  on  the  slopes  of  the 
Col  du  Torrent,  above  the  Val  d'Herens ;  both  it  and  P.  apollo  vary  much 
in  the  size,  number,  and  intensity  of  the  red  ocelli  and  spots  ;  this  species 
is  not  found  so  low  as  P.  apollo,  not,  according  to  our  experience,  much 
below  6,000  ft. :  P.  mnemosyne — this  species  occurred  with  the  last  in  the 
Val  d'Arolla,  and  on  the  Col  du  Torrent ;  the  curious  ovisac,  with  which, 
in  this  genus,  the  females  are  provided,  is,  in  P.  mnemosyne,  much  larger 
than  in  the  other  two,  and  of  a  white  colour;  all  the  three  species 
frequent  the  wetter  slopes  on  the  sides  of  the  valleys  :  the  occurrence  of 
three  species  of  this  genus  together  in  exactly  the  same  locality,  as  was 
the  case  at  one  point  in  the  Val  d'Arolla,  is  certainly  very  remarkable, 
considering  the  resemblance  in  habits  of  the  different  forms.  Aporia 
cratceyi — one  of  the  most  abundant  butterflies  in  Switzerland,  and  extend- 
ing some  height  up.  Pieris  napi,  ab.  $  bryonia* — a  few  in  the  Val 
d'Arolla,  and  on  the  Col  du  Torrent  and  Furka,  with  males  of  the 
ordinary  form  ;  specimens  vary  considerably  in  darkness :  P.  callidice — 
not  common  in  the  Arolla  Valley,  especially  at  Arolla  itself,  and  a  few 
on  the  Col  du  Torrent,  Purka,  and  Bella  Tola  at  high  elevations  (8,000 
ft.  or  so)  ;  the  flight  of  this  species  resembles  that  of  a  Colias,  more  than 
that  of  our  ordinary  English  whites.  Euchloe  belia,  var.  simplonia — this 
species  occurred  with  the  last  in  the  Val  d'Arolla,  and  was  rather 
numerous  in  the  meadows  outside  the  inn  there.  LeucopJiasia  sinapis — 
verv  common  at  Evolena  and  elsewhere.  Colias  phicomone — a  few  of 
this  mountain  species  in  the  valley  at  Evolena,  but  commoner  on  the 
slopes  around  and  higher  up  the  valley  towards  Arolla ;  also  on  the  MM 
Furka  and  Bella  Tola.  Tliecla  rubi — two  or  three  specimens  at  various  p.  277  (1879). 
places  ;  on  the  Bella  Tola  at  about  6,500  ft.  Polyommatus  virgaurece — 
males  very  common  in  the  valley  at  Vissoye,  also  in  the  Turtman  Thai 
and  near  Zinal,  but  I  only  saw  a  single  female ;  one  male  from  Vissoye 
is  remarkable  for  being  of  a  yellow  colour  above:  P.  hippothoe,  var. 
eurybia — this  alpine  form  of  liippothoe,  from  which  it  differs  in  the 
duller  colours  of  the  male,  and  in  the  female  being  almost  unicolorous 
brown  above,  and  greyer  beneath,  occurred  sparingly  at  Evolena,  more 
commonly  at  Vissoye,  where  it  occurred  with  P.  virgaurece,  and  also  on 
the  St.  Gothard  route,  between  Andermatt  and  Amsteg :  P.  dorilis,  var. 
two  specimens,  one  at  Evolena,  the  other  on  the  Bella  Tola ;  • 


102  ON  BUTTERFLIES  OBSERVED  IN 

of  the  alpine  form  of  dorilis,  which  differs  from  the  type  in  being  unicolo- 
rous  above,  and  with  no  redness  beneath.  Lyccena  argyrotoxus  (cegon) 
— this  blue  swarmed  in  the  lower  part  of  the  Val  d'Arolla,  rising  in 
crowds  from  the  muddy  water  in  the  roads,  &c.  P.  argus — I  secured 
two  specimens  from  amongst  the  crowds  of  the  last,  and  doubtless  passed 
over  many  more  ;  will  somebody  explain  why,  in  two  such  closely  allied 
species,  one  (cegon)  should  possess,  the  other  (P.  argus)  want,  the  "  horn- 
stachel "  on  the  fore  tibiae  :  P.  eumedon — rather  common  at  Evolena,  and 
one  on  the  Furka.  L.  escheri — two  specimens,  one  in  the  upper  part  of 
the  Val  d'Anniviers,  coming  down  from  the  Col  du  Torrent,  and  another  at 
Evolena :  L.  corydon — Evolena,  Zinal,  &c.,  and  one,  remarkable  for  the 
brightness  of  its  blue,  which  approaches  that  of  bellargus  (adonis),  at 
about  6,500  ft.  on  the  Bella  Tola :  L.  Jiylas — several  at  Vissoye,  and  also 
occurred  at  Evolena  and  in  the  Val  d'Arolla,  but  only  one  female :  L. 
damon — only  one,  a  male,  above  Evolena :  L.  minima  (alsus) — very 
common  ;  I  was  surprised  to  see  our  little  "  Bedford  blue,"  so  local  an 
insect  in  England,  in  the  Alps  at  elevations  of  6-7,000  ft.,  as  at  Arolla 
and  on  the  Col  du  Torrent ;  also  on  the  Eurka :  L.  semiargus  (acis) — 
common  at  Evolena,  Vissoye,  Arolla,  &c. :  L.  alcon — rather  common  at 
Evolena,  and  one  at  Vissoye :  L.  arion — occurred  at  every  place  we 
visited.  Limenitis  populi — a  single  specimen  of  this  fine  species  in  the 
river-valley  at  Vissoye  sitting  on  the  poplars,  and  safely  secured  by 
Sclater.  Melitcea  cynthia — Sclater  secured  a  single  male  of  this  species 
on  the  Eurka  ;  we  were  probably  too  early  for  it  elsewhere :  M.  aurinia, 
var.  merope — a  single  specimen  at  Arolla,  one  in  the  Turtman  Thai,  and  a 
fine  series  from  the  Eurka :  M.  ri-nxia— Vissoye,  Evolena,  &c.,  common  :  M. 
plioebe — Evolena,  Val  d'Arolla,  and  common  about  Vissoye  and  at  Sierre. 
M.  didyma — common  at  Vissoye  and  Sierre  :  M.  dictynna — fairlv  common 
at  Evolena,  Vissoye,  Arolla,  &c.  :  M.  athalia — common,  Evolena,  Vissoye, 
Arolla,  &c. :  (M.  parthenie — one  at  Lausanne).  Argynnis  pales — one  at 
Arolla,  and  tolerably  numerous  at  high  elevations  (7-8,000  ft.)  on  the 
Col  du  Torrent  and  Bella  Tola  ;  also  occurred  or  the  Eurka,  and  between 
Andermatt  and  Amsteg ;  we  did  not  see  the  var.  arsilache :  A.  dia — 
one  at  Sierre :  A.  amathusia — fairly  common  at  Vissoye  and  Evolena,  in 
damp  places  along  the  valleys  :  A.  ino — with  the  last:  A.  laiJionia — one 
near  Vissoye:  A.  niobe,  var.  eris — one  at  Vissoye,  others  on  the  St. 
Gothard  route  ;  we  did  not  see  paphia  or  adippe  :  A.  aglaia — rather 
common.  Erebia  epiphron  (the  form  helamus  ?) — sparingly  in  the  higher 
parts  of  the  Vals  d'Herens  and  d'Anniviers  ;  also  on  the  Bella  Tola, 
Eurka,  and  the  St.  Gothard  route  :  E.  ceto — very  common  in  the  valley  at 
Evolena,  and  a  few  elsewhere :  E.  stygne — this  species  also  abounded  at 
Evolena,  but  occurred  higher  than  the  last,  frequenting,  not  the  meadows 
near  the  river,  but  the  rocky  slopes  at  the  side  of  the  valley;  also 
sparingly  at  Arolla,  Zinal,  in  the  Val  d'Anniviers,  and  on  the  St.  Gothard ; 


THE  VALAIS  OF  SWITZERLAND.  103 

nearly  every  specimen  is  a  male :  E.  gladalis,  var.  alecto — a  single  speci-  En^-  M- M.  xv. 

men  of  an  Erebia  which  I  saw  at  the  end  of  the  Arolla  Glacier  (about 

7,000  ft.),  and,  after  a  hard  run  over  the  stones  of  the  terminal  moraine, 

secured,  turns  out  to  belong  to  this  species :  E.  lappona — this  species 

had  the  highest  range  of  any,  according  to  our  experience ;  it  occurred 

tolerably  common  about  the  higher  slopes  of  the  Col  du  Torrent,  and 

also  on  the  top  of  the  pass  (about  8,000  ft.) ;  in  descending  from  the 

Bella  Tola  I  caught  one  specimen  on  the  snow  at  about  9,000  ft.,  and  saw 

others  at  nearly  the  same  elevation ;  it  was  common  on  the  Eurka :  E. 

tyndarus — this  species  we  only  met  with  on  the  Col  du  Torrent,  at  from 

about  6,500  ft.  upwards ;  it   was   not   common :    E.  ligea  ? — I   believe 

that  several  Erebias,  from  Evolena  and  Vissoye,  are  referable  to  the  true 

liyea:  E.  euryale — being  common  at  Vissoye  and  Evolena,  in  the  valleys, 

and  a  few  in  Arolla  Valley  and  the  Eurka.     Chionobas  aello — I  caught 

two  specimens  in  the  Val  d' Arolla,  at  about  6,000  ft.,  and  afterwards 

another  in  the  Val  d'Auniviers  at  the  foot  of  the  Col  du  Torrent,  at 

about  the  same  elevation ;  Sclater  found  it  commonly  on  the  Furka,  and 

secured  both  sexes.     Satyrus  hermione — this  fine  species  was   common 

about  Vissoye,  particularly  frequenting  the  slopes  of   some  dry  rocky 

ground  in  the  valley,  exposed  to  the  sun ;  it  has  a  sailing  sibylla-]ikQ 

flight ;  also  in  the  Turtman  Thai :  S.  actcea,  var.  cordula — this  species 

was  also  common  at  Vissoye,  occurring  in  the  same  localities  as  the  last, 

but  nearly  all  caught  were  males.     Pararge  mcera — this  is  one  of  the 

commonest  butterflies  in  the  Swiss  valleys,  at  moderate  heights;  it  loves 

to  rest  on  the  surfaces  of  rock  overhanging  the  roads,  and  on  walls,  &c., 

exposed  to  the  sun,  starting  out  moderately  like  a  grayling,  the   grey 

under-surface  matching  well  with  its  chosen  haunts :  P.  hiera — we  were 

apparently  too  late  for  this  species,  only  securing  a  few  worn  specimens 

in  the  Val  d'Herens,  between  Evolena  and  Arolla.     Ccenonympha  satyrion 

— this  pretty  little  "  heath  "  was  common  at  Arolla  on  damp  ground, 

but  also  occurred  more  sparingly  around  ArolJa,  in  the  Turtman  Thai, 

on  the  Col  du  Torrent,  and  on  the  St.  Grothard  route ;  the  males  were 

much  commoner  than  the  more  brightly  coloured  females.      Syricihus 

earthami — not  common  ;  a  few  in  the  Val  d'Anniviers,  at  Arolla,  Vissoye, 

and  Zinal :  S.  alveus  ? — Vissoye  and  on  the  Bella  Tola,  but  I  am  not 

sure  that  the  specimens  are  rightly  determined,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of 

this  group  :  S.  cacalice — sparingly  at  Vissoye  and  Evolena,  but  tolerably 

common  at  higher  elevations  on  the  Col  du  Torrent,  the  Bella  Tola,  and 

Eurka :  S.  sao — one  at  Vissoye.     Nisoniades  tages — abundant,  flying  over 

wet  ground,  at  Arolla. — W.  A.  EOEBES,  St.  John's  College,  Cambridge : 

IQth  February,  1879. 


104       GLACIAL  PERIOD  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL  DISTRIBUTION. 


•Nature/  19.  THE  GLACIAL  PERIOD  AND  GEOGRAPHICAL 

Feb.  20,  1879.  DISTRIBUTION.* 

PEOF.  ASA  GRAY,  in  his  very  interesting  lecture  on  the  distribution  of 
the  forest  trees  of  the  northern  temperate  region  ('Nature,'  vol.  xix. 
p.  327),  after  pointing  out  the  remarkable  differences  that  exist  between 
the  forests  of  the  eastern  and  western  sides  both  of  North  America  and 
the  Old  World,  suggests  that  the  great  poverty  of  the  European  as  com- 
pared with  the  Japan-Manchurian  region  in  this  respect  was  caused  by 
the  Mediterranean  cutting  off  the  retreat  of  the  flora  which  then  occu- 
pied Europe,  as  it  retired,  at  the  approach  of  the  glacial  epoch,  before 
the  ice  from  the  north.  This  explanation  derives  considerable  support 
from  some  other  facts  in  geographical  distribution.  The  most  character- 
istic Alpine  and  Arctic  butterflies  of  the  Palsearctic  region  belong  to  the 
three  genera,  Parnassius,  Chionobas,  and  Erebia.  Of  Parnassius,  Dr. 
Staudinger  in  his  latest  catalogue  (1871)  enumerates  fourteen  Palsearctic 
species,  of  which  three  occur  in  North  and  Central  Europe,  ranging 
as  far  south  as  the  Balkans,  but  always  in  or  near  high  lands,  about 
a  dozen  occur  in  temperate  Asia,  ranging  as  far  east  as  the  Amur, 
and  probably  as  many  in  North  America,  where  they  also  are  truly 
Alpine  butterflies.  Of  Chionobas  one  species  (C.  aello,  confined  to  the 
Alps)  occurs  in  Central  Europe,  whilst  six  or  seven  others  range  from 
Lapland  over  Russia  and  Siberia,  Mongolia,  &c.,  to  the  Amur,  and  there 
are  numerous  species  in  Arctic  and  Alpine  North  America.  Of  Erebia 
there  are  forty- five  Palsearctic  species  enumerated  by  Staudinger,  and  of 
these  no  less  than  twenty-five  occur  in  the  central  Alpine  chains  of 
Europe.  The  genus  likewise  ranges  all  over  temperate  Asia,  going  as 
far  south  as  the  Himalayas  and  Moupin,  and  in  North  America  is  repre- 
sented by  a  dozen  or  more  species.  Now,  though  an  Erebia  (E.  tyndarus, 
var.)  occurs  as  far  south  in  Europe  as  the  Sierra  Nevada,  not  a  single 
species  of  any  of  these  three  genera  occurs  in  North  Africa,  although  the 
Atlas  Mountains  would  seem  eminently  well  suited  for  such  Alpine 
insects.  In  this  case,  then,  it  seems  clear  that  the  same  cause — the 
barrier  of  the  Mediterranean — which  in  the  case  of  the  miocene  flora  of 
Europe  prevented  any  further  retreat  south,  has  operated  to  prevent  any 
similar  southerly  spread  amongst  the  victorious  invaders  from  the  north 
which  pressed  on  the  retiring  host. 

With  regard  to  the  general  similarity  in  facies  and  richness  between 
the  East  American  and  East  Asiatic  tree-flora,  certain  facts  pointing  in 
the  same  direction  will  at  once  occur  to  the  zoologist.  Thus  the  Meno- 

*    Nature,  Feb.  20,  1879. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  105 

pomas  of  the  Ohio  and  Alleghany  have  their  only  near  relations  in  the 
gigantic  Sieboldias  o£  north-east  Asia,  one  species  of  these  occurring  in 
Japan,  the  other  being  one  of  Pere  David's  discoveries  in  Moupin. 
Similarly  with  the  genus  Polyodon  amongst  ganoids.  Only  two  species 
of  this  genus  are  at  present  known,  P.  folium,  inhabiting  the  Mississippi, 
P.  (jladius,  the  Tang-tse-kiang.  The  recent  discovery  of  at  least  two 
species  of  Scaphirhynclius  in  Turkestan  makes  it  probable  that  ere  long 
species  of  that  Americo-Asian  genus  will  be  found  in  the  Chinese  rivers 
as  well.  The  parallelism  in  the  case  of  the  salamanders  is  particularly 
interesting,  when  one  remembers  the  celebrated  Andrias  scheuchzeri  of 
the  (Eningen  beds,  and  it  tends  to  favour  the  view  that  at  that  time 
practical  identity  in  the  forms  of  animals  and  plants  reigned  throughout 
the  northern  temperate  zone. — W.  A.  FORBES,  Cambridge,  14tfi  February, 
1879. 

P.S. — The  reported  discovery  (4  Nature,'  vol.  xix.  p.  351)  of  a  true 
alligator  in  the  Yang-tse-kiang,  will,  if  confirmed,  add  a  still  more  remark- 
able case  to  those  mentioned  above. 


20.  ON  THE  EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  AND  ANATOMY  P.z.S.1880, 
OF    THE    RED    UAKARI    MONKEY    (BRACHYURUS      p'627' 
RUBICUNDUS)  -,  WITH   REMARKS  ON  THE  OTHER 
SPECIES  OF  THAT  GENUS.* 

(Plates  IV.- VI.) 

ON  May  24th,  1879,  the  Society  purchased  a  female  specimen  of  a  red- 
haired  short-tailed  American  Monkey,  which  on  its  arrival  was  somewhat 
doubtfully  entered  as  an  example  of  Bracliyurus  rubicundus  of  Isidore 
Geoffrey  f.  This  animal  lived  in  fair  health  till  April  22nd  last,  when  it 
died  without  any  premonitory  symptoms.  On  dissection,  both  lungs  and 
liver,  so  frequently  the  seat  of  disease  in  Monkeys  kept  in  captivity,  were 
found  to  be  perfectly  healthy ;  indeed,  with  the  exception  of  a  little  inflam- 
mation of  the  stomach  and  small  intestines,  and  a  slight  intussusception 
of  the  transverse  colon,  no  morbid  appearances  whatever  were  found. 

The  death  of  this  animal  has  enabled  me  to  give  that  further  notice  of 
it  promised  on  its  arrival  (vide  Mr.  Sclater's  monthly  report,  infra  at.), 
as  well  as  to  give  some  notes  on  its  anatomy.  For  though,  as  might  have 
been  expected,  Bracliyurus  differs  in  no  essential  respect  from  its  allies, 
the  great  rarity  of  Monkeys  of  this  genus  in  captivity  makes  it  advisable 
to  record  any  facts  concerning  the  anatomy  of  its  soft  parts.  In 

*  Proe.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  627-6-47,  Pis.  LXI.-LXIIL    Bead  Nov.  30,  1880. 
t  P.  Z  S.  1871).  p.  551. 


106  ON  THE  UAKAEI  MONKEYS. 

particular,  the  brain  of  this  genus  of  Monkeys  being  hitherto  unknown, 
the  description  of  it  will  fill  up  one  of  the  few  gaps  till  now  left  in  our 
knowledge  of  this  organ  amongst  the  Primates. 

Our  specimen  of  Brachyurus  was  a  female,  not  yet  adult,  though 
perhaps  nearly  full-grown.  All  the  teeth  are  in  place,  but  the  canines, 
both  above  and  below,  have  not  yet  finished  cutting,  and  the  epiphyses 
of  the  bones  are  still  unanchylosed. 

As  regards  the  name  of   our  animal,  I  may  at  once  state  that,  Mr. 
Blanford  having  been  kind  enough  to  take  the  skin  to  Paris  for  com- 
parison with  the  types  of  Brachyurus  rubicundus  in  the  gallery  of  the 
Jardin  des  Plantes,  no  doubt  remains  that  it  really  belongs  to  that  species. 
The  specimen  from  which  Isidore  Geoff roy's  figure  *  was  taken  is  still 
.  extant  in  Paris ;  and  the  apparent  shortness  of  its  tail,  reproduced  in  the 
figure,  is  due  in  all  probability  to  the  "  make  "  of  the  skin,  the  skin  of 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,   the  tail  having  apparently  shrunk  much  after  the  removal  of  the  bones 
p.  028.         inside.     Other  specimens  in  the  Paris  Museum,  Mr.  Blanford  informs 
me,  have   tails   of   about   the  same   length  as  ours,  while   they  closely 
correspond  in  other  respects,  the  amount  of  grey  on  the  crown  of  the 
head  varying  in  different  specimens. 

The  accompanying  plate  (Plate  IV.),  taken  from  a  sketch  made  by 
Mr.  Wolf  shortly  after  the  animal's  arrival,  will  give  a  more  correct 
impression  of  this  Monkey  than  the  figures  hitherto  published  of  it. 

The  weight  of  our  specimen,  considerably  emaciated,  was  2  Ib.  11  oz. 
The  following  measurements  were  taken  on  the  body  before  being  skinned 
or  otherwise  interfered  with  : — 

Total  length  (measured  in  a  straight  line  from  super-  incheg 

ciliary  ridges,  over  head  and  body,  to  tip  of  tail)     .  .  21§0 

Length  of  tail,  including  hairs 6'5 

Fleshy  part  of  tail 5-65 

Length  of  head,  from  occipital  prominence  to  glabellum  2-65 
From  occiput  to  anterior  margin  of  upper  lip,  in  a 

straight  line     3'65 

Breadth  of  face  (just  above  the  eyes,  from  outer  margin 

of  orbits) 2-0 

Breadth  of  nasal  septum    O75 

Breadth  of  mouth v. .  1*2 

Length  of  arm     5'5 

Length  of  forearm 5-0 

Length  (extreme)  of  manus   : 3*5 

Length  of  thigh 6-5 

Length  of  leg 5-75 

Length  (extreme)  of  pes  (plantar  surface)    5-25 

*  Arch.  d.  Mus.  v.  pi.  30. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  107 

The  face,  chin,  and  sides  of  the  head,  as  far  as  the  ears,  are  nearly 
naked,  with  only  a  scanty  covering  of  hairs.  The  nose  and  the  interval 
between  the  eyes  (measuring  ^  inch)  are  very-  nearly  bare,  there  being 
here  only  a  very  few  most  minute  hairs,  only  seen  in  a  side  light. 
Along  the  superciliary  ridges  are  a  few  long,  forwardly  directed,  black 
hairs,  white  at  the  base,  and  slightly  curved  forwards.  There  are  a  few 
similar  hairs  also  on  each  side  of  the  face  between  the  nostrils  and  the 
angle  of  the  mouth,  as  well  as  on  the  chin. 

The  muzzle,  which  is  somewhat  truncated,  and  the  chin  are  sparsely 
covered  with  short  bristly  white  hairs,  directed  more  or  less  downwards 
aud  forwards. 

The  naked  skin  of  the  sides  of  the  head  was  in  life  flesh-colour,  the 
naked  ears  being  slightly  redder.  The  face  and  muzzle  were,  as  will  be 
seen  from  Mr.  Wolf's  sketch  (Plate  IV.),  during  life  bright  vermilion- 
red,  so  red,  indeed,  as  to  give  the  animal  the  appearance  of  being  painted ; 
but  the  amount  of  this  bright  red  varied  much  from  time  to  time,  depen- 
ding, apparently,  both  on  the  animal's  health  and  on  its  emotions.  Mr. 
Bartlett  tells  me  he  has  seen  the  animal  flush  up,  as  it  were,  in  a  P.  Z.S.  1880, 
moment  a  brilliant  red  all  over  the  naked  parts  of  its  face,  and  as  soon  P-  629- 
become  pale  again  when  the  disturbing  cause  had  subsided.  After  death 
the  brilliant  red  colour  was  confined  to  the  region  of  the  nasal  openings 
and  the  interval  between  them  and  the  upper  lip  *.  The  eyelashes  are 
represented  only  by  very  fine  silky  minute  hairs.  The  irides  were  light 
hazel-brown,  the  sclerotic  white.  These  points  may  be  well  seen  in 
the  accompanying  figure  of  the  head  (Plate  V.),  of  the  natural  size, 
drawn  soon  after  death  by  Mr.  Smitf.  The  ears  are  of  a  somewhat 
squared  shape — much  more  so  thaii  in  a  specimen  of  Pitkecia  satanas  I 
was  able  soon  afterwards  to  examine  in  the  flesh — with  the  angles 
rounded  off.  There  is  no  lobule ;  and  both  tragus  and  antitragus  are 
little  developed.  The  helix  has  a  small  recurved  flap  above,  lying  over 
the  top  of  the  helical  fossa.  They  are  quite  naked.  At  a  point  about 
corresponding  with  the  top  of  the  occiput  there  is  a  parting  of  the  hairs 
of  the  head,  these  radiating  forwards,  outwards,  and  backwards  from  this 
point — the  long  red  hair  which  covers  the  sides  of  the  head,  passes  over 
and  behind  the  ears,  passing  outwards  and  then  forwards,  whilst  the 
hairs  of  the  back  of  the  head  and  neck  pass  backwards.  The  short  silky 
grey  and  \vhite  hairs  covering  the  top  of  the  head  pass  directly  forwards. 
These  are  very  fine,  and  closely  appressed  to  the  scalp ;  white  for  the 
greater  part  of  their  length,  they  become  black  at  the  tips ;  towards  the 
sides  and  front  of  the  scalp  they  become  tinged  with  reddish,  so 

*  Of.  Bates,  '  Naturalist  on  the  Amazons,'  ii.  p.  310. 

t  In  this  figure  the  extent  of  the  red  colour  of  the  face  has  been  restored,  partly 
from  memory  and  notes  taken  from  the  living  animal,  and  partly  from  the  sketch 
m  ide  bv  Mr.  Wolf. 


108 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  630. 


p.  629. 


Hand  of  Red  Uakari.     Palmar  aspect ;  natural  size. 

P.  Z.j3.^1880,  gradually  passing  into  the  red  of  the  sides  of  the  head.  This  reddish 
tinge  is  produced  by  the  presence  on  these  hairs  of  a  rufous  zone  between 
the  white  of  their  bases  and  the  black  of  the  tips ;  a  few,  however,  are 
black  throughout.  These  short  hairs  almost  entirely  disappear  a  little 
behind  the  superciliary  hairs.  The  hairy  covering  of  the  scalp  ceases 
along  a  line  between  the  top  of  the  ears  and  the  top  of  the  orbits. 
Below  this  limit  the  sides  of  the  head  are  only  very  sparsely  covered 
with  rather  long,  fine,  forwardly-directed  hairs,  which  are  mostly  rufous, 
paler  at  the  base,  and  black-tipped ;  here,  as  elsewhere,  however,  some 
are  quite  black.  The  skin  round  the  angles  of  the  mouth  is,  for  a  small 
area,  almost  completely  naked.  The  posterior  border  of  the  lower  jaw, 
on  the  contrary,  as  well  as  the  sides  of  the  throat,  are  covered  by  long 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 
Fig.  2. 


109 


P.Z.S.  1880, 
p.  631. 


Foot  of  Eed  Uakari.     Plantar  aspect ;  natural  size. 

rich  chestnut  largely  black-tipped  hairs,  which  are  directed  forwards ; 
these  run  as  far  as  the  symphysis,  and  form  a  sort  of  whiskers.  The 
hairs  of  the  back  of  the  bead,  nape,  and  neck  are  paler  in  colour  than 
those  on  the  rest  of  the  body,  being  pale  fulvous,  many  having,  however, 
black  tips,  whilst  a  few  are  entirely  of  that  colour.  The  rest  of  the  body 
is  covered  with  very  long,  fine,  backwardly-directed  hairs  of  a  bright 
rich  chestnut  colour,  as  usual  more  or  less  black-tipped,  with  a  sprinkling 
of  quite  black  ones. 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  629. 


110  ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 

P.Z.S.  1880,        In  general  colour  and  texture  the  coat  of  the  Uakari  greatly  resembles 

p'       '        that  of  the  Orang,  as  was  noticed  by  many  who  saw  the  animal  alive. 

These  red  hairs  are  continued  on  to  the  limbs  and  tail,  the  hair  being 

particularly  long  on  the  arms,  about  the  shoulders  (forming  here  a  sort 

of  cape  over  the  back  and  shoulders),  and  along  the  posterior  border  of 

the  thigh  and  leg — there  being  a  wide  patagial-like  expansion  of  skin 

behind  the  knee,  between  the  thigh  and  lower  part  of  the  limb.     Some 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,   of  the  hairs  on  the  back  measure  over  4  inches  ;  and  those  on  the  limbs 

p.  632.         are  £rom  3_gi  inches  jn  length*.     The  tail  is  pretty  uniformly  covered 

with  moderately  long  hairs,  and  is  in  no  degree,  in  the  fresh  state,  bushy. 

It  is  not  flattened  or  bare  beneath. 

On  the  forearms  the  hairs  converge  on  the  posterior  margin  to  the 
elbow,  being  directed  backwards  and  more  or  less  upwards  as  the  elbow 
is  approached.  On  the  anterior  margin,  however,  all  the  hairs  are 
directed  downwards  and  forwards,  so  that  a  parting  of  the  hairs  runs 
down  here  from  the  elbow  to  the  wrist.  On  the  posterior  limbs  this  is 
not  observable.  The  lower  surface  of  the  body  is  much  less  hairy  than 
above ;  and  there  is  a  well-defined  median  parting  running  along  it  from 
the  thorax  to  the  abdomen. 

The  greatest  length  of  the  hand  (fig.  1,  p.  108)  is  3-5  inches,  the  breadth 
across  the  knuckles  about  1*35.  The  fourth  digit  is  the  longest  (2-15), 
being  0-15  inch  longer  than  the  third ;  the  second  and  fifth  are  about 
equal  (1*75).  The  thumb  is,  as  in  other  Cebidse,  directed  in  the  same 
plane  as  the  remaining  digits  ;  it  measures  1/15  inch  in  length,  reaching 
slightly  beyond  the  first  phalanx  of  the  second  digit.  The  interdigital 
membrane  is  slight.  The  nails  are  compressed,  and  rather  elongated, 
particularly  on  the  fifth  digit ;  that  of  the  pollex  is  shorter,  and  more 
compressed  and  "nail "-like.  The  palmar  surface  is  nude;  the  dorsal 
sparingly  hairy,  the  hairs  extending  on  to  the  fingers. 

The  greatest  length  of  the  nude  plantar  surface  is  5*25  inches ;  its 
breadth,  at  the  base  of  the  hallux,  is  1*5  inch.  The  toes  have  about  the 
same  relations  as  the  fingers,  except  that  the  fifth  is  notably  longer  than 
the  second.  The  fourth  is  about  2-25  inches  long.  The  hallux  measures 
1*25  inch,  and  has  a  broad  oval  nail,  slightly  compressed ;  the  nails  of 
the  other  digits  are  much  compressed,  slightly  curved,  and  rather  claw- 
like.  The  inferior  aspects  of  the  hand  and  feet,  of  the  natural  size, 
are  represented  in  the  accompanying  figures  (fig.  1,  p.  108,  and  fig.  2, 
p.  109)t. 

*  One  of  the  characters  of  Dr.  Gray's  genus  "  Ouakaria"  is  "Fur  short,  silky"  ! 
(Oat.  Monk.  p.  61). 

f  In  fig.  2  the  second  digit  of  the  foot  is  seen  to  be  twice  bent  abruptly  on  itself. 
This  position  was  constant  after  death,  and  if  altered  it  was  always  returned  to.  I 
am  not,  however,  prepared  to  say  that  it  is  natural,  as  I  never  observed  it  in  the  living 
animal.  The  other  digits  showed  no  trace  of  it. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  Ill 

The  axillary  folds  are  well  marked ;  and  the  axillae  are  quite  nude,  as 
is  a  space  continuous  with  them  on  the  inner  aspect  of  the  arm  for 
nearly  one  third  its  length.  The  teats,  two  in  number,  are  situated 
about  1|  inch  from  the  middle  line,  just  on  a  line  between  the  ends  of 
the  axillary  folds  *,  about  1-25  inch  from  the  apex  of  the  axilla. 

The  umbilicus  is  represented  by  a  slight,  scarcely  perceptible  slit-like 
mark  4|  inches  from  the  pubic  symphysis.     The  anus  is  a  transverse 
slit;  the  vulva,  which  is  provided  with  a  short  clitoris,  is  vertical.     The   P. Z.S.  1880, 
perinaeum  measures  about  -35  of   an  inch.     The  ischiatic   prominences,       p> 
perinaeum,  and  root  of  the  tail  are  covered  by  greyish  skin  forming  a 
rhomboidal  space,  about  1*5  inch  broad  and  high ;  under  the  tail  there  is 
a  slight  hollow,  with  a  raised  fold  of  skin  at  each  side. 

The  skin  of  the  cheeks  is  thin  and  smooth  throughout  inside.  The 
hard  palate  has  about  ten  slightly  curved  (lunate)  ridges  on  each  side, 
best  marked  anteriorly,  and  not  meeting  mesially.  The  first  two  lie 
between  the  canines,  the  last  on  the  level  of  the  last  molar.  The  more 
posterior  ones  are  faint  and  irregular,  and  straighter ;  the  two  most 
anterior  the  strongest  and  most  curved.  In  front  of  the  most  anterior 
are  two  small  slits,  one  on  each  side  of  the  centre,  directed  antero- 
posteriorly,  and  lying  in  a  line  with  the  inner  margin  of  the  median 
incisor. 

The  tongue  is  elongate  and  parallel-sided,  being  bluntly  squared  off  at 
the  tip.  In  front  of  the  palato-glossal  folds,  which  are  well  developed, 
it  is  covered,  above  and  on  the  sides,  with  filiform  papillae ;  below  it  is 
smooth.  The  fungiform  papillae  are  numerous,  and  distributed  over  the 
sides  and  tip  of  the  tongue  in  front  of  the  circumvallate  papillae ;  of 
these  there  are  four,  arranged  in  the  usual  reversed  ^-shape,  the  extra 
one  lying  on  the  right  side.  In  Pithecia  satanas  I  found  three  only. 
There  is  a  "  Mayer's  organ  "  of  about  15  slits,  in  the  usual  position 
in  front  of  the  palato-glossal  folds.  There  is  a  frenum  linguae,  and  a 
smooth,  fleshy,  well-developed  sublingua,  bifid  apically,  with  the  duct  of 
the  submaxillary  glands  opening  on  the  two  papillae  behind  this.  The 
uvula  is  blunt  and  feebly  developed.  All  the  salivary  glands  are  well 
developed.  The  parotid  is  large,  measuring  2  inches  across  at  its 
greatest  development ;  it  occupies  part  of  the  "anterior  triangle,"  sending 
a  lobe  up  and  behind  the  auditory  meatus  ;  it  then  runs  forward  over 
the  masseter  muscle,  the  superior  border  coinciding  with  the  zygoma,  as 
far  as  its  anterior  border,  where  on  one  side  there  is  a  small  down- 
wardly directed  lobule  developed.  Below  it  extends  far  into  the  fossa 
behind  the  jaw,  and  is  in  contact  beneath  with  the  submaxillary.  The 
duct  opens  opposite  the  last  premolar. 

*  In  a  female  of  Mycetes  seniculus,  examined  some  years  ago  by  Prof.  Garrod  and 
myself,  the  mammae  were  found  to  be  situated  in  the  axillae. 


112  ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 

The  submaxillary  glands  are  also  large  ;  in  contact  with  the  parotids 
above,  they  nearly  meet  each  other  below.  A  few  small  accessory 
lobules  appear  superficially  towards  the  anterior  part.  The  glands  are 
covered  to  a  large  extent  by  the  jaw,  running  up  on  the  deep  side  of  the 
ascending  ramus  of  the  mandible,  and  covering  there  the  digastric 
muscle ;  at  the  angle  of  the  jaw  they  appear  superficially.  The  sub- 
lingual  glands,  well  developed,  extend  back  in  the  floor  of  the  mouth  for 
1  inch  behind  the  subllngua. 

On  opening  the  abdomen,  the  great  length  and  narrowness  of  the 
abdominal  cavity  are  striking.  The  caecum  occupies  super ficuilly  nearly 
all  the  posterior  part  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  filling  up  thus  nearly  one 
third  of  the  whole.  Behind,  it  rests  on  the  bladder,  covering  the 
rectum ;  its  apex,  directed  downwards,  lies  in  the  right  iliac  region. 
The  descending  colon  is  quite  superficial  and  lengthy,  as  is  the  ascen- 
ding, which  is  also  superficial,  except  in  the  middle ;  the  transverse, 
P.Z. S.  1880,  on  the  contrary,  is  very  short*.  (It  was  partly  intussuscepted.)  The 
p.  634.  stomach  was  visible  in  the  left  hypochondriac  region,  the  liver  appearing 
all  across  the  abdomen.  The  great  omentum  did  not  cover  any  of  the 
viscera  as  now  exposed ;  it  was  attached  only  to  the  upper  part  of  the 
ascending  colon,  for  about  2  inches.  It  contained  no  fat,  the  animal 
being,  it  is  to  be  remembered,  considerably  emaciated. 

The  stomach  is  of  the  usual  Simian  form,  with  a  globular  cardiac 
cul-de-sac,  and  fairly  distinct  tubular  pyloric  part ;  it  measured  3  inches 
in  length  by  1 J  deep.  The  pyloric  constriction  is  distinct ;  and  towards 
that  part  the  walls  become  thicker.  Internally  there  is  a  distinct  thick 
ridge  on  the  lesser  curvature,  f  inch  to  the  right  of  the  oesophagus, 
dividing  off  the  pyloric  part,  which  is  quite  smooth  internally,  whilst  the 
mucous  membrane  of  the  cardiac  part  has  a  few  irregular,  slightly 
developed  rugae. 

The  length  of  the  intestines  is  as  follows  : — 

inches. 

Small  intestine 103-5 

Large        „       19-0 

Caecum  (distended) 6-0 

I  append  (p.  113)  a  few  measurements  of  the  alimentary  canal  of  other 
species  of  Cebine  Monkeys  for  comparison. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,       As  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  few  examples  given  in  this  table, 
p.  635.         Brachyurus   rubicundus  apparently   has   a   greater  absolute,  and   even 
greater  relative,  length  of  intestines  and  caecum  than  any  other  New- 
world  Monkey,  including  even  the  considerably  larger  Lagoihrix.     This 

*  In  Pithecia  satanas  the  transverse  colon  hardly  exists,  the  descending  colon  being 
bent  sharply  back  upon  the  ascending.  The  caecum  lay  altogether  to  the  right  of  the 
descending  colon  and  rectum  ;  the  latter,  therefore,  was  not  hidden  by  it. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 


113 


Name. 

Sex. 

Length  of 

Authority. 

pij 

1 

•M 

^1 

s~ 

02 

i! 
j) 

Caecum. 

Aieles   geoffroyi     (nearly 
adult)  

in. 

15 
13 

is 

13 

11 
12-5 

16 
15-5 

in, 
95 
99 
925 
58 
56-5 
102 
37 
29-5 
48 
42 

50 
52-5 
68 
108 

103-5 

in. 
17 
15 
13 
11 
8-5 
19 
12 
12 
12 
11-5 

22 
12-75 
9 
125 

19 

in. 
3-5 
4 
2-75 
2 
1-75 
4 
2 
1-5 
2 
2-5 

4-5 
2 
2-75 
2-75 

6 

Prof.  Flower  *. 
A.  H.  G-arrod  (MS.). 
W.  A.  F. 
Prof.  Flower  *. 
W.  A.  F. 
A.  H.  Garrod  (MS.). 

W'.'A.  F. 

A.  H.  Garrod  (MS.). 
W.  A.  F. 

3rof.  Flower*. 
W.  A.  F. 
W.  A.  F. 
W.  A.  F. 

W.  A.  F. 

(young)    . 

Cebus  capucinus 

d1 
S 
c? 
3 

2 

d1 
2 

Lagothrix  humboldti  
Nyctipithecus  vociferans.  . 

rufipes   

Callithrix  amicta  

Pithecia  monachus 
(nearly  adult)    

(young)  

(not  adult)  .  .  . 
Brachyurus  rubicundus 
(not  adult)  

P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  634. 


would  seem  to  indicate  that  in  its  native  forests  Brachyurus  is  more  of  a   p.  z.  g.  1880 


vegetarian  than  its  allies. 

There  are  no  valvulae  conniventes.  Peyer's  patches  are  almost  con- 
fined to  the  last  yard  of  the  ileum,  there  being  14  large  and  well- 
defined  ones  in  that  space,  the  largest  |  inch  long.  There  is  a  large  one 
close  to  the  ileo-caecal  aperture.  Higher  up  only  a  few  can  be  found ; 
and  they  disappear  in  the  jejunum.  The  caecum  is  in  no  degree  sac- 
culated,  neither  is  the  colon.  The  former,  which  is  of  considerably 
larger  calibre,  is  cylindrical,  blunt,  and  curved  on  itself  when  distended 
into  more  than  a  circle,  with  a  well-developed  median  peritoneal  fraenum. 

The  general  form  and  proportions  of  the  liver  may  be  seen  in  figs.  3 
&  4  (pp.  114,  115),  representing  respectively  the  diaphragmatic  and 
visceral  (superior  and  inferior)  aspects  of  that  organ.  Regarding  its 
form  in  the  Cebidse  we  are  told  by  Prof.  Flower,  in  his  lectures  on  the 
digestive  system  of  the  Mammalia  (Med.  Times  and  Gaz.,  May  4,  1872, 
p.  509),  that  "  all  the  members  of  this  group  in  which  he  has  been  able 
to  describe  the  liver,  agree  in  the  depth  to  which  the  lateral  fissures  cut 
up  the  organ  into  its  four  principal  lobes,  and  also  in  the  great  develop- 
ment of  the  caudate  lobe,  which  is  the  principal  character  by  which  they 
can  at  once  be  distinguished  from  the  Old-world  families."  In  both 
these  respects,  as  will  be  seen  by  an  inspection  of  the  figures,  the  liver 
of  Brachyurus  is  perfectly  Cebine.  The  two  lateral  fissures  extend  very 
nearly,  at  least  on  the  superior  surface,  back  to  the  posterior  (attached) 
margin  of  the  liver.  The  four  principal  lobes  are  very  distinct ;  the  left 


p.  635. 


*  Taken  from  his  lectures,  Med.  Times  &c..  May  4,  1872. 


114 


OJST  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 


P.Z.S.  1880, 
p.  636. 


central  is  markedly  smaller,  as  is  often  the  case  in  the  Cebidae,  than  the 
three  others,  u  hich  are  here  all  very  nearly  equal.  The  left  lateral  lobe  is 
decidedly  thin  along  its  outer  margin  ;  the  other  lobes  are  thick,  and  of 
simple  form  ;  the  right  lateral  is  much  longer  anterio-posteriorly  than  trans- 
versely. The  caudate  is  large  and  square ;  on  its  visceral  surface  it  is 
marked  by  a  conspicuous  diagonal  ridge  running  from  the  entrance  of  the 
vena  cava  towards  its  postero- external  angle.  It  develops  two  well-marked 
though  small  fissures,  but  is  otherwise  simple.  The  right  lateral  lobe 
appears  internally  to  it,  when  viewed  from  below.  The  Spigelian  is  an 
elongated,  somewhat  clavate  thickening,  which  is  not  free,  but  is  most  de- 
veloped on  the  left  side.  The  umbilical  fissure  is  well-marked,  extending 
for  about  one  third  of  the  total  median  depth  of  the  liver.  There  is  no  trace 

Fig.  3. 


V.C.&YH 


V.C. 


Liver  of  Bed  Uakari,  from  above.     About  natural  size. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,  of  a  cystic  notch ;  and  the  gall-bladder,  which  is  large,  does  not  reach  by 

p.  635.         some  little  distance  the  anterior  (free)  margin  of  the  liver.     It  lies  very 

superficially,  and,  as  in  most  of  the  CebidaB  (though  not  in  Cebus  itself 

or  in  Ateles),  lies  very  close  to,  and  almost  in,  the  umbilical  fissure. 

An  accessory  lobule,  developed  at  the  internal  angle  of  the  left  central 


ON  THE  UAKATU  MONKEYS, 


115 


lobe,  helps  in  large  part,  on  this  side,  to  form  a  shallow  cystic  fossa.     A 

second  similar,  but  smaller,  partly  free  lobule  is  also  developed  by  the  P.  Z.  S.  1880, 

left  lateral  lobe  at  its  antero-internal  angle,     The  vena  cava  inferior  is 

almost  entirely  bridged  over  by  hepatic  tissue  between  the  Spigelian  and 

caudate  lobes.     The  development  or  otherwise  of  this  bridge,  however,  is 

an  unimportant  feature  in  the  liver  of  the  Primates,  and  is  largely  an 

individual  structure. 

On  the  whole,  this  liver  of  Brachyurus  rubicundus  more  resembles 
that  of  Gallithrios  amicta  in  its  structure  and  proportions  than  that  of 
any  other  species  I  am  acquainted  with,  though  I  have  not  seen  that  of 
Pithecia  monachus  *,  which,  judging  from  Prof.  Flower's  description  t, 
must  much  resemble  that  of  Brachyurus.  In  two  specimens  I  have  by 

P.Z.S.  1880, 
p.  637. 


The  same,  from  below. 

E.G.  Right  central  lobe.  L.O.  Left  central  lobe.  E.L.  Right  lateral  lobe,  L.L. 
Left  lateral  lobe.  C.  Caudate  lobe.  Sp.  Spigelian  lobe.  u.f.  Umbilical  fissure. 
r.l.f,  U.f.  Right  and  left  lateral  fissures.  G.B.  Gall-bladder.  V.P.  Vena  porta. 
V.H.  Hepatic  vein.  V.C.  Vena  cava  inferior,  s.l.  Suspensory  ligament,  l.r. 
Ligamentum  rotundum. 

*  P.S.  Jan.  27,  1881. — The  recent  death  of  a  specimen  of  this  ppeoies  allows  me  to 
confirm  the  resemblance  pf  its  liver  to  that  of  Brachyurus. 
t  P.  Z.  S.  1862,  p.  332,  and  Med.  Times,  &o.  s.  c.  p.  508. 

12 


116  ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 

me  of  the  liver  of  P.  satanas,  the  caudate  lobe  is  triangular  and  forked 

instead  of  square,  and  the  left  lateral  lobe  is  proportionally  smaller 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,   than   in  Brachyurus ;  this  develops  moreover   a  very   marked,   subtri- 

p.  bd7.         angular,  inwardly  directed  process  at  its  antero-internal  angle,  which  is 

not  seen  in  the  other  genus. 

The  pancreas  is  fairly  compact,  and  is,  at  its  greatest  extent,  3  inches 
long ;  its  duct  opens,  with  that  of  the  bile-duct,  \  inch  from  the 
pylorus.  About  J  an  inch  from  the  common  aperture  of  these  in  the 
duodenum  is  a  smaller  opening,  apparently  that  of  a  secondary  pan- 
creatic duct. 

The  spleen  is  elongated  and  flattened,  and  attached  to  the  left  of  the 
greater  curvature  of  the  stomach ;  it  is  of  a  red  colour,  and  2  J  inches 
long. 

The  great  vessels  are  given  off  as  in  Man  and  the  other  Primates. 
The  external  and  internal  iliacs  are  given  off  from  a  common  trunk ;  the 
caudal  artery  is  small. 

The  lungs  have  two  lobes  on  the  left  and  three  on  the  right  side  *, 
638          besides  an  azygos   lobe,  which   lies  behind   the  heart   in   a   transverse 
direction,  and  is  triangular  in  shape.     The  left  lower  lobe  is  the  largest, 
the  right  lower  the  next. 

The  cricoid  cartilage  is  deeply  notched  above.  The  vocal  cords  are 
well  developed,  *35  of  an  inch  long ;  the  ventricles  have  the  shape  of 
watch-pockets,  extending  downwards  and  inwards.  There  are  no  laryn- 
geal  pouches.  The  epiglottis  is  notched  above.  There  are  about  27 
tracheal  rings. 

The  kidneys  are  smooth  and  rather  elongated  in  shape;  the  supra- 
renal bodies  are  well  developed  and  oval.  The  ureters  open  '75  inch 
from  the  neck  of  the  bladder. 

The  ovaries  measure  *45  inch,  the  Fallopian  tubes  1  inch.  The 
uterus  is  single  and  smooth  within  ;  it  is  '75  inch  long.  The  vagina  is 
double  that  length  ;  and  the  clitoris  is  small  and  flattened. 

As  regards  the  osteology,  already  briefly  described  by  Gervais  ("  Ee- 
marques  oste'ologiques  sur  les  genres  Brachyure  et  Callitriche ")  in 
Castelnau's  'Expedition  dans  1'Amerique  duSud'  [Paris,  1855,  Ana- 
tomic, pp.  93-99],  there  is  not  much  of  interest  to  add. 

The  vertebral  formula  of  my  specimen  of  Brachyurus  is  C.  7,  D.  13, 
L.  6,  S.  4,  C.  15  or  16t. 

Gervais  gives   C.  7,  D.  14,  L.  6,  S.  4,  C.  17  for  B.  rubicundus -,  the 

*  In  a  5  Pithecia  satanas  the  right  lobe  was  only  two-lobed,  the  extra  superior  lobe 
being  only  indicated  and  not  cut  off. 

t  In  my  specimen  the  few  minute  terminal  caudal  vertebrae  have  unfortunately 
been  laid  aside,  and  cannot  now  be  found.  There  were  not,  however,  more  than 
three  or  four  of  them,  which,  added  to  tbe  twelve  that  remain,  give  the  above 
numbers. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  117 

British  Museum  Catalogue  7,  13,  6,  3,  18,  for  both  B.  calvus  and  B. 
melanocephalus.  In  the  latter  skeleton  ("  OuaTcaria  spixii"  806  6)  I 
counted,  however,  nineteen  or  twenty  caudal  vertebrae,  the  first  five  of 
which  bear  transverse  processes,  whilst  the  terminal  ones  are  very 
minute  and  styliform. 

The  carpus  has  an  os  centrale,  and  the  humerus  a  well-marked  supra- 
condylar  foramen.  The  clavicles  are  well-developed,  and  strongly  curved 
sigmoidally.  The  manubrium  sterni  is  broad. 

I  may,  however,  take  this  opportunity  of  pointing  out  a  useful  means 
of  discriminating,  in  most  cases,  between  the  skulls  of  the  Platyrrhine 
and  Catarrhine  Monkeys,  in  addition  to  the  well-known  differences  in 
their  dentition  and  in  the  form  of  their  external  auditory  meatus. 

In  nearly  every  skull  of  a  New-world  Monkey,  it  will  be  found  that 
the  parietal  and  malar  bones  are  in  contact  with  each  other,  for  a  more 
or  less  considerable  extent,  on  the  side  walls  of  the  skull  (vide  fig.  5). 
In  the  Old-world  Monkeys,  on  the  contrary,  this  contact  never  (with 
the  exception  named  below)  takes  place,  the  frontal  and  alisphenoid 
bones  articulating  with  each  other,  and  so  cutting  off  the  connexion 
between  the  parietals  and  malars  (vide  fig.  6).  In  the  skulls  of  the 
genus  Hylobates  that  I  have  examined  this  isthmus  is  very  narrow,  so 
that  the  parietals  and  malars  approach  much  nearer  each  other  than  is 
usually  the  case  in  the  Catarrhini ;  indeed,  in  one  specimen  in  the 
College  of  Surgeons  Museum  (5027s)  the  malar  and  parietal  of  one  side 
only  touch  each  other  for  a  very  short  distance,  the  frontal  and  ali-  p  z  g 
sphenoid  not  meeting.  On  the  other  hand,  in  all  the  New-world  P-  639 
Monkeys'  skulls  that  I  have  examined,  the  arrangement  above  described 
obtains,  except  in  some  skulls  of  the  genera  Mycetes  and  Ateles.  Thus 

Fig.  5. 


Part  of  side  walls  of  skull  of  a  New-world  Monkey  (Brachyurus  rubicundus).     The 
parietal  (Pa)  and  malar  (Ma)  articulate,  as  in  other  members  of  this  group. 


118  ON  THE  UAKAKI  MONKEYS. 

Fig.  a 


The  same  parts  in  an  Old-world  Monkey  (Cercopithecus  pyrrhonotus),  showing  the 
parietal  and  malar  separated  from  each  other  by  the  intervention  of  the  frontal 
(Fr),  alisphenoid  (Al\  and  squamosal  (Sq),  which  are  shaded  obliquely. 

of  five  skulls  of  the  first  genus  in  the  Royal  College  of  Surgeons  Mu- 
seum, in  one  the  sutures  are  invisible  on  account  of  age,  whilst  in  the 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,  remaining  four  the  union  takes  place  in  one  only  on  both  sides,  and  not 
p.  540.         aj.  ajj  'n  faQ  remauiing  three.     In  the  same  collection,  a  single  skull  of 
an  Aides  (471 7 a)  also  shows  no  trace  of  this  union. 

In  all  the  remaining  genera,  so  far  as  I  have  yet  seen,  the  rule  holds 
good.  I  was  first  struck  with  the  arrangement  here  described  when  ex- 
amining the  collection  of  Monkeys'  skulls  in  the  Cambridge  Museum ; 
and  finding  that  there  was  no  exception  whatever,  either  there  or  in  the 
skulls  belonging  to  the  Prosector's  department,  I  examined  the  entire 
collection  of  unmounted  skulls  in  the  College  of  Surgeons  Museum  (in- 
cluding nearly  every  known  genus  of  Monkey),  with  the  results  already 
mentioned.  The  character  is  at  all  events  worth  knowing  for  practical 
purposes,  even  if  of  no  greater  scientific  value.  This,  of  course,  must  be 
left  open  for  more  extensive  examination  *. 

The  brain  of  Brachyurus  rubicundus  is  represented  in  the  accompanying 
figures  (figs.  7-10,  pp.  120,  121),  which  give  views  of  its  superior,  in- 


*  P.8.  Jan.  27,  1881. — My  views  have  been  both  confirmed  and  anticipated  by 
Dr.  Gustav  Joseph,  in  a  paper  in  the  first  volume  of  the  '  Morphologisches  Jahrbuch ' 
(i.  pp.  453-65,  Taf.  xv.).  Whilst  my  paper  was  going  through  the  press,  Prof.  Flower 
was  kind  enough  to  call  my  attention  to  this  paper,  as  well  as  to  another  by  the  same 
author  in  the  '  Bericht  der  Schlesischen  Gesellschaft ' — which,  as  yet,  I  have  not  been 
able  to  see— both  being  referred  to  in  a  recently  published  ethnological  paper  (in 
Eussian)  by  Demetrius  Arnoutchine,  which  also,  apparently,  contains  some  more 
information  on  the  same  subject. 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  119 

ferior,  external,  and  internal  aspects,  of  the  natural  size,  drawn  after  the 
organ  had  been  hardened  in  spirit  for  a  short  time. 

The  total  length  of  the  hemispheres  is  2-3  inches,  their  greatest  breadth 
1*8  inch,  whilst  the  vertical  depth  is  about  1'25  inch.  Viewed  from 
above,  the  hemispheres  have  a  fairly  rounded  contour,  and  the  cerebellum, 
does  not  project  beyond  their  posterior  margin,  though  it  appears  above 
in  the  middle  line  between  the  somewhat  cut-away  inner  margins  of  the 
occipital  lobe.  From  the  side,  the  hemispheres  are  seen  to  be  but  slightly 
arched.  The  occipital  lobe  is  well  developed,  and  the  orbital  surfaces  but 
little  excavated.  The  temporal  lobes  are  also  well  developed. 

The  hemispheres  possess  the  most  important  sulci  characterizing  the 
Simian  brain  well  developed ;  as  regards  their  complexity,  they  stand 
between  Ateles,  Cebus,  and  Lagothrix,  on  the  one  side,  and  Callithrix, 
Mycetes,  Piihecia,  &c.,  on  the  other. 

The  Sylvian  fissue  *  (s.)  is  well  developed,  running  upwards  and  back- 
wards to  end,  *3  inch  from  the  middle  line  of  the  hemispheres,  a  little  in 
advance  of  the  spot  where  the  temp  oro- occipital  sulcus  (scissure  occipitale 
externe)  first  appears  externally.  It  is  at  first  slightly  concave  forwards,  p.z.S.  1880, 
then  convex.  At  about  two  thirds  of  its  course  it  is  joined  by  the  well-  P- 641- 
marked  antero-temporal  sulcus  (ci.t.)  (scissure  parallele,  Gratiolet;  premier 
sillon  temporal,  Broca),  which  commences  near  the  lower  margin  of  the 
temporal  lobe.  This  is  a  condition  not  found  in  Ateles,  LagotJirix,  Mycetes, 
or  Pithecia  monachus ;  it  is  represented  by  Gratiolet  as  existing  in  Cebus 
capucinus  (Mem.  Plis.  Oer.  Atlas,  pi.  x.  figs.  7  &  8),  and  likewise  occurs 
in  Cynocephalus,  Macacus,  and  other  Old-world  genera. 

Embracing  the  upper  extremity  of  the  Sylvian  fissure  is  a  somewhat 
Y-shaped  sulcus,  the  "  stem  "  of  the  T  being  short  and  springing  from 
the  median  line,  whilst  the  two  arms  are  much  longer  and  run  down- 
wards and  outwards,  and  in  the  case  of  the  anterior  one  forwards  as 
well,  on  to  the  external  surface  of  the  hemispheres,  appearing  there  one 
on  each  side  of  the  upper  part  of  the  Sylvian  fissure  (fig.  9).  The 
posterior  of  these  is,  no  doubt,  the  aforesaid  temporo-occipital  sulcus  (t.o.) 
(scissure  perpendiculaire  externe  of  Gratiolet,  scissure  occipitale  externe  of 
Broca).  The  anterior  limb  no  doubt  corresponds  to  the  anterior  part  of 

*  In  the  following  description  of  the  sulci,  &c.,  I  have  in  the  main  followed  the 
nomenclature  proposed  by  Prof.  Huxley  in  his  valuable  paper  on  the  brain  of  Ateles 
paniscus  (P.  Z.  S.  1861,  pp.  247-260,  pi.  xxix.),  and  adopted  by  Prof.  Flower  in  his  de- 
scriptions of  the  brains  of  Mycetes  seniculus  (P.  Z.  S.  1864,  pp.  335-338,  pi.  xxix.) 
and  Pithecia  monachus  (P.  Z.  S.  1862,  pp.  328-331).  The  late  Dr.  Paul  Broca  has  more 
recently  written  an  elaborate  article  on  the  subject  of  cerebral  nomenclature  ("  Nomen- 
clature Cerebrale,  denomination  des  divisions  et  subdivisions  des  hemispheres  et  dee 
anfractuosites  de  leur  surface,"  Kevue  d'Anthropologie,  (2)  i.  1878,  pp.  193-236).  In 
this  he  endeavours  to  limit  more  strictly  than  has  hitherto  been  done  the  terms  used 
by  various  writers  on  the  structure  of  the  brain,  and  to  introduce  a  uniform  nomen- 
clature. I  have,  where  necessary,  added  his  names  in  brackets  after  those  here  used. 


120 


P.Z.S.  1880, 
p.  642. 


ON  THE  UAKAEI   MONKEYS. 

Fi.  7, 


Brain  of  Bed  TJakari,  seen  from  above. 
Fig.  8, 


Bight  half  of  the  same,  seen  from  below. 

P.Z.S.  1880,    the  "  sulcus  (4)  bounding  the  upper  border  of  the  angular  gyrus,  having 
p.  641.  the  form  of  a  broad  pointed  arch,"  described  by  Prof.  Flower  in  Pithecia 

monachus  (I.  c.  p.  330).  A  comparatively  slight  modification  of  the  con- 
dition of  these  parts  in  that  species  as  represented  in  his  fig.  1  would 
bring  about  that  \vhich  obtains  in  Bracliyurus,  which  also  is  represented 
in  Gratiolet's  figures  of  Cebus  capucinus  and  C.  apella  (1.  c.  pi.  x.  figs.  7 
All).  This  "  supraangular  "  (a  .a.)  sulcus  defines  anteriorly  the  well- 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 
Fig.  9. 


121 


P.  Z.  8.  1880, 
p.  643. 


The  same,  left  half,  seen  from  the  outside. 
Fig.  10. 


The  same,  from  the  inside  ;  the  cerebellum  and  medulla  have  been  removed. 
All  the  figures  of  the  natural  size. 

s.  Sylyian  fissure ;  p.p.  Postero-parietal  ;  s.f.  Supero-frontal ;  s.a.  Supra-angular ; 
a.t.  Antero-temporal ;  t.o.  Temporo-occipital ;  c.m.  Calloso-marginal ;  c.  Calca- 
rine  ;  cl.  Collateral ;  o.p.  Occipito-parietal. 

developed  angular  gyrus.  The  union  of  the  temporo-occipital  and  '  g^ 
occipito-parietal  (the  two  parts  of  the  scissure  occipitale  of  Broca)  sulci 
divides  off  perfectly  the  occipital  and  parietal  lobes ;  so  that  there  is  here 
no  such  superficial  "  pli  de  passage  "  between  these  two  lobes  as  exists 
in  Cebus  capucinus  and  Pithecia  satanas.  In  P.  monachus  there  is,  in 
addition,  a  second,  more  superior  passage-fold  between  these  two  lobes 
(Flower,  I.  c.)*.  In  Cebus  apella  (according  to  Gratiolet's  figure, 
I.  c.  pi.  10.  figs.  12,  12  bis\  as  in  Brachyurus,  the  "pli  de  passage  "  is 
concealed,  so  that  superficially  the  two  lobes  appear  perfectly  distinct. 

Anterior  to  the  supraangular  sulcus,  the  fissure  of  Rolando  (p.p.) 
(postero-parietal,  Huxley)  is  seen  as  a  well-developed  sulcus  forming  a 


*  As  regards  this  and  sundry  other  differences  between  Pithecia  monachus  and 
P.  satanas,  it  must  be  remembered  that  the  two  are  not  perhaps  strictly  congeneric, 
P.  satanas  having  been  separated,  with  P.  ckiropotes,  as  a  genus  Chiropotes. 


122  ONTHEUAKARI   MONKEYS. 

sigmoid  curve  extending  very  nearly  to  the  middle  line.     Anterior  to  this 

is  the  superofrontal  sulcus  (s.f.),  also  curved,  though  roughly  parallel 

with  the  external  border  of  the  hemispheres.     The  orbital  surface  of  the 

hemispheres  is  also  marked  by  a  somewhat  H-shaped  complex   sulcus 

(indsure  en-H.).     The  occipital  lobe  is  almost  entirely  smooth  ;  below  a 

sulcus  is  observable,  curving  upwards,  and  ending  in  a  bifurcate  manner 

in  front  of  the  lower  termination  of  the  occipito-temporal  sulcus.     Pos- 

P.Z.  S.  3880    teri01  to  tnis  *8  a  verJ  much  smaller,  short  sulcus,  easily  seen  internally, 

p.  642.          but  only  just  appearing  on  the  inferior  margin  of  the  lobe  externally. 

The  internal  surface  of  the  hemispheres  has  the  ordinary  sulci  well 
displayed.     The   calloso-marginal    sulcus    (c.m)   (scissure    sous-frontale), 
somewhat  broken  up  anteriorly,  inclines  posteriorly  towards  the  margin 
P.Z.  S.  1880,   of  the  hemispheres,  but  does  not  reach  it  by  about  *1  inch.     The  oceipito- 
p.  643.          parietal  fissure  (o.p)  (scissure  perpendiculcdre  interne)  is  distinct,  inclined 
first  backwards,  and  then  abruptly  bent  forwards  for  a  small  distance. 
Between  its  termination  and  the  posterior  end  of  the  corpus  callosum  is 
a  faintly  impressed  triradiate  mark.     The  calcarine  sulcus  (c)  is  well  de- 
veloped, and  terminates  posteriorly  by  its  characteristic  fork ;  the  point 
of  division  is  *15  inch  from  the  margin  of  the  brain ;  and  the  upper  arm 
is  slightly  longer  than  the  lower.     The  sulcus  is  continued  forwards  with 
an  upward  concavity  to  the  end  of  the  corpus  callosum,  where  it  passes 
into  the  dentate  sulcus  *.     At  a  point  *3  inch  in  front  of  its  bifurcation 
P.  Z.  S.  1 880,   it  is  joined  by  the  collateral  sulcus  t  (cZ),  which  passes  forwards  and 
p.  644.          slightly  outwards,  so  appearing  on  the  external  face  of  the  temporal  lobe 
(fig.  9).     The  temporal  lobe  has,  in  addition,  a  slight  impression  anterior 
and  internal  to  this,  but  is  otherwise  quite  smooth  below. 

The  corpus  callosum  is  well  developed ;  it  is  nearly  1  inch  in  total 
length ;  the  prsecallosal  part  of  the  cerebrum  is  0'45  inch,  the  postcallosal 
0*9  inch  in  length. 

The  cerebellum  is  well  developed;  the  superior  vermis  is  0-85  inch  in 


*  According  to  Broca  (Revue  d'Anthrop.  viii.p.  470,  1878)  the  bridging  convolution 
between  the  callosal  and  uncinate  convolutions,  which  here  interrupts  the  apparent 
continuation  of  the  calcarine  into  the  dentate  sulcus,  is  nearly  always  present  in  Mon- 
keys, although  it  may  be  deep  and  in  some  cases  extremely  delicate  also.  He  considers, 
however,  that  it  is  wanting  in  the  Hapalidse.  It  is  certainly  present  in  Sracht/urus, 
though  small  and  deep.  Prof.  Flower  says  of  Mycetes  (I.  c.  p.  337),  "  the  dentate 
sulcus  is  continuous  with  the  calcarine."  On  the  other  hand,  in  Ateles  (cf.  Huxley,  I.  c. 
p.  255,  fig.  2)  it  is  superficial  and  obvious.  Broca  also  figures  its  existence  in  Lago- 
thrix  (I.  c.  p.  471,  fig.  31). 

t  This  junction,  at  least  superficially,  of  the  calcarine  and  collateral  sulci  I  also  find 
exists  in  Cebus  capucinus  (cf.  also  Gratiolet's  figure,  Atlas,  pi.  x.  fig.  9)  and  Pithecia 
satanas  •  in  Ateles  and  Nyctipithecus,  &c. ,  however,  it  does  not  exist,  as  far  as  I  have  seen, 
nor  do  I  find  any  allusion  to  such  a  condition  existing  at  all  in  any  of  the  memoirs 
already  quoted  on  the  brain  of  Primates. 


ON  THE  UAKAEI  MONKEYS.  123 

length  ;  with  the  lateral  lobes  it  is  altogether  1*25  inch  transversely. 
The  flocculi  are  large,  and  the  pons  Varolii  well  developed.  The  medulla 
has  distinct  olivary  bodies. 

In  the  general  characters  of  its  brain,  as  will  be  thus  seen,  Brachyurus 
approaches  most  nearly  the  genera  Cebus  and  Piihecia  (including  Chiro- 
potes),  and  especially  the  type  found  in  Cebus  apella.  With  Ateles  and 
Lagothricc  it  has  no  close  relationship ;  and  the  same  may  be  said  as 
regards  Mycetes ;  it  also  departs  widely  in  the  greater  complication  and 
development  of  the  brain  from  Callithrix,  Chrysoihrix,  and  the  smaller 
Cebidse  generally. 

Eeviewing  the  facts  already  stated  as  to  the  structure  of  Brachyurus 
rubicundus,  it  is  evident  that  Brachyurus  is  a  perfectly  good  genus,  more 
or  less  intimately  related  to  a  number  of  the  larger  Cebine  forms,  but 
nevertheless  characterized  by  a  combination  of  characters  peculiarly  its 
own.  A  relationship  to  Mycetes,  suggested  by  its  external  appearance 
and  the  form  of  the  lower  jaw,  is  not  borne  out  by  its  visceral  anatomy, 
the  brain  and  liver  both  pronouncing  decisively  against  the  idea,  besides 
other  peculiarities.  With  Ateles  and  Lagothrioc  it  has  no  particular 
features  in  common,  but  it  undoubtedly  approaches  Cebus  in  the  structure 
of  its  brain  ;  and  it  is  with  this  genus  and  Piihecia  (including  Chiropotes) 
that  it  has  probably  the  nearest  affinities. 

The  institution  of  a  genus  Ouakaria  for  the  reception  of  these  short- 
tailed  Monkeys  by  Dr.  Gray  (P.  Z.  S.  1849,  p.  9)  seems  to  me  unneces- 
sary. As  he  there  remarks,  the  genus  Brachyurus,  as  originally  proposed 
by  Spix  (Sim.  et  Vespert.  Bras.  p.  11),  contained  two  species,  B.  israelita 
(I.  c.  pi.  vii.)  and  B.  oualcary  (pi.  viii.).  The  former  of  these  is  now 
generally  referred  to  the  genus  Piihecia,  standing  as  Piihecia  chiropotes 
(cf.  Sclater,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  228).  Having  examined  skulls  of  all  the 
known  species  o£  Brachyurus,  as  well  as  of  Pithecia  satanas,  which  is  p 
merely  a  representative  form  of  P.  chiropotes,  I  am  unable  to  agree  with  'p.  645. 
Dr.  Gray  (I.  c.)  as  to  Spix  "  having  evidently  described  the  teeth  &c.  of 
his  first  species  in  his  generic  character,"  for  I  find  the  characters  there 
given  apply  equally  well  to  both  the  forms  under  consideration.  Indeed, 
as  the  "  character  essentialis  "  of  the  genus  Brachyurus  is  "  Cauda  non 
volubili,  abbreviate^"  B.  israelita,  in  which  that  organ  is  of  the  normal 
length,  can  in  no  way  be  considered  the  type  of  the  genus.  With  certain 
other  points,  too,  of  the  "  descriptio  "  there  given,  B.  oualcary  corresponds 
better  than  the  first  species.  I  therefore  agree  with  Isidore  Geoffrey 
(Exped.  Am.  Sud,  Mammif .  p.  18)  in  retaining  the  generic  name  Brachy- 
urus, of  which  Oualcaria  thus  becomes  a  synonym  *. 

*  The  name  Brachyurus  has  also  been  used,  but  erroneously  (cf.  Sclater,  'Ibis,'  1877, 
p.  260),  for  the  Ant-Thrushes  (Pitta).     Mr.  Alston  ha?,  since  this  paper  was  read,' 


124  ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS. 

As  regards  the  species  of  this  genus,  there  are  three  well-marked  ones, 
each  inhabiting  a  distinct  geographical  area ;  of  each  of  these  I  have 
seen  skins  and  skulls.  They  may  be  arranged  as  follows  : — 

a.  Facie  nigra. 

1.  BEACHYUEUS  MELANOCEPHALTJS.     (Plate  VI.) 

Simia  melanocepliala  (Cacajao),  Humboldt,  Rec.  pi.  xxix.  p.  317  (1811). 

Pithecia  melanocephala,  Geoffr.  Ann.  Mus.  xix.  p.  117  (1812). 

Brachyurus  ouakary,  Spix,  Sim.  et  Vesp.  Bras.  p.  12,  pi.  viii.  (1823). 

OuaTcaria  spixii,  Gray,  P.  Z.  S.  1849,  p.  10,  fig. 

Ouakaria  melanocephala,  Gray,  Cat.  Monkeys  &c.  p.  62  (1870). 

Pithecia  melanocephala,  Schlegel,  Mus.  P.-B.  vii.  p.  227  (1876). 

Ater,  dorso  lateribusque  cum  brachiis  posticis  plus  minusve  castaneo- 
brunneis. 

Hob.  Forests  traversed  by  the  Casiquiare  and  Rio  Negro  (Humboldt) ; 
forests  between  the  Solimoes  and  lea  (Spix} ;  Marabitanas,  Rio  Negro, 
and  Moura,  Rio  Branco  (Natter er,  fide  Pelzeln  apud  Schlegel,  I.  c.). 

This  species  is  at  once  distinguishable  by  its  black  face,  as  well  as  by 
the  black  hands,  feet,  &c.  It  is  the  most  northern  form  of  the  three,  and 
apparently  the  most  wide-spreading  also.  No  doubt  it  is  the  "  black- 
faced,  grey-haired  "  species  heard  of,  but  not  obtained,  by  Mr.  Bates  as 
being  found  "  180  miles  from  the  mouth  of  the  Japura  "  (Nat.  Amaz.  ii. 
p.  313). 

Of  this  species  we  have,  at  different  times,  had  two  specimens  living 

P.Z.S.  1880,     in  the  Gardens  (vide  Sclater,  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  1).     From  the  first  of 

p.  646.  these  the  water-colour  drawing  by  Richter  in  the  Society's  possession, 

which    is   here   reproduced   on   a   diminished    scale    (Plate   VI.),    was 

taken.     In  all  probability  it  is  the  skin  and  skeleton  of  this  individual 

which  are  now  preserved  in  the  British  Museum.     [The  stuffed  skin  is 

marked  "  Zool.  Soc.'s  collection,"  the  skeleton  806  &.] 

b.  Facie  rubra. 

2.  BRACHYTJEUS  CALYUS. 

Brachyurus  calvus,  Isid.  Geoffr.  C.  R.  xxiv.  p.  576  (1847),  et  Arch. 
Mus.  v.  p.  560 ;  Exped.  Arner.  Sud,  Mammif.  p.  17,  pi.  4.  fig.  1  (1855). 
Oualcaria  calvus  (sic),  Gray,  P.  Z.  S.  1849,  p.  10. 

pointed  out  to  me  that  the  same  term  also  had  been  proposed  some  years  previously  to 
Spix  by  Fischer  ('  Zoognosia.'  i.  p.  24)  for  a  genus  of  Eodentia  (1813).  As,  however, 
this  name  has  never,  I  believe,  been  adopted  for  use  in  that  group,  it  seems  to  me  quite 
unnecessary,  on  that  ground,  to  reject  the  name  for  the  TJakaris.  Purists  will  have,  I 
suppose,  to  adopt  Lesson's  barbarous  term,  proposed  as  a  subgenus,  Cacajao  (Species 
des  Mammiferes,  p.  181,  1840). 


PI  IV. 


P.  Z.S.1880P1.LXI. 


lith. 


•,.  imp 


B.RACHYURUS  EUBICUNDUS 


D.PLLXtl. 


J.Smib.liLh. 


HEAD  OF  BRACHYURUS 


x; 


CG 

CC 


ON  THE  UAKARI  MONKEYS.  125 

OuaJcaria  calva,  Gray,  Cat.  Monk.  p.  62  (1870). 

Pithecia  calva,  Schl.  Mus.  P.-B.  vii.  p.  228  (1876). 

Pithecia  alba,  Schl.  Mus.  P.-B.  vii.  p.  229  (1876). 

Corpore  fulvido-albicante,  subtus  saturatiore. 

Hob.  Opposite  Fonteboa  (Castelnau  $  Deville)  ;  banks  of  the  Japura 
delta,  west  of  its  mouth  {Bates). 

According  to  Castelnau  (I.  c.  p.  567),  B.  calvus  is  confined  to  the  forests 
lying  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Amazons,  between  the  rivers  Putumayo 
(or  lea)  and  Japura. 

The  locality  "  Para,"  given  to  the  species  by  its  discoverer  M.  Lisboa, 
and  also  marked  on  the  mounted  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  is  of 
course  a  mistake,  as  already  pointed  out  by  Schlegel  (1.  c.  p.  226).  Mr. 
Bates's  notes  on  this  species  and  the  next,  and  their  distribution,  are  well 
known  to  naturalists.  On  his  short  description  and  the  figure  in  the 
second  edition  of  the  *  Naturalist,'  Prof.  Schlegel  has  attempted  to  found 
a  fourth  species,  "  Pithecia  alba."  But,  in  the  first  place,  the  short  de- 
scription given,  as  well  as  the  locality,  suit  B.  calvus  quite  well ;  and, 
secondly,  there  is  a  specimen  in  the  British  Museum,  purchased  of 
Stevens,  which  in  all  probability  was  one  collected  by  Mr.  Bates  himself, 
and  is  quite  the  same  as  three  other  specimens  of  that  species. 

3.  BRACHYUBUS  RUBICUNDUS.     (Plates  IV.,  V.) 

Brachyurus  rubicundus,  Isid.  Geoffr.  &  Dev.  C.  B.  xxvii.p.  498(1848); 
Geoffr.  Arch.  Mus.  v.  p.  564,  pi.  30 ;  Exped.  Am.  Sud,  Mamm.  p.  ]  9, 
pi.  4.  fig.  2  (head). 

OuaJcaria  rubicunda,  Gray,  Cat.  Monk.  p.  62  (1870). 

Pithecia  rubicunda,  Schlegel,  Mus.  P.-B.  vii.  p.  228  (1876). 

Corpore  castaneo-rufo,  collo  pallidiore. 

Hab.  Forests  on  the  north  bank  of  the  Amazons  opposite  Olivenca,  not 
passing  eastwards  of  the  lea  (Castelnau). 

The  exact  westward  extension  of  this  species  still  remains  unknown. 
The  young  specimen  seen  at  Fonteboa  by  Bates  (I.  c.  p.  313)  and  by  him 
referred  to  this  species,  was  more  probably  B.  calvus,  as  we  know,  from 
Geoffroy  and  Castelnau's   account,  that  the  young   of  B.    rubicundus 
resembles  in  coloration  the  adult,  and  is  not  paler.     Opposite  Fonteboa,   p  z  S  1880 
moreover,  is  exactly  the  locality  where  the  French  expedition  obtained       P-  647. 
B.   calvus,  and  is  well  within  the  limits  assigned  to  that  species  by 
Castelnau. 

B.  rubicundus  is  the  western  representative  of  B.  calvus,  which  it  very 
closely  resembles,  but  can  at  once  be  distinguished  by  its  very  different 
coloration,  being  nearly  all  over  of  a  rich  deep  chestnut,  only  paler  on 
the  neck,  instead  of  the  pale  sandy- white,  slightly  rufous  below  and  on  the 
inside  of  the  limbs,  of  the  last  species.  The  fact  of  the  series  of  individuals 
of  each  of  these  species  obtained  by  Castelnau  and  Deville  differing  to  no 


126 


ON  THE  UAKAEI  MONKEYS. 


Fig.  11. 


Map  of  part  of  the  basin  of  the  Amazons,  to  show  the  distribution 
of  the  Uakari  Monkeys. 


Supposed  area  of  B.  melanocephalus. 
„  „       B.  calvus, 

B.  rubicundm. 


important  extent  amongst  themselves,  as  well  as  their  different  ranges, 
clearly  show  that,  so  far  as  our  knowledge  yet  goes,  there  is  no  reason 
whatever  for  considering  B.  calvus  an  albino  form  of  B.  rubricundus  • 
moreover  in  B.  calvus  a  considerable  number  of  hairs  on  the  back  &c. 
are  black  throughout,  just  as  in  B.  rubicundus ;  this  would  hardly  be  the 
case  in  an  albino. 

Gray's  arrangement  of  these  species  in  the  4  Catalogue  of  Monkeys ' 
has  already  been  dealt  with  by  Schlegel : — "  II  semble,  d'ailleurs,  que  ce 
savant  se  soit  forme  une  idee  a  lui  propre  de  ces  animaux,  puisque,  apres 
avoir  mis  les  OuaJcaria  rubicunda  et  calva  dans  une  catee;orie-a  part, 
laquelle  porte  en  tete :  '  pelage  blanchatre  ou  rougeatre,'  il  ajoute : 
'  albinos  de  Y OuaJcaria  melanocephala.'  On  avouera  que,  ceci  est  trop  fort 
pour  le  directeur  d'un  des  plus  grands  Stablissements  de  Zoologie"  (Mus. 
P.-B.  p.  229.) 


ON  ANTILOCAPRA  AMERICANA.  127 

21.  ON  THE  CAUSE  OF  DEATH  OF  A  LEOPARD.*       P.  z.^1880, 

MR.  W.  A.  FORBES  exhibited  a  small  fragment  of  bone  which  had  caused 
the  death  of  a  Leopard  (Felis  pardus)  in  the  Society's  Menagerie  on 
April  20,  under  the  following  circumstances : — 

For  about  a  week  previous  to  its  death  the  animal,  a  fine  adult  male, 
had  refused  food,  and,  having  been  separated  from  its  companions,  was 
noticed  by  the  keeper  to  be  apparently  suffering  from  some  intestinal 
obstruction.  The  animal  was  in  good  condition  and  very  fat.  On 
opening  the  abdominal  cavity  after  death,  about  a  gallon  of  an  opaque, 
dirty-red-coloured,  chyly-looking  fluid  was  found  in  it.  There  was  a 
large  clot  of  indurated  faeces  in  the  large  intestine.  In  addition,  near 
the  commencement  of  the  jejunum,  was  found  a  small  bolus  of  straw 
that  had  been  swallowed,  as  is  often  done  by  these  animals  in  the  absence 
of  grass.  In  this  a  triangular  splinter  of  bone,  about  1J  inch  long  by  1 
inch  high,  with  a  very  sharp  edge,  had  become  impacted  firmly,  so  much 
so  as  to  perforate  the  walls  of  the  intestine,  and  to  project  outside  into 
the  abdominal  cavity  for  about  J  of  an  inch.  The  movements  of  the 
animal,  or  the  peristaltic  action  of  the  intestines,  had  caused  this  sharply 
projecting  angle  of  the  bone  to  cut  through  the  intestinal  walls  for  the 
distance  of  some  2  inches.  Through  this  wound  the  juices  of  the  stomach 
and  intestinal  canal,  together  with  the  fluid  swallowed  by  the  animal,  had 
apparently  leaked,  and  had  given  rise  to  the  accumulation  of  fluid  in  the 
abdominal  cavity  which  had  caused  death. 


22.  ON  ANTILOCAPRA  AMERICANA,  f  RZ.S.1880, 

p.  540. 

MR.  "W.  A.  FORBES  exhibited  some  drawings  of  the  horns  of  the  Prong- 
buck  (Antilocapra  americana),  and  made  the  following  remarks  : — 

"  Many  of  those  here  present  to-night  will  doubtless  remember  the 
surprise  created  amongst  naturalists  by  Mr.  Bartlett's  announcement, 
in  1865,  of  the  shedding  of  the  horns  of  the  Prongbuck.  The  first 
surprise  that  this  statement  created  having  passed  away,  the  deciduous 
nature  of  the  horns  of  Antilocapra  americana  seemed  in  a  fair  way  of 
being  accepted  as  one  of  the  commonplaces  of  zoology.  About  two 
years  ago,  however,  the  celebrated  American  zoologist  Prof.  E.  D.  Cope 
appended  the  following  editorial  note  to  a  short  account  of  this  animal 

*   Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  p.  358.     Read  May  4,  1880. 
t  Ibid.  1880,  pp.  540-543.     Read  Nov.  16,  1880. 


128 


ON  ANTILOCAPRA  AMERICANA. 


published  in  the  *  American  Naturalist '  (xii.  1878,  p.  557)  by  a  Mr. 
E.  W.  Endlich  : — 'After  several  years'  familiarity  with  the  Prong-horned 
Antelope  in  a  wild  state,  I  may  say  I  have  never  met  with  an  undoubted 
case  of  shedding  of  the  horn-sheath.  Shed  horn-sheaths  are  not  common 


Fig.  1. 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  541. 


Head  of  Prongbuck,  showing  the  new  pair  of  horns  the  clay  after  the 
shedding  of  the  old  ones  :  reduced. 

where  these  animals  abound,  as  they  would  be  were  the  phenomenon 
usual.  Their  appearance  on  the  animal  at  times  indicate  that  they  may 
be  shed ;  and  I  suppose  the  evidence  is  sufficient  that  the  shedding 
occurs.  But  it  is  not  periodical,  or  even  frequent.1 

"  Fortunately,  we  have  not  had  long  to  wait  before  being  able  to  again 
test  the  accuracy  of  Mr.  Bartlett's  original  position. 

"  On  December  4,  the  Society  purchased  a  pair  of  Pronghorns,  the 
male  of  which  was  nearly  or  quite  adult,  and  had  '  apparently  lately  shed 
his  horns,  as  the  pair  which  he  bears  were  quite  soft  when  he  arrived  ' 
(c/.  P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  23).  In  confirmation  of  this,  Mr.  Bartlett  tells  me 
that  his  horns  also  had  then  no  trace  of  the  '  prong,'  which  subsequently 


ON  ANTILOCAPRA  AMERICANA.  129 

grew  in  the  ordinary  position.  Our  male  animal  lived  in  good  health 
and  condition  through  the  summer,  and  grew  a  good  (though  by  no 
means  large)  pair  of  horns. 

"During  the  night  of  October  18-1 9th  last,  these  horns  were  shed  ; 
but  no  trace  of  them  could  be  found,  after  the  most  careful  search ;  so 
that  in  all  probability  they  were  either  devoured  by  the  animal  itself,  or 
carried  away  by  some  predatory  rat,  or  visitor ! 


Fig.  2. 


Horn  of  Prongbuck,  drawn  the  day  after  the  shedding  of  the  old  horns : 
£  nat.  size. 

"  Mr.  Smit's  drawings  that  I  now  exhibit  were  made  on  the  spot, 
under  my  supervision,  the  day  after  the  shedding  (October  20). 

"  Fig.  1  shows  the  general  form  and  size  of  the  new  horns.  From  it 
it  is  obvious  that  any  person  who  was  not  acquainted  with  the  mature 
horns  of  the  animal  would  not  for  a  moment  suspect  that  any  shedding 
had  taken  place.  Fig.  2  shows  one  of  the  new  horns,  drawn  of  half  the  P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
natural  size,  so  far  as  the  movements  of  the  animal  allow  this  to  be  done.  P§  Ma> 
The  base  of  the  newly  uncovered  horn  is  thicker  and  larger  than  the  top 
part,  and  is  of  a  different  texture,  being  greyer  and  pretty  thickly 
covered  with  long,  whitish,  closely  appressed  hairs.  The  integument  is 
rather  soft  and  decidedly  warm  to  the  touch ;  and  growth  is  evidently 
going  on  here  at  a  rapid  pace.  The  top  part,  about  one  inch  long,  is 
smoother  and  blacker,  though  nearly  white  at  the  tip.  It  is  nearly 
glabrous,  with  only  a  very  few  small  hairs,  and  has  the  appearance  and 
touch  of  ordinary  horn.  It  is  separated  from  the  basal  '  pedicel '  part  by 


130  ON  ANTILOCAPRA  AMERICANA. 

a  slight  constriction,  and  is  movable  on  this  part  in  a  slight  degree  from 
side  to  side. 

Fig.  3. 


Horn  of  Prongbuck,  one  month  after  the  shedding  of  the  old  horns  :  ^  nat.  size. 

**  Fig.  3  shows  the  condition  of  the  horns  to-day  (November  16),  exactly 
four  weeks  after  the  shedding  took  place.  As  will  be  seen,  the  horns 
have  'grown  rapidly,  and  have  already  acquired  a  characteristic  inward 
curve.  The  hair-covered  '  pedicel '  and  the  black  apical  part  still  retain 
their  original  character  unaltered  ;  and  all  the  increase  of  length  in  the 
horn  is  due,  as  far  as  I  can  make  out,  to  the  lengthening-out  of  the 
'  node '  (to  use  a  botanical  term),  which  is  marked  off  as  a  slight  con- 
striction on  the  fresh  horn  (vide  fig.  2).  The  horn  above  the  '  pedicel ' 
is  still  slightly  movable  on  this  latter  part,  which  is  still  markedly  warm 
to  the  touch,  particularly  in  its  upper  half,  just  below  the  annular  con- 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,  striction  which  separates  the  two  parts  of  the  horn.  It  is  here,  I  am 
p.  543.  inclined  to  believe,  that  the  new  formation  of  horn  is  going  on,  the 

apical,  harder  part  being  pushed,  by  the  growth  of  new  matter,  further 
and  further  away  from  the  pedicel.  I  may  add  that  the  '  snag'  or  *  prong ' 
is  not  yet  visible,  but  may  be  felt  as  a  slight  eminence  at  the  base  of  the 
*  pedicel,'  close  to  the  skull,  on  the  anterior  margin  of  the  horn. 

"  On  making  a  longitudinal  vertical  section  of  a  horn  of  AntUocapra, 
I  find  that  there  is  a  more  or  less  open  canal  in  the  substance  of  the 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  NASITERNA.  131 

horn,  continued  for  nearly  the  whole  extent  of  the  main  part  of  the 
horn,  but  considerably  nearer  its  posterior  than  its  anterior  margin.  In 
its  upper  part  are  still  observable  minute  blood-vessels,  which  have 
become  naturally  injected.  The  horn  has  obviously  been  formed  around 
this  dermal  papilla,  which,  whilst  the  surrounding  parts  have  become 
hard  and  corneous,  has  remained  soft  and  vascular  for  a  while ;  but 
eventually  its  tissues  have  shrivelled  up.  It  will  be  readily  understood 
how  in  this  way  the  papilla  has  gradually  been  converted  into  a  hollow 
channel  by  the  growth  and  elongation  of  the  horn  formed  originally 
round  it. 

"  In  conclusion,  I  can  only  express  my  surprise  that  Prof.  Cope  has 
apparently  overlooked  Judge  Caton's  excellent  chapter  on  the  Prong- 
buck  in  his  '  Antelope  and  Deer  of  America '  (1877).  Judge  Caton 
himself  has  apparently  witnessed  the  phenomenon  several  times ;  and 
his  account  of  the  growth  of  the  horns  (pp.  25-35)  agrees  very  well  with 
my  own  observations,  excepting  as  regards  the  point  of  origin  of  the 
*  prong/  If  the  shedding  of  the  horns  is  *  not  periodical  or  even 
frequent,'  it  is  certainly  strange  that  both  his  and  the  Society's  speci- 
mens should  all  have  exhibited  it.  I  may  remark  that  the  period  of  the 
year  assigned  for  shedding  the  horns  by  Mr.  Caton  also  quite  corre- 
sponds with  the  dates  of  shedding  here  (November  7  and  October  19)." 

[P.S.  To-day  (Dec.  2)  the  "prong"  is  still  concealed  beneath  the 
hairy  covering  of  the  pedicel,  but  is  now  very  easily  perceptible  to  the 
touch.  The  hairy  covering  of  the  "  pedicel "  is  thicker  now  than  six 
weeks  ago,  apparently  owing  to  the  growth  of  new  hairs  round  it. 
The  horn  above  is  still  movable  on  the  "  pedicel." — W.  A.  F.] 


23.  ON  SOME  POINTS  IN  THE  STRUCTURE  OF 
NASITERNA  BEARING  ON  ITS  AFFINITIES.*  P.Z.S  1880, 

p.  76. 

FOR  many  years  the  true  position  in  the  series  of  Parrots  of  this  very 
singular  little  form,  of  which  about  seven  species  are  now  known,  has 
been  a  moot  point  amongst  ornithologists,  most  authors  placing  it 
amongst  the  Cacatuinse. 

Although  two  accounts  have  been  published  of  some  points  in  the 
anatomy  of  Nasiterna  pusio — first  by  Mr.  Sclater  when  describing  that 
species  t,  and  secondly  by  Signor  Camerano,  in  a  paper  read  before  the 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soe.  1880,  pp.  76,  77.     Read  Feb.  17,  1880. 
t  P.  Z.  S.  1865,  p.  620. 

K2 


132  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OP  NASITERNA, 

Turin  Academy  of  Sciences  *, — nothing  very  definite  has  resulted  from 
them  tending  to  elucidate  this  doubtful  point.  Mr.  Sclater  was  inclined 
to  regard  it  (1.  c.  p.  622)  as  "  an  aberrant  form  of  the  Psittacinae  .... 
unless  it  can  be  allowed  to  stand  as  the  type  of  a  distinct  subfamily, 
which  would  probably  be  more  correct." 

At  my  request,  some  fifteen  months  ago,  M.  Alphonse  Milne-Edwards 
was  kind  enough  to  forward  to  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  a  specimen  (in 
spirit)  of  a  Nasiterna,  probably  N.  pygmcea,  for  dissection ;  and  I  now 
place  before  the  Society  a  few  statements  on  its  structure  as  recorded 
in  his  MS.  notes. 

As  in  all  other  Parrots,  except  in  certain  species  of  Oacatua  and  in 
Licmetis  tenuirostris,  there  are  two  carotid  arteries  in  Nasiterna  (a  fact 
previously  recorded  by  Camerano),  both  of  which  run  in  the  normal 
manner  in  the  bypapophysial  canal.  As  in  all  Parrots  with  the  carotids 
so  disposed  (except  some  individuals  of  Stringops),  the  ambiens  muscle 
is  absent.  The  furcula  is  represented  only  by  a  rudiment  at  the  upper 
end ;  and  the  orbital  ring  is  incomplete.  As  the  oil-gland  is  present, 
the  formula  for  Nasiterna,  adopting  the  system  used  by  Prof.  Garrod  in 
his  paper  on  the  anatomy  of  the  Parrots  f,  will  be  2,  —  ,—,+,  as  in 
Agapornis,  String  ops,  Geopsittacus,  and  their  allies. 

Pterylographically,  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  that  Nasiterna  pygmcea 
agrees  generally  in  the  form  and  disposition  of  the  tracts  with  such 
genera  as  Cyclopsitta,  Psittinus,  &c.,  and  differs  from  the  Cacatuinaa  in 
the  absence  of  the  crest  and  naked  head-space  (cf.  Sclater,  1.  c.  p.  622) 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,     universally  present,  as  far  as  I  have  yet  seen,  in  that  group,  as  also  in 
P-  77<  the  absence  of  powder-down  feathers,  very  frequently,  though  not  in- 

variably, present  in  those  birds,  though  absent  in  the  other  Psittaci  with 
"normal"  carotids.  In  the  Cockatoos,  too,  the  orbit  is  completely 
encircled  by  bone  J,  and,  as  a  rule,  doubly  so  (vide  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pi  Ixxi.). 
In  Nasiterna,  as  already  stated,  it  is  not  so.  Of  the  other  "  Palseorni- 
thidae,"  as  defined  by  Prof.  Garrod,  the  TrichoglossinaB  form  a  well- 
marked  group,  characterized  by  numerous  features  to  which  there  is  no 
approach  in  Nasiterna. 

Its  nearest  allies  must  therefore  be  in  the  remaining  forms  of  that 
family,  which  I  propose  to  call  Eclectinse,  including  all  those  not  either 
Cacatuine  or  Trichoglossine,  with  the  exception,  perhaps,  of  the  ground- 
frequenting  forms,  Stringops,  Pezoporus,  &c.  The  spiny  tail-feathers  of 
Nasiterna.  are,  no  doubt,  very  peculiar,  and  with  its  curious  beak  and 


*  Atti  Reale  Accad.  Torin.  xiii.  1878,  p.  301. 
t  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  595. 

J  This  was  not  t.he  case,  however,  in  a  specimen  of  Calyptorhynchus  funereus,  lately 
examined  by  me. 


ON  THE  STOMACH  IN  TANAGERS.  133 

diminutive  size  must  always  make  this  a  very  well-marked  genus.  But 
I  fail  to  see  in  its  spiny  tail  sufficient  importance  to  elevate  Nasiterna 
into  a  special  subfamily,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Sclater.  Chcetura  is  not 
separated  on  similar  grounds  from  the  other  Chaeturinsa ;  nor  has  the 
spatulate  tail  of  Prioniturus  been  advanced  as  entitling  that  genus  to 
form  a  special  subfamily. 

The  anatomy  of  the  small  short-tailed  genera  Cydopsitta,  Psittacella, 
&c.  is  as  yet  unknown ;  but  I  believe  that  it  is  amongst  these  forms — 
related,  as  far  as  can  be  judged  from  external  appearance,  through  this 
last  to  Pezoporus,  Geopsittacus,  &c. — that  Nasiterna  has  its  nearest  allies. 
Ayapornis  and  Psittinus  are  also  not  very  distantly  related,  though  I 
believe  that  the  loss  of  its  furcula  by  Ayapornis,  in  which  it  resembles 
Nasiterna,  is  probably  due  to  independent  causes  *.  That  the  loss  of 
the  furcula  is  not  exclusively  correlated  with  terrestrial  habits  is  shown 
by  its  absence  in  three  such  essentially  arboreal  genera  as  Ayapornis, 
Nasiterna,  and  the  Neotropical  Psittacula. 


24.  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ANATOMY  OF  PASSE- 
BINE  BIRDS.— PART  I.  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF 
THE  STOMACH  IN  CERTAIN  GENERA  OF  TANA- 
GERS.f 

UNDER  this  heading  I  propose  to  continue  from  time  to  time,  as  material 
may  occur,  the  "Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds,"  of  which 
the  late  Prof.  Garrod  published  four  parts  in  the  Society's  '  Proceed- 
ings '  +. 

In  the  vast  majority  of  Passerine  birds  the  structure  of  the  anterior 
part  of  the  alimentary  canal  conforms  to  the  type  present  in  the  Fowl — 
that  is  to  say,  to  an  oesophagus,  which  may  or  may  not  be  dilated  into  a 
crop,  succeeds  a  stomach  consisting  of  two  parts  : — an  anterior  glandular 
part,  the  proventriculus ;  and  a  posterior  part,  separated  off  from  both 
proventriculus  and  duodenum  by  more  or  less  distinct  constrictions — the 
gizzard  or  ventriculus,  of  which  the  muscular  walls  are  always  more  or 


*  Judging  by  its  behaviour  in  captivity,  Agapornis  is  extremely  sluggish  in  its 
movements. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  143-147.     Read  Mar.  2,  1880. 

|  Part  I.  P.Z.  S.  1876,  p.  506;  Part  II.  1877,  p.  447;  Part  III.  1877,  p.  523; 
Part  IV.  1878,  p.  143. 


134          ON  THE  STOMACH  IN  TANAGEKS. 

less  thickened,  and  provided  with  a  central  tendon  on  each  side  (vide 

fig.  i). 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,         As  was  first  pointed  out  by  Lund,  half  a  century  ago,  a  singular 

exception  to  this  rule  obtains  in  the  Tanagers  of  the  genus  Euplwnia  *. 

From  his  description  (quoted  below)  and  figures,  it  is  quite  evident 

that  Lund  considered  that  there  was,  in  these  birds,  an  intermediate 

zone  devoid  of  glands  or  muscles,  between  the  proventriculus  and  the 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  144. 


Fig.  1. 


Stomach  of  Tachyphonus  melaleucus,  natural  size,  undisturbed,  and  viewed  from  behind. 
The  liver,  cesophagus,  and  small  intestine  are  also  partially  represented. 

P  Z  S  1880      commencement  of  the  small  intestine,  and  that  a  small  lateral  diverticulum 

p.  144.  springing  from  this  zone  was  also  present,  representing  the  true,  though 

rudimentary,  gizzard.     Lund  found,  as  he  believed,  this  state  of  things 

in  three  species  of  Euphonia,  whilst  the  normal  type  of  stomach  existed 

*  In  a  pamphlet  entitled  "De  genere  Euphones,  prsesertim  de  singular!  canalis 
intestinalis  structura  in  hocce  avium  genere,  autore  Dr.  Peter  Wilhelm  Lund,"  pub- 
lished at  Copenhagen  in  1829  (31  pages  and  1  plate). 

This  pamphlet  being  rather  scarce,  I  here  give  Lund's  own  words  : — 

"  §  13  (D.  12).  Ubi  incipit  intestinum  tenue,  ibi  conspicitur  in  externa  superflcie 
angustse  illius  zonse,  quas  locum  ventriculi  occupare  videtur,  minima  qusedam  pro- 
tuberantia,  cui  intus  respondet  levis  qusedam  impressio.  Opaca  est  parvula  haic 
protuberantia ;  quare  in  parietibus  fibras  musculosas  contineat  non  dubito ;  hoc  vero, 

propter  minimam  ejus  molem,  decidere  vix  valebis Ad  earn  sententiam 

maxime  inclmare  animam,  ut  statuam  verum  esse  hoc  ventriculi  analogon,  haud 
diffiteor. 

"§  14.  Hsec  si  vera  judicetur  cogitandi  ratio,  referas  licet  structuram  hujus  avis 
ad  formam  avium  generalem  ;  ita  enim  habebimus,  uti  solet,  musculosum  nostrum 
organon  e  late  re  intestini  exortum,  interque  proventriculum  et  intestinum  ten  ue 
positum ;  neque  a  forma  generali  avium  aberrat  haec  structura,  nisi  in  eo,  quod  ad 
minimum  quoddam  rudimentum  reductus  est  ventriculus :  contra,  si  zonam  illam,  de 
qua  mentionem  fecimus,  angustam  pellucidamque,  quas  inter  proventriculum  et  intes- 
tinum tenue  invenitur,  analogon  esse  ventriculi  statuamus,  constantes  duo  maximeque 
essentiales  ventriculi  avium  characteres  subriientur,  in  inusculosa  structura  ortuquo 
laterali  positi." 


ON  THE  STOMACH  IN  TANAQERS.  135 

in  sixteen  other  species  of  Tanagers  which  he  examined.  Lund's  de- 
scription has  frequently  been  copied  since  in  various  text-books,  and  his 
figures  at  least  three  times  reproduced  *. 

Mr.  Sclater  having  called  my  attention  to  this  subject,  I  have  been 
able,  thanks  to  the  resources  of  the  Prosector's  department  and  to  the 
material  afforded  by  Mr.  Salvin,  to  re-examine  this  question.  I  have 
been  able  repeatedly  to  dissect  specimens  of  various  species  of  Euphonia 
both  preserved  in  spirit  and  quite  fresh.  I  can  fully  confirm  Lund's 
description  in  all  points,  except  as  regards  the  presence  of  a  small  lateral 
diverticulum  from  the  alimentary  canal,  of  which  I  have  never  been  able 
to  find  the  slightest  trace,  though  I  have  always  carefully  looked  for  it. 

Fig.  2  will  show  the  structure  of  this  part  of  the  alimentary  canal, 
with  the  parts  as  little  disturbed  as  possible,  but  with  the  stomach  &c. 
cut  open  from  behind,  in  a  perfectly  fresh  specimen  of  Euphonia 
violacea.  As  will  be  seen,  between  the  glandular  proventriculus  and  the 
villi-covered  duodenum  a  narrow  zone  is  interposed,  with  its  walls  in  no 
degree  thickened,  but  thin  and  membranous,  and  of  rather  greater  calibre 
than  the  adjacent  parts,  there  being  no  pyloric  constriction.  Moreover 
there  is  none  of  that  approximation  of  the  cardiac  and  pyloric  ends  of  P.  Z.S.I 880, 
the  stomach  that  obtains  in  most  other  birds.  There  is  no  trace  of  p' 

Fig.  2. 


Stomach  of  Euphonia  violacea. 

A  portion  of  the  alimentary  canal  of  Euphonia  violacea,  twice  the  natural  size, "cut 
open  and  seen  from  behind,  to  show  the  proventriculus  (p),  the  narrow  zone 
representing  the  gizzard  (z),  and  the  commencement  of  the  small  intestine  (sm.i). 
The  liver  and  spleen  are  also  seen,  as  is  the  end  of  the  (Esophagus,  which  is 
opened  up. 


*  Carus  and  Otto,  Tab.  Aiiat.  Corap.  Illustr.  1835,  pt.  iv.  tab.  vi.  figs.  4,  5;  Wagner, 
Icones  Zool.  iii.  t,  xi.  figs.  3,  4,  Bruhl,  Zoot.  nller  Thierkl.  Lief.  iii.  pi.  ix.  fig.  13/t. 


136  ON  THE  STOMACH  IN  TANAGERS. 

any  external  diverticulum  to  be  seen ;  and  I  therefore  can  only  conclude 
that  Lund  must  have  been  misled,  he,  owing  to  the  bad  condition  of 
his  specimens  (a  very  probable  contingency  when  dissections  are  made 
in  tropical  climates),  having  mistaken  a  bit  of  fat  or  connective  tissue 
for  a  diverticulum  of  the  ventriculus,  which  last  there  can  be  no  doubt 
that  this  non-glandular  zone  really  represents,  the  muscular  walls  and 
hard  epithelium  of  the  true  Passerine  gizzard  being  almost  entirely 
undeveloped  *. 

1  have  also  been  able  to  ascertain  that  the  nearly  allied  genus  Chloro- 
phonia  (at  least  in  C.  viridis)  is  characterized  by  the  same  non-develop- 
ment of  a  gizzard.  On  the  other  hand,  all  Tanagers  yet  examined 
belonging  to  other  than  these  two  genera  have  stomachs  constructed  on 
the  normal  type.  Thus  in  a  specimen  of  Tachyphonus  melaleucus  (see 
fig.  1,  p.  134)  the  characteristic  gizzard  with  the  two  central  tendons  is 
present  and  well  developed,  the  muscular  walls  being  nearly  |  inch  thick, 
and  the  epithelium  lining  it  hard  and  horny.  As  might  have  been 
expected,  considerable  variations  in  the  comparative  development  of  these 
parts  occur  in  different  genera.  Thus  in  the  thick-billed  Pitylus  the 
P  Z  S  1880  wn°le  organ  is  much  more  strongly  developed  than  in  the  more  slender- 
p.  146.  billed  genera  Tanagra,  Calliste,  &c.  Why  the  genera  Euphonia  and 

Chlorophonia  alone,  as  far  as  it  is  yet  known,  of  birds  should  present 
this  structure  is  an  as  yet  unsolved  problem ;  I  believe  they  differ  in  no 
appreciable  degree  from  other  Tanagers  in  food  f  or  habits.  I  may  also 
remark  that  in  such  genera  as  Coereba  and  dEthopyga,  feeding  chiefly  on 
minute  insects  and  juices  of  flowers,  there  is  a  well-marked  gizzard,  with 
muscular  walls  and  hardened  epithelium. 

Subjoined  is  a  list  of  all  those  species  of  Tanagers,  27  in  number 
belonging  to  11  genera,  in  which  the  condition  of  the  stomach  is  as  yet 
known.  This  includes  the  species  mentioned  by  Lund  (L.),  as  well  as 
those  examined  by  the  late  Prof.  Grarrod  (A.  H.  Gr.)  and  myself,  and 
the  nomenclature  is  that  of  the  *  Nomenclator/  Mr.  Sclater  having 
kindly  reduced  Lund's  names  to  the  terms  of  that  list  for  me. 


*  In  confirmation  of  the  above-mentioned  view  being  correct,  I  may  notice  that 
neither  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  ii.  p.  106)  nor  Gadow  (Jen.  Zeitschr.  B.  xiii.  p.  168,  1879), 
when  mentioning  the  stomach  of  Euphonia,  describe  any  lateral  diverticulum.  Prof. 
Garrod,  in  his  MS.,  notes  of  Euphonia  violacea,  with  characteristic  terseness,  "  No 
stomach  specialized,  the  intestines  apparently  continuing  from  the  oesophagus." 

t  Several  of  the  wild  specimens  of  Euphonia  that  I  have  dissected  have  had  in  their 
intestines  a  large  number  of  small  round  reddish  seeds,  which  are  probably,  Mr. 
Salvin  tells  me,  those  of  a  climbing  species  of  Ficus  common  in  the  Central-American 
forests. 


ON  THE  STOMACH  IN  TANAGEES. 


137 


Tanagers  with  a  normal  Tanagers  with  the  stomach 

stomach.  abnormal. 

Calliste  tricolor  (L.  &  W.  A.  F.).  Chlorophonia  viridis  (W.  A.  F.). 

_  f  estiva  (L.  &  A.  H.  G.).  Euphonia  chlorotica  (L.). 

__  cyaneiventris  (L.).  -  trinitatis  (W.  A.  F.). 

_  tJioracica  (L.).  -  violacea  (L.,   A.   H.    G.,    & 
--  melanonota  (L.).  W.  **  *  •)• 

_  nigriviridis  (W.  A.  F.).  -  rufiventris  (L.). 

Tanagra  episcopus  (L.).  -  pectoralis  (W.  A.  F.). 
-  ornata  (L.). 

(W.  A.  F.). 


-  saijaca  (W.  A.  F.  &  A.  H.  G.). 

-  palmarum  (L.  &  A.  H.  G.). 
Rliamphoccelus  brasilius  (L.). 

-  jacapa  (W.  A.  F.). 
Pyranga  erythromelcena  (W.  A.  F.). 
Trichothraupis  quadricolor  (L.). 
Tachyphonus  melaleucus  (W.  A.  F.). 

-  cristatus  (L.). 

-  coronatus  (L.). 
Saltator  maynus  (L.). 
Cissopis  leveriana  (W.  A.  F.). 
Pltylus  fuliginosus  (W.  A.  F.). 

Two  other  species  not  named 
by  Lund. 

Pipridea  melanonota  is  mentioned  by  Lund  (under  the  name  Tanagra 
vittata)  as  one  of  the  species  with  a  normal  stomach.  On  the  other 
hand,  according  to  M.  Taczanowski  (P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  226),  Stolzmann 
found  in  this  bird  "  la  poche  stomacale  rudimentaire,"  and  consequently  p.  z.  S.  1880, 
considers  that  it  is  nearly  allied  to  the  Euphonies.  It  is  to  be  hoped  ?•  147- 
that  we  shall  know  ere  long  which  of  these  statements  is  correct.  It 
would  be  also  highly  desirable  to  ascertain  the  structure  of  the  stomach 
in  the  other  genera  placed  near  to  Euphonia,  particularly  that  of  the 
genus  Procnias.  I  propose  on  some  future  occasion  to  publish  a 
supplementary  list  describing  the  condition  of  the  stomach  in  any  other 
forms  that  I  may  have  an  opportunity  of  examining. 


138  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EUEYL^EMID^E. 


P.  z.  s.  1880,     25.  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ANATOMY  OF  PASSERINE 
p.  380.  BIRDS.— PART    II.    ON    THE    SYRINX    AND    OTHER 

POINTS    IN    THE    ANATOMY    OP    THE    EURYLJE- 
M1DJB* 

THE  true  position  of  the  Broadbills   or  Eurylaemid*  in  the   series  of 

birds,  and  particularly  the  question  as  to  their  passerine  or  non-passerine 

P.  Z.  S.  1880      affinities,  has  long  been  in  question  amongst  systematic  ornithologistsf. 

p.  381.  That  more  intimate  knowledge  of  their  structure  from  which  alone  any 

true  answer  to  this  question  could  be  given,  has  been  likewise  gradually 

accumulating  for  many  years. 

Nitzsch,  in  his  great  work  on  Pterylography,  published  posthumously 
in  1840,  showed  that  the  species  examined  by  him  possessed  a  character- 
istically Passerine  pterylosisj.  Johannes  Miiller,  in  1846,  in  his  classical 
memoir  on  the  vocal  organs  of  Passeres§,  remarked  that  in  Corydon 
sumatranus,  the  only  species  of  this  group  examined  by  him,  there  were 
"no  muscular  fibres  on  the  larynx."  Blanchard,  in  1859||,  showed  that 
Eurylcemus  javanicus  agreed  in  its  sternal  characters  with  other  Passeres, 
and  particularly  compared  it  with  the  Swallows  in  this  respect. 

Mr.  Sclatei%  in  1872,  figured  the  sternum  of  Cymbirliynclms  macro- 
rhynchus  (under  the  name  of  Eurylcemus javanicus ;  cf.  Lord  Walden,  I.  c. 
p.  370),  and  stated  that  in  his  opinion  these  birds  were  truly  Passerine. 

Prof.  Grarrod**,  in  1877,  was  enabled,  by  an  examination  of  dry  skins 

*  Prnc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  380-386.     Eead  May  4,  1880. 

t  For  a  succinct  resum6  of  the  opinions  of  ornithologists  on  this  point,  see  Mr. 
Sclater's  paper  in  the  '  Ibis,'  quoted  below. 

J  Kay  Soc.  ed.,  pp.  76,  77.  These  were  Corydon  sumatranus,  Calyptomena  viridis,  Eury- 
l(gmus  javanicus  and  E.  ochromelas,  and  Cymbirhynchus  macrorhynchus.  In  the  three 
last  named  Nitzsch  describes  nine  of  the  remiges  as  situated  "  on  the  hand ;"  in  all  the 
specimens  of  this  group  I  have  examined,  I  find  there  are  ten  primaries  (cf.  also  Wallace, 
Ibis,  1874,  p.  406,  and  Sundevall,  Tentatnen,  p.  61).  An  examination  of  the  pterylosis 
in  my  spirit-specimens  has  also  convinced  me  of  the  partial  inaccuracy  of  Nitzseh's 
figure  of  that  of  Cymbirhynchus  (pi.  iii.  fig.  15).  The  lumbar  saddle  is  here  represented 
as  too  angular,  and  the  inclosed  space,  as  well  as  the  antero-lateral  tracts  bounding  it, 
too  broad.  The  postero-lateral  tracts  also  are  represented  as  consisting  of  but  a  single 
row  of  feathers.  In  reality,  in  this  species  there  is  a  large  ephippial  space,  of  an  elon- 
gated oval  shape,  the  whole  shape  of  the  saddle  being  more  like  that  represented  by 
Nitzsch  in  Cephalopterus  (I.  c.  fig.  10).  The  tracts  behind  are  two  feathers  broad.  In 
Calpytomena,  judging  from  skins,  there  is  an  acutely -angled  rhombic  saddle,  whilst  in 
Euryl&mus  the  condition  is  intermediate. 

I  may  add  that  in  E.  ochromelas  and  Cymbirhynchus  the  neck-feathering  of  the 
lower  surface  is  uninterrupted  till  behind  the  middle,  and  that  the  throat  is  entirely 
feather-clad,  with  no  naked  symphysial  space. 

§  Garrod's  edition,  p.  27.  ||  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (4)  Zool.  vol.  xi.  p.  JL*. 

t  Ibis,  1872,  p.  177,  &c.  **  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  447. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EURYL^MID^E.  139 

of  Cymbirliynclius,  Calyptomena,  and  Eurylcemus  ochromelas,  to  show  that 
these  species  differed  singularly  from  all  other  Passeres  yet  examined  in 
that  in  them  the  tendon  of  the  flexor  longus  hallucis  sends  a  strong 
vinculum  to  the  tendon  of  thejf&eor  digitorum  profundus,  as  in  nearly  all 
other  non-passerine  birds  in  which  a  hallux  is  developed.  He  also  showed 
at  the  same  time  that  in  these  species  the  palate  was  truly  Passerine,  and 
proposed  to  divide  the  order  Passeres  "  into  two  sections  to  start  with, 
those  with  the  hallux  not  free  (the  Eurykemidae),  and  those  with  the 
hallux  independently  movable."  The  following  year  he  was  able  to  add 
to  this  account  some  facts  in  the  anatomy  of  two  other  species,  Psarisomus 
(lalliousice  and  Serilophus  rubropygius.  These  facts  included  the  typical 
Passerine  arrangement  of  the  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  (P.  Z.  S. 
1876,  p.  508),  the  presence  of  the  left  carotid  only,  the  normal  disposition  'p/382. 
of  the  vessels  of  the  thigh,  the  presence  of  the  femoro-caudal,  semiten- 
dinosus  and  accessory  semitendinosus,  and  the  absence  of  the  ambiens  and 
accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles.  He  also  called  attention  to  the  un- 
forked  condition  of  the  sternum  in  Psarisomus,  this  feature  resembling 
that  figured  previously  by  Mr.  Sclater  in  Oymbirhynchus. 

Having  lately,  through  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Edward  Gerrard,  jun., 
become  the  possessor  of  a  specimen  each  of  Cymbirhynckus  macrorhynchus 
and  Eurylcemus  ochromelas  from  Sarawak,  excellently  preserved  in  spirits, 
I  am  in  the  position  to  supplement  the  above-mentioned  facts  in  our 
knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  the  Eurylcemidce  by  describing  the  syrinx 
and  alimentary  canal,  previously  hardly  known  at  all  in  this  group, 
in  these  two  species,  as  well  as  of  confirming  or  modifying  previously 
published  statements. 

As  regards  osteology,  the  only  point  I  wish  to  record  is  the  unforked 
condition  of  the  manubrium  sterni  in  both  species.  In  this  respect  they 
resemble  the  condition  present  in  Psarisomus,  as  already  noticed  by  Prof. 
Garrod.  As  this  feature  appears  equally  in  Mr.  Sclater's  figure  of 
Cymbirhynchus  above  alluded  to,  as  well  as  in  a  specimen  of  the  sternum 
of  that  bird  in  the  College  of  Surgeons,  and  in  Mr.  Eyton's  figure  of 
Cory  don  sumatranus  (Osteol.  Av.  pi.  8.  fig.  5),  it  seems  probable  that  it 
is  a  regular  character  of  this  family  of  Passeres,  though  in  other  families 
of  that  group  it  seems  to  be  an  individual  or  specific  characteristic. 

~P     *7    Q     1  ^ftO 

Both  the  species  under  discussion  agree  entirely  with  Psarisomus  and  pggS 
Serilophus  in  the  points  already  noted  by  Prof.  Garrod.  I  may  add  that 
the  pectoralis  primus  is  large,  as  is  also  the  pectoralis  secundus,  this  muscle 
extending  to  the  end  of  the  sternum,  or  thereabouts.  As  in  other  Passeres, 
the  biceps-slip  to  the  patagium  and  the  evpansor  secundariorum  are  absent. 
The  semimembranosus  is  slender,  but  muscular.  The  gluteus  primus  is 
large,  covering  the  biceps ;  and  the  obturator  internus  is  elongatedly  oval. 
As  will  be  seen  in  fig.  1  (p.  140),  in  CymbirJiynclius  the  vinculum  in  the 
deep  plantar  tendons  is  strong,  and  has  the  character  of  a  firm  round  tendon, 


140  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EURYL^EMID^E. 

instead  of  being  composed  of  more  or  less  transversely-directed  fibres 
running  between  the  two  tendons,  as  in  many  birds  where  this  structure 
obtains.  In  Euryloemus  ochromelas  it  is  apparently  double,  there  being 
a  second  additional  slip  given  off  lower  down  from  the  hallux-tendon, 
which  joins  the  tendon  of  the  digital  flexor  at  the  point  where  the  latter, 
splitting  up  into  three,  receives  the  main  vinculum. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,  Fig.  1. 

p.  382. 


Left  foot  of  Cymbirhynchus  macrorkynckus,  viewed  from  behind,  to  show  the  deep 
plantar  tendons,  and  the  vinculum  (y.),  which  the  flexor  longus  hallucis  (/.  I.  k.) 
sends  to  the  tendon  of  the  flexor  profundus  digitorum.  The  skin  has  been  turned 
aside,  and  the  superficial  flexors  removed  ;  the  flexor  longiis  hallucis  has  been  cut 
short  above  and  displaced. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,        As    regards   the  alimentary  canal    of   these  birds,  there  is  nothing 
p.  683.  unusual   in  its  conformation.     The  tongue   is  elongatedly  cordate,  and 

slightly  bifid  at  the  tip.  Both  it  and  the  palate  generally  are  smooth  ; 
along  its  posterior  sides  it  is  provided,  as  is  frequently  the  case,  with 
about  eighteen  small,  backwardly  directed,  spiny  processes,  that  at  the 
angle  being  much  larger  than  the  others.  There  is  no  crop  developed  ; 
and  the  proventriculus  is  zonary  :  in  Cymbirhynclius  it  is  |,  in  E.  ochromelas 
|  inch  in  vertical  depth.  The  stomach  has  the  character  of  a  not  very 
muscular  gizzard,  and  is  lined  with  hardened  brown  epithelium ;  the  left 
lobe  of  the  liver  is  the  smallest  (considerably).  The  caeca  are  present, 
as  might  have  been  predicted  from  the  nude  oil-gland*,  and  are  truly 
Passerine  in  nature,  being  mere  nipples  J,  or,  in  the  smaller  species,  y1^ 
inch  long.  The  following  are  the  intestinal  measurements  : — 
CymbirTiynchus.  Small  intestine  7|  in.,  large  intestine  1  j,  total  9  in. 
E.  ochromelas.  „  5|  „  „  f,  „  6.J  in. 

*  Cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  110. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EURYL^EMID^E.  141 

The  nature  of  the  syrinx  was  the  most  interesting  question  to  be 
examined  in  these  specimens,  Miiller's  short  allusion  to  that  of  Corydon, 
quoted  above,  being  all  that  was  known  as  regards  its  structure. 

In  Eurylcemus  ochromelas  the  syrinx  is  less  specialized,  as  regards  its 
cartilaginous  constituents,  than  in  Cymbirhynchus,  and  will  therefore  here 
be  described  first. 

The  tracheal  rings  have  their  usual  complete  form,  being  notched 
before  and  behind  to  varying  extents,  and  separated  only  by  narrow 
intervals.  The  strong  sterno-tracheales,  the  only  extrinsic  syringeal 
muscles,  are  inserted  on  the  last  ring  but  five.  Only  the  last  two  tracheal 
rings  are  modified.  The  penultimate  ring  is  narrowed  and  slightly  pro- 
duced downwards  in  front ;  the  last  is  also  narrow,  and  closely  apposed 
to  the  penultimate,  the  membranous  interval  between  the  two  being 
very  much  reduced,  except  in  the  middle  line  in  front,  where  it  is  well  **• z<  s- 
developed,  the  last  ring  being  here  notched  above.  Behind,  the  ultimate 
and  penultimate  rings  are  united  by  a  vertically  disposed  median  bar. 
The  last  ring  forms  a  three-way  piece,  there  being  a  forwardly-directed 
narrow  pessulm  developed  from  its  hinder  margin  below.  The  pessulus 
is  apparently  membranous,  in  this  specimen  at  least,  except  at  its  base. 
The  first  bronchial  semirings  are  still  narrower  than  the  last  tracheal  one 
and  strongly  arched,  being  concave  downwards.  They  are  separated  by 
a  very  slight  interval  indeed  from  the  last  tracheal  ring  (three-way  piece), 
and  are  nearly  in  contact  with  each  other  in  front  in  the  middle  line ; 
behind  they  are  inturned  and  somewhat  thickened.  To  the  middle  of  each 
ring,  or  a  little  posteriorly  to  this  point,  is  attached  the  lateral  tracheal 
muscle,  which  is  extremely  slender  and  hardly  visible  when  dry.  The 

Fig.  2. 


Syrinx  of  Eurylamus  ochromelas,  x  5,  viewed  from  in  front. 
p,  the  "  pseudo-ring." 

second  bronchial  semirings  are  shorter  than  either  the  first  or  third ; 
they  are  slightly  deeper  than  the  first  pair,  but  are  narrowed  behind. 
Being  only  slightly  concave  downwards,  a  considerable  membrane-covered 
fenestra  is  left  between  them  and  the  first  pair.  What  at  first  looks 
like  a  bronchial  semiring  is  interposed  between  what  are  here  described 
as  the  first  and  second  of  that  category.  This  pseudo-ring  is  most 


142 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EURYL^EMID^E. 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  385. 


evident  in  front  (vide  fig.  2),  but  is  also  visible  when  dry  behind ;  it  is 
apparently  due  to  the  accumulation  of  tissue  inside,  forming  the  outer 
boundary  of  each  glottis.  The  third  and  fourth  rings  are  slightly  concave 
upwards  :  they  are  deeper,  especially  behind,  thinning  away  towards  the 
front,  than  those  that  preceded  them.  The  fifth  and  other  succeeding 
rings  are  typical,  unmodified  bronchial  rings,  which  more  and  more 
encroach  upon  the  membrane*,  tympaniformis,'a,nd.  eventually  almost  overlap 
behind.  The  second  and  succeeding  semirings  are  more  or  less  incompletely 
ossified  at  their  ends. 

In  Oymbirhynchus  macrorhynchus  (figs.  3-5),  the  syrinx  is  constructed 

Fig.  3. 


Syrinx  of  CymbirJiynchus,  viewed  from  in  front,  X  5. 
Fig.  4.  Fig.  5. 


Fig.  4.  The  same,  X  5,  from  the  side,  to  show  the  insertion  of  the  intrinsic  syringeal 
muscle  into  the  middle  of  the  first  bronchial  semiring.  The  stcrnotrachcalis  is 
cut  short. 

Fig.  5.  The  same,  X  5,  from  behind,  to  show  the  pessulus. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  EURYLJEMIDJE.  143 

on  essentially  the  same  plan,  with  some  modifications.  The  trachea,  **•  z-  s-  1880, 
below  the  insertion  of  the  extrinsic  muscles  (on  the  last  ring  but  six), 
appears  to  be  somewhat  laterally  compressed  and  diminished  in  size. 
In  the  specimen  before  me  the  last  few  tracheal  rings  are  somewhat 
irregular  in  their  disposition,  which  may  or  may  not  be  due  to  individual  p.  Z.  S.  1880, 
variation.  The  antepenultimate  ring  is  apparently  incomplete  on  the  P*  ^°°* 
right  side,  or  is  at  least  exceedingly  reduced  (vide  fig.  5).  The  penul- 
timate ring  is  narrowed,  and  is  closely  apposed  to  the  terminal  ring 
throughout  except  in  front,  where  there  is  a  well-marked  subtriangular 
fenestra.  The  last  trachea!  ring  is  produced  downwards  in  front,  but  is 
apparently  incomplete  on  the  left  side  in  front ;  so  that  there  the  penul- 
timate ring  is  next  to  the  first  semiring,  in  consequence  of  this  disposition. 
The  pessulus  is  a  well-marked,  forwardly-directed  linear  process,  p.  z.  S.  1880, 
formed  only  by  the  right  half  of  the  last  tracheal  ring,  which  is  thus,  like  P-  386. 
the  antepenultimate,  incomplete  for  a  part  of  its  course.  The  first 
bronchial  semirings  are  much  thickened  and  strongly  arched ;  they  are 
nearly  in  contact  in  front  in  the  middle  line,  and  are  separated  by  but  a 
narrow  space  from  the  last  tracheal  ring  ;  behind  they  become  incurved 
and  thickened.  The  second  bronchial  semiring  is  the  slenderest  of  all ; 
it  is  shorter  than  the  first  or  third,  and  slightly  concave  downwards. 
There  is  the  same  pseudo-ring  formed,  apparently  by  accumulation  of 
tissue  inside,  between  it  and  the  first  semiring  as  already  described  in 
Eurylcemus,  but  it  is  not  so  apparent  here.  The  third  semiring  is  much 
longer,  being  the  longest  of  all  the  semirings,  and  in  consequence  pro- 
jecting at  both  extremities.  It  is  nearly  straight,  narrow,  but  not  so 
narrow  as  the  second  ring,  dilated  behind  and  tapering  slightly  towards 
the  front.  The  first,  second,  and  third  semirings  of  each  side  are  nearly 
in  contact  with  each  other  before  and  behind.  The  fourth  ring  has 
much  the  same  shape  as  the  third,  but  is  slightly  shorter,  and  more  con- 
cave upwards  than  that  one.  The  intervals  between  the  second  and 
third  and  third  and  fourth  rings  are  somewhat  deeper  than  are  the  rings 
themselves.  The  fifth  and  succeeding  rings  take  on  the  usual  form  of 
bronchial  semirings,  gradually  becoming  more  complete.  As  in  Eury- 
Icemus,  the  single  intrinsic  tracheal  muscle,  which  is  very  slender,  is 
inserted  slightly  behind  the  middle  of  the  first  bronchial  semiring. 

The  Eurylsemidse  are  therefore,  as  is  evident  from  this  description, 
Mesomyodian*,  in  that  respect  agreeing  with  most  of  the  other  "  Formi- 
carioid  "  Passeres  of  Wallace  (Ibis,  1874,  p.  406).  It  is  probable  that 
the  existence  of  an  intrinsic  muscle  in  the  syrinx  of  Corydon  sumatranus 
escaped  the  notice  of  Johannes  Miiller — always  supposing  that  in  that 
species  the  same  essential  form  of  syrinx  occurs  as  in  those  above 
described — owing  to  its  slenderness.  They  are  not  Tracheophone  ;  and 

*  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  517. 


144  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA. 

in  that  they  possess  the  sciatic,  instead  of  the  femoral  artery*,  they  differ 
from  the  Pipridaa  and  Cotingidae,  with  which  they  have  so  often  been 
associated.  From  these,  too,  they  differ,  as  they  do  from  the  Tyrannidaa, 
Pittidse,  and  Rupicola,  in  the  details  of  their  syrinx  as  well  as  in  the 
simple  manubriurn  sterni  and  other  points.  As  has  already  been  stated, 
they  differ  from  all  the  other  Passeres  in  the  retention  of  a  vinculum  in 
the  deep  flexor  tendons  of  the  foot.  To  the  general  bearing  of  these 
facts  on  the  classification  of  the  Passeres,  I  hope  to  return  on  some 
future  occasion. 


P.  z.  s.  1880,    26.  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ANATOMY  OF  PASSERINE 

P.  387.  BIRDS.  — PART    III.     ON    SOME    POINTS     IN     THE 

STRUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA,  AND  ITS  POSITION 

AMONGST  THE  PASSERES. f 

• 

THE  doubt  which  has  hitherto  prevailed  amongst  ornithologists  as  to  the 
true  affinities  of  the  very  singular  Malagash  bird  for  which  Geoff  roy 
founded  his  genus  Philepitta  J,  makes  a  knowledge  of  its  anatomy,  and 
particularly  of  its  osteology  and  syrinx,  a  desideratum.  Its  original 
describer  considered  this  genus  most  nearly  related  to  Philedon.  Bona- 
parte, in  his  '  Conspectus  '  §,  referred  Philepitta  with  some  doubt  to  the 
Starlings  (Sturnidae),  placing  it  near  Diloplius.  The  late  Mr.  Gray,  in 
his  Hand-list  |1,  made  it  a  genus  of  Pittidse,  Pitta  being  the  only  other 
genus  of  that  family  recognized  by  him. 

Mr.  Sharpe  in  1870  ^[  suggested  that  it  ought  to  be  regarded  as  an 
aberrant  genus  of  the  Paradiseidse,  forming  a  subfamily  which  he  pro- 
posed to  call  Philepittinae. 

That  neither  this  position  nor  those  assigned  to  it  by  Geoffroy  or  by 
Bonaparte  can  be  accepted  is  evident  from  the  fact  that,  as  shown  by 
Sundevall  **,  Philepitta  possesses  a  long  10th  ("  first "  tt)  primary,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  tarsus  is  not  bilaminate.  The  Swedish  naturalist  last 
mentioned  made  his  subfamily  Paictinae  (he  having  rechristened  Philepitta 
Paictes)  the  first  in  the  fifth  cohort,  "  Taxaspidece,"  of  his  "  Oscines  Scu- 
telliplantares"  the  others  being  the  Thamnophilinae,  Myrmornithinae, 
Hypsibaemoninae,  and  Scytalopodinae,  in  which  last  Menura  was  also 

*   Cf.  Qarrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  516. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  387-391.  Read  May  4,  1880. 

\  Mag.  Zool.,  Ois.  pi.  3  (1839).  §  Op.  cit.  p.  422. 

jj   Op.  cit.  i.  p.  297,  gen.  no.  1094.  •[  P.  Z.  S.  1870,  p.  397. 

**  Tentamen,  p.  63.  tt  See  P.  Z.  8.  1879,  p.  256,  note. 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA.  145 

included — a  striking   illustration   of   the  unsatisfactory   results   that  a 
classification  founded  on  external  characters  only  always  leads  to. 

More  recently,  M,  Alphonse  Milne-Edwards  has  figured  the  two 
known  species  of  Philepitta,  as  well  as  the  tongue  and  osteology  of 
P.  castanea,  in  Grandidier's  magnificent  work  on  Madagascar  *.  In  this 
work  (the  plates  only  of  the  part  in  question  having  been  issued)  he 
places  it  next  to  the  Nectariniidae,  apparently  on  account  of  the  eye- 
wattle  of  the  male  and  the  bifid  tongue  approximating  it  to  such  a  form 
of  that  group  as  Neodrepanis.  Having  written  to  M.  Milne-Edwards  to 
ask  if  he  had  examined  the  syrinx  or  other  soft  parts  of  the  bird  under 
discussion,  he  was  kind  enough  to  reply  by  sending  me  the  viscera, 
including  the  trachea  &c.,  of  a  specimen  (in  all  probability  P.  castanea}, 
and  by  generously  granting  me  permission  to  make  any  use  of  them  I 
liked.  He  also  informs  me  that  in  the  text  to  the  plates  he  has  fully 
described  the  osteology. 

As  regards  this  part  of  the  structure  of  Philepitia,  I  only  wish  to   p. 
remark  on  and  give  a  figure  of  the  palate,  extracted  from  a  skin  of       P-  388- 
P.  castanea  by  Prof.  Grarrod,  M.  Milne-Edwards's  figure  of  this  (pi.  112. 
fig.  2  a)  being  rather  indistinct  in  some  important  points.     As  will  at 
once  be  seen,  the  vomer  is  truly  Passerine,  being  split  behind  and  trun- 

Fig.  1. 


Palate  of  Philepitta  castanea  (nat.  size). 

cated  in  front ;  to  its  outer  and  anterior  angles  are  articulated  two  small 
nodules  of  bone,  probably  corresponding  to  the  "  septo-maxillaries  "  of 
Prof.  Parker.  The  maxillo-palatines  are  slender,  long,  recurved  apically, 
and  pointed  backwards ;  the  transpalatines  are  distinct  and  slightly 
curved  inwardly,  and  the  palatines  tend  to  diverge  behind.  In  Pitta 
(cyanura)  the  vomer  is  proportionally  broader,  the  maxillo-palatines  are 
much  shorter  and  broader  and  more  transversely  directed,  and  the  pala- 


*  Hist.  Phys.  Nat.  ot  Polit.  de  Madagascar,  tome  iii.  Oiseaux,  Atlas  ii.  lrc  partie, 
pis.  109-112. 


146  ON  THE  STKUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA. 

tines  are  nearly  parallel  to  each  other  throughout*.  In  the  Eury- 
laemidaD  f  the  maxillo-palatines,  though  slender,  are  nearly  transverse  to 
the  axis  of  the  skull,  and  the  "  transpalatines  "  tend  to  become  obsolete. 

Judging  from  M.  Milne-Ed  war  ds's  figure  (I.  c.  pi.  112.  fig.  3),  the 
manubrium  sterni  is  but  slightly  bifid,  therein  approaching  that  of  the 
Eurylaemidse. 

As  regards  other  points,  in  its  pterylosis  Philepitta,  which  was  one  of 
the  few  important  forms  unexamined  by  Nitzsch,  is  perfectly  Passerine. 
There  is  a  longish  oval  ephippial  saddle,  with  a  large  space,  much  as  in 
some  of  the  Eurylsemidae  (vide  supra,  p.  138) ;  in  Pitta,  according  to 
Nitzsch,  the  saddle  is  undivided.  But  Philepitta  differs  from  the  Eury- 
IsemidsB,  and  agrees  with  all  other  Passeres,  in  the  absence  of  any 
vinculum  in  the  deep  plantar  tendons,  as  was  ascertained  by  Prof.  Garrod 
from  the  examination  of  a  skin,  and  recorded  by  him  in  MS. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,  As  regards  the  alimentary  canal,  there  is  nothing  peculiar.  The 
p.  389.  tongue,  in  the  specimen  forwarded  from  Paris,  was  removed ;  but,  as  we 
know  from  M.  Milne-Edwards's  figure,  it  is  triangular  and  bifid  at  the 
end.  There  is  no  crop  developed ;  and  the  zonary  proventriculus  is  half 
an  inch  deep.  The  stomach  is  a  strong  gizzard,  rather  elongated  in 
shape,  with  thick  and  considerably  plicated  epithelium.  The  liver  is 
unequilobed,  the  left  lobe  being  half  the  size  of  the  right ;  it  has  a  gall- 
bladder. The  total  length  of  the  intestines  is  seven  inches,  of  which 
the  last  half -inch  is  large  intestine.  The  caeca  are  truly  passerine,  being 
mere  nipples,  and  rather  widely  separated. 

The  syrinx  of  Philepitta  being  hitherto  entirely  unknown,  I  herewith 
give  a  description  and  figures  of  it. 

Fig.  2.  Fig.  3  Fig.  4. 


Fig.  2.  Syrinx  of  Philepitta,  from  before.        Fig.  3.  The  same,  from  behind. 
Fig.  4.  The  same,  from  the  right  side.     (These  figures  are  magnified  about  4  times.) 


* .  Cf.  Prof.  Parker's  fig.  of  Pitta  melanocephala,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  ix.  pi.  Ivi.  figs.  6,  7. 
In  this  species  the  "  transpalatine  "  processes  are  far  less  developed  than  in  P.  cyanura. 

f  Figures  of  the  palates  of  Euryl&mus  ochromelas  and  Catyptomena  viridis  are  given 
in  Prof.  Garrod's  paper,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  449. 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA.  147 

The  trachea  is  slightly  laterally  compressed  below ;  the  rings,  which 
are  complete,  are  somewhat  irregular  in  shape,  owing  to  the  greater  or 
less  development  of  the  notchings  on  their  borders.  In  front,  of  the 
last  few  rings  preceding  the  terminal  one,  two  or  more  are  joined 
together  by  vertically  directed  bars,  which  makes  it  difficult  to  count 
their  number  with  exactitude.  Behind,  however,  they  are  all  free.  The 
terminal  tracheal  ring  is  narrow  laterally,  and  closely  opposed  to  the 
first  bronchial  semirings  ;  in  front  and  behind  it  is  produced  downwards 
triangularly,  and  behind  bears  a  well-developed  forwardly  directed  narrow 
pessulus.  As  seen  from  behind,  therefore,  the  terminal  tracheal  ring 
has  somewhat  the  shape  of  an  arrow-head.  The  narrow  sterno- 
tracheales  are  inserted  on  about  the  last  ring  but  six.  The  first 
bronchial  semirings  are  thickened,  and  very  much  arched,  being  concave 
downwards.  As  seen  from  the  side  (fig.  4)  they  are  more  strongly  convex 
anteriorly  than  posteriorly.  The  second  and  third  semirings  are  very 
slender  indeed,  closely  approximate,  much  shorter  and  much  less  concave 
downward,  so  that  a  large  membranous  fenestra  is  left  between  them  and 
the  first  semirings.  The  fourth  and  fifth  semirings  are  also  slender,  but 
less  so  than  the  last  two :  they  are  slightly  concave  upwards,  so  that  a 
second,  though  shallower,  fenestra  is  formed  between  them  and  the  P-  z<  S.  1880, 
second  and  third  pairs.  The  fifth  semirings  are  slightly  dilated  at  their  p' 
extremities,  where  they  are  in  close  proximity,  before  and  behind,  with 
the  first  four  pairs.  The  sixth  and  succeeding  bronchial  rings  take  on  the 
ordinary  character,  being  deeper  than  those  that  precede  them,  and 
gradually  becoming  more  complete,  till  the  fifteenth  pair  are  nearly 
perfect.  On  one  side,  the  left,  in  this  specimen,  the  eighth  and  ninth 
semirings  are  partially  fused  externally. 

The  lateral  muscles  of  the  trachea,  after  the  insertion  of  the  sterno- 
tracheales,  become  excessively  thin,  so  that  it  is  difficult  to  make  out 
accurately  their  exact  extent.  They  apparently  fan  out,  so  as  to  be 
nearly  in  contact  with  each  other  before  and  behind,  and  are  inserted 
on  to  the  first  bronchial  semirings  for  the  greater  part  (as  far  as  I  can 
make  out)  of  their  lateral  surface,  the  tips,  however,  being  quite  free 
from  muscular  fibres. 

Philepitta  is  therefore  perfectly  Mesomyodian,  as  Prof.  Garrod  pre- 
dicted would  probably  be  the  case  *. 

There  are  thus  three  families  of  Mesomyodian  Passeres  in  the  Old 
World — the  Pittidse,  the  Philepittidae,  and  the  Eurylaemidse.  All  agree 
in  the  possession  of  a  broncho-tracheal  syrinx,  in  that  respect  agreeing 
with  the  Cotingidae  (including  Rupicola),  Pipridse,  and  Tyrannidas  of  the 
New  "World,  and  differing  from  the  Tracheophone  families,  which  are 
all,  as  is  well  known,  American.  Philepitta  differs  in  the  details  of  its 

*  Voice-organs  of  Passeres,  p.  68. 

L2 


148 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  PHILEPITTA. 


P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
p.  391. 


syrinx  from  all  the  other  "  Haploophone  "  Pas  seres.     In  Pitta  (cf.  P.  Z.  S. 

1876,  pi.  53.  figs.  1-6)  the  bronchial  semirings  are  much  less  modified, 
being  nearly  entirely  simple  semirings ;  the  lateral  muscle,  too,  is  slender 
and  not  spread  out  as  in  Philepitta.     This  fact,  taken  with  others,  as  the 
scutellation  of   the  tarsi,    osteology,  &c.,    justifies,   in   my   mind,   the 
establishment,  as  has  been  done  by  Sundevall  under  the  name  Paictidae, 
of  a  separate  family  for  the  bird  under  consideration  *.     The  Eurylae- 
midse  differ  in  their  retention  of  a  plantar  vinculum  (cf.  Grarrod,  P.  Z.  S. 

1877,  and  supra,  p.  139),  as  well  as  in  the  structure  of  their  feet  and 
other  points.      In  the  form  of   their  syrinx,  however,  they  approach 
Philepitta  perhaps  more  nearly  than  any  form  yet  described,  though  in 
them   too   the   lateral  muscle  remains  slender  and  unexpanded.     The 
peculiarities    of    the    EuryleBuridsa,   and    especially   their   oft-spoken-of 
retention  of  the  plantar  vinculum,  are  sufficient,  I  think,  to  justify  their 
forming  a  main  division  of  Pas  seres  by  themselves,  as  suggested  by  Prof. 
Garrod  f,  which  may  be  termed  DESMODACTYLI  in  distinction  from  the 
other  or  ELETJTHEEODACTYLI.     Prof.  Garrod's  arrangement  of  Passeres  J 
may  therefore  be  modified  as  follows  : — 


a 


i.  DESMODAOTYLI. 

(The  plantar  vinculum  retained ; 
manubriura  sterni  not  forked.) 

ii.  ELEUTHEKODACTYLI. 

(The  plantar  vinculum  lost; 
manubrium  generally  strongly 
forked.) 

A.  Mesomyodi. 

HETEROMEEI. 


HOMOSOMERI  §. 
Haploophonae. 

Tracheophonse. 


B.  Acromyodi. 


New  World. 


Pipridcs. 

Cotingida. 


Rupicola. 
Dendrocolaptidce . 


Pteroptochidee. 


Old  World. 


Euryl&midce. 


Philepittida. 
Pittidce. 


ABNORMALES. 

Atrichiida. 

Menuridce. 

NORMALES. 


*  The  general  myology  and  vascular  system  of  Philepitta  are  still,  it  must  be 
remembered,  unknown,  but  are  in  all  probability  perfectly  Passerine. 

t  Voice-organs  of  Passeres,  p.  73,  and  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  449. 

|  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  518. 

§  I  place  Philepitta  only  provisionally  amongst  the  Homceomeri,  presuming  that, 
as  in  all  Passeres  but  the  Pipridae  and  Cotingidse  (minus  Rupicola),  the  artery  of  the 
leg  is  sciatic. 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.  149 

Till  more  material  has  been  examined,  it  is  impossible  to  say  whether 
or  not  some  of  the  points  in  the  above  classification  fairly  express  the 
affinities  of  the  various  groups  treated  of.  This  appears  to  me  parti- 
cularly the  case  as  regards  the  primary  division  of  the  Mesornyodi  into 
Hetero-  and  Hoinoeomeri,  depending  as  it  does  on  the  presence  of  the 
femoral  or  the  sciatic  artery  respectively. 

The  pseudo-schizorhinal  character  of  the  skull  also  in  some  of  the 
Tracheophonse  *  may  necessitate  an  ultimate  arrangement  of  that  group 
different  from  that  here  adopted  (taken  from  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Salvin's 
'  Nomenclator '). 

As  regards  the  Passeres  whose  anatomy  still  remains  unknown,  the 
forms  that  most  require  examination  are  Phyiotoma  t  and  OocyrJiamphus 
of  the  New,  and  Orihonyx  and  Melampitta  of  the  Old  World.  The  last 
may  be,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Gould  J,  a  link  between  Pitta  and  PUlepitta ; 
Count  Salvadori§,  on  the  other  hand,  is  inclined  to  regard  it  as  a 
Timeliine  and  therefore  a  normal  (Oscinine)  Acroinyodian  form.  It  is 
also  highly  desirable  to  obtain  some  knowledge  of  the  soft  parts  of  some 
of  the  larger  forms  usually  placed  amongst  the  Cotingidae,  especially 
PtilocJiloris  and  Phcenicocercus  (placed  by  Sundevall  with  Rupicola),  as 
well  as  of  Gymnoderus,  Querula,  Ceplialopterus,  &c. 


27.  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.\\     p.z.s.1880 

p.  465. 

IT  is  to  the  liberality  of  my  friend  Prof.  A.  Newton  that  I  am  indebted 
for  the  opportunity  of  dissecting  a  female  example  of  this  bird,  the  most 
peculiar,  perhaps,  with  the  exception  of  Mesites,  of  all  the  anomalous 
forms  that  Madagascar  produces.  Till  the  past  year  or  two  our  know- 
ledge of  the  structure  of  Leptosoma  was  almost  confined  to  its  skin  and 
certain  parts  of  its  skeleton. 

Mr.  Sclater,  in  this  Society's  '  Proceedings '  (1865,  pp.  682-689 ;  also 
in  Nitzsch's  '  Pterylography,'  Eay  Soc.  ed.  App.  ii.  p.  158),  has  already 
given  us  an  account  of  the  different  views  that  have  at  various  times 
been  held  by  ornithologists  as  to  the  position  of  this  peculiar  form ;  and 
he  was  also  the  first  to  point  out  the  existence  in  it  of  powder-down  P.  s.  Z.  1880, 
patches,  as  well  as  other  of  its  peculiarities.  Since  then  I  am  unaware  P-  466< 

*  Cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  452,  &o. 

t  Very  imperfectly  described  by  Eyton  and  Eydoux  and  Souleyet,  of.  Job.  Miiller, 
Stimmorgane,  &c.,  p.  8. 

|  B.  New  Guinea,  pt.  ii.  (1876).  §  Ann.  Mus.  Oiv.  Gen.  x.  p.  147. 

j|  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  464-475.     Bead  June  15,  1880. 


150 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR. 


of  any  thing  more  having  been  done  to  elucidate  its  structure  till  1878. 
In  M.  Grandidier's  magnificent  work  on  Madagascar*,  in  the  plates  of 
the  Atlas  devoted  to  the  birds,  M.  A.  Milne-Edwards  has  figured  the 
entire  skeleton,  together  with  separate  views  of  the  bones,  as  well  as  the 
tongue  and  alimentary  canal,  and  has  likewise  given  pictures  of  the  bird 
when  plucked,  showing  the  external  nares,  the  position  and  shape  of 
the  powder-down  patches,  and  its  naked  oil-gland.  In  reply  to  my 
inquiries  on  the  subject,  M.  Milne-Edwards  kindly  replied  that  he 
intended  to  describe  in  full  the  osteology  of  Leptosoma,  together  with  that 
of  AtdorniS)  Brachypteracias,  &c.,  of  which  figures  are  given  also  in  the 

Fig.  1. 


Eight  foot  of  Leptosoma  (nat.  size),  seen  from  before,  to  show  the  disposition  of  the 
toes.     (The  fourth  toe  is  slightly  removed  outwards,  to  better  show  its  position.) 

above-named  work,  in  the  text,  but  that,  as  regards  other  points,  only  an 
explanation  of  the  plates  was  to  be  given.  I  have  therefore  thought  it 
would  be  of  interest  to  bring  before  the  Society  some  additional  notes 
on  its  pterylosis  and  soft  parts,  derived  from  my  examination  of  Prof. 
Newton's  specimen. 

Before  proceeding  further,  I  should  like  to  call  attention  to  the  struc- 
ture of  the  feet  in  Leptosoma,  which  has  already  been  accurately  described 
by  Mr.  Sclater  (I.  c.  p.  688).  They  are  in  no  way  "  zygodactyle,"  in  the 
sense  in  which  that  term  is  applied  to  the  feet  of  such  birds  as  the 

*  Hist.  Phys.  Nat.  et  Pol.  Madag.,  Zool.,  Ois.  pis.  85-88. 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.  151 

Cuckoos,  Parrots,  or  Toucans.     In  this  spirit-preserved  specimen  it  is   P.  Z.  S.  188'0, 

easily  demonstrable  that  the  fourth  digit  cannot  naturally  be  placed  in  a      P'     '  * 

really  reversed  position,  like  that  of  the  above-named  birds.     While  the 

second  and  third  toes  look  directly  backwards,  the  hallux  looks  inwards 

and  forwards,  and  the  fourth  toe  inwards  and  slightly  backwards  at  its 

apex,  there  being,  as  it  were,  a  slight  twist  in  its  axis  *.     However  much 

the  fourth  toe  is  bent  backwards  (and  this  is  only  done  by  the  exercise  of 

some  little  force),  its  plantar  surface  always  looks  more  or  less  inwards. 

The  presently-to-be-described  arrangement  of  the  deep  plantar  tendons 

also  confirms  the  view  here  taken  as  to  Leptosoma  not  being  a  true  zygo- 

dactyle  bird. 

Pterylosis. — As  regards  Leptosoma,  Nitzsch  only  noted  the  presence  of 
an  aftershaft  and  12  rectrices,  he  only  having  been  able  to  examine  a 
stuffed  specimen.  Mr.  Sclater,  in  his  above-mentioned  paper,  besides 
describing  the  two  characteristic  lumbar  powder-down  patches  of  this 
bird,  briefly  alludes  to  the  pterylosis,  which  "  appears  nearly  similar  to 
that  assigned  by  Nitzsch  to  Coracias  and  Eurystomus"  These  features 
are  diagrammatically  represented  in  a  woodcut  (fig.  5,  I.  c.). 

The  following  is  a  more  detailed  description  : — 

The  inferior  tract  divides  about  1  inch  behind  the  junction  of  the  rami 
of  mandible — the  (badly)  so-called  "  chin-angle" — from  which  it  starts 
as  a  narrow,  single  tract f.  Between  this  tract  and  the  manclibular  rami, 
extending  as  far  as  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  a  narrow  naked  space  is  left ; 
at  this  point  the  inferior  tract  becomes  continuous  with  the  feathering  of 
the  head  above,  so  that  here  the  neck,  except  for  the  narrow  median 
ventral  apterium,  is  continuously  feathered.  This  continuous  feathering 
extends  downwards  to  about  f  inch  above  the  shoulder,  when,  the  inferior 
and  dorsal  tracts  diverging,  the  lateral  neck-space  is  formed.  The 
inferior  tracts  diverge  gradually  as  they  approach  the  breast,  and  then 
run  parallel  to  each  other  over  the  pectoral  muscles  and  abdomen  to  the 
sides  of  the  vent,  leaving  a  rather  wide  bare  carinal  space,  with  a  few 
scattered  down-feathers.  As  the  inferior  tract  emerges  on  the  breast, 
it  gives  off  a  branch  to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  patagium ;  and  this  at 
first  is  dilated  somewhat,  so  that  the  space  between  it  and  the  main  tract 
is  feathered.  The  broad  humeral  tract  is  also  connected  with  the  inferior 
tract  where  the  latter  gives  off  this  patagial  branch.  In  the  lower  part 
of  the  neck  the  inferior  tract  is  about  8  feathers  broad,  on  the  breast 

*  This  disposition  of  the  fourth  toe  makes  Leptosoma,  at  first  sight,  look  as  if  it  had 
three  toes  anteriorly  directed,  and  no  doubt  accounts  for  Mr.  Sharpe  entirely  omitting 
any  notice  of  its  peculiar  feet  in  his  paper  on  the  Coraciidae  (of.  Ibis,  1871,  pp.  187, 
285). 

t  In  Coracias  garrula  the  naked  median  space  left  between  the  halves  of  the  inferior 
tract  extends  quite  up  to  the  symphysis,  so  that  the  inferior  tract  is  double  from  the 
commencement. 


152  ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOK, 

about  6,  and  on  the  abdomen  only  2.  About  the  middle  of  the  sternum 
the  outer  pectoral  tract,  which  is  about  4  feathers  wide  and  slightly 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,  stronger  than  the  main  tract,  is  given  off ;  it  is  not  very  divergent,  but  is 
dilated  terminally,  and  develops  a  recurrent  hook,  which,  however,  is  not 
very  distinct.  There  is  a  circlet  of  feathers  round  the  vent,  and  a  short 
tract  of  feathers  behind  it,  on  each  side  of  the  fleshy  part  of  the  tail, 
continuing  the  direction  of,  though  quite  separate  from,  the  main  inferior 
tract  of  its  side. 

The  feathering  of  the  head  is  continuous,  and  from  it  the  anterior 
moiety  of  the  dorsal  tract  runs,  being  anteriorly  continuous  at  the  sides, 
as  already  noted,  with  the  inferior  tracts,  along  the  dorsal  median  line 
of  the  neck,  as  a  rather  broad,  thickly  feathered  band,  which  forms  a 
strong  interscapular  fork,  just  as  in  Coracias  and  the  Parrots,  the  ends 
of  the  fork  lying  about  j  inch  anterior  to  the  posterior  extremities  of  the 
two  scapulae.  The  posterior  moiety  has  also  a  forked  form,  the  two 
arms  enclosing  a  fairly  broad  naked  median  space,  and  only  uniting  about 
1  inch  in  front  of  the  oil-gland,  the  united  tract  ao  formed  ceasing 
altogether  about  J  inch  in  front  of  that  organ.  This  posterior  fork  is 
very  narrow  anteriorly,  not  more  than  two  feathers  wide ;  indeed,  for  the 
first  two  or  three  rows  each  arm  consists  of  only  one  feather  in  each  row, 
and  the  two  arms  run  in  between  the  forks  of  the  anterior  moiety,  just 
as  in  the  Parrots,  Coracias,  and  some  other  birds.  Posteriorly  the  fork 
widens,  and  becomes  connected  closely  with  the  scattered  contour- 
feathers  which  are  found  outside  it,  over  the  space  between  the  dorsal 
tract  proper  and  the  lumbar  powder-down  patches,  so  that  on  the  rump 
the  dorsal  tract  appears  to  consist  of  five  or  six  rows  of  feathers  on  each 
side  of  the  median  line.  There  is  a  very  strongly  feathered  and  broad 
band  of  feathers  over  the  knee,  being  the  anterior  end  of  the  lumbar 
tract  of  its  side;  this  tract  is  quite  distinct  from  all  others  but  the 
crural,  which  are  much  weaker  and  clothe  the  leg  as  far  as  the  "  ankle." 
The  powder-down  patches,  one  on  each  side,  lie  between  the  posterior 
portion  of  the  dorsal  tract  and  the  lumbar  tracts.  They  form  elongated 
patches,  extending  forwards  over  the  femur  as  far  as  the  sartorius 
muscle,  and  backwards  to  within  £  inch  of  the  vent ;  their  dorsal  border 
is  parallel  to  the  dorsal  tract,  the  ventral  to  the  lumbar  ones.  On  the 
inside  of  the  skin  they  are  conspicuous  as  dark  grey  patches,  formed  by 
the  closely  aggregated  insertion  of  the  feathers  of  which  they  are  com- 
posed, these  lying  at  a  less  angle  with  the  skin  than  the  contour-feathers. 
Nitzsch*  has  described  the  pterylosis  in  Coracias  garrula  and  C.  indica, 
with  figures  of  that  of  the  former,  and  in  Eurystomus  gularis.  I  have 
examined  the  first-named  species  in  the  flesh,  and  also  a  skin  of  Atelornis 
crossleyi.  In  all  essential  respects,  as  will  be  seen  by  a  comparison  of 

*  Pterylogr.  (Kay  Soc.  ed.  p.  89). 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.  153 

the  above  description  with  Nitzsch's  figures  of  Coracias  garrula,  Leptosoma 
is  essentially  Coraciine,  though  it  differs  from  all  others  of  that  group  in 
its  possession  of  powder-down  patches*. 

In  the  CuculidsB  the  dorsal  tract,  though  it  divides  between  the  shoul-  P.Z.  S.  1880, 
ders,  is  perfectly  continuous   throughout,   enclosing  an  elongated  oval       ?•    "  • 
space  (vide  Nitzsch's  figures  of  Cuculus  canorus  and  Centropus  rufipennis, 
1.  c.  pi.  iv.  figs.  12  &  14).     In  the  Cuculidae  too,  as  is  well  known,  the 
after  shaft  is  absent  and  there  are  but  10  rectrices.     I  may  remark  that 
in  the  possession  of  an  inte/*scapular  dorsal  fork  the  Coraciidae  and  Lepto- 
soma  form  an  exception  to  Prof.   Garrod's  generalization  f  that  when 
"  the  dorsal  tract  develops  a  fork  between  the  shoulder-blades  a  bird  is 
homalogODatous." 

Visceral  Anatomy. — The  mucous  membrane  of  the  palate  and  mouth  is 
smooth  throughout,  except  along  the  margins  of  the  nasal  aperture, 
where  it  develops  three  or  four  small  blunt  retro  verted  tubercle-like 
papillae  on  each  side,  and  also  external  to  this  on  each  side  along  a  line 
parallel  to  the  axis  of  the  palatine  bones,  where  there  is  a  similar  short 
row  of  small  papillae. 

The  tongue  is  tapering  and  elongated  in  shape ;  its  length  is  1|  inch. 
The  basal  part,  which  alone  is  fleshy,  and  supported  by  the  hyoid  bones, 
is  of  a  triangularly  sagittate  shape,  about  |  inch  long,  and  provided  at 
its  postero-exterual  agles  with  a  few  minute,  blunt,  retroverted  papillae ; 
it  is  prolonged  forwards  into  a  horny  lamina,  which  is  strongly  concave 
above  and  forms  the  greater  part  of  the  tongue ;  at  its  apex  the  part, 
which  is  of  a  slightly  tapering  shape,  is  apparently  entire  £.  This  tongue 
closely  resembles  that  of  Coracias,  and  differs  from  that  of  such  of  the 
Cuculidae  as  I  have  examined  in  wanting  the  wrell-developed  retroverted 
spines  that  are  always  present  on  the  posterior  part  of  the  lateral  margins 
in  those  birds  §. 

The  oesophagus  is  capacious  at  first,  but  rapidly  narrows  ;  it  develops 
no  crop.  The  proventriculus  is  zonary,  being  j  inch  deep.  The  stomach 
is  globose  and  not  strongly  muscular  :  there  is  a  distinct  pyloric  bulb  in- 

*  I  may  here  mention  that  Atelornis  crossleyi  differs  as  regards  its  pterylosis  but 
slightly  from  the  Coraciine  type.  It  has  the  same  interrupted  dorsal  tract,  each  half 
having  a  furcate  form ;  but  here  the  interscapular  fork  is  very  short  and  narrow,  and 
does  not  enclose  the  anterior  part  of  the  posterior  fork,  which  has  a  long  stem  or 
"  handle."  There  are  the  same  strong  lumbar  tracts.  Below,  the  outer  pectoral  tract, 
given  off  on  the  middle  of  the  breast,  is  only  indicated  by  an  enlargement  of  the  main 
tract,  and  is  not  at  all  free.  There  are  no  traces  of  powder-down  patches. 

t  P.Z.  S.  1878,  p.  931. 

|  The  tongue  of  Leptosoma  has  been  figured  by  Mr.  Sclater  (/.  c.  p.  688),  and  also 
by  M.  A.  Milne-Edwards  (/.  s.  c.  pi.  88.  fig.  1). 

§  Vide  also  the  figures  of  the  tongues  of  Coua  gigas  (pi.  63.  fig.  1)  and  C.  olivacciceps 
(pi.  64.  figs.  1,  2)  in  Grandidier's  work. 


154 


ON  LEPTOSOMA.  DISCOLOR. 


P.Z.S.  1880, 
p.  470. 


dicated  externally  at  the  commencement  of  the  duodenum.  Internally 
it  is  lined  with  rather  soft  epithelium,  which  is  concentrically  striated. 
In  the  present  example  the  stomach  contained  hairs,  apparently  of  lepi- 
dopterous  larvae,  and  the  horny  jaws  and  other  hard  parts  of  insects  : 
many  of  the  smaller  hairs  had  become  impacted  in  the  soft  lining  of  the 
stomach,  so  that  this  at  first  sight  appeared  to  be  villous.  The  same 
appearance  has  often  been  described  in  our  common  Cuckoo  *. 

The  intestines  in  all  measure  12£  inches,  of  which  2|  are  "  large ; " 
they  are  not  markedly  capacious.  The  caeca  f  are  long  and  cylindrical  in 
shape,  largest  apically,  and  slightly  tapering  towards  their  bases ;  they 
measure  respectively  2|  and  2|  inches.  The  liver  has  the  left  lobe  much 
the  smallest ;  there  is  a  distinct  gall-bladder. 

There  is  thus  nothing  striking  or  characteristic  about  the  alimentary 
canal.  In  the  possession  of  large  cylindrical  caeca,  Leptosoma  agrees  with 
both  Coraciidae  (including  Bracliypteracias  and  Geobiastes}  and  Cueulidse,  as 
also  in  most  of  the  other  points  noted.  In  the  Cuckoos,  however,  the 
gall-bladder  is  said  to  be  absent  as  a  rule  J. 

Fig.  2. 


Wing-muscles  of  Leptoswnd. 

Termination  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  (t.p.br.}  in  Leptosoma.  e.m.r.,  the  fleshy  belly 
of  the  superficial  layer  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior  muscle ;  t,  the 
tubercle  on  the  humerus,  whence  it  arises ;  above  it  the  humerus.  P,  the  pata- 
gium,  its  dorsal  layer  having  been  removed  to  show  the  muscles,  &c. 

*  Cf.  Hunter's  Essays  and  Observations,  ii.  p.  285  &c. 

t  Figured,  with  other  parts  of  the  intestinal  canal,  by  M.  Milne-Edwards,  I.  c. 
pi.  88. 

\  Owen,  Anat.  Vert.  ii.  p.  177.  Gadow  also  states  its  absence  in  Cuculus.  Hunter, 
on  the  other  hand,  found  it,  though  "  very  small,"  in  C.  canorus  (1.  s.  c.  p.  285).  Ac- 
cording to  the  plates  in  Grandidier's  work,  Coua  gigas  has  a  gall-bladder  (pi.  63) ;  so 
has  Geobiastes  sqiiamigera  (pi.  99.  fig.  2). 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.  155 

Myology,  fyc.  —  The  first  pectoral  is  big  ;  the  second  extends  at  least 
halfway  down  the  sternum  ;  the  third  is  not  represented.  There  is  no 
biceps-slip  to  the  patagium,^as  is  the  case  in  all  "  Anomalogonatse  "  except 
the  Caprimulgidae.  In  none  of  these  points  does  Leptosoma  differ  from 
the  Coraciidae  or  Cuculidoe.  The  expansor  secundariorum  is  present  and 
well  developed  ;  its  proximal  end  is  T-shaped  ("  ciconiiform"  Garrod), 
the  sternal  part  of  the  tendon  being  attached  to  that  bone  at  the  junction 
of  the  costal  process  with  the  body  near  the  coracoid  groove  ;  it  therefore 
resembles  the  same  muscle  in  the  Coraciidae.  In  no  other  birds  amongst  P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
the  Anomalogonatae  is  this  muscle  present.  In  the  Cuculidse  this  muscle  p'  ' 
is  present,  but  its  terminal  tendon  is  not  T-shaped,  the  sternal  moiety 
being  undeveloped. 

The  arrangement  of  the  termination  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  is  re- 
presented in  the  accompanying  figure  (fig.  2,  p.  154). 

The  main  tendon  (t.p.br.)  runs  on  to  the  ulnar  side  of  the  arm,  and 
there  becomes  fused  with  the  fascia  covering  the  muscles.  Before  doing 
so,  however,  it  crosses  the  superficial  tendon  of  origin  of  the  extensor 
metacarpi  radialis  longior  (e.w.r.),  which  springs  from  the  humeral  tubercle, 
and  becomes  firmly  blended  with  it. 

It  likewise  sends  off,  distally,  a  special  slip  of  tendon  which  joins  the 
same  tendon  of  that  muscle  more  externally  (wristward).  This  is  much 
the  same  arrangement  as  in  the  Coraciidse,  as  described  and  figured  by 
Prof.  Garrod  (P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  511,  pi.  49.  fig.  1),  except  that  in  those 
birds  the  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  is  split  into  two  quite  separate 
halves  ;  if  these  were  united  together,  an  arrangement  would  be  arrived 
at  practically  identical  with  that  of  Leptosoma.  In  the  Cuculidae  the 
condition  of  things  is  quite  different,  as  in  them  the  "  undivided  tendon 
runs  on  to  the  ulnar  superficial  fascia  without  auy  complication  "  (I.  c. 
p.  512). 

Of  the  leg-muscles,  the  glutens  primus  is  present,  though  small,  only 
slightly  overlapping  the  biceps,  and  with  its  fleshy  part  not  reaching  the 
innominate,  to  which  it  is  attached  only  by  fascia.  The  ambiens  is  ab- 
sent ;  the  femoro-caudal  is  very  large,  but  lacks  the  accessory  head,  as  in 
all  Anomalogonatae.  Both  the  semitendinosus  and  its  accessory  are  well 
developed,  as  is  the  semimembranosus.  The  biceps  mem,  as  usual,  passes 
through  a  tendinous  loop.  The  obturator  externus  is  well  developed,  and 
the  obturator  internus  is  of  a  very  elongated  oval  shape.  The  formula  of 
Leptosoma  is  therefore  —  .  A  .  X  .  T,  exactly  the  same  as  that  of  the 
Coraciidae  and  the  greater  number  of  Anomalogonatous  birds.  In  the 
Cuculidse  the  ambiens  is  always  present  and  well  developed,  and  the 
accessory  femoro-caudal  usually  so  *,  giving  a  formula  of  +  .  A  .  (5\  X  .  T  . 


*  It  is  absent  only  in  Cuculus,  Chrysococcyx,  and  Cacomantis.     [  Garrod  's  MSS.] 


156 


OJST  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR. 


p.  472. 


Leptosoma  is  therefore  clearly  not  Cuculine.  In  the  Cuctilidae,  too,  the 
obturator  internus  is  triangular  in  shape,  as  in  the  Gallinae  and  their  allies ; 
in  Leptosoma,  as  already  stated,  as  in  Coradas,  it  is  oval. 

The  anomalous  arrangement  of  the  toes  in  Leptosoma  made  me  very 
anxious  to  observe  the  disposition  of  its  deep  plantar  tendons,  these,  in 
all  "  zygodactyle  "  Anomalogonatous  birds,  being  arranged  in  a  manner 
quite  unique  amongst  birds  and  entirely  different  from  that  which  obtains 
in  the  even-toed  Homalogonatous  birds  (i.  e.  the  Psittaci,  Cuculidae,  and 
Musophagidaa)  *. 

But  in  Leptosoma  neither  of  these  conditions  occurs  ;  on  the  contrary, 
the  disposition  of  its  plantar  tendons  is  exactly  that  found  in  many  birds 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,  with  feet  of  the  ordinary  structure.  This  condition  is  diagrammatically 
represented  in  fig.  3  ;  as  will  there  be  seen,  the  tendon  of  ihejle&or  longus 
liallucis  (f.l.hS)  joins  the  tendon  of  i\±Q  fleocor  profundus  digitorum(f.p.d.) 
on  the  outer  side,  some  little  way  above  the  phalanges,  and  completely 
blends  with  it.  From  the  single  compound  tendon  so  formed  the  small 
slip  to  the  hallux  is  given  off,  on  the  inner  side,  just  before  the  common 
tendon  splits  up  for  distribution  to  the  three  other  digits.  This  is  exactly 
the  same  condition  as  that  found  by  Prof.  Garrod  in  Coracias  garrula, 
and  by  myself  in  Atelornis  crossleyi  (in  a  skin). 

It  differs  completely  from  that  found  in  the  Psittacidae,  Cuculidae,  and 
Musophagida}  on  the  one  hand,  and  that  of  the  Galbulidae,  Bueconida), 

Fig.  ?. 


•f.p.d. 


Diagram  of  the  arrangement  of  the  deep  plantar  tendons  in  Leptosoma. 
f.  1.  h.,  the  flexor  longus  hallucis ;  f.p.  d.,  the  flexor  profundus  digitorum. 

and  Picidaa  and  their  allies  on  the  other.     Therefore  this  fact,  when  taken 
in  conjunction  with  the  statements  already  made  as  to  the  natural  position 

*  Vide  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  345. 


ON  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR.  157 

of  the  fourth  digit  in  Leptosoma,  shows  that  there  are  no  real  grounds  for 
calling  Leptosoma  a  "  zygodactyle  "  bird  *. 

As  regards  other  points,  it  may  be  mentioned  that  the  vessels  and 
nerves  of  the  thigh  are  normal;  that  is  to  say,  the  sciatic  nerve  and 
artery  and.  the  femoral  vein  are  all  present  in  their  normal  position. 

There  are  two  carotid  arteries  present,  both  of  them  being  unusually 
small,  the  left  particularly  so.  They  run  up  in  the  usual  converging 
way,  springing  from  the  vertebral  arteries  into  the  hypapophysial  canal 
of  the  neck,  and  there  become  so  closely  applied  to  each  other  that  it  is 
impossible  to  dissect  them  away  as  can  usually  be  done  in  birds.  As  far  P.  Z.  S.  1880, 
as  I  can  make  out,  they  do  not,  however,  fuse,  but  are  continued  up  to  p* 
the  head  and  there  diverge.  In  OpistJiocomus  t  Prof.  Garrod  found  a 
somewhat  similar  condition,  though  he  says  nothing  about  the  vessels 
being  minute.  In  Leptosoma  they  have  the  appearance  of  white  fibrous 
cords,  and  they  may  possibly  be,  like  the  carotids  of  Bucorvus  J,  no 
longer  functional  as  blood-channels.  But  satisfactorily  to  decide  this, 
as  well  as  the  ultimate  termination  of  these  carotids,  fresh  or  injected 
specimens  will  be  necessary. 

In  both  the  CuculidaB  and  CoraciidsD  there  are  two  equisized  carotids, 
which  are  as  free  as  usual. 

As  regards  the  vocal  organs,  there  are  present  but  one  pair  of  extrinsic 
muscles,  which  diverge  to  be  attached  to  the  "  costal  processes  "  of  the 
sternum.  The  syrinx  possesses  a  single  pair  of  intrinsic  muscles,  as 

Fig.  4.  Fig.  5. 


Fig.  4.  The  syrinx  of  Leptosoma  seen  from  in  front,  the  muscles  of  the  left  side  having 

been  removed. 
Fig.  5.  The  same,  from  behind.     (Both  are  twice  the  natural  size.) 

usual.      This   organ  having  been  previously  unknown  in  Leptosoma,  I 
here  take  the  opportunity  of  describing  and  figuring  it. 

The  tracheal  rings,  which,  as  usual,  interlock  with  each  other  for  the 

*  In  Podargus  cuvieri,  where  the  outer  toe  is  reversed  in  perching,  and  in  Coitus, 
where  the  toes  are  directed  at  various  times  in  very  different  ways,  the  "same blended" 
distribution  of  the  deep  plantar  tendons  obtains. 

t  P.Z.8.  1879,  p.112. 

J   Vide  Mr.  Ottley's  paper  on  this  bird,  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  461-467. 


158  OX  LEPTOSOMA  DISCOLOR. 

greater  length  of  the  trachea,  are  well  ossified,  and  only  separated  by 
narrow  intervals.  They  gradually  narrow  as  they  approach  the  thorax, 
the  last  two  being  the  narrowest  of  all.  The  penultimate  tracheal  ring  is 
produced  downwards  in  a  triangular  way  behind,  as  is  the  terminal  one 
in  front ;  behind,  this  last  ring  bears  the  anteriorly  directed  narrow 
pessulus,  which  intervenes  behind  between  the  inturned  ends  of  the  first 
pair  of  bronchial  semirings,  but  in  front  does  not  appear,  stopping  short 
before  it  reaches  the  anterior  surface  of  the  bifurcating  trachea. 

Like  the  tracheal  rings,  the  first  three  bronchial  semirings  are  well 
ossified,  and  separated  from  each  other  only  by  very  narrow  interannular 
intervals.     They  are  nearly  straight,   with  only  a  very  slight  concavity 
upwards,  and  increase  in  depth  as  they  descend.     In  front  the  semirings 
P.  Z.  S.  1880,   of  opposite  sides  are  separated  from  each  other  by  a  small  notch  ;  behind 
P*    '4  they  are  less  and  less  complete  as  they  go  downwards.     The  first  semi- 

rings are  posteriorly  closely  applied  to,  though  separate  from,  the 
pessulus,  and  are  apparently  continued  on,  as  cartilaginous  rings, 
posteriorly,  so  as  to  form  complete  or  nearly  rings.  The  posterior  ends 
of  the  second  and  third  semirings  where  they  appear  behind  are  widely 
separated  from  their  fellows  of  the  other  side.  The  fourth  and  succeeding 
bronchial  rings  are  all  cartilaginous.  Of  these  the  fourth  is  the  largest, 
being  nearly  straight,  and  slightly  more  prominent  than  the  others.  To 
its  middle,  rather  towards  its  posterior  margin,  is  attached  the  (single) 
intrinsic  syringeal  muscle.  The  rings  succeeding  the  fourth  ring  rapidly 
become  more  and  more  complete,  at  the  same  time  that  the  bronchus 
becomes  less  capacious,  the  whole  tube  tapering  away  from  this  ring  as  it 
approaches  the  lung.  The  fifth  and  sixth  semirings  are  more  slender 
than  those  that  succeed  them,  and  are  slightly  concave  upwards.  The 
remaining  ones  are  straighter  and  deeper.  Except  between  the  fourth 
and  fifth,  and  fifth  and  sixth  semirings,  the  interannular  intervals  are 
exceedingly  narrow. 

This  syrinx  does  not  show  much  similarity  of  form  to  that  of  Coracias 
garrula,  the  only  one  of  the  family  of  Coraciidae  that  I  have  been  able  to 
examine  as  regards  this  point.  At  the  same  time  it  does  not  much 
resemble  that  of  any  Cuckoo  I  am  acquainted  with. 

Reviewing  the  facts  already  stated,  it  is  clear  that  the  affinities  of 
Leptosoma  to  the  Cuculidae  are  very  remote,  whilst,  on  the  contrary,  its 
relations  to  the  Coraciidae  are  quite  the  reverse.  The  subjoined  tabular 
statement  (p.  159)  of  the  principal  points  in  the  structure  of  the  three  just 
named  groups  will  perhaps  render  this  additionally  clear. 

In  common  with  both  Cuculidae  and  Coraciidae,  Leptosoma  possesses  a 
nude  oil-gland  and  long  caeca,  two  carotids,  and  the  f em oro- caudal,  semi- 
tendinosus,  and  accessory  semitendinosus  muscles.  Wherever  there  is 
any  difference,  Leptosoma  resembles  the  Coraciidae ;  and  the  same  story 
is  told  by  the  pterylosis  and  tensor-patagii  arrangement. 


ON  TWO  PLOCEINE  BIRDS. 


159 


,  2 

M 

Aftersh. 

T3 

Id 

•?* 

Ambieiis. 

'i 
* 

1 

?; 

«f4 

4 

'a 
A 

.j 

'a 
i 

d 

1 

*1 

H  | 

J 

_rt 

jS 

o 

Carotids. 

Q 

Cuculidae    ... 

10 

- 

— 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

+ 

peculiar 

triangular 

2 

+ 

Leptosoma... 

12 

+ 

- 

- 

+ 

- 

+ 

+ 

ciconiine 

oval 

2 

+ 

Coraciidae  ... 

12 

+ 

- 

— 

+ 

- 

+ 

+ 

ciconiine 

oval 

2 

+ 

Nevertheless,  both  in  the  syrinx  and  in  these  last  two  points,  as  well 
as  in  some  others,  especially  osteological  ones  *,  Leptosoma  is  not  quite 
typically  Coraciine,  and  it  may  therefore  be  retained,  as  was  proposed  by  p.z.  S.  1883, 
Mr.  Sclater,  as  the  type  of  a  peculiar  family,  Leptosomidae.     This  should      P-  *^' 
be  placed  in  the  series  of  Passeriform  Anomalogonatous  birds  as  denned 
by  Prof.  Grarrodt,  next  to  the    Coraciidse,  with  which  its  relations  are 
most  intimate.     Indeed  it  is  possible  that,  when  the  anatomy  of  the  allied 
genera,  Brachyptercicias,  Geobiastes,  and  Atelornis^  becomes  fully  known, 
the  truth  of  Mr.  Sharpe's  proposition  §,  that  Leptosoma  should  be  relegated 
to  the  position  merely  of  a  subfamily  of  the  Coraciidae,  may  be  established. 


28.  ON  TWO  RARE  PLOCEINE  BIRDS  NOW  OR  LATELY  P.z.s.1880, 
LIVING  IN  THE  SOCIETY'S  MENAGERIE.  ||  p'475' 

(Plate  VII.) 

1.    VlDUA  SPLEKDENS.      (Plate  VII.  fig.  1.) 

Vidua  splendens,  R/eichen.  Orn.  Centralbl.  1879,  p.  114. 

On  the  17th  of  July,  1878,  Mr.  Archibald  Brown  presented  to  the 
Society,  with  some  other  birds,  a  specimen  of  a  small  Weaver-bird,  which 
being  then  "  out  of  colour,"  was  entered  on  the  list  of  additions  as  Vidua 
principalis,  the  common  and  well-known  "Pin-tailed  Whydah  bird." 
Last  summer  this  bird  had  assumed  an  entirely  blue-black  plumage,  like 
that  of  Hypochera  nitens,  also  a  common  cage-bird.  But  I  was  struck  by 
the  appearance  of  the  beak  and  feet,  these  being  of  a  bright  coral-red 
colour,  whereas  in  H.  nitens  they  are  only  pale  flesh-coloured.  The 

Vide  Grandidier's  work,  Atlas,  Ois.  pis.  85,  86. 
t  P.Z.S.  1874,  p.  119,  and  1.  c.  1878,  p.  99. 

\  The  osteology  of  these  genera,  with  some  other  points,  is  figured  in  Grandidier*g 
work  on  pla.  97-99,  101,  102,  103a. 
§  Ibis,  1871,  p.  187. 
||  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1880,  pp.  475-477  PL  XL VII.     Read  June  15,  1880. 


160  ON  TWO  PLOCEINE  BIRDS, 

tail-feathers,  too,  were  slightly  tipped  with  white,  and  the  two  central 
ones  became  gradually  slightly  more  lengthened  than  the  others,  and  so 
projected  beyond  them.  The  accompanying  figure  (Plate  VII.  fig.  1) 
shows  the  appearance  of  this  bird  at  that  time,  as  sketched  from  life  by 
Mr.  Smit.  Unfortunately  it  died  on  the  29th  of  March  in  the  present 
year,  being  then  in  very  poor  plumage,  as  it  was  moulting ;  011  dissection 
it  proved  to  be  a  male.  Thinking  I  had  here  a  new  species  of  Hypocliera 
to  deal  with,  I  took  the  skin  with  me,  on  a  late  visit  to  Berlin,  to  show 
to  Drs.  Hartlaub,  Cabanis,  and  E/eichenow.  The  latter  gentleman  speedily 
recognized  this  bird  as  the  young  male  of  a  species  he  had  lately  described 
from  E.  Africa  as  Vidua  splendens  (Orn.  Centralbl.  1879,  p.  114).  Of 
this  only  a  single  specimen  was  collected  at  Kibaradja,  E.  Africa,  by  Dr. 
Fischer,  and  is  now  in  the  Berlin  Museum.  A  sketch  from  this  bird  is 
reproduced  in  the  distant  figure  of  the  accompanying  Plate  ;  as  will  be 
seen  from  it,  the  male  bird,  when  fully  adult,  possesses  enormously  elon- 
P  Z  S  1880  ga^e^  rectrices,  the  two  of  each  side  fitting  into  each  other,  so  that  at 
p.  476.  first  sight  there  only  appear  to  be  two  on  each  side.  The  excess  of  these 

four  central  tail-feathers  over  the  other  rectrices  is,  in  this  specimen, 
nearly  6  inches  :  in  the  young  male  that  lived  in  our  Gardens,  there  are 
only  two  lengthened  feathers,  which  project  only  to  the  extent  of  i  inch. 
If  our  bird  had  lived,  the  other  two  tail-feathers  would,  no  doubt,  have 
been  duly  developed,  the  birds  in  other  respects  being  nearly  similar.  In 
our  specimen  all  the  rectrices,  including  the  two  central  ones,  are  slightly 
tipped  with  white ;  the  eyes  were  very  dark  red-brown.  Vidua  splendens 
is  perhaps  most  like  Vidua  hypocherina  of  Verreaux*;  from  that  species 
it  can  be  at  once  distinguished  by  the  absence  of  the  white,  elongated 
rump-feathers.  Vidua  (Hypochera)  nitens  is  also  entirely  blue-black,  but 
has  no  lengthened  rectrices,  and,  moreover,  has  the  feet  and  beak  flesh- 
colour  ;  in  V.  principalis  the  beak  is  also  bright  red,  but  the  feet  are 
fleshy,  besides  many  other  differences.  The  discovery  of  this  bird  renders, 
in  my  opinion,  the  retention  of  the  genus  Hypochera,  founded  by  Bona- 
parte t  in  1850,  for  Fringilla  nitens  unnecessary — the  males  of  V.  splen- 
dens and  V.  principalis,  as  well  as  probably  V.  hypocherina  $  when  in 
winter  plumage,  as  well  as  the  females  and  young  males  at  all  times, 
being  indistinguishable  by  any  characters,  structural  or  otherwise,  from 
that  section  of  the  group  including  V.  nitens  and  V.  nif/errima  (Hypocliera 
nigerrima,  Sharpe,  P.  Z.  S.  1871,  p.  133),  in  which  the  male  has,  in 
nuptial  plumage,  no  elongated  rectrices. 

*  Vidua  hypocherina,  J.  and  E.  Verreaux,  Eev.  et  Mag.  Zool.  1856,  p.  260,  t.  16. 

t  0.  R  xxxi.  p.  434. 

J  Vidua  superciliosa  (Vieill.  Gal.  Ois.  pi.  61)  I  only  know  by  the  plate  and  de- 
scriptions ;  it  is  said  to  have  only  two  elongated  rectrices  ;  as  there  are  said  to  be  ten  of 
the  ordinary  length,  this  statement  is  therefore  probably  correct. 


PI.  VII 


P.Z.S.1830.FLXLVII. 


J  .SimlliLH. 


Hannar'L  irno 


l.VIDUA  SPLENDENS. 
2.PYTELIA   WIENERI 


ON  TWO  PLOCEINE  BIRDS.  161 

Our  specimen  was  said  to  be  from  the  "  east  coast  of  Africa,"  a  fact 
rendered  probable  by  the  arrival  along  with,  it  of  specimens  of  Euplectes 
nigriventris  *,  a  truly  eastern  species. 

2.  P r TELIA  WIENEEI.     (Plate  VII.  fig.  2.) 

Pytelia  wieneri,  Finsch,  Gef.  Welt,  Aug.  9,  1877. 

Pytelia  cinereigula,  Cab.  Orn.  Centralb.  Dec.  1,  1877,  et  Journ.  fiir 
Orn.  1878,  p.  101. 

In  the  '  Gefiederte  Welt '  (6th  Jahrg.  no.  32,  p.  317)  for  Aug.  9th, 
1877,  Dr.  Finsch  described  as  new,  under  the  above  title,  a  species  of 
Pytelia,  of  which  Mr.  A.  F.  Wiener,  F.Z.S.,  had  purchased  four  living 
specimens  in  London,  supposed  to  be  from  "  Australia."  On  June  18th, 
1879,  Mr.  Wiener  presented  one  of  these  specimens  to  the  Society,  which 
is  still  (May  31)  living  in  the  Parrot-house  in  good  health.  From  it  the 
accompanying  drawing  has  been  taken  (Plate  VII.  fig.  2). 

In  the  '  Ornithologisches  Centralblatt '  for  Dec.  1,  1877  (p.  182), 
Dr.  Cabanis  described  a  Pytelia  f  cinereigula,  of  which  there  had  been  two  p.  z.  S.  1880, 
specimens  lately  received  at  the  Berlin  Museum  from  East  Africa.  One  P-  477. 
of  these  had  been  collected  at  Zanzibar  by  Dr.  Fischer,  the  second  at 
Mombassa  by  Drs.  Hildebrandt  and  von  Kalkreuth.  During  my  late 
visit  to  Berlin  I  at  once  recognized  in  this  species  Finsch's  Pytelia  wieneri ; 
and  by  the  kindness  of  Drs.  Cabanis  and  Reichenow  I  was  allowed  to 
bring  back  with  me  to  London  a  third  skin  of  the  same  bird,  still  more 
lately  received,  and  collected  in  Angola,  at  Malange.  A  comparison  of 
this  with  our  living  bird  has  quite  confirmed  the  opinion  I  had  already 
arrived  at,  so  that  Cabanis's  name  must  yield  to  Finsch's  £.  The  Aus- 
tralian habitat  is,  of  course,  a  mistake,  Pytelia  being  an  entirely  African 
form.  Of  the  red-beaked  section  of  Pytelia,  to  which  it  belongs,  P.  wie- 
neri can  only  be  confused  with  P.  melba  and  its  ally  (or  geographical  form) 
P.  citerior.  The  differences  between  these  and  the  bird  under  con- 
sideration have  already  been  pointed  out  by  Drs.  Finsch  and  Cabanis  in 
their  descriptions ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  P.  wieneri  is  at  once,  inter  alia, 
distinguished  from  these  by  its  very  different  markings  below,  and  also  by 
the  red  of  the  chin  and  throat  being  separated  from  the  greenish-yellow 
of  the  lower  parts  by  the  interposition  of  a  grey  band.  In  our  living  bird 
the  beak  is  bright  red  and  the  feet  pink  ;  the  irides  are  dark  red. 

*  Cassin,  J.  Ac.  Phil.  1849,  p.  242,  pi.  xxxi.  fig.  1.  Erroneously  entered  in  the 
register  (P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  1008)  as  E.  oryx.  Cf.  List  Vert.  1st  supplem.  1879,  p.  65. 

t  This  description  is  reproduced  in  the  Journ.  fiir  Orn.  1878,  p.  101.  I  may  here 
remark  that,  in  my  opinion,  Pytelia,  though  perhaps  a  "  nonsense  name,"  is  sufficiently 
"  like  Latin  "  to  be  retained,  and  not  replaced  by  "  Zonogastris,"  or  altered  into  "  Pytilia" 
as  proposed  by  Dr.  Cabanis  (L  c.  p.  100). 

\  I  also  found  a  single  specimen  of  this  bird,  with  no  precise  locality,  in  the 
Museum  at  Hamburg. 

M 


162  ON  A  SPECIMEN  OF  DENHAM's  BUSTARD. 


p.z.s.1880,  29.  NOTE   ON  A  SPECIMEN  OF   DENHAJVTS    BUSTARD 
P-477-  (EUPODOTIS  DENHAMI)* 

THE  interest  attached  to  the  existence,  or  otherwise,  of  special  mecha- 
nisms connected  with  the  habit  of  "  showing  off  "  in  the  males  of  the 
Otididse,  together  with  the  fact  of  the  subject  of  the  present  note  being 
of  a  species  rarely  seen  in  captivity,  so  that  some  time  may  elapse  before 
a  further  opportunity  of  examination  offers  itself,  must  be  my  excuse  for 
this  short  and  imperfect  notice. 

On  March  20,  1872,  two  specimens  of  Eupodotis  denliami,  from  W. 
Africa,  I  believe,  the  first  and  only  ones  of  this  species  possessed  by  the 
Society,  were  presented  by  Governor  Ussher  and  C.  D.  O'Connor,  Esq. 
Of  these  one  lived  in  good  health  in  the  Gardens  for  many  years,  dying 
on  May  12  last,  after  having  been  attacked  by  a  companion  hen  of  Otis 
tarda  that  was  in  the  same  enclosure  with  it.  Having  never  observed  any 
signs  of  "  showing  off  "  in  this  bird,  I  had  always  considered  it  to  be  a 
female.  This  surmise,  however,  proved  incorrect,  for  on  dissection  it 
turned  out  to  be  a  male. 

P.  Z.  S.  1880,  On  examining  the  mouth  there  was  no  trace  of  any  sublingual  or  gular 
p.  478.  pouch ;  on  the  contrary,  the  frcenum  linguae  was  well  developed  in  its 
ordinary  position.  But  the  oesophagus,  for  the  greater  part  of  its  course 
in  the  neck,  though  stopping  short  considerably  of  its  entrance  into  the 
thoracic  cavity,  was  much  dilated,  so  that  by  blowing  it  up  with  a  blow- 
pipe a  large  distention  of  the  neck  took  place,  confined,  however,  to  the 
upper  two  thirds,  or  thereabouts,  of  the  neck — the  oesophagus,  which,  as 
usual  in  the  Otididse,  develops  no  crop,  being  in  the  rest  of  its  course,  till 
it  entered  the  stomach,  of  very  much  smaller  calibre. 

On  inquiring  of  Mr.  Bartlett  and  the  keeper,  J.  Church,  whether  they 
had  ever  witnessed  any  display  on  the  part  of  this  bird,  they  both  told 
me  that  during  the  last  two  summers  (1878,  1879)  it  bad  "  shown  off." 
But  this  display  did  not  take  place  in  the  same  way  as  in  E.  australis,  as 
depicted  and  described  by  Dr.  Murie  (P.  Z.  S.  1868,  pp.  474,  475,  pi. 
xxxvi.)  ;  for  there  was  none  of  that  downward  distention  of  the  oesophagus, 
and  consequent  trailing  of  it  on  the  ground,  that  is  so  marked  a  feature  in 
the  showing-off  of  that  species ;  on  the  contrary,  the  distention  of  the 
O3sophagus  during  display  in  E.  denhami  is  lateral,  the  neck  being  im- 
mensely puffed  out  on  both  sides  in  a  globular  way,  and  so  resembling 
when  seen  from  in  front,  to  use  Mr.  Bartlett's  words,  "  a  lady's  muff." 
In  E.  australis,  it  must  be  remembered,  there  is  a  similar  dilatation  of  the 
oesophagus,  extending,  however,  in  that  species,  over  a  larger  extent  of 
its  course,  so  that  "  before  dissection,  by  filling  its  cavity  with  air,  the 

*   Proc.  Zool.  Soe.  1880,  pp.  477,  478.    Bead  June  15,  1880. 


ON  THE  DIGESTIVE  SYSTEM  OF  BIRDS.  163 

lower  portion  of  the  dilated  O3sophagus  protruded  downwards  considerably 
in  front  of  the  symphysis  furculce,  and  formed  the  depending  portion  of 
the  sac  which  was  so  conspicuous  in  the  living  animal "  (Garrod,  P.  Z.  S. 
1874,  p.  473). 


30.  REMARKS  ON  DR.  GADOW'S  PAPERS  ON  THE       ibis,  1880, 

p.  234. 
DIGESTIVE  SYSTEM  OP  BIRDS.* 

DR.  HANS  GADOW,  who  is  already  known  as  a  worker  at  the  anatomy 
of  birds  from  his  papers  in  the  '  Journal  fur  Ornithologie/  has  lately 
published  in  the  '  Jenaische  Zeitschrift '  an  elaborate  article  on  the 
anatomy  of  the  digestive  organs  of  birds  t.  This  paper,  in  two  parts, 
extends  over  more  than  140  pages,  and  is  illustrated  with  nine  plates. 

In  the  first  part  Dr.  Gadow  gives  a  descriptive  account  (without 
histological  details)  of  the  alimentary  canal  and  its  appendages — tongue, 
liver,  pancreas,  cseca,  &c.,  as  well  as  of  the  kidneys,  which  he  strangely 
includes  with  these  organs — in  the  various  orders  of  birds,  in  large  part 
based  upon  his  own  investigations.  I  cannot  always  agree  with  Dr. 
Gadow  in  his  grouping  of  the  various  forms  together,  as,  e.  g.,  including 
such  different  forms  as  Auks,  Penguins,  and  Grebes  in  the  same  order, 
"  Pygopodes." 

For  this  part  of  his  work  Dr.  Gadow  seems  to  have  examined  a  large 
number  of  birds  ;  but  it  is  to  be  regretted  that  he  has  apparently  had  no 
opportunity  of  investigating  some  of  the  most  interesting  forms,  such  as 
the  Tinamidae  and  Turnicidse.  Had  Dr.  Gadow  been  acquainted  with 
the  structure  of  the  former  group,  he  would  not,  I  think,  have  insisted  ^a>  1880, 
so  strongly  on  the  absolute  isolation  of  the  "  Ratitaa  "  from  all  other 
living  birds  +. 

Dr.  Gadow  justly  regrets  the  small  amount  of  attention  that  has  been 
paid  of  late  years  to  the  anatomy  of  birds,  and  particularly,  as  he  says, 
to  the  digestive  system.  But  he  seems  to  be  unacquainted  with  the 
work  done  lately  in  this  country  by  Prof.  Garrod,  as  in  the  list  of 
papers  quoted  by  him  but  two  of  that  anatomist's  are  mentioned.  Hence 
no  account  is  given  of  some  of  the  most  peculiar  variations  that  are 

*  Ibis,  1880,  pp.  234-237. 

t  "  Versuch  einer  vergleichenden  .Anatomie  des  Verdauungssystemes  der  Vogel," 
I.  TheH,  Jen.  Zeitschr.  f.  Wissenschaft.,  Band  xiii.  Heft  1,  pp.  92-171  (1879) ;  II.  Theil, 
torn.  cit.  Heft  3,  p.  339  &c.  (1879). 

\  "Dass  aber  ....  Uebergange  der  4  noch  lebenden  Ratitenfamilien  unter 
einander  und  auch  gu  den  Carinaten  gdnzlich  feklen"  torn.  cit.  p.  107. 

M    2 


164  ON  THE  DIGESTIVE  SYSTEM  OF  BIRDS. 

known  to  occur  in  the  alimentary  canal  of  birds,  of,  for  instance,  the 
peculiar  proventriculus  and  caeca  of  Chauna  (though  Dr.  Crisp's  paper 
on  this  bird  is  quoted),  and  of  the  extraordinary  stomachs  of  the  species 
of:  Plotus.  Xo  allusion  is  made  to  the  tongue  of  Nestor ;  and  the  old 
statements  as  to  the  universal  absence  of  a  gall-bladder,  or,  at  all  events, 
its  only  exceptional  presence  as  an  individual  variety,  in  the  Parrots  and 
Pigeons,  are  repeated. 

In  the  second  part  Dr.  Gadow  commences  with  the  different  forms  of 
the  same  organs  throughout  the  series  of  birds.  In  a  tabular  statement 
of  the  correlation  of  the  nature  of  the  caeca  to  the  nature  of  the  food, 
Phcenicopterus  is  included  as  one  of  the  "  Eleisch  u.  Fische "  eaters. 
But,  according  to  Mr.  Salvin  and  other  authorities,  the  major  part  of  the 
food  of  these  birds  consists  of  the  vegetable  matter  that  grows  at  the 
bottom  of  the  lagoons  which  they  frequent  (vide  Dresser,  B.  of  Eur. 
pts.  75,  76).  The  length  and  width  of  the  alimentary  canal,  the  relative 
size  of  its  various  parts,  the  influence  of  the  food  on  the  canal  as  a 
whole,  and  the  variations  in  its  length  in  birds  of  the  same  species,  both 
young  and  old,  are  then  discussed.  The  concluding  part  of  the  paper  is 
devoted  to  a  description  of  the  disposition  of  the  convolutions  of  the 
intestines ;  and  this  is  decidedly  the  most  novel  part  of  Dr.  Gadovv's 
work,  previous  accounts  of  this  subject  being  very  meagre. 

Ibis,  1880,       Excluding  the  Ratita?,  Dr.  Gadow  distinguishes  three  chief  types  of 
p.  236.     intestinal  arrangement.     These  he  calls  Orthoccela,  Plagioccela  (or  Plagio- 
brochi\  and  Cycloccela. 

In  the  first  group  (Orthoccelci),  in  which,  he  includes  the  Pygopodes, 
Steganopodes,  Anseres,  Tubinares,  Erodii,  Alectorides,  and  Rallida?,  the 
chief  folds,  which  are  from  five  to  eight  in  number,  are  straight  and 
parallel  to  one  another  and  to  the  long  axis  of  the  body. 

In  the  Plagiocoela,  which  includes  only  the  Easores,  the  two  middle  of 
the  four  chief  folds  form  more  or  less  horseshoe-shaped  loops  at  their 
extremities,  and  the  general  direction  of  the  intestines  always  forms, 
more  or  less,  an  angle  with  the  long  axis  of  the  body. 

In  the  Cycloccela  one  or  more  of  the  chief  folds  are  spirally  coiled 
round  their  ends.  This  division  includes  some  of  the  Grallse,  the 
Pelargi,  Laridae,  Psittaci,  Raptores,  Columbae,  the  Coccygomorphae  and 
Pici  in  part,  the  Cypselomorphae,  and  the  Passeres. 

It  is  further  subdivided  into  the  Telogyri,  in  which  only  the  terminal 
part  of  the  fold  is  coiled,  and  the  Hologyri,  in  which  the  whole  fold  is  so 
disposed,  these  latter,  again,  being  further  divided  into  Progyri,  Mesogyri, 
Amphigyri,  and  Polygyri. 

But,  judging  from  the  forms  associated  together  under  some  of  these 
heads,  the  groups  so  named  are  eminently  artificial.  Thus,  the  Eaptores 
are  divided  amongst  the  first  three,  and  under  the  Mesogyri  are  included 
forms  as  various  as  Astur,  Melierax,  Halcyon,  and  Phcenicopterus. 


ON  BUTTERFLY-COLLECTING  IN  THE  ALPS.  165 

The  paper  concludes  with  the  inevitable  phylogenetic  table,  showing 
Dr.  Gadow's  ideas  of  the  lines  of  descent  amongst  birds.  He  holds  that 
all  the  highest  forms  of  each  subdivision  belong  to  the  Hologyri  or 
Mesogyri,  the  more  primitive  ones  being  Ortlioccela  or  Playioccela. 

The  figures  in  the  plates  are  chiefly  devoted  to  showing,  in  a  more  or 
less  diagrammatic  way,  the  various  types  of  intestinal  convolution 
described  in  the  text,  and  will  be  found  very  useful  in  elucidating 
Dr.  Gadow's  views. 

In  conclusion,  it  seems  to  me  that,  as  it  is  a  well-known  fact  that 
individuals  of   the  same   species  vary,  sometimes   very  greatly,  in  the  Ibis,  1880, 
length  of  their  intestines,  the  stowing  away  of  a  greater  or  less  amount      P-  237' 
of  gut  in  a   given   space,   the   abdominal  cavity,   becomes   simply   a 
mechanical  problem,  and  therefore  that  there  is  less  help  in  forming  a 
sound  view  of  the  mutual  affinities  of  birds  to  be  derived  from  the  facts 
in  this  direction  described  by  Dr.  Gadow  than  from  many  other  points, 
more  complicated,  and  therefore  less  easily  altered,  in  the  structure   of 
birds. 


31.  THREE  WEEKS'  BUTTERFLY-COLLECTING  IN         EntM.M.xvi. 
THE  ALPS.*  P.  256  (1880). 

THE  following  is  an  account  of  a  short  trip  in  the  Alps  of  Dauphine 
and  Piedmont  made  last  summer  by  myself,  in  company  with  Messrs. 
Salvin  and  Godman,  and  Capt.  Elwes.  Our  object  was  quite  as  much  to 
enjoy  a  change  and  breathe  fresh  air,  as  to  catch  butterflies,  though  we 
devoted  most  of  our  time  to  the  latter  pursuit.  We  left  London  on 
June  22nd,  and  reached  it  again  on  the  llth  of  July,  so  that  we  were 
only  about  three  weeks,  and  as  we  got  over  a  good  deal  of  ground  in 
that  time,  rarely  staying  more  than  one  night  in  a  place,  a  large  part 
of  our  trip  was  spent  in  travelling.  Our  route  was  as  follows :  from 
Chambery  we  drove,  by  St.  Laurent  du  Pont,  a  village  close  to  the 
famous  monastery  of  La  Grand  Chartreuse,  to  Voiron,  and  thence  by 
rail  to  Grenoble.  From  there  we  proceeded  to  Bourg  d'Oisans,  and  next 
day  over  the  Col  du  Lautaret — a  driving  pass  about  6800  ft.  high — to 
Briancon.  Mr.  McLachlan  t  had  made  known  to  us  before  starting  his 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xvi.  pp.  256-259  (1880). 

t  "I  visited  this  part  of  the  Alps  of  Dauphin^  as  far  as  the  Col  du  Lautaret,  in  tne 
beginning  of  July,  1876,  in  company  with  M.  Constant  (then  of  Autun,  now  of  Cannes), 
who  joined  me  at  Grenoble,  and  a  botanist  from  the  neighbourhood  of  Bordeaux.  This 


166  ON  BUTTERFLY-COLLECTING  IN  THE  ALPS. 

experiences  some  years  ago  of  this  part  of  the  Dauphine  Alps ;  but 
unfortunately  we  were  too  early  for  Lepidoptera,  the  snow  lying  still 
thickly  about  the  top  of  the  pass  above  La  Grave,  where,  indeed,  we 
narrowly  escaped  being  carried  away  by  a  small  avalanche — a  catastrophe 
that  happened  to  a  small  cart  that  had  preceded  us  by  about  an  hour. 
At  Briancon,  although  over  4000  ft.  above  the  sea,  we  got  for  a  while 
into  a  more  southern  fauna,  as  evidenced  by  the  occurrence  of  such 
forms  as  Melitcea  dejone,  and  the  beautiful  yellow  "  orange-tip  "  Anthocharis 
Ent.M.  M.xvi.  euphenoides.  The  Mediterranean  fauna  would,  therefore,  seem  to  extend 
up  the  valley  of  the  Durance  quite  into  the  Alpine  district.  From  Briancon 
we  drove  by  Mount  Grenevre,  a  pass  of  about  6000  ft.,  over  the  frontier  to 
Oulx,  a  small  village  (at  an  elevation  of  3500  ft.)  on  the  Mount  Cenis 


district  had  long  been  known  to  members  of  the  Alpine  Club,  and  possessed  the 
peculiar  attraction  of  a  mountain  (La  Meije,  over  13,000  ft.)  that  had,  up  to  that  time, 
baffled  all  attempts  to  scale  it  (it  has  since  been  several  times  successfully  ascended), 
in  addition  to  many  other  inducements  for  mountaineers  of  the  more  amateur  class ; 
it  was  also  well  known  to  botanists  as  a  paradise  for  rare  alpine  plants,  and  it  supplies 
(through  its  adventurous  and  migratory  inhabitants)  many  of  the  horticultural 
establishments  of  Europe  (and  even  of  America)  with  them,  either  in  the  form  of  seeds 
or  roots.  French  entomologists  had  also  visited  it ;  but  it  had  rarely  seen  an  English 
net ;  yet  there  are  probably  few  districts  in  Europe  so  favourable  for  a  Lepidopterist ; 
it  is  not  favourable  for  a  Neuropterist,  owing  to  most  of  the  streams  having  their  source 
in  glaciers.  It  has  the  advantage  of  a  magnificent  military  road,  a  wonderful  piece 
of  civil-engineering.  British  tourist-entomologists  should  decidedly  make  its  intimate 
acquaintance.  It  is  easy  of  access.  From  Grenoble  to  the  summit  of  the  Col  du 
Lautaret  is  about  50  English  miles  by  diligence  and  mail.  Grenoble  can  be  reached 
from  London  in  about  27  hours  (on  my  return  I  left  that  city  at  3.15  P.M.,  and  was  at 
home  in  my  study  before  7  P.M.  next  day).  The  end  of  June  is  too  early,  even  in  an 
ordinary  season,  and  in  such  a  season  as  1879  was  a  month  too  early.  I  would 
recommend  entomological  tourists  (not  pressed  for  time,  nor  wanting  to  go  over  too 
much  ground)  to  stay  first  at  Bourg  d'Oisans,  where  there  is  a  comfortable  inn,  kept 
by  an  obliging  old  Frenchman,  M.  Martin  ("Hotel  de  Milan").  Afterwards  they 
should  push  on  to  the  Col  du  Lautaret,  where  there  appears  to  be  good  accommodation 
at  the  Hospice  on  the  summit  (subsidized  by  government,  as  a  refuge  for  wayfarers  in 
the  long  winter  months).  My  head-quarters  were  at  Bourg  d'Oisans  and  La  Grave, 
the  latter  at  the  foot  of  La  Meije.  But  I  think  (for  an  entomologist)  the  Hospice  is 
preferable  to  La  Grave.  This  latter  is  a  miserable  village  with  a  poor  inn,  offering  no 
special  inducements,  excepting  to  Alpine  climbers  :  the  sleeping-quarters  were  over  the 
stable  (which  is,  perhaps,  cleared  out  once  a  year),  the  food  was  indifferent,  the  charges 
not  moderate ;  and,  moreover,  newly-arrived  strangers  are  liable  to  an  indisposition 
(already  alluded  to  several  times  in  the  records  of  -  mountaineering),  that  may  place 
them  (as  it  did  me  and  one  of  my  companions)  hors  de  combat,  and  take  several  days 
to  shake  off.  (The  water,  and  the  sudden  change  of  temperature  from  the  excessively 
hot  experiences  of  Bourg  d'Oisans  were  both  blamed  for  this;  but  there  has  been  no 
report  from  an  official  sanitary  inspector !).  Any  British  entomologist  who  is  not 
specially  connected  with  water  insects  should  visit  this  district ;  and  even  the  exception 
I  have  made  would,  perhaps,  not  hold  good  in  the  autumn  months,  when  the  glaciers 
have  discharged  their  annual  surplus."— E.  MC-LACHLAN. 


ON  BUTTEJftFLY-COLLECTING  IN  THE  ALPS.  167 

railway,  between  Bardoneche  and  Susa,  and  after  a  day  there,  proceeded  to 
Turin.  Spending  the  Sunday  there,  we,  after  a  good  baking,  were  glad  to 
get  away  early  next  morning,  and  travel  by  rail  to  Arona,  and  then  up  the 
lake  by  steamer  to  Baveno.  Baveno  being  hot  and  crowded,  we  left  next 
day,  and  drove  up  the  Yal  Anzasca  to  Ponte  Grande,  a  charming  village 
about  2500  ft.  above  the  sea,  with  a  lovely  view  of  Monte  Rosa.  Finding 
good  quarters  here,  we  stayed  several  days  (from  July  1-5).  The  Val 
Anzasca  is  a  good  example  of  an  Italian  alpine  valley,  and  proved  like- 
wise very  productive  in  insects,  though  the  weather  was  not  as  fine  as  it 
might  have  been.  We  only  had  one  really  fine  day,  July  3rd,  and  on 
that  Mr.  Salvin  and  I  working  down  the  valley  towards  Vogogna,  saw  or 
caught  fifty-two  species  of  butterflies,  not  a  bad  day's  work  for  one 
morning  between  8  A.M  and  2  P.M.  In  this  valley  below  Ponte  Grande 
alpine  and  southern  species  were  curiously  interblended,  as  evidenced  in 
such  forms  as  Neptis  and  Libyfhea  occurring  with  Parnassius  and  other 
mountain  insects.  From  Ponte  Grande  we  went  further  up  the  valley 
to  Macugnaga,  and  after  spending  a  day  there,  over  the  Monte  Moro 
pass  (about  9000  ft.),  and  down  the  Saas  Thai  to  Saas,  and  eventually 
Visp.  After  this,  except  for  an  hour  or  two  near  Bienne,  on  our  way 
home,  we  had  no  occasion  to  use  our  nets. 

The  total  number  of  species  of  Rhopalocera  seen  or  caught  by  us 
during  the  trip  was  103,  and,  had  the  weather  been  finer,  this  number 
would,  doubtless,  have  been  increased.  We  altogether  missed  numbers 
of  common  Alpine  species,  as  owing  to  the  unusual  amount  of  snow  that 
had  fallen  during  the  winter,  the  season  was  extremely  backward,  so  that 
had  we  started  a  fortnight  later,  our  "  bag  "  would,  no  doubt,  have  been 
correspondingly  increased.  A  list  of  some  of  the  more  uncommon 
species  we  obtained  is  appended. 

Papilio  podalirius :  Chambery,  Col  du  Lautaret,  Briancon,  &c. 

Parnassius  apollo :  Val  Anzasca,  Col  du  Lautaret,  &c.  P.  mnemosyne  \ 
Val  Anzasca,  above  Ponte,  Macugnaga. 

Pirn's  napi,  var.  bryonice :  several  near  Macugnaga. 

Anthocharis  belia,  var.  simplonia :  rather  common  towards,  and  on,  the 
top  of  the  Col  du  Lautaret.  A.  euphenoides :  this  truly  Mediterranean 
species  occurred,  but  not  commonly,  at  Briancon ;  one  specimen  was  seen 
at  an  elevation  of  about  5000  ft.,  on  the  road  towards  Mont  Genevre. 
All  seen  were  males. 

Leucophasia  duponcheli :  Oulx  (?)  and  Briancon.     At  the  time  we  did  EntM.M.xvi. 
not  distinguish  this  from  the  common  species,  so  only  got  two  or  three    P-  258  (188°)- 
specimens.     According  to  M.  Bellier  de  la  Chavignerie  (Ann.  Soc.  Ent. 
France,  1869,  p.  514),  this  species  is,  in  France,  almost  confined  to  the 
lower  parts  of  the  Basses  Alpes,  and  the  neighbourhood  of  Digne,  and 
Aix  in  Provence. 

Colias  edusa,  var.  helice  :  Oulx,  Chambery,  &c. 


168  ON  BUTTERFLY-COLLECTING  IN  THE  ALPS. 

Theda  ilicis:  round  bushes  in  the  Val  Anzasca.  This  and  T.  rubi 
were  the  only  "  hairstreaks  "  met  with. 

Polyommatus  virgaurece :  Val  Anzasca,  not  numerous.  P.  Tiippotlwe, 
var.  eurybia :  upper  parts  of  Yal  Anzasca,  and  near  Macugnaga.  P.  alci- 
phron,  var.  gordius:  this  beautiful  "copper"  was  abundant  in  the  Yal 
Anzasca,  flying  about,  and  settling  on,  the  flowers  by  the  sides  of  the 
road.  The  males  were  by  far  the  most  numerous;  a  few  were  also 
caught  at  Baveno  and  near  Briancon.  P.  dorilis:  near  Chambery, 
Briancon,  Val  Anzasca,  &c. ;  the  males  commoner.  The  alpine  form 
(subalpina,  Speyer)  occurred  at  Macugnaga. 

Lyccena  argyrotoxus  (=cegori)  :  St.  Laurent  du  Pont,  &c.,  common. 
L.  argus :  very  common  in  the  Val  Anzasca  ;  also  on  the  Col  du  Lautaret, 
at  Oulx,  and  Baveno ;  most  of  our  specimens  are  referable  to  the  form 
cegidion  (Meissner).  L.  orion:  not  uncommon,  flying  over  the  road, 
particularly  where  muddy,  in  the  lower  parts  of  the  Val  Anzasca,  but 
local,  and  generally  worn.  L.  baton :  one  at  Bourg  d'Oisans,  and  a  few 
at  Briancon  and  Macugnaga.  L.  eros :  Oulx,  and  more  commonly  in  the 
Saas  Thai,  above  Stalden.  L.  icarus,  ab.  icarhms :  Oulx.  L.  eumedon  : 
Oulx,  and  Saas  Thai,  above  Stalden ;  nowhere  common.  L.  escheri : 
Chambery,  near  Bourg  d'Oisans,  Oulx,  and  Stalden,  singly.  L.  Tiylas  ; 
common  at  Oulx,  Saas  Thai.  L.  sebrus :  Col  du  Lautaret,  Oulx,  males 
only ;  we  probably  passed  this  species  over  as  the  next  in  many  cases. 
L.  semiar.gus :  common  at  Briancon,  Oulx,  &c.  L.  cyllarus :  rather 
common  on  the  Col  du  Lautaret,  and  about  Briancon,  Baveno,  and  Val 
Anzasca.  L.  alcon :  Oulx,  a  few.  L.  arion :  Col  du  Lautaret,  Oulx, 
Saas  Thai,  &c. 

Nemeobius  luclna :  Chambery,  Val  Anzasca,  &c. 

Libythea  celtis:  I  saw,  and  caught,  a  single  specimen  of  this  S. 
European  species  in  the  Val  Anzasca,  below  Poute  Grande.  This  was 
the  only  one  seen. 

Apatura  ilia,  var.  clytie :  a  single  specimen  of  this  species  was  seen, 
but  not  secured,  on  the  roadside  near  Baveno. 

Limenitis  populi :  a  fine  female  near  Ponte  Grande ;  we  saw  another 
higher  up  the  valley,  but  failed  to  catch  it.  L.  Camilla :  I  caught  a 
single  specimen  at  Oulx,  the  only  one  we  saw. 

Ent.  M.M.  xvi.       Neptis  lueilla :  we  got  two  or  three  specimens,  only  in  the  Val  Anzasca, 
p.  259  (1880).   Of  this  species.     This  must  be  nearly  its  most  western  habitat. 

Melitcea  pTioebe :  Briancon,  &c.,  very  common  in  the  Val  Auzasca. 
M.  didyma :  Chambery  and  Val  Anzasca.  M.  dictynna :  Briancon, 
Macugnaga.  M.  dejone :  a  few  specimens  at  Briancon ;  this  species  is, 
according  to  Dr.  Staudinger,  confined  to  Spain  and  the  South  of  France. 
M.  athalia  :  abundant  nearly  everywhere  in  suitable  localities ;  in  swarms 
in  the  Val  Auzasca,  with  M.  phoebe  and  others.  M.  parthenie :  St.  Laurent 
du  Pont. 


ON  BUTTERFLY-COLLECTING  IN  THE  ALPS.  169 

Aryynnis  amathusia :  common  at  Oulx,  Dear  Macugnaga.  A.  thore : 
Godman  caught  a  single  specimen  of  this  rather  scarce  species  in  the  Val 
Anzasca,  above  Ponte  Grande.  A.  lathonia :  common  in  the  Val 
Anzasca;  this  species  seems  fond  of  settling  on  the  dusty  roads,  and  has 
a  peculiar  jerking  flight,  unlike  the  other  species  of  Aryynnis.  A  niobe  : 
a  single  specimen  of  the  typical  silvery- spotted  form  at  Briancon; 
curiously  enough,  we  saw  nothing  of  eris,  which  is  usually  the  commoner 
of  the  two. 

Erebia  melampus:  Val  Auzasca  and  Saas  Thai.  E.  epipJiron,  var. 
cassiope:  Saas.  E.  ceto:  Col  du  Lautaret,  Val  Anzasca,  and  more 
commonly  near  Macugnaga.  E.  medusa,  Val  Anzasca,  Macugnaga,  &c. 
E.  stygne :  Col  du  Lautaret,  Briancon.  E.  evicts  :  on  the  Col  du  Lautaret 
near  La  Grave,  but  mostly  worn ;  also  near  Macugnaga.  E.  euryale : 
Val  Anzasca. 

(Eneis  aello :  not  very  uncommon  near  Macugnaga,  and  also  caught  in 
the  Saas  Thai,  between  Stalden  and  Saas. 

Satyrus  dlcyone :  Val  Anzasca  and  Saas  Thai,  common  near  Stalden. 
S.  semele,  near  Stalden.  S.  actcea,  var.  cordula :  a  few  near  Stalden. 

Pararge  mcera  :  common  everywhere  in  the  alpine  valleys.  P.  hiera  : 
Oulx,  Val  Anzasca,  nowhere  abundant.  P.  achine  (=dejanira) :  two 
specimens  in  a  wood  near  Bienne. 

C&nonympha  arcania,  var.  darwiniana :  Chambery,  Baveno,  and 
jommon  in  the  Val  Anzasca.  The  alpine  form  satyrion  occurred 
sparingly  in  the  Saas  Thai. 

Spilothyrus  althcece :  we  got  two  specimens  of  this  rather  scarce  species 
in  the  Val  Anzasca.  S.  lavaterce :  this  skipper  was  not  uncommon  one 
one  hot  day  flying  over  the  road  in  the  Val  Anzasca,  but  it  was  very 
lively  and  difficult  to  catch ;  we  subsequently  saw  it  again  in  the  Saas 
Thai,  above  Stalden. 

Syricthus  cartliami:  Briancon,  Oulx,  and  Saas  Thai.  S.  sao :  near 
Chambery,  Briancon,  Oulx.  S.  alveus :  Saas  Thai  and  Oulx. 

Hesperia  tJiaumas :  Ponte  Grande,  Saas  Thai.  H.  lineola  :  Saas  Thai 
and  Val  Anzasca. 

Carterocephalus  pdlcemon  (=paniscus) :  a  single  specimen  caught  by 
Salvin  near  Chambery. 

February  23rd,  1880. 


170  OX  THE  MALE  GENERATIVE  ORGANS 


RfP- B- As*oc-  32.    ON    A    LITTLE-KNOWN    CRANIAL    DIFFERENCE 

1881,  p.  718. 

BETWEEN     THE     CATARRHINE     AND      PLATYR- 
RHINE  MONKEYS.* 

BESIDES  the  well-known  difference  in  the  dentition,  and  in  the  form  of 
the  external  auditory  meatus,  in  the  monkeys  of  the  old  and  new  worlds, 
there  is  a  difference  in  the  formation  of  the  bony  walls  of  the  temporal 
fossa  which  in  nearly  every  case  suffices  to  distinguish  at  once  the  skull 
of  a  member  of  one  of  these  groups  from  that  of  one  of  the  other.  As 
independently  discovered  by  the  author  (P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  639)  and  Dr. 
Gustav  Joseph  ('  Morphologisches  Jahrbuch,'  i.  pp.  453-465),  in  the 
Platyrrhine  monkeys  the  parietal  bone  is  prolonged  forwards  to  meet  the 
malar,  there  being  a  well-marked  suture  usually  between  the  two,  the 
frontal  being  in  consequence  altogether  excluded,  superficially  at  least, 
from  articulating  with  the  squamosal  and  alisphenoid.  In  the  Catarrhine 
monkeys,  on  the  other  hand,  as  also  in  man,  the  parietal  does  not  reach 
the  malar,  there  being  an  isthmus  between  the  two  bones  formed  by  the 
articulation  of  the  frontal  with  the  alisphenoid. 


T.z.s.1881,   33.  ON    THE    MALE    GENERATIVE    ORGANS    OF    THE 
xi.  p.  107. 

SUMATRAN    RHINOCEROS    (CERATORHINUS    SU- 

MATRENSIS.^ 

ON  two  occasions  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  had  opportunities  of  dissecting 
the  Sumatran  two-horned  Rhinoceros  ;  and  his  notes  on  their  anatomy 
will  be  found  duly  recorded  in  the  Society's  publications  J.  Both  his 
specimens  were  females. 

On  March  20,  1879,  the  Society  received  on  approval  a  fully  adult 
male  of  this  animal,  being,  I  believe,  the  first  individual  of  that  sex 

*  Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1881,  p.  718. 

t  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  vol.  xi.  pt.  iv.  pp.  107-109,  PI.  XX.  (1881).  Eead  March  16th, 
1880. 

Prof.  Garrod  had  the  drawings  which  accompany  this  paper  made  by  Mr.  Smit 
from  the  animal  whilst  still  fresh,  with  the  object  of  laying  some  notes  on  the  subject 
before  the  Society.  Unfortunately  I  have  been  unable  to  find  any  such  amongst  his 
numerous  MS.  papers.  He  also  requested  me  to  make  notes  and  measurements  of  the 
male  organs  for  him  with  the  like  object;  and  from  these  sources  I  have  drawn  up  the 
present  paper.  The  glans  penis  is  now  preserved  in  the  College  of  Surgeons. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1873,  p.  92,  and  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  x.  p.  411  (1878). 


OF  THE  SUMATRAN  RHINOCEROS.  171 

brought  alive  to  Europe.  Unfortunately  it  died  on  the  5th  of  April 
following,  the  post-mortem  examination  showing  evidence  of  dropsy,  as 
well  as  tubercle  in  the  lungs  and  spleen.  The  skin  and  skeleton  of  this 
specimen  are  now  in  the  British  Museum. 

Prof.  Owen,  in  his  account  of  the  anatomy  of  Rhinoceros  indicus 
(Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  iv.  pp.  31-58),  has  described  and  figured  the  male 
organs  of  that  species ;  and  the  present  account  will  fill  up  the  corre- 
sponding blank  that  has  as  yet  existed  as  regards  these  parts  in  Cerato- 
rhimis  sumatranus. 

As  was  to  be  expected,  the  two  genera  closely  conform  with  each 
other  in  all  main  points,  with  some  considerable  differences  in  matters  of 
detail. 

As  in  R.  indicus,  there  was  no  scrotum  ;  each  testis  measured  4|  inches 
long  by  2  broad  at  the  widest  part.  The  epididymis  was  of  the  same 
length  as  the  testis. 

The  vasa  deferentia  were  29 1  inches  long  by  J  inch  broad ;  unlike 
these  ducts  in  the  Indian  species,  they  were  not  dilated  terminally. 
The  vesiculsB  seminales  resembled  in  shape  those  described  by  Owen : 
they  were  7J  inches  long,  and  1  inch  across  at  the  broadest  part.  The 
right  vesicula  had  two,  the  left  four,  narrow  ducts,  l|-2  inches  long, 
which  joined  the  vasa  deferentia  just  before  these  entered  the  urethra. 
The  verumontauum  is  short  and  rounded,  |  inch  long  and  1  inch  broad. 
The  openings  of  the  ejaculatory  ducts  were  very  minute ;  a  larger  pore, 
which  was  the  only  representative  of  a  vesicula  prostatica,  lay  close 
above. 

The  prostate  was  of  a  roughly  triangular  shape,  2  inches  long  by  5  T.  Z.  S.  1881, 
inches  across,  and  had  the  same  structure  as  in  R.  indicus,  the  glands 
opening  by  numerous  pores  on  each  side  of  the  verumontanum  in  a  well- 
marked  sinus  prostaticus. 

Cowper's  glands  were  large  (3|  inches  by  2)  and  oval;  their  ducts 
opened  by  pores  1|  inch  in  front  of  those  of  the  ejaculatory  ducts. 

The  urethra  measured  in  all,  in  the  unerected  state,  about  23|  inches, 
of  which  \  inch  was  "  prostatic,"  3  inches  "  membranous,"  and  the  rest 
"  spongy." 

The  glans  penis  is  a  long  and  tapering  cylinder,  provided  at  the  end 
with  a  second,  somewhat  mushroom-  or  trumpet-shaped  expansion, 
nearly  in  the  centre  of  which  is  the  opening  of  the  urethra.  It  thus 
conforms  closely  with  the  same  organ  in  R.  indicus.  But,  as  will  be 
seen  from  the  drawings,  it  is  provided,  in  addition,  with  two  large 
oblong-oval  lobes,  of  the  same  colour  and  substance  as  the  rest  of  the 
glans,  which  are  free  for  the  greater  part  of  their  length,  and  only 
attached  to  the  rest  of  the  glans  at  their  bases.  These  lobes  lie  on 
the  sides  of  the  dorsum  of  the  penis,  and  are  closely  approximated  at 
their  bases,  as  represented  in  fig.  2.  In  fig.  1  they  are  spread  out 


172   GENERATIVE  ORGANS  OF  THE  SUMATRAN  RHINOCEROS. 

artificially,  so  as  to  show  better  their  extent  and  attached  bases.  The 
total  length  of  the  glans,  to  the  reflection  of  the  prepuce,  was  7  inches, 
the  trumpet-like  terminal  part  being  1  inch  long,  and  1  inch  trans- 
versely. The  lobes  of  the  glans  measured  2|  inches  long  by  1J  inch 
across. 

In  R.  indiwu,  according  to  Prof.  Owen  (I.  c.  p.  51),  "  on  each  side  of 
the  base  of  the  glans,  and.  rather  towards  its  under  part,  there  is  a 
longitudinal  thick  oblong  ridge  or  lobe,  3^  inches  in  length,  and  8  lines 
in  basal  thickness ;  the  thick  rounded  free  border  of  each  lobe  inclines 
downwards."  Prof.  Owen's  figure  is  reproduced  in  outline,  of  the 
original  size,  in  fig.  3,  to  show  the  differences  thus  indicated.  By  the 
kindness  of  Prof.  Mower  I  have  been  enabled  to  examine  the  penis  of 
an  Indian  Rhinoceros  preserved  in  the  stores  of  the  College  of  Surgeons, 
and  which  is  probably  the  same  specimen  as  that  dissected  and  described 
by  Prof.  Owen,  with  whose  description  and  figures  it  closely  corresponds. 
The  lobes,  however,  seem  to  me  to  be  (as  also  indicated  in  his  figures) 
rather  on  the  upper  than  on  the  under  part  of  the  penis,  as  they  lie,  in  fact, 
on  each  side  of  the  dorsum  a  little  removed  from  the  middle  line,  as  also 
is  the  case  in  Ceratorhinus.  They  are  about  1|  inch  in  height  at  the 
centre,  diminishing  towards  each  end  till  they  become  undistinguishable 
from  the  rest  of  the  glans.  Ceratorhinus  therefore  differs  from  restricted 
Rhinoceros  in  the  greater  size  and  development  of  the  lobes,  which  have 
now  ceased  to  be  mere  elevations  or  ridges  attached  throughout  their 
length  to  the  body  of  the  glans,  but  have  become  freely  projecting  lobes 
attached  only  by  their  bases  *.  In  R.  indicus,  too,  the  terminal  part  of 
-  S'1QQ81'  the  glans  is  more  slender,  being  longer  in  proportion  to  its  depth,  and 
its  apical  expansion  narrower  across  in  proportion  to  its  height  (J  inch 
to  1-J),  with  its  margins,  moreover,  somewhat  crinkled. 

It  is,  in  conclusion  interesting  to  observe  that  the  distinctness  of  the 
two  genera  Rhinoceros  and  Ceratorhinus,  as  shown  by  other  characters — 
external,  cranial,  and  visceral — is  confirmed  by  these  differences  in  the 
sexual  organs. 

*  I  may  mention  that  Prof.  Flower  also  found  for  me  in  the  stores  of  the  College  of 
Surgeons  a  detached  glans  penis  of  a  Rhinoceros  exactly  like  that  now  described.  Its 
history  is  somewhat  uncertain ;  but  it  was  probably  sent  over,  along  with  other  viscera 
of  animals,  by  Sir  Stamford  Raffles  when  Governor  of  Java.  There  can  be  no  doubt 
that  it  belongs  to  a  species  of  Ceratorhinus. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA.          173 


34.  ON    SOME    POINTS    IN    THE    ANATOMY    OF    THE  p-  z- 
KOALA  (PHASCOLARCTOS  CINEREUS}* 

ON  April  28th  of  last  year  (1880),  as  already  recorded  in  the  Society's 

Proceedings  t,  the  Society  purchased  for  its  collection  the  first  living 

Koala  (Phascolarctos  cinereus)  ever  brought  to  Europe.     The  animal,  a 

young  female,  continued  to  do  well  and  thrive  after  its  arrival  at  the 

Gardens,  and  on  a  diet  of  Eucalyptus-leaves,  which  were  substituted 

after  a  while  for  the  dried  ones  on  which  it  had  been  kept  alive  during 

the  voyage  and  the  first  part  of  its  stay  in  this  country,  became  daily 

in  better  condition  and  more  active.     Being  a  pet  animal,  accustomed  to 

being  caressed,  it  was  thought  better  not  to  put  it  in  a  cage ;  so  a  room 

for  its  use  was  fitted  up  in  the  Superintendent's  office.     Here,  under  the 

charge  of  a  special  attendant,  it  slept,  perched  upon  the  branches  of  a  P- Z.  S.  1881, 

tree  erected  for  its  use,  by  day,  whilst  at  night  it  wandered  about  the 

room.     Very  unfortunately,  on  the  night  of  the  14th  of  June  it  was 

accidentally  killed,  whilst  thus  roaming  about  at  night,  by  getting  caught 

between  the  top  and  bottom  of  a  fixed  washing-stand,  which  had  been 

allowed  to  remain  in  the  room.     It  had  apparently  climbed  up  this  and 

brought  down  on  its  neck  the  heavy  lid.     Nobody  being  near,  and  in 

spite  of  evidently  determined  struggles  on  its  own  part,  it  failed  to  relieve 

itself,  and  so  was  found  dead  in  the  morning  from  asphyxia. 

The  death  of  this  animal,  so  unfortunate  for  visitors  to  the  Society's 
Gardens,  has  given  me  the  opportunity  of  putting  on  record  some 
additional  facts  concerning  the  anatomy  of  the  soft  parts  of  this  species. 
Mr.  W.  Martin,  in  this  Society's  'Proceedings'  for  1836 1,  has  described 
already  some  of  the  most  striking  features  of  the  animal's  organization ; 
and  in  Prof.  Owen's  '  Anatomy  of  Vertebrates '  (vol.  iii.)  a  few  additional 
facts  concerning  it  are  also  recorded.  More  recently  Mr.  A.  H.  Young 
has  described  and  figured  the  male  reproductive  organs  (Journ.  Anat. 
Phys.  xiii.  pp.  305-317,  pi.  xviii.).  All  these  anatomists,  however,  had 
only  spirit-preserved  specimens  to  work  on ;  a  few  additional  observations 
from  the  fresh  specimen  may  therefore  be  worth  putting  on  record,  and 
the  liver,  brain,  and  female  reproductive  organs  described  in  particular, 
these  important  parts  of  the  system  having  been  only  imperfectly,  or 
not  at  all,  described  by  my  predecessors  in  this  field. 

The  following  dimensions  were  taken  on  the  body  of  the  animal : — 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  180-195.    Read  Jan.  18,  1881. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  355;  where  a  woodcut  of  it,  from  the  pencil  of  Mr.  Wood,  is 
given. 

t  P.Z.S.  1836,  pp.  109-113. 


174          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OP  THE  KOALA. 

inches,  mi  Him. 

Total  length,  from  tip  of  nose  to  end  of  body  ....  17-0  432 

Length  of  eye  ..............................  1-0  25 

„        ear  (greatest)  ......................  2-15  55 

head    .......................  .....  4-0  100 

„        nude  muzzle  ......................  1-4  35 

chin     ............................  2-65  67 

Breadth  across  muzzle    ............  ..........  1-0  25 

„     of  mouth    ..........................  1-3  33 

Distance  between  cloaca  and  mammae   ..........  1-25  32 

The  tail  is  a  mere  stump  above  the  cloaca,  which  latter  is  well  defined 
by  a  well-marked  circular  marginal  fold  of  the  integuments.  The  hallux 
has  no  trace  of  a  nail.  The  skin  is  generally  flesh-coloured  ;  but  the 
soles  of  the  manus  and  pes,  together  with  the  naked  "  muffle,"  are  black. 
The  skin  of  the  large  and  hairy  ears  is  flesh-coloured.  There  is  a 
narrow  naked  ring  round  the  eyes  ;  and  the  irides  are  brown.  The 
pupil  is  a  vertical  oval.  The  nostrils  are  transversely  oblique,  the  nasal 
septum  measuring  3|  millims.  The  upper  lip  is  split  ;  but  the  split  does 
not  quite,  when  the  surrounding  parts  are  expanded,  reach  the  nostrils. 
The  skin  is  sparsely  covered  with  hairs  between  the  rami  of  the  mandible  ; 
for  nearly  two  inches  behind  it  the  skin  is  absolutely  naked  ;  and  on  the 


1821  81'  S^es  (runnulS  UP  t°war(ls  the  angle  of  the  mouth)  it  is  nearly  so,  a  patch 
of  black  hairs  being  developed  just  behind  the  mouth  on  the  lower  and 
outer  surface  of  this  bare  space. 

The  marsupial  pouch  in  this  young  specimen  is  very  imperfectly 
developed.  It  appears  as  a  small,  oval,  nearly  naked  space,  measuring 
about  0'8  inch  both  across  and  antero-posteriorly,  with  a  well-marked 
bounding-fold  of  integument  on  each  side;  inside  which  is  a  smaller, 
secondary  one.  The  hairs  of  the  surrounding  parts  more  or  less  radiate 
from  this  nude  space,  which  lies  between  the  epipubes  (or  so-called 
"  marsupial  bones  ").  The  skin  covering  it  is  pinkish.  The  teats  are 
two*  in  number,  15  millims.  apart,  and  are  situated  at  the  posterior  and 
inner  angles  of  the  bounding-folds  ;  they  are  covered  by  fur.  The  lips  of 
the  pouch,  it  may  be  noted,  look  as  much  downwards  as  forwards. 

In  an  adult  $  Koala,  20J  inches  long,  preserved  in  spirit,  the  pouch 
is  much  better  developed  —  its  antero-posterior  extent  being  about  1*85 
inch,  whilst  the  breadth  of  the  aperture  is  1*4  inch.  It  admits  (my) 
three  median  fingers,  and  extends  widely  outwards  into  the  groins,  as  far 
as  the  skin-fold  between  the  knee  and  trunk.  The  teats,  two  in  number, 
are  situated  behind,  on  a  level  with  the  posterior  margin  of  the  pouch's 

*  Prof.  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  769)  describes  Pkascolarctos  as  having  four  ["two 
on  each  side"]  mammary  glands. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OP  THE  KOALA.          175 

mouth.     The  skin  lining   the  pouch,  except  just   around   the   ventral 
opening  of  the  pouch,  is  smooth  throughout. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  cheeks  is  smooth  throughout ;  the  skin 
is  attached  to  the  gum  opposite  the  first  palatal  ridge,  and  again  opposite 
the  posterior  border  of  the  first  premolar.  Between  these  two  attach- 
ments there  is  formed  a  sort  of  cheek-pouch,  defined  by  a  distinct 
sphincter,  and  capable  of  receiving  the  end  of  the  little  finger.  This 
pouch  extends  upwards  on  the  side  of  the  skull,  occupying  the  somewhat 
oval  space  that  exists,  in  the  macerated  skull,  in  front  of  the  zygoma ;  it 
is  lined  by  smooth,  white,  mucous  membrane*. 

The  palate  presents  9  irregular  raised  ridges,  best  marked  anteriorly. 
There  is  no  uvula,  and  the  narrow  fauces  are  smooth.  The  tongue  quite 
fills  up  the  space  between  the  gums.  It  is  parallel-sided  and  elongated,  but 
rounded  off  and  thinner  in  front.  It  has  a  single,  small,  circumvallate 
papilla  behind ;  the  fungiform  papillae  are  distributed  chiefly  along  the 
sides  of  the  upper  surface. 

The  salivary  glands  are  well  developed.  The  sublingual  (which  is  not 
mentioned  by  Martin  in  his  description)  is  a  long,  narrow,  and  thin 
gland,  somewhat  foliaceous  at  the  extremity,  and  about  2-7  inches  in 
extent,  lying  deeply  along  the  inner  margin  of  the  lower  jaw.  The  long 
duct  of  the  submaxillary  gland  pierces  it.  I  could  find  no  subzygomatic 
gland,  as  described  by  him  (1.  c.  p.  112). 

On  opening  the  abdominal  cavity  the  stomach  is  visible  in  the  epigastric  p.z.  s.  1881, 
and  left  hypochondriac  regions,  the  pylorus  being  directed  towards  the  P-  183. 
right  side ;  and  it  is  there  in  contact  with  the  gall-bladder.  The  liver 
does  not  appear.  The  commencement  of  the  transverse  colon  is  visible, 
running  downwards  towards  the  left,  below,  but  parallel  with,  the  greater 
curvature  of  the  stomach.  The  great  omentum  is  atttached  to  the 
transverse  colon  in  the  right  hypochondrium,  and  does  not  cover  the 
mass  of  the  viscera.  The  greater  part  of  the  rest  of  the  abdominal  cavity 
is  occupied  by  the  great,  longitudinally  plicated,  folds  of  the  caecum  and 
caecum-like  ascending  colon,  a  few  folds  of  the  small  intestine  appearing 
between  the  transverse  colon  and  a  great  fold,  apparently  the  caecum, 
which  runs  transversely  across  the  middle  of  the  abdominal  cavity.  On 
turning  back  these  great  superficial  folds  the  end  of  the  caecum  is  seen 
passing  downwards  to  the  left  of  the  rectum,  behind  the  uteri  and  bladder, 
to  terminate,  deep  in  the  pelvic  cavity,  close  to  the  cloaca!  The 
descending  colon,  which  is  narrow  and  of  the  ordinary  appearance,  is 
very  long,  and  is  arranged  on  a  broad  mesocolon  to  the  right  of  the 
vertebral  column,  forming  here  a  series  of  loose  loops,  which,  however, 
are  not  closely  coiled  together  on  each  other  as  in  Ruminants.  The 

*  These  pouches  are  also,  I  find,  described  by  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  385). 
They  also  exist,  though  less  well  defined  by  a  sphincter,  in  the  Wombat ;  but  I  cannot 
find  them  in  the  other  Phalangers  I  have  examined. 


176          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

right  kidney  lies  superficially  to  the  liver.  The  duodenal  loop  passes 
downwards  and  to  the  right,  and  overlies  the  right  kidney,  but  passes 
under  the  ascending  colon  just  here. 

The  stomach  is  cylindrical  and  sac-like.  Its  length,  moderately 
distended,  is  about  3$  inches;  its  greatest  depth,  opposite  the  pyloric 
constriction,  1|  inch.  There  is  a  well-marked  cardiac  fundus  to  the  left 
of  the  oesophagus,  and  the  pyloric  part  is  slightly  bent  on  the  cardiac 
part ;  this  latter  is  marked  off  internally  by  a  distinct  fold  of  the  mucous 
membrane,  which  is  smooth  and  pale,  with  some  slight  traces  of  rugae 
in  the  cardiac  fundus. 

The  most  marked  peculiarity  of  the  Koala's  stomach  is  its  possession, 
as  is  well  known,  of  a  special  gland-patch,  similar  to  that  found  in  the 
Beaver*  and  "Wombat f.  This  gland-patch  forms  a  slight  elevation 
externally  on  the  lesser  curvature  of  the  stomach,  just  on  the  pyloric 
side  of  the  entrance  of  the  oesophagus.  It  is  somewhat  saddle-shaped, 
with  a  transverse  extent  of  1*4  inch.  Internally  it  forms  an  eminence 
about  the  size  of  a  florin,  which  includes  the  entrance  of  the  oesophagus. 
The  mucous  membrane  on  the  gland-patch,  around  the  entrance  of  the 
oesophagus,  is  red  and  vascular ;  elsewhere  in  the  stomach,  as  already 
stated,  it  is  quite  pale.  The  openings  of  the  gland-patch  are  about  30  in 
number,  of  varying  sizes,  and  irregularly  arranged  over  the  eminence. 
Some  of  the  openings  of  the  gland  are  complicated,  several  smaller 
openings  debouching  into  a  larger  one ;  and  the  area  occupied  by  the 
openings  is  not  symmetrical.  The  general  appearance  of  this  patch  is 
well  represented  by  Sir  Everard  Home's  figure  (I.  c.)  of  that  of  the 
Wombat.  In  this  latter  animal  the  general  structure  and  form  of  the 
P  Z  S  1881  stomach  are  also  very  like  that  here  described ;  but  it  is  more  globular, 
p.  184.  and  therefore  less  cylindrical  in  shape,  the  cardiac  and  pyloric  openings 
being  more  approximated. 

The  small  intestine  is  villous,  but  otherwise  smooth.  It  is  not 
sacculated,  and  when  spread  out,  after  being  cut,  is  O5  inch  across.  At 
its  commencement  it  is  dilated  for  about  two  inches ;  there  are  no 
Peyer's  patches ;  its  length  is  115  inches.  The  large  intestine  is  very 
peculiar :  for  the  first  28J  inches  or  so  of  its  length,  which  forms  the 
ascending  colon,  it  is  very  capacious,  and  internally  longitudinally  corru- 
gated, like  the  caecum,  which  externally  it  much  resembles,  the  rugse  of 
the  interior  appearing  through  the  walls  of  the  intestine,  and  giving  it  a 
longitudinally  striated  appearance.  These  folds  of  the  mucous  membrane, 
which  might  be  called  longitudinal  valvulce  conniventes,  where  best 
developed  are  about  -2  inch  in  depth ;  they  are  arranged  longitudinally 
and  are  roughly  parallel,  though  somewhat  irregular  in  extent ;  they  are 

*  Cf.  Owen,  Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  422. 

t  Home,  Phil.  Trans.  1808,  p.  307,  pi.  ix. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA.          177 

separated  from  each  other  by  intervals  of  about  the  same  extent  (O2  inch). 
At  the  commencement  of  the  colon,  which  here,  when  cut  open  and 
spread  out,  is  3*75  inches  broad,  and  of  the  caecum,  there  are  about  a 
dozen  of  these  folds  very  well  marked.  These  continue  throughout  the 
ascending,  caecum-like,  colon ;  but  where  it  narrows  to  form  the  transverse 
and  descending  parts  they  converge,  and  become  more  or  less  blended 
with  each  other,  forming  linear  elevations.  They  are  continued  down- 
wards as  far  as  the  rectum,  but  are  reduced  by  that  time  to  five*.  In 
the  caecum,  which  is  also  very  capacious,  the  same  arrangement  of  folds 
obtains  till  within  18  inches  of  its  apex,  when  they  gradually  disappear, 
the  rest  of  the  organ  being  thence  onwards  quite  smooth  internally. 
The  caecum,  the  curious  position  of  the  caput  of  which  has  already  been 
described,  measures  46*75  inches  in  length  (nearly  three  times  the  length 
of  the  animal's  body!);  the  large  intestine  93-25  inches.  In  an  adult 
female  (20|  inches  long),  preserved  in  spirit,  the  following  were  the 
intestinal  measurements : — 

inches. 
Small  intestine 111-15 

Large       „        160-8 

Crccum   66-0 

Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  420)  gives  92,  125,  and  77  inches  respectively. 
On  each  side  at  the  junction  of  the  ileum  and  colon  is  a  small  patch  of 
three  glands. 

The  liver  of  the  Koala  is  of  very  remarkable  form.     It  is  represented, 
drawn  to  scale  of  |-  the  natural  size,  in  the  accompanying  figures  (1  and  2,   P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
pp.  178,  179).     All  four  principal  lobes  are  well  developed ;  but  those      p<  185< 
on  the  right  are  far  larger  than  those  on  the  left,  the  left  central  being 
considerably  the  smallest   of  these.     The  umbilical  fissure  is   distinct, 
extending  about  halfway  across  the  liver.     The  right  central  lobe,  which 
is  broad  transversely,  and  forms  the  largest  lobe,  is  divided  very  deeply 
by  the  large  cystic  fissure,  which  extends  on  the  thoracic  surface  nearly 
as  far  back  as  the  umbilical  one,  and  allows  the  very  large  and  elongated 
gall-bladder  to  appear  above.     Both  right  and  left  lateral  fissures  are  also 

*  Mr.  Martin  describes  (1.  c.  p.  Ill)  both  colon  and  caecum  as  sacculated  "by  a 
slight  longitudinal  (mesenteric)  band  of  muscular  fibres,"  with  indications  of  a  similar 
opposite  band.  I  could  find  no  traces  of  any  such  sacculation  in  the  fresh  Koala 
examined  by  me ;  nor  are  they  mentioned  by  Prof.  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  418) 
It  is  also  to  be  noticed  that  Martin  does  not  in  any  way  allude  to  the  existence  of  the 
very  remarkable  folds  of  the  interior  of  the  caecum  and  colon. 

In  Phalangista  and  Phascolomys  an  examination  of  fresh  specimens  has  completely 
failed  to  exhibit  any  traces  in  either  caecum  or  colon  of  the  longitudinal  folds  here 
described.  In  the  latter  genus  the  colon  is  capacious  at  its  commencement,  and 
Bacculated  transversely,  in  a  way  that  does  not  obtain  in  either  Phalangista  or 
Phascolarctos. 


178 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 


P.Z.S.  1881, 
p.  186. 


(in  this  specimen)  well  developed.  The  right  lateral  lobe  is  large  and 
somewhat  oval  in  shape,  but  pointed  below.  The  caudate  is  not  present 
as  a  free  structure,  but  it  is  represented  by  a  somewhat  squared, 
diagonally  ridged  elevation,  lying  to  the  right  of  the  inferior  cava,  and 


Fig.  1. 


Liver  of  Koala,  from  above  ;  three  fifths  the  natural  size. 


1881, 


broadly  attached  to  the  substance  of  the  right  lateral  lobe.  The  lower 
border  of  this  elevation  is  slightly  excavated  to  receive  the  corresponding 
kidney.  The  Spigelian  is  represented  by  a  smaller  thickening,  ending  in 
a  pointed  and  free  apex,  and  lying  to  the  left  of  the  vena  cava  ;  it  is 
united  over  this  by  hepatic  tissue  to  the  caudate.  This  liver  is  further 
remarkable  for  the  great  tendency  it  has  to  subdivision,  numerous  fissures, 
of  varying  sizes  and  depths,  being  developed  along  the  margin  of  the 
chief  lobes.  Their  position  and  relative  size  will  be  better  understood 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 


179 


from  the  figures  than  from  any  verbal  description.  They  are  more 
conspicuous  on  the  visceral  than  the  thoracic  surface.  The  right  half 
of  the  right  central  lobe  has  one  such  notch  on  its  right  external  border ; 
the  other  half  3,  on  the  right  internal  border;  the  left  central  has  4,  the 


Fig.  2. 


P.  Z.S.  1881, 
p.  187. 


G.U 


The  same,  from  below. 

R. C.  Eight  central  lobe;  L.C.  left  central  lobe;  R.L.  right  lateral  lobe;  L.L.  left 
lateral  lobe ;  C.  caudate  lobe ;  SP.  Spigelian  lobe ;  G.B.  gall-bladder ;  G.D. 
bile-duct;  r.l.f.  right  lateral  fissure;  l.Lf.  left  lateral  fissure;  u.f.  umbilical 
fissure;  c.f.  cystic  fissure;  V.C.  vena  cava  inferior-,  V.P.  vena  portce;  V.H. 
hepatic  vein. 

left  lateral  3,  whilst  the  right  lateral  is  still  more  cut  up  by  about  10. 
Finally,  the  caudate  has  3  of  these  supplementary  fissures. 

The  gall-bladder  is  remarkably  long,  projecting  far  beyond  the  anterior 
margin  of  the  liver,  and,  as  already  described,  appearing  superficially. 

N2 


P.  Z.  S.  1881 
p.  185. 


180          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

It  is  2|  inches  long  from  its  apex  to  the  commencement  of  its  duct 
opposite  the  anterior  margin  of  the  left  central  lobe.  The  free  part  is 
connected  by  a  peritoneal  investment  to  the  sides  of  the  cystic  fissure. 

In  a  second  liver  of  Phascolarctos  examined  (which,  however,  having 
been  extracted  from  a  spirit-preserved  animal,  an  adult  $ ,  is  not  so 
well  preserved  as  might  be  wished)  the  same  general  features  obtain. 
The  left  lateral  fissure,  however,  is  less  distinct,  as  is  the  caudate  ;  and 
the  left  central  lobe  is  smaller  proportionally  to  the  left  lateral.  The 
Spigelian  wants  the  'pointed  apex ;  and  the  development  of  secondary 
fissures  seems  to  attain  an  even  greater  extent*. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  The  bile-  and  pancreatic  ducts  open  into  the  duodenum  2|  inches  from 
the  pylorus.  The  pancreatic  duct  is  dilated  terminally  into  a  vesicle, 
which  does  not  receive  the  bile-duct,  the  latter  opening  alongside  the 
former  into  the  intestine. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  The  spleen,  as  usual  in  Marsupials,  is  somewhat  triradiate  in  shape, 
being  broader  and  forked  at  one  end,  tapering  and  more  pointed  at  the 
other.  Its  greatest  length  is  2  5  inches.  There  is  a  lymphatic  gland, 
the  size  of  a  pea,  outside  each  marsupial  bone,  and  a  pair  of  similar  ones, 
superficial,  on  the  neck.  The  axillary  glands  are  large. 

The  heart  is  of  the  usual  Marsupial  type.  The  right  auriculo-ventri- 
cular  valve  in  membranous,  and  nearly  complete  all  round  the  aperture, 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  being  largest  on  the  right  side.  It  is  attached  to  two,  or,  in  one  of  my 
specimens,  three  columnce  carnece,  which  also  decrease  in  size  from  right 
to  left.  On  the  side  corresponding  with  the  septum  the  valve  is  attached, 

*  In  Phalangista  vulpina  the  right  central  lobe  is  also,  as  in  the  Koala,  the  biggest, 
and  very  deeply  divided  by  a  cystic  fissure.  The  gall-bladder,  however,  does  not  nearly 
reach  the  margin  of  the  liver ;  the  left  lateral  lobe  is  much  bigger  than  the  right 
lateral,  which  is  as  large  as  the  left  central ;  the  caudate  is  quite  free  and  narrow. 
All  the  lobes  are  remarkably  distinct ;  and  their  margins  are  quite  simple,  with  no 
trace  of  any  such  fissures  as  obtain  in  the  Koala. 

The  liver  of  Cuscus  maculatus  is  formed  on  a  similar  principle,  though  the  right 
central  lobe  is  not  bigger  than  the  left  lateral,  and  the  gall-bladder  reaches  to  the  liver- 
margin.  All  the  lobes  are  simple.  The  caudate  and  Spigelian,  though  small,  are 
quite  distinct.  The  livers  of  Belidens  sciureus  and  B.  breviceps,  Acrobata  pygmcea,  and 
Dromicia  (nana  ?),  though  differing  among  themselves  considerably  in  the  relative 
degree  of  development  of  their  constituent  lobes,  all  agree  in  having  a  distinct  and  free 
caudate  lobe,  as  well  as  a  Spigelian,  and  in  no  system  of  secondary  sulci  attaining  any 
degree  of  development. 

In  Phascolomys  wombat  the  left  lateral  lobe  is  the  largest ;  the  right  central  is  also 
large ;  but  the  left  central  is  very  small,  as  is  the  right  lateral  fissure.  The  umbilical 
fissure  is  distinct,  as  is  the  cystic  fissure,  which  allows  the  gall-bladder,  which  reaches 
to  the  anterior  margin  of  the  liver,  to  appear  superficially.  There  are  no  distinct 
caudate  or  Spigelian  lobes,  though  the  former  is  indicated.  There  is  a  tendency 
particularly  on  the  left  lateral  and  right  central  lobes,  to  develop  accessory  sulci. 
As  in  the  Koala,  too,  the  small  right  lateral  lobe  is  pointed  below. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA.          181 

not  to  a  columna  carnea,  but  by  cJiordce  tendinece  inserted  on  the  septa  1 
wall.  There  is  apparently  only  a  single  opening  for  the  coronary  veins, 
just  at  the  entrance  of  the  inferior  cava  into  the  auricle. 

The  aorta  gives  off,  in  the  specimen  which  died  in  the  Society's 
Gardens,  three  vessels  from  a  common  trunk,  and  then  the  left  subclavian, 
as  in  Phalanyista  and  most  other  Marsupials  *.  In  another  specimen, 
however,  the  arrangement  is  as  in  Man  and  as  in  Phascolomys,  the  left 
carotid  arising  independently  from  the  aortic  arch.  Of  the  two  vence 
azygos,  each  opening  into  the  superior  cava  of  its  side,  the  left  is  much 
the  larger,  the  right  being  formed  mainly  by  vessels  derived  from  only 
the  first  few  intercostal  spaces,  whilst  below  these  the  veins  of  the  right 
side  pass  over,  behind  the  aorta,  into  the  leftazygos.  This  is  an  arrange- 
ment I  have  found  in  several  Marsupials  examined,  including  Phascolomys, 
Belideus,  Cuscm,  and  Phalangista,  though  notiu  Petrogale  orHypsiprymnus. 
In  Phascolomys  there  exists  a  commissural  branch  between  the  first 
intercostal  vein  on  the  right  side  going  to  the  left,  and  the  last  going  to 
the  right,  vena  azygos.  In  the  Hedgehog,  and  some  other  animals 
according  to  Prof.  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  553),  the  right  is  also 
smaller  than  the  left  azygos,  though  usually  the  reverse  condition  holds  ; 
and  in  the  highest  forms,  where  there  is  only  one  vena  azygos,  it  is  the 
right  that  persists. 

The  external  and  internal  iliac  arteries  come  off  separately  from  the 
aorta,  there  being  110  common  iliac  arteries.  This  disposition  is,  I  believe, 
nearly  universal  t  in  the  Marsupials,  but  is  by  no  means  confined  to 
them,  as  I  have  found  it  in  Tamandua,  Tapirus,  and  Hyomoschus,  and 
Prof.  "Watson  records  it  in  Hyaena  crocuta  (P.  Z.  S.  1879,  p.  89). 

The  lungs  are  simple  in  form.  The  right  side  has  three,  the  left  two 
lobes  ;  the  lower  lobes  of  each  side  being  about  equal  in  size,  and  much 
larger  than  the  others — half  as  big  again  as  the  upper,  or  two  upper, 
lobes.  There  is  no  azygos  lobe  at  all. 

The  female  generative  organs  of  Phascolarctos  have  not  been,  so  far  as 
I  have  been  able  to  ascertain,  hitherto  described,  though  Mr.  A.  H.  Young 
has  lately  given  us  an  excellent  account,  with  figures,  of  the  corresponding 


*  P.S.  Feb.  11,  1881.  In  a  fresh  specimen  of  Belideus  breviceps,  which  I  have  just 
dissected,  I  find  only  one  trunk  arising  from  the  aortic  arch ;  this  splits  up  iuto  3 
branches — a  left  innominate,  dividing  into  the  subclavian  and  carotid  branches  for 
that  side,  a  right  carotid,  and  a  right  subclavian.  Moreover,  as  in  no  other  Marsupial 
known  to  me,  there  is  only  one  anterior  cava,  the  right  and  left  innominate  veins 
joining  to  form  a  large  trunk,  some  %  inch  long,  which  opens  into  the  auricle. 

t  In  a  Cuscus  maculatus  that  I  dissected  I  found  the  abdominal  aorta  splitting  up 
into  four  trunks,  the  right  and  left  external,  and  the  right  internal  iliacs,  whilst  from 
the  remaining  or  median  (caudal)  one,  the  left  internal  iliac  was  given  off  some  way 
below  the  level  of  the  other. 


182          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

system  in  the  male.     In  their  essential  points  they  differ  in  no  important 
respect  from  those  of  the  Wombat  *. 

P.  Z.S.  1881,  The  ovaries  are  rounded  ovals  in  shape,  considerably  depressed,  and 
p.  189.  measuring  about  -45  inch  along  their  greatest  extent.  They  are  cut  up 
by  three  or  four  sinuous  fissures  ;  each  of  these  lobes  is  further  subdivided 
into  ovisacs,  which  are  of  large  size  for  a  Mammal,  though  nothing  like 
so  big  as  the  large  ones  figured  by  Prof.  Owen  in  Phascolomys.  The 
ovaries  are  enveloped  to  some  extent  by  the  fimbriated  ends  of  the  Fallo- 
pian tubes,  and  are  enclosed,  in  common  with  these,  in  pouches  of  delicate 
peritoneum.  The  fimbriated  ends  of  the  oviducts  are  attached  narrowly 
to  the  posterior  part  of  the  ovary ;  they  extend  hence  for  about  O5  inch 
to  the  ostium  abdominal*. 

The  Fallopian  tubes  are  a  little  bent,  and  are  of  small  calibre,  passing 
gradually  into  the  larger,  somewhat  fusiform  uteri,  which,  as  usual  in 
the  Marsupials,  are  quite  separate  from  each  other;  muscular,  thick- 
walled,  and  nearly  straight,  these  open  on  a  prominent,  somewhat  com- 
pressed nipple-like  eminence,  forming  the  os  tincce,  by  a  small  pore.  The 
total  length  of  the  Fallopian  tubes  and  uteri  is  about  1*3  inch  from  the 
ostium  at  the  commencement  of  the  former.  The  vagina3  are  also  two 
in  number,  each  being  bent  outwards  in  a  simple  curve,  and  not  com- 
municating with  its  fellow  at  any  point.  The  lower  part  of  each  vagina 
is  thick-walled,  with  but  a  small  central  cavity  which  opens  into  the 
urino-genital  sinus  by  a  small  pore,  O2  inch  above  the  opening  of  the 
vesical  urethra.  Above  they  are  thin-walled;  and  from  the  internal 
side  is  developed  a  blind  cul-de-sac,  also  thin-walled,  communicating  only 
with  the  vagina  of  its  own  side  and  the  corresponding  uterus,  there 
being  a  median  septum  between  the  two  culs-de-sac.  No  opening  from 
the  latter  into  the  urino-genital  sinus  exists  in  either  specimen  I  have 
examined.  From  the  os  tincce  there  is  prolonged  downwards  on  each 
side  a  slightly  elevated  fold  of  the  mucous  membrane,  which  separates  off 
the  vagina  proper  from  the  more  medianly  placed  cul-de-sac. 

Both  vaginae  and  culs-de-sac  are  lined  by  smooth  mucous  membrane, 
with  slight  longitudinal  rugae.  The  two  uteri,  as  well  as  the  vaginas  and 
their  appendices,  are  united  together  by  peritoneum.  The  two  ureters 
penetrate  this  to  open  into  the  neck  of  the  bladder,  beyond  the  termina- 
tion of  the  vaginal  culs-de-sac.  The  length  of  the  vaginae  is  about  0*65 
inch,  measured  in  a  straight  line  ;  that  of  the  culs-de-sac  about  0*45  inch. 

The  urino-genital  sinus  is  a  tube,  with  moderately  thick  walls  and 
longitudinally  plicated  mucous  membrane,  of  1-3  inch  in  length.  It 
communicates  below  by  a  considerable  aperture  with  the  rectum,  and  the 

*  For  description  of  these  see  Owen,  P.  Z.  S.  1836,  p.  52,  and  Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  680 
et  seq. 


OiV  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA.  183 

cloaca  so  formed  is  surrounded  by  a  common  fold  of  muscles  and  integu- 
ment. A  small,  flattened,  linguiform  clitoris,  not  free  at  its  apex,  with 
two  grooves  above  and  about  0'2  inch  long,  is  developed  on  the  anterior 
Avail  of  the  cloaca,  beginning  at  the  level  where  the  rectum  and  urino- 
genital  canal  meet. 

A  second  specimen  examined — an  adult  female  that  has  been  preserved 
in  spirit,  and  which,  judging  from  the  condition  of  its  mammae,  has  been 
a  mother — shows  exactly  the  same  relations  of  these  parts  as  that  here 
described,  the  only  differences  being  in  the  sizes  of  some  of  the  parts,   P.  Z.  S.  J881, 
due,  no  doubt,  to  age.     The  clitoris,  however,  is  free  at  the  apex  and      p<       ' 
slightly  bilobed  *. 

The  brain  of  the  Koala  is  represented  of  the  natural  size  in  the 
accompanying  figures  (figs.  3-6,  p.  185),  of  which  that  representing  its 
superior  aspect  was  taken  from  the  brain  before  being  removed  from  the 
cranial  cavity,  and  therefore  unaltered  by  displacement  or  hardening  in 
spirit.  The  other  three  figures  are  drawn  from  the  brain  after  hardening 
in  alcohol  for  some  months. 

The  cerebral  hemispheres  are  remarkable  for  their  simple  surface, 
which  is  broken  up  by  no  convolutions.  Broadest  behind,  they  taper 
forwardly,  and  so  are  somewhat  pyriform  in  outline  when  viewed  from 
above.  They  leave  the  corpora  quadriyemina  largely  exposed  behind ; 
and  in  consequence  the  cerebellum  is  left  entirely  uncovered  :  indeed, 
w^hen  the  parts  are  undisturbed  (fig.  3)  it  is  not  even  in  contact  with 
the  cerebral  hemispheres.  The  greatest  length  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres 
is  about  1'2  inch  ;  their  greatest  depth  about  0*7  inch.  Viewed  from  the 
side,  their  superior  contour  is  seen  to  be  but  little  arched  behind,  whilst 
anteriorly  it  slopes  downwards  away  rather  suddenly  towards  the  olfactory 

*  In  Phascolomys  wombat,  in  a  two-thirds  grown  female,  I  can  detect  no  differences 
of  importance  whatever  from  the  type  here  described.  The  Fallopian  tubes  are 
apparently  longer,  and  their  fimbriated  extremities  better  developed.  The  form  of  the 
ovaries,  and  the  disposition  of  the  uteri,  vaginae,  and  urino-genital  sinus  seem  to  be 
nearly  precisely  similar  in  the  two  genera. 

In  Phalangista  vulpina,  on  the  other  hand,  considerable  differences  occur.  The 
Fallopian  tubes  are  shorter  in  proportion  to  the  uteri,  and  are  more  convoluted.  The 
uteri  are  more  distinct  from  the  Fallopian  tubes,  are  more  capacious,  and  strongly 
curved  outwards.  Each  os  tincce  projects  as  a  prominent  and  quite  free  papilla  into  a 
common  vaginal  chamber,  formed  by  the  coalescence  and  fusion  of  the  two  diverticula 
present  in  Phascolomys  and  Phascolarctos.  This  chamber  is  capacious,  and  has  only  a 
very  slight  indication  of  a  median  septum  left. 

In  Belideus  sciureus  the  Fallopian  tubes  and  uteri  resemble  those  of  Phalavgista. 
The  vaginae,  however,  are  much  longer  and  curved  on  themselves,  much  as  in  the 
Kangaroos.  There  are  apparently  two  small  culs-de-sac  ;  but  the  specimen  examined 
does  not  allow  me  to  say  whether  or  no  they  unite.  In  Petaurus  (  =  Belideus  ?),  accord- 
ing to  Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  682),  where  the  vagina1  are  also  long  and  curved,  the 
culs-de-sac  remain  separate. 


184          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

lobes.  These  last  are  not  large,  and  but  little  exposed ;  in  fact,  in  the 
undisturbed  state,  they  are  covered,  when  viewed  from  above,  by  the 
hemispheres.  The  temporal  lobe  is  small.  Superiorly  the  hemispheres, 
save  for  a  few  slight  vascular  impressions,  are  altogether  smooth ; 
laterally,  a  well-defined  sulcus,  running  from  the  temporal  lobe  forwards, 
and  curved,  first  upwards  and  then  downwards,  is  visible.  Anteriorly, 
this  separates  off  the  olfactory  tract  from  the  side  walls  of  the  hemi- 
spheres. A  slight  indentation,  about  halfway  along  its  course,  at  the  top 
of  its  upward  convexity,  may  represent  a  rudimentary  Sylvian  fissure. 
Just  behind  this  is  a  second  similar,  though  smaller,  impression.  The 
olfactory  ganglion  is  large,  as  is  the  tract.  Internally,  the  characteristic 
features  of  the  Marsupial  brain  *  are  distinct,  the  corpus  callosum  being 
small  and  indistinct,  and  the  anterior  commissure  very  large.  The 
P.  Z.  S.  1381,  hippocampal  sulcus  is  distinct  and  deep,  strongly  curved,  and  continued 
p.  192.  forwards  over  the  corpus  callosum  onto  the  interna]  face  of  the  hemi- 
spheres to  a  point  about  0*15  inch  in  front  of  the  anterior  commissure. 
Behind  is  another  rather  deep,  /-shaped  sulcus,  which  appears  at  both 
ends  on  the  prominent  rounded  margin  of  hemispheres.  The  corpus 
Jlmbriatum  and  fascia  dentata  are  both  distinct.  The  middle  (grey) 
commissure  is  very  large.  Of  the  corpora  quadriyemina,  the  nates  are 
longer  (from  before  backwards)  than  the  testes.  The  posterior  limb  of 
the  crucial  impression  is  not  as  distinct  as  the  fore  one. 

In  the  cerebellum  the  vermis  is  well-developed,  as  are  the  lateral  lobes 
and  theflocculi,  which  have  the  form  of  projecting,  rounded  lobes.  The 
pons  Varolii  is  narrow,  the  anterior  pyramids  well  defined,  and  the 
corpora  trapezoidea  distinct. 

As  compared  with  Pliascolomys,  the  principal  points  of  difference  in 
the  brain  are  the  more  richly  convoluted  hemispheres — a  distinct  calloso- 
marginal  sulcus  being  present,  as  well  as  others  on  the  external  surface 
— and  the  non-projecting  flocculi,  of  the  latter.  PJialangista  has  nearly 
as  simple  a  brain  as  the  Koala  ;  but  iheflocculi  project  more. 

A  consideration  of  some  of  the  facts  on  the  visceral  anatomy  of  the 
Koala  here  stated  appears  to  me  to  throw  considerable  light  on  the 
classification  of  the  Marsupials.  Naturalists  generally  have  placed  the 
Koala  in,  or  close  to,  the  Phalangistidse ;  whilst  the  Wombats  have 
been  retained  as  a  separate  family  or  section,  of  equal  value  with  the 
former  group,  the  Kangaroos  being  often,  indeed,  interposed  between 
the  twof.  "Writing  as  long  ago  as  1846,  Mr.  Gr.  E.  Waterhouse,  in  his 
'Natural  History  of  the  Mammalia'  (vol.  i.),  though  in  that  work 
keeping  the  Phascolomyidse  separate  from  the  Phalangistidae,  evidently 

*   Vide  Flower,  Phil.  Trans.  1865,  p.  647. 

t  Cf.  Owen,  "Classification  of  the  Marsupialia,"  P.  Z.  S.  1839,  p.  19;  Sclater,  Key. 
List  of  Vertebrate,  7th  edition,  1879. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 


Fig.  5. 


P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
p.  191. 


Fig.  4. 


Fig.  3. 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  3.  Eight  half  of  Koala's  brain,  from  above,  of  the  natural  size ;  drawn  before 

removal  from  the  skull. 
Fig.  4.  The  same,  from  below. 
Fig.  5.  The  same,  from  the  side. 
Fig.  6.  Left  cerebral  hemisphere,  from  the  inside,  the  optic  thalamus  being  cut  short. 

a.c,  anterior  commissure ;  h.  hippocampal  eulcus. 


186          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

did  so  with  some  hesitation.  He  says  (7.  c.  p.  16) : — "  Upon  a  careful 
examination  of  the  Wombat,  I  find  so  many  points  in  common  with  the 
Phdlangista  group,  that  it  is  so  intimately  connected  with  the  Koala 
(which  is  more  clearly  an  aberrant  Phalanger),  as  indicated  by  the  struc- 
ture of  the  stomach  and  the  deficiency  in  the  number  of  the  false  molars, 
and  the  total  absence  of  tail,  that  I  am  inclined  to  regard  the  genus  Plias- 
colomys  as  presenting  an  aberrant  form  only  of  the  Phalangistidse.  That 
the  thumb  should  be  reduced  to  a  small  size  in  this  animal,  which  differs 
from  others  of  its  (supposed)  family  in  living  upon  the  ground,  I  am 
prepared  for,  since  in  the  Dasyuridse  the  same  thing  takes  place  under 
similar  circumstances.  I  am  also  prepared  to  find  in  an  herbivorous 
group  like  the  Phalangistidae  a  difference  in  the  structure  of  the  molar 
teeth,  in  haying  them  rooted  in  one  case  and  rootless  in  another,  for 
such  happens  in  other  herbivorous  groups  of  the  Mammalia."  Again,  in 
a  note  on  p.  257  : — "  With  regard  to  the  position  of  the  Wombat  and 
the  Koala  (Phascolarctos)  in  a  natural  position,  I  may  observe,  in  the 
first  place,  the  Wombat  (cceteris  paribus)  shows  some  affinity  to  the 
Phalangistidse  in  the  possession  of  a  thumb,  which,  though  short,  is  very 
broad  and  sufficiently  distinct.  Then,  beyond  this,  we  have  to  add  that 
P.  Z.  S.  1881,  the  limbs  are  equal,  the  tibia  and  fibula  are  widely  separated,  excepting, 
p.  193.  of  course,  at  the  extremities ;  and  the  stomach  is  simple  *,  as  in  the 

Phalanger  group.  On  the  other  hand,  we  perceive  in  the  Koala  an 
animal  possessing  all  the  essential  characters  of  Phalangista,  but  in 
which  the  stomach  is  provided  with  a  peculiar  glandular  apparatus,  and 
the  tail  is  wanting,  as  in  the  Wombat.  The  two  animals  agree,  moreover, 
very  closely  in  the  structure  of  the  humerus ;  they  agree  in  the  non- 
possession  of  a  patella,  in  the  absence  of  a  liyamentum  teres  f,  and  in  the 
outermost  of  the  articular  surfaces  of  the  upper  extremity  of  the  tibia 
being  continuous  with  the  articular  surface  of  the  fibula.  The  skull  of 
the  Koala,  as  compared  with  that  of  a  typical  Phalangista,  differs  in 
having  the  posterior  palatine  openings  confined  to  the  palatine  bone, 
which  is  also  the  case  in  the  Wombat;  the  lower  jaw  differs  in  the 
greater  extent  of  the  symphysis  menti ;  and,  lastly,  an  approximation  to 
that  Rodent-like  type  of  dentition  which  is  exhibited  by  the  Wombat  is 
perceptible  in  the  Koala,  in  the  smaller  development  of  the  posterior 
incisors  and  canines  of  the  upper  jaw,  and  the  total  absence  of  any  of 
those  premolars  which,  in  the  typical  Phalangers,  intervene  between  the 

*  I  suppose  by  this  is  meant  as  opposed  to  the  sacculated  stomach  of  the  Kangaroos. 

t  As  regards  these  last  two  characters,  it  must  be  observed  that  the  first  is  a 
character  practically  common  to  all  Marsupials,  excepting  the  Peramelidse  (cf.  Flower, 
4  Osteology  of  Mammalia,'  2nd  ed.  p.  306).  As  regards  the  alleged  absence  of  a  liga- 
mentum  teres,  I  find  it  perfectly  well  developed  in  fresh  specimens  of  both  Koala  and 
Wombat;  on  the  femur  the  depression  for  it,  though  not  distinct,  is  traceable. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA.          187 

canine  and  the  five  molars  of  the  upper  jaw,  and  the  incisor  and  the 
corresponding  teeth  in  the  lower  jaw."  Dr.  Murie,  from  his  examination 
of  the  osteology  of  the  Wombats  (P.  Z.  S.  1867,  p.  815),  appears  also  to 
incline  to  Mr.  Waterhouse's  view. 

In  the  course  of  this  paper  I  have  already  noted  several  other  points 
of  resemblance  between  the  Koala  and  Wombat,  in  the  presence  in  both 
of  more  or  less  distinct  cheek-pouches,  in  the  absence  of  a  distinct 
caudate  lobe  to  the  liver  and  the  tendency  of  its  lobes  to  develop  addi- 
tional superficial  sulci,  and,  finally,  in  the  structure  of  the  female  repro- 
ductive organs.  In  the  Wombat,  too,  the  first  traces  of  the  syndactyle 
condition  of  the  pes  appears,  both  externally  and  also  in  the  structure  of 
the  bones.  But,  to  my  mind,  the  most  convincing  token  of  their  affinity 
is  their  possession  of  the  peculiar  gastric  gland  *  already  referred  to  and 
described.  In  no  other  Marsupial  is  there  any  trace  of  such  a  structure 
visible,  whilst  in  the  two  forms  under  consideration  its  identity  is  almost 
precise.  That  such  a  unique  structure  should  have  been  independently 
developed  in  two  forms  unrelated  to  each  other  appears  to  me  to  be  in 
the  highest  degree  improbable. 

The  main  points  of  divergence  from  the  Phalangers  presented  by  the 
Wombat  are  the  peculiarities  of  its  dentition,  and  its  extraordinary  p.z.  S.  1881, 
caecum  (see  the  description  and  figure  by  Prof.  Flower,  Med.  Times  and  P- 194- 
Gazette,  Dec.  14,  1872,  p.  642).  In  its  teeth  being  all  rootless,  as  well 
as  in  the  equality  in  the  number  of  its  incisors,  Pliascolomys  differs  from 
all  other  Marsupials.  But  it  is  highly  probable  that  this  peculiar  Bodent- 
like  dentition  has  been  brought  about  in  accordance  with  its  mode  of  life, 
and  that  therefore  these  features,  being  adaptive,  have  in  reality  less 
importance  in  classification  than  has  been  assigned  to  them.  Moreover, 
in  a  very  young  Wombat's  skull  preserved  in  the  Hunterian  Museum 
(1795  D),in  which  the  first  three  molar  teeth  only  in  each  jaw  have  cut 
the  gum  and  are  quite  unworn,  each  lobe  of  the  teeth  has  two  quite 
distinct,  though  small  cusps ;  hence  the  second  and  third  teeth  on  each 
side  have  four  distinct  cusps,  and  the  anterior  two,  as  in  the  Phalangers 
generally.  The  caecum  is  no  doubt  peculiar,  and  quite  unique  amongst 
Mammalia,  any  resemblance  to  the  "  appendix  vermiformis "  of  the 
highest  Primates  being  fanciful.  If  in  these  points  sufficient  reason  is 
considered  present  for  elevating  the  Wombats  to  the  position  of  a 
primary  group  of  the  Marsupials — whether  such  group  be  called  a  tribe 
or  a  family  is  no  matter — it  should  not  be  forgotten  that  in  some  features 
Phascolarctos,  too,  is  nearly  as  peculiar  as  Phascolomys  itself.  These  are 
mainly :— the  peculiar  alisphenoidal  bullaof  the  skull ;  the  extraordinary 
complicated  liver,  with  the  elongated  gall-bladder  ;  the  immensely  deve- 

*  It  would  be  interesting  to  investigate  the  histological  structure  of  this  gland,  with 
the  object  of  determining  whether  or  not  the  resemblance  is  more  than  external. 


188          ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  KOALA. 

loped  caecum  and  caecum-like  ascending  colon,  with  their  longitudinal 
folds  of  mucous  membrane  ;  and  the  absence  of  an  azygos  lobe  to  the 
lungs,  the  Wombats  agreeing  with  the  Phalangers  in  possessing  one. 
Hence  it  appears  to  me  to  be  a  more  natural  course  to  keep  these  three 
groups  together  as  subdivisions  of  a  larger  one,  though  whether  that  one 
be  called  a  family,  or  made  into  a  larger  section,  will  depend  on  the  value 
attached  to  those  ideas  by  different  naturalists.  Adopting  the  former 
as  most  convenient,  they  might  be  defined  briefly  as  follows  :  — 

PHALANGISTID  M  . 

Diprotodont  Marsupialia,  with  clavicles,  and  not  more  than  six 
incisors  above.  The  hallux  present  ;  the  2nd  and  3rd  digits  of  the  pes 
smaller  than  the  others,  and  more  or  less  united  together  by  integument. 
Stomach  not  sacculated.  Caecum  present.  Grlans  penis  more  or  less 
bilobed  ;  vaginas  provided  with  median  culs-de-sac  which  may  unite. 


1. 

Teeth  rooted  ;  superior  incisors  3.3;  at  least  one  small  additional 
preinolar  on  each  side  above.  Tail  well  developed.  No  cheek-pouches. 
Stomach  and  ascending  colon  simple.  Caecum  long,  simple.  Liver  not 
complicated  by  secondary  sulci,  and  with  distinct  caudate  and  Spigelian 
lobes.  Lungs  with  an  azygos  lobe.  Vaginal  culs-de-sac  coalesced  (at 
least  in  Phalangista). 

Phalangista,  Cuscus,  Belideus  *,  Acrobata  *,  Dromicia  *. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881  ,       2.  PHASCOLAECTIN^E. 

Teeth  rooted  ;  superior  incisors  3.3;  additional  premolars  absent. 
Tail  rudimentary.  Distinct  cheek-pouches.  Stomach  with  a  cardiac 
gland.  Caacum  very  long;  commencing  colon  caecum-like,  both  being 
dilated  and  provided  with  numerous  longitudinal  folds  of  mucous  mem- 
brane. Liver  very  much  complicated  by  secondary  eulci  ;  caudate  lobe 
not  free;  gall-bladder  immensely  elongated.  Lungs  with  no  azygos 
lobe.  Vaginal  culs-de-sac  free. 

Phascolarctos. 

3.  PHASCOLOMYIM. 

All  teeth  rootless  ;  superior  incisors  1.1;  no  additional  premolars. 
Tail  and  cheek-pouches  rudimentary.  Stomach  as  in  Phascolarctince. 
Caecum  short,  peculiar.  Commencing  colon  transversely  sacculated. 
Liver  somewhat  complicated  by  secondary  sulci;  no  distinct  caudate 
lobe.  Lungs  with  an  azygos  lobe.  Vaginal  culs-de-sac  free. 

Phascolomys. 

*  For  an  opportunity  of  dissecting  examples  of  these  genera  I  am  indebted  to  the 
liberality  of  our  President. 


CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  BIKD-ANATOMY,  ETC.  189 


35.  ON  THE  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ANATOMY  AND  ibiB.1881, 
CLASSIFICATION  OF  BIRDS  MADE  BY  THE  LATE 
PROF.  GARROD,  F.R.S.* 

IT  having  been  suggested  to  me  by  one  of  the  Editors  of  this  Journal 
that  a  concise  resume  of  the  ornithological  papers  of  my  late  friend  and 
predecessor,  Prof.  A.  H.  Garrod,  F.R.S.,  would  not  only  form  an  appro- 
priate memoir  of  him,  but  would  also  be  useful  to  those  ornithologists 
who  are  interested  in  the  anatomy  of  birds  and  the  questions  of  classi- 
fication that  depend  on  it,  I  have  endeavoured  in  the  present  paper  to 
give  a  short  sketch  of  the  contributions  Prof.  Garrod  made  to  our  know- 
ledge of,  and  of  his  views  on  these  points. 

In  the  seven  years  (1872-1879)  during  which  Prof.  Grarrod  held  the 
post  of  Prosector  to  the  Zoological  Society,  no  less  than  thirty-eight 
papers  from  his  pen  (all,  with  one  exception"!",  published  in  the  Zoological 
Society's  'Proceedings')  appeared,  dealing  with  various  points  in  the 
anatomy  or  physiology  of  birds.  Of  these  a  complete  list  will  be  found  Ibis,  1881, 
in  the  January  number  of  this  Journal  for  last  year:}:.  All  of  these,  p'  ' 
except  two§,  are  morphological  in  nature  ;  but  many  of  the  characters  of 
birds  from  the  physiological  side  were  fully  expounded  in  his  series  of 
Fullerian  Lectures  at  the  Royal  Institution  and  elsewhere.  At  the  time 
of  his  death,  Prof.  Garrod  was  also  engaged  on  an  article  on  the  mecha- 
nism of  flight ;  for  his  wonderful  mechanical  skill  enabled  him  to  explain 
and  demonstrate  this  and  other  physiological  problems  in  a  method  but 
rarely  to  be  met  with  amongst  biologists  generally.  But  this,  unfortu- 
nately, he  left  in  an  unfinished  condition. 


*  Ibis,  1881,  pp.  1-32. 

f  "  Note  on  some  of  the  Cranial  Peculiarities  of  the  Woodpeckers,"  Ibis,  1872, 
p.  357. 

J  In  addition  to  his  published  papers  on  birds,  Prof.  Garrod  was  engaged,  as 
probably  many  of  the  readers  of  '  The  Ibis '  are  aware,  on  a  general  account  of  the 
Anatomy  of  Birds,  to  be  published  in  three  fasciculi.  As  originally  planned,  the  first 
fasciculus  of  this  work  was  to  contain  a  complete  account  of  the  anatomy  (not  in- 
cluding the  histology)  of  the  common  Fowl,  as  a  type  of  all  birds  ;  the  second  was  to 
be  occupied  with  a  comparative  account  of  the  "  soft  parts  "  in  the  different  groups ; 
whilst  the  third  was,  I  believe,  to  have  been  devoted  to  osteology  and  a  consideration 
of  the  results  arrived  at  as  regards  classification.  Of  these  three  fasciculi,  the  first 
was  nearly  completed  at  the  time  of  his  death,  and  the  second  left  about  half  done, 
nearly  all  the  groups  of  the  "  Homalogonatous  "  birds  being  treated  of  in  it,  together 
with  some  of  the  remaining  ones.  The  MS.  of  both  of  these  portions  has  been, 
fortunately  for  our  science,  preserved ;  and  it  is  my  hope  some  day  to  complete  the 
work  for  publication  in  a  form  worthy  of  its  original  author. 

§  "  On  the  Mechanism  of  the  Gizzard  in  Birds,"  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  pp.  52o-529  ;  "  On  a 
Point  in  the  Mechanism  of  the  Bird's  Wing,"  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  pp.  82-84. 


190 


ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD  S  CONTRIBUTIONS 


Ibis,  1881, 
p.  3. 


In  the  present  article  I  propose  first  to  consider  those  points  in  the 
anatomy  of  birds  first  brought  into  notice,  or  worked  out  in  large  groups, 
by  Garrod,  and  secondly  to  consider  the  light  thrown  by  these  facts  on 
the  correct  collocation  of  various  genera,  or  larger  groups,  as  well  as  on 
the  arrangement  of  these  latter  into  groups  of  a  still  higher  power.  But 
I  shall  avoid,  as  far  as  possible,  any  comparisons  with  previously  pro- 
posed classifications,  as  it  is  not  my  wish  to  enter,  in  this  place,  into 
discussions  of  that  kind.  Under  each  of  these  headings  I  shall  endeavour, 
as  far  as  is  consistent  with  clearness  and  conciseness,  to  preserve  a 
chronological  order. 

I.   On  the  Conformation  of  the  Nasal  Bones*. 

"  In  most  birds  the  anterior  margin  of  the  nasal  bone  is  concave,  with 
the  two  cornua  directed  forwards,"  these  processes  being  "  continuous 
behind  with  the  body  of  the  bone  and  with  one  another,  there  being  no 
interruption  of  any  kind  between  them.  Such  a  condition  is  found  in 
Otis  and  the  Gallinse  proper ;  and  birds  possessing  the  bone  so 
constructed  may  be  termed  holorhinal :  in  them  a  transverse  straight  line, 
drawn  on  the  skull  from  the  most  backward  point  of  the  external  nasal 
aperture  of  one  side  to  that  of  the  other,  always  passes  in  front  of  the 


Fig.  1. 


Fig.  2. 


Skull  of  Gallus  domesticus 
(from  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  35,  fig.  9). 


Skull  of  Larus  argentatus 
(from  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  34,  fig.  2). 


*  "  On  the  Value  in  Classification  of  a  Peculiarity  in  the  Anterior  Margin  of  the 
Nasal  Bones  in  certain  Birds,"  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  33-38. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  191 

posterior  terminations  of  the  nasal  processes  of  the  praemaxillae."  This 
simply  concave  nature  of  the  posterior  margin  of  the  osseous  external 
nares,  as  well  as  the  relations  of  the  extremities  of  the  nasal  bones  to 
those  of  the  nasal  processes  of  the  praemaxillae,  is  shown  in  the  subjoined 
figure  of  the  Fowl's  skull  (see  fig.  1). 

In  a  large  number  of  birds,  however,  the   condition   of   things   is  Ibis,  1881, 
different,  as  will  be  evident  from  an  inspection  of  a  similar  view  of  a      Pe  4* 
Gull's  skull  (Larus  argentatus). 

Here  (see  fig.  2)  the  posterior  margin  of  the  osseous  nares  has  a 
distinctly  slit-like  or  triangular  form,  instead  of  being  simply  concave ; 
hence  the  birds  presenting  this  peculiarity,  which  varies  to  some  extent 
in  the  degree  of  its  development  in  different  forms,  may  be  called 
" schizorhinal"  In  most  of  these  schizorhinal  forms  the  line  joining  the 
posterior  extremities  of  the  nostrils  passes  behind,  instead  of  in  front  of, 
the  ends  of  the  nasal  processes  of  the  praemaxillae.  When  the  beak 
becomes  shortened  and  broad  at  the  base,  however,  as,  e.  <?.,  in  the 
Pteroclidae,  this  feature  nearly  disappears.  Birds  belonging  to  the 
schizorhinal  group  are  nearly  all,  with  the  exception  of  Platalea  and  Ibis, 
"  schizognathous"  as  regards  their  palate.  The  "  SchizorhinsD  "  comprise 
the  following  minor  groups : — Columbidae,  Pteroclidse,  Turnicidae,  Parridae, 
Limicolae  (except  (Edicnemus,  which  is  holorhinal,  therein  agreeing  with 
the  Bustards),  Laridse,  Gruidse,  Eurypygidse,  Rhinochetidse*,  Plataleidse 
(the  Hemiglottides  of  Mtzsch),  and  Alcidse.  Aramus  also,  as  shown  by 
Prof.  Garrod's  later  investigations  t,  must  be  included  here,  being 
schizorhinal,  like  the  Cranes.  All  these  birds,  it  may  be  noticed,  belong 
to  the  Homalogonatous  series,  possessing,  at  least  normally,  the  ambiens 
muscle,  presently  to  be  referred  to.  In  1877  Prof.  Garrod  discovered 
that  a  similar  conformation  of  the  skull,  as  regards  these  bones,  obtains 
in  certain  of  the  South-American  "  Formicarioid  "  Passeres — that  is,  in 
Furnarius  and  some  of  its  allies  i  (Leptasthenura,  Synallaxis,  Sclerurus, 
and  Phlceocryptes),  as  may  be  seen  in  fig.  3,  where  that  of  Fwnarius  rufus  ibis,  1881, 
is  represented.  Eeferring  to  this,  he  says,  "  It  has  been  my  habit  to  P-  5- 
group  all  the  birds  possessing  a  schizorhinal  skull  in  a  single  major 
division  .  .  .  but  the  independent  development  of  an  identical  disposition 
in  the  small  division  of  the  Passerine  birds  above  mentioned  weakens  the 


*  To  these  may  be  added,  as  I  have  Prof.  Garrod's  authority  for  doing,  Mesites,  as 
is  shown  by  M.  A.  Milne -Ed  wards's  investigations  (v.  Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  ser.  6,  vii.  art. 
no.  6).  The  Rallidae,  with  which  that  naturalist  associates  Mesites,  are  all  holorhinal, 
at  the  same  time  that  they  lack  the  powder-down  patches  of  Mesites,  Rhinochetus,  and 
Eurypyga. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  275. 

\  "Note  on  the  Anatomy  of  Passerine  Birds.— Part  II.,"  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  pp.  449- 
452. 


192  ON  THE  LATE  PEOF.  GAEEOD's  CONTRIBUTIONS 

Fig.  3. 


Skull  of  Furnarius  rufus,  showing  its  schizorhinal  character 
(from  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  450,  fig.  3). 

importance  of  the  character  to  a  certain  extent,  although  it  is  not  at  all 
necessary  to  assume  that  it  overthrows  its  significance.  Collateral  evi- 
dence, from  visceral  and  other  details,  compels  me  still  to  think  that 
those  schizorhinal  birds  which  possess  the  ambiens  muscle,  or  are,  in 
other  words,  homalogonatous,  must  be  retained  in  one  great  order, 
Charadriiformes,  until  some  important  structural  differences  are  discovered 
which  necessitate  their  being  otherwise  arranged.  The  schizorhinal 
disposition  is  most  certainly  one  which  is  a  secondary  development  upon 
the  normal  holorhinal  one ;  and  that  it  has  been  independently  arrived 
at  in  two  non-related  orders  of  the  class  is  proof  that  it  results  from 
most  simple  causes,  because  the  probability  that  the  same  complex  con- 
formation should  appear,  de  novo,  varies  inversely  as  the  complexity ;  the 
greater  the  elaborateness  the  less  the  chance  that  it,  in  all  its  detail, 
conies  into  existence  more  than  once." 

Ibis  1881  •"--'-•  ^e  Carotid  Arteries. 

p'  6*  The  variations  in  the  position  of  the  carotid  arteries  in  birds  had  been 

studied  by  Meckel,  Bauer,  Barkow,  and  others ;  but  their  opportunities 
of  observation  were  limited,  for  the  most  part,  to  European  species. 
Prof.  Garrod,  in  his  paper  on  the  subject*,  has  recorded  their  condition 
in  400  species  of  birds,  of  300  different  genera  ;  in  his  subsequent  papers, 
or  MS.  notes,  many  additional  species  are  included. 

Erom  a  consideration  of  these,  six  different  modifications  in  the  dis- 
position of  these  vessels  may  be  traced  : — 


"  On  the  Carotid  Arteries  of  Birds,"  P.Z.S.  1873,  pp.  457-472. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  193 

(1)  The  two  carotids,  each  springing,  as  usual,  from  the  innominate 
artery  of  its  side,  after  the  latter  has  given  off  the  pectoral  and  subclavian 
branches,  run  up  in  a  converging  manner  into  the  neck,  and  then  continue, 
closely  parallel  to  but  quite  free  from  one  another,  up  along  the  under 
surface  of  the  neck,  in  a  bony  canal  or  passage  formed  by  the  hypa- 
pophyses  of  the  cervical  vertebrae,  to  near  the  head,  where  they  again 
diverge  and  break  up  for  the  supply  of  that  part.  This  may  be  considered 
the  most  typical  and  least  modified  form  :  it  is  present  in  a  very  large 
number  of  birds. 

(2)  Where,  instead  of  both  carotids  being  developed,  only  one,  the  left, 
is  so,  the  right  having  disappeared.     This  is  a  condition  constant  in  all 
Passeres,  as  well  as  in  sundry  other  birds. 

(3)  Where  the  right  artery  is  present  in  its  normal  position  in  the 
hypapophysial  canal;  but  the  left  runs  up  the  neck  superficially  in  company 
with  the  left  jugular  vein  and  vagus  (pneumogastric)  nerve.     This  con- 
dition is  present  only  in  certain  Parrots. 

(4)  Where  the  two  arteries,  instead  of  running  parallel,  blend  together 
at  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  running  up  then  as  a  single  trunk  in  the 
normal  position  till  its  bifurcation  near  the  head.     This  is  an  exceptional 
condition.      The   two   trunks   before  blending  may  be  equal  in  size 
(Botaurus   stellaris),   or   either   the   right    (Phoenicopterus)   or   the   left 
(Cacatua  sulphur  ea,  according  to  Meckel*),  may  be  the  bigger. 

To  these  four  conditions,  duly  noticed  in  Prof.  Garrod's  paper  above  Ibis,  1881, 
quoted,  may  be  added  two  more  : —  P' 

(5)  When  the  right  carotid  only  is  present,  as  is  the  case  t,  as  dis- 
covered by  him,  in  the  Bustards  of  the  genus  Eupodotis. 

(6)  In  Bucorvus  abyssinicus,  as  discovered  by  my  friend  Mr.  W.  Ottley, 
who,  at  Prof.  Garrod's  request,  undertook  a  reexamination  of  the  question, 
the  two  carotid  arteries  are  reduced  to  fibrous  imperforate  cords,  and 
their  place  is  taken  (functionally)  by  two  vessels  which  are  apparently 
enormously  enlarged  equivalents  of  the  comes  nervi  vagi  of  other  birds  J. 

From  these  facts  it  is  evident  that,  taken  per  se,  the  disposition  of  the 
carotid  arteries  has  not  much  significance  amongst  birds,  there  being 
many  families  in  which,  whilst  the  majority  of  the  species  have  two, 
some  have  only  one  carotid.  This,  for  instance,  is  the  case  with  Toccus 
and  Buceros  amongst  the  Bucerotidae,  Plotiis  and  PTialacrocorax  amongst 


*  Prof.  Garrod  was  unable  to  confirm  this  statement  in  the  only  specimen  dissected 
by  him  (P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  588). 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  473. 

J  "  On  a  Peculiarity  in  the  Carotid  Arteries  and  other  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of 
the  Ground-Hornbill,"  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  60,  61.  Also  "  A  Description  of  the  Vessels 
of  the  Neck  and  Head  in  the  Ground-Hornbill  (Bucorvus  abyssinicus),  by  W.  Ottley, 
F.R.C.S.,"  P.  Z.S.  1879,  pp.  461-467. 

o 


194     ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD's  CONTRIBUTIONS 

the  Steganopodes,  Cypselus  and  Cypseloides  in  the  Swifts,  &c. :  in  all 
these  cases  the  first-named  genera  have  but  one,  the  others  two,  carotids. 
In  other  cases,  however,  the  characters  of  the  carotids  hold  good  through 
very  large  groups  :  thus  no  Passerine  bird  has  ever  yet  been  found  with 
more  than  a  left  carotid,  and  no  Pigeon,  Duck,  or  Bird  of  Prey  without 
two  normally  placed  ones. 

III.  The  Disposition  of  the  Vessels  of  the  Thigh. 

In  Man  aud  other  Mammals,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  the  main  nerve  of 
the  leg  is  the  sciatic ;  the  main  artery  and  vein  are  the  femoral,  running 
in  the  front  of  the  leg.  In  Birds,  as  a  rule,  the  main  artery  accompanies 
the  sciatic  nerve,  running  close  above  and  parallel  to  it ;  the  vein  remains 
the  femoral. 

Ibis,  1881,  To  these  rules  certain  exceptions  were  first  pointed  out  by  Prof. 
Garrod.  Thus,  in  Centropus  phasianus  *,  though  not  in  Centropus  rufi- 
pennis,  or  any  of  the  other  Cuculidae  examined  by  him,  as  well  as  in  all 
the  species  of  Pipridse  and  Cotingidae,  eight  in  number,  dissected  (except 
Rupicola  crocea),  the  main  artery  of  the  leg  accompanies  the  femoral  vein : 
it  is  a  femoral  artery  t. 

Again,  in  Dacelo  gigantea  and  D.  cervina  J,  the  femoral  vein  is  replaced 
by  one  which  lies  between  its  normal  position  and  the  sciatic  artery, 
crossing  over,  instead  of  under,  the  femoro-caudal  muscle ;  and  the  same 
is  the  case,  as  recorded  by  him  in  an  unpublished  (and,  unfortunately, 
unfinished)  paper  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  Pelecanoides"  in  that  singular 
form  of  Petrel.  These  two  cases  are,  I  believe,  the  only  ones  yet  recorded 
of  this  unexpected  arrangement. 

IV.  The  Mvxcles  of  the  Thigh  §. 

The  myology  of  birds  was  always  one  of  Prof.  Garrod's  favourite  sub- 
jects ;  and  of  his  various  myological  papers,  the  two  enumerated  below 
may  fairly  be  considered  the  most  important,  as  from  the  facts  detailed 
therein  he  drew  up,  in  part,  the  only  detailed  scheme  of  a  classification 
of  birds  ever  published  by  him. 

In  the  region  of  the  thigh  of  birds  there  are  six  muscles,  which  may  or 
may  not  be  present,  though  no  known  bird  wants  them  all.  These  six 

*  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  629,  note. 

t  Since  writing  the  above,  I  have  found  the  same  to  be  the  case  in  my  specimens  of 
Corythaix  persa  (two),  C.  porphyreolopha,  and  C.  erythrolopha,  and  in  Musophaga 
violacea.  In  Schizorhis  africana  (two),  however,  the  normal  condition  persists. 

\  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  629. 

§  "  On  certain  Muscles  of  the  Thigh  in  Birds,  and  on  their  Value  in  Classifi- 
cation.—Part  I.,"  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  626-644 ;  "  Part  II.,"  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pp.  111-123, 
pi.  xvii. 


TO  BIED-ANATOMY  AND   CLASSIFICATION.  195 

muscles  are  the  ambiens,  the  glutens  primus,  the  semitendinosus,  the  acces- 
sory semitendmosus,  the  femora-caudal,  and  the  accessory  femoro-caudal* . 

These  will  here  be  all  considered  seriatim ;  they  may  all,  it  may  be  Ibis,  1881, 
mentioned,  be  well  seen  in  the  common  Fowl.  P-  9< 

(1)  The  ambiens. — This  muscle,  unlike  the  others  to  be  subsequently 
mentioned,  lies  on  the  lower  or  inner  surface  of  the  thigh.  As  generally 
developed,  it  is  a  more  or  less  slender  fusiform  muscle,  which,  arising 
from  the  praepubic  spine  or  process  of  the  pelvis,  close  in  front  of  the 
acetabulum,  runs  along  the  inner  side  of  the  thigh  superficially,  and  then, 
turning  slightly  outwards,  runs,  as  a  thin  tendon,  in  the  fibrous  tissues 
covering  the  knee-joint  (in  some  cases  perforating  the  patella)  to  the  outer 
side  of  the  leg,  and  terminates  there  by  joining  one  of  the  tendons  of  the 
superficial  flexor  of  the  toes,  the  flexor  perforatus  digitorum.  The  course 
of  this  muscle  will  be  made  clear  by  the  accompanying  representation  of 

Fig.  4. 


f-f- 


Thigh  of  Touraco  (Corythaix  erythrolopha)  viewed  from  the  inner  side,  to  show  the 
ambiens  muscle,  arising  from  the  praepubic  spine  of  the  pelvis  (P),  and  running 
along  to  blend  with  one  of  the  tendons  of  origin  of  the  flexor  perforatus  digitorum 
(f.p.).  F,  femur;  Pt,  patella;  1.0,  inner  condyle  of  femur;  T,  tibia;  b,  biceps 
(cut  short) ;  s,  sartorius  (also  cut)  ;  e,  e,  extensor  femoris ;  sm,  semimembranosus ; 
add,  adductores. 

N.B.  The  surrounding  parts  have  been  somewhat  distorted  from  their  natural  positions 
to  show  better  the  course  of  the  ambiens. 

it,  as  seen  in  a  Touraco  (Corythaix  erythrolopha).      In  one  or  two  cases 
(e.  g.  (Edicnemus,  Stringops)  it  tends  to  become  obsolete  after  reaching  Ibis,  1881, 
the  knee,  becoming  lost  in  the  capsule  of  the  knee-joint.     In  all  Passerine      ^ 
birds,  and  some  others,  it  is  always  absent. 

*  It  is  not  my  object  in  this  paper  to  discuss  the  homology  of  the  muscles  here  so 
named  with  those  of  other  Vertebrata. 

o2 


196  ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD's  CONTRIBUTIONS 

(2)  The  glutens  primus. — In  Garrod's  earlier  papers  this  muscle  is 
called  the  "  tensor  fascice ;"  and  it  is  described  under  that  name  in  the 
first  of  the  two  papers  quoted. 

Like  the  four  next  muscles,  this  lies  on  the  upper  (or  outer)  surface  of 
the  thigh,  and  with  them  may  be  seen  in  the  annexed  figure.  It  is  en- 
tirely superficial,  lying  beneath  the  skin,  and  not  requiring  any  dissection 

Fig.  5. 


Outer  view  of  right  thigh  of  Gallus  bankiva,  partially  dissected 

(from  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  627,  fig.  1). 

P,  pubis ;  R,  rectriees ;  s,  sartorius ;  v  e,  vastus  externus ;  tf,  gluteus  primus  (cut) 
origin  and  insertion  ;  bo,  biceps  origin ;  bi,  biceps  insertion ;  fc,  femoro-caudal ; 
afc,  accessory  femoro-caudal;  s  t,  seinitendinosus ;  ast,  accessory  femoro-caudal; 
Ad,  adductor. 

or  its  display.     More  or  less  triangular  in  shape,  it  arises  "  from  the 
Ibis,  1881,  whole  length  of  the  postacetabular  ridge,"  as  the  ridge  separating  the 
P-  11-       lateral  from  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  postacetabular  area  of  the  pelvis 
may  be  called,  "  as  well  as  from  the  posterior  border  of  the  ischium,  as 
far  forward  as  its  junction  with  the  pubis."     Its  fibres  converge  and  be- 
come blended  with  those  of  the  extensor  femoris,  forming  with  them  a 
broad  thin  aponeurosis  which  covers  the  front  of  the  knee  and  is  inserted 
into  the  tibia-head — the  patella,  when  present,  being  developed  in  it. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND   CLASSIFICATION.  197 

The  degree  of  development  of  this  muscle  (whose  cut  surfaces  are  marked 
tf  in  fig.  5)  varies  much  in  different  groups  of  birds,  and  in  some  may  be 
entirely  absent,  e.  g.  the  Bucerotid®  and  Palamedeidae.  As  a  rule,  it  is 
not  small.  In  the  paper  on  Chauna  *  a  table  will  be  found  stating  the 
degree  of  development  of  this  muscle  in  the  greater  number  of  families 
(1.  c.  p.  199). 

(3)  The  semitendinosus. — Generally  a  broad  flat  ribbon-shaped  muscle, 
bordering  the  contour  (sometimes  together  with  another  muscle,  the  semi- 
membranosus)  of  the  fleshy  part  of  the  thigh  behind.  It  arises  from  the  trans- 
verse process  of  the  first  free  coccygeal  vertebra,  and  from  the  fibrous  mem- 
brane between  this  and  the  ilium ;  it  is  inserted  into  the  inner  side  of  the 
head  of  the  tibia  (at  least  when  the  muscle  next  to  be  described  is  absent). 

(4)  In  many  birds  "  a  rhomboidal  sheet  of  muscle,  arising  from  the 
anterior  end  of  the  linea  aspera  "  (a  muscular  line  on  the  under  surface 
of  the  femmr)  joins  the  last-named  muscle  "anteriorly  by  an  oblique 
tendinous  raphe,  which  continues  down  the  back  of  the  leg  superficially." 
When  present,  most  of  the  main  semitendinosus  joins  this  accessory  head 
to  be  continued  down  the  leg. 

(5)  The  femoro-caudal. — This  is  a  thin,   narrow,  elongated  muscle, 
which  is  covered  above  by  the  glutens  primus  (if  present)  and  the  biceps 
cruris,  below  by  the  semitendinosus.     Arising  from  the  last  two  coccygeal 
vertebrae,  it  is  inserted  into  the  linea  aspera  of  the  femur  at  about  one 
third  its  length  (in  the  Fowl)  from  the  trochanter. 

(6)  In  many  birds  the  femoro-caudal  is  joined  by  an  accessorius,  which   Ibis,  1881, 
arises  from  the  external  surface  of  the  pelvis  behind  the  femur,  and  joins      P- 12> 
the  main  muscle,  to  be  inserted  with  it  into  the  femur,  but  nearer  the  head 

of  that  bone. 

As  already  mentioned,  some  birds  possess  all  these  six  muscles,  but  no 
bird  is  known  which  does  not  possess  at  least  one.  It  is  a  convenient  plan 
to  designate  the  four  last-named  muscles  by  the  letters  X,  T,  A,  B.  Thus 
a  Fowl  possessing  all  four  would  have  a  formula  A.B.X.Y,  ihe>  femoro- 
caudal,  accessory  femoro-caudal,  semitendinosus,  and  accessory  semitendinosus 
being  all  present.  On  the  other  hand,  a  Hawk  or  Owl,  possessing  only 
one,  the  femoro-caudal,  would  have  as  formula  A. 

Of  these  four  muscles  there  are  sixteen  possible  combinations ;  but  of 
these  only  eight  are  actually  found  in  birds  t. 

Furthermore,  if  we  denote  the  presence  or  absence  of  the  ambiens 
muscle  by  the  signs  +  or  — ,  we  obviously  get  sixteen  combinations 
again,  though  of  these  only  fifteen  have,  as  yet,  been  observed.  For  the 
sake  of  brevity  it  will  be  useful  to  remember  the  above  four  letters,  to 
save  the  repetition  of  the  full  names.  To  the  bearing  of  these  muscles 
in  the  classification  of  birds,  I  intend  to  revert  at  a  subsequent  part  of 

*  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  Chauna  derbiana,"  &c.,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp  189-200. 
t  P.Z.S.  1874,  p.  111. 


198  ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD'S  CONTRIBUTIONS 

this  paper,  only  stating  here  that  species  of  the  same  genus  and  nearly 
allied  genera  have,  nearly  in  every  case,  the  same  myological  formula,  and 
that  \-D.  families  peculiarities  involving  more  than  one  change  are  rare, 
farther  differences  indicating  a  more  remote  relationship. 

V.  The  Distribution  of  the  Deep  Plantar  Tendons*. 
In  all  birds,  whatever  number  of  toes  they  have,  there  are  two  deep 
flexor  muscles  of   the  toes,  the   fleshy  bellies    of   which   are   situated 
between  the  knee  and  the  "  ankle,"  whilst  their  tendons  run  along  the 
posterior  aspect  of  the  tarso-metatarse.     One,  arising  from  behind  the 
external  condyle  of  the  femur,  is  the  flexor  longus  hallucis ;  the  other, 
arising  from  the  posterior  aspect  of  the  tibia  and  from  the  fibula,  is  the 
flexor  perforans  digitorum,  so  called  because  its  terminal  tendons  per- 
Ibis,  1881,  f  orate  those  of  the  more  superficial  flexor  perforatus  (the  muscle,  it  will 
p.  13.      j^   remembered,  joined   by   the   tendon   of   the   ambiens).     Below   the 
"  ankle "  the  tendons  of  these  muscles  run  along  the  tarso-metatarse ; 
whatever  their  ultimate  distribution,  they  may  be  easily   identified  in 
this  region,  the^m^r  longus  hallucis  being  always  external  to,  or  super- 
ficial of ,  the  flexor  perforans  (or  both).     In  all  the  Passeres,  as  already 
noticed  by  Sundevall  (except  in  the  Eurylaemidse,  vide  infra),  as  well  as 
in  Upupa  epops  and  perhaps  one  or  two  Ardeine  birds,  these  two  tendons 
are  quite  independent  of  each  other,  so  that  if  the  flexor  hallucis  be 
artificially  pulled  no  flexion  (closing)  of  the  other  digits  takes  place. 
This  arrangement  is  represented  in  fig.  6.     In  all  other  birds,  however, 
the  two  tendons,  during  some  part  of  their  course  in  the  tarso-metatarse, 
are  more  or  less  intimately  connected  together  by  a  fibrous  band  or  vin- 
Ibis,  1881,  culum,  or  may  even  completely  blend.     It  is  to  a  consideration  of  the 
p.  14.      varying  arrangements  produced  that  this  paper  of  Prof.  G-arrod's  is  in 
the  main  dedicated ;  and  some  of  the  most  important  modifications  may 
be  noticed  here. 

In  a  large  number  of  birds  the  type  presented  by  the  common  Fowl 
obtains.  Here  the  flexor  perforans  supplies  digits  II-IY,  and  t~he  flexor 
hallucis  only  digit  I  (the  hallux) ;  this,  as  it  crosses  the  tendon  of  the 
flexor  perforans,  sends  down  a  strong  fibrous  vinculum  (vide  fig.  7,  V).  The 
proportions  of  the  vinculum  to  the  main  tendon  (that  distributed  to  the 
hallux)  vary  greatly,  as  it  may  or  may  not  be  greater  than  the  hallucial 
portion.  In  some  Birds  of  Prey  a  vinculum  may  be  combined  with  a 
special  slip  of  tendon  to  digit  n,  or  it  may  be  nearly  entirely  distributed 
to  that  digit.  In  the  Cathartidae  a  quite  different  arrangement,  next  to 
be  described,  obtains.  Here,  and  in  many  other  birds,  particularly 
amongst  the  Anomalogonatce,  the  two  tendons  blend  completely,  and  the 

*    "  On  the  Disposition  of  the  Deep  Plantar  Tendons  in  different  Birds,"  P.  Z.  S. 
1875,  pp.  339-348. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION. 


199 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  7. 


Ibis,  1881, 
p.  13. 


A  typical  Passerine  foot  Foot  of  Gallus  banfciva 

(from  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  347,  fig.  9).     (from  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  341,  fig.  1). 
V,  Vinculum. 

tendinous  slip  to  the  hallux  comes  off  from  the  blended  tendon,  IMs,'1881, 
apparently  springing  from  the  inner  side.  A  slight  modification  of  this 
produces  an  arrangement  by  which  the  hallucial  slip  seems  to  come  off 
from  the  inner  side  of  the  flexor  perforans  tendon  in  its  upper  part, 
before  it  has  been  joined  by  the  flexor  hallucis.  This  last-named  con- 
dition obtains  in  such  birds  as  Momotus,  Merops,  and  Dacelo. 

"When  the  hallux  is  absent,  as  well  as  in  Struthio  (where  only  two 
digits  are  present),  the  two  tendons  fuse  completely  in  the  leg,  and  the 
compound  tendon  is  distributed  in  the  usual  way  to  the  three  (or  two) 
digits.  In  many  birds  with  a  hallux,  when  there  is  no  long  flexor  to 
that  digit,  the  slip  to  it  is  extremely  small ;  and  in  some  cases  it  is  alto- 
gether absent. 

In  the  Trogonidse,  as  might  have  been  expected  from  the  well-known 
peculiarity  of  their  feet,  an  equally  peculiar  arrangement  of  the  plantar 
tendons  obtains  (L  c.  p.  345,  fig.  6). 

By  far  the  most  interesting  feature,  however,  brought  out  by  Prof. 
Garrod's  investigations  into  this  subject,  is  the  discovery  of  the  existence 


200 


ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD*S  CONTRIBUTIONS 


of  two  entirely  different  types  of  plantar  arrangement  in  the  so-called 
Ibis,  1881,  "  zygodactyle "  birds,  as  well  as  the  fact  that  this  diversity  of  type 
P-  !5.  exactly  coincides  with  the  two  groups  of  birds  so  marked  out  being 
respectively  "  Homalo-"  and  "  Anomalogonatous."  Thus,  in  the  Parrots, 
Cuckoos,  and  Musophagid®,  which  are  all  Homalogonatous,  possessing  (at 
least  typically)  the  ambiens  muscle,  the  plantar  tendons  are  distributed 
in  exactly  the  same  way  as  in  the  common  Fowl,  the  flexor  perforans 
supplying  digits  II-IY,  and  the  flexor  hallucis  digit  I  alone  (neglecting 
the  vinculum).  In  all  the  Anomalogonatous  zygodactyle  birds  (which  all 
lack  the  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles),  namely  the  Picidae, 
Capitonidse,  and  their  allies,  BucconidsB  and  Galbulidse,  an  entirely  unique 
arrangement  is  found  ;  for  in  those  birds  the  flexor  longus  hallucis  splits 
up  into  three  parts,  supplying  digits  II  and  iv  as  well  as  the  Tiallux, 
whilst  the  flexor  perforans  digitorum  is  distributed  to  the  third  digit 
alone.  These  differences  in  the  two  types  will  be  clearly  seen  by  com- 
paring fig.  8  (Crotophaga  sulcirostris)  and  fig.  9  (Megalcema  asiatica}. 


Fig.  8. 


Fig.  9. 


Ibis,  1881, 
p.  16. 


Foot  of  Crotophaga  sulcirostris.  Foot  of  Megalcema  asiatica. 

(From  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  p.  346,  figs.  7  &  8.) 

VI.  The  Method  of  Insertion  of  the  Tensor  patagii  brevis  Muscle. 
In  the  patagial  membrane  of  the  wing  in  most  birds  there  are  two 
muscles  present,  the  fleshy  bellies  of  which  arise  chiefly  from  the  scapular 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  201 

extremity  of  the  furcula,  whilst  their  tendons  run  between  the  two 
layers  of  membrane  of  which  the  patagium  is  composed.  These  muscles 
are  the  tensor  patagii  longus  and  the  tensor  patagii  brevis.  Arising  in 
common,  or  in  close  proximity  to  each  other,  the  tendon  of  the  tensor 
patagii  longus  forms  the  more  or  less  stiffened,  though  flexible,  anterior 
border  of  the  patagium ;  the  tendon  of  the  shorter  of  the  two  muscles 
runs  more  or  less  parallel  with  the  humerus,  ending  near  the  elbow-joint. 
In  different  birds  its  insertion  takes  place  in  different  ways,  the  tendon 
in  some  cases  simply  running  straight  on  to  the  ulnar  side,  and  there 
becoming  blended  with  the  general  fascia  of  the  part,  whilst  in  others 
it  becomes  united,  more  or  less  intimately,  with  the  tendinous  origin, 
springing  from  a  tubercle  on  the  humerus,  of  a  muscle  lying  on  the 
radial  side,  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior.  In  some  cases 
additional  slips  from  the  main  tendon  are  given  off,  the  arrangement 
sometimes  thus  getting  very  complicated  (e.  g.,  in  the  Trogonidae).  As  a 
rule,  every  natural  family  of  birds  has  a  characteristic  arrangement  of 
these  tendons ;  so  that  their  disposition  often  affords  great  help  in  classi- 
fication. This  is  the  case,  for  example,  in  the  Passeres ;  throughout  the 
whole  of  that  immense  group  one  arrangement,  only  slightly  masked  in 
one  or  two  aberrant  forms,  which  can  be  easily  recognized  and  is  most 
characteristic,  obtains.  The  same  is  the  case  with  the  very  closely  allied 
groups  of  Picidae,  Eamphastidae,  Capitonidae,  and  Indicatoridae.  These 
points  were  first  worked  out  by  Prof.  Garrod  in  the  first  of  his  papers 
on  Passerine  birds  * ;  and  the  arrangements  in  nearly  all  the  families 
of  his  "  Anomalogonatous  birds  "  are  there  described  and  in  several  cases 
figured.  In  the  Homalogonatse,  too,  they  offer  nearly  as  well-marked 
peculiarities,  though,  unfortunately,  his  purpose  of  describing  and  figuring  Ibis,  1881, 
their  arrangement  in  these  birds  was  never  carried  out.  In  his  MSS.  and  p'  17t 
drawings,  however,  he  has  recorded  their  condition  in  very  many  groups. 

VII.   Certain  other  Muscles. 

In  his  paper  on  Chauna  (supra,  p.  197),  Prof.  Garrod,  for  the  first 
time,  called  attention  to  the  value  in  classification  of  certain  other 
myological  facts.  These  are  : — 

(1)  The  presence  or  absence  of  the  '*  cxpansor  secundariorum  "  muscle. 

This  is  a  slender  muscle  which  arises  from  the  last  few  (generally  two 
or  three)  secondary  quills  and  has  a  peculiarly  long  and  slender  tendon, 
which,  running  superficially  posterior  to  the  humerus,  together  with  the 
axillary  vessels  and  nerves,  is  inserted  into  the  thorax  in  different  ways 
in  different  birds.  One  common  arrangement  is  that  found  well  deve- 
loped in  the  Storks,  and  hence  called  "  ciconiiform."  Here  the  proximal 
part  of  the  tendon  is  T-shaped,  it  splitting  into  two  parts,  one  being 

*   P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  506-512,  pis.  xlviii.-li. 


202  ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD's  CONTRIBUTIONS 

inserted  into  the  coracoid  near  the  junction  of  this  bone  with  the  sternum, 
the  other  into  the  scapula  close  to  the  coraco-scapular  articulation.  In 
other  cases  the  tendon  may  end  by  joining  the  coraco-brachialis  brevis 
muscle,  so  as  to  appear  to  be  part  of  that  muscle,  as  in  the  Fowl  and 
most  of  the  Gallinaceous  birds ;  or  the  tendons  of  the  two  sides  may 
join  in  the  middle  line,  as  in  most  of  the  Anseres ;  or  other  and  more 
complicated  arrangements,  duly  described  in  the  paper  above  referred  to, 
may  obtain.  The  only  Anomalogonatous  birds  in  which  this  muscle  is 
present  are  the  Coraciidae.  A  table  (1.  c.  p.  199)  records  the  nature  of 
this  muscle  in  the  families  of  Homalogonatous  birds.  In  many  it  is 
quite  absent. 

(2)  The  presence  or  absence  of  a  biceps  slip  to  the  patagium  of  the 
wing. 

In  many  birds  there  is  given  off  from  the  anterior  margin  of  the  biceps 
muscle  of  the  arm  a  distinct  and  most  peculiar  muscular  slip,  which  joins 
the  patagial  membrane  of  the  wing.  Its  presence  or  absence  is  a  very 
constant  character  amongst  closely  allied  birds. 

(3)  The  area  of  origin  of  the  obturator  internus  muscle. 

Ibis,  1881,  This  muscle,  arising  in  the  interior  of  the  pelvis,  is  inserted  proximad 
P' 18-  of  the  obturator  eocternus  on  the  head  of  the  femur.  In  most  birds 
its  shape,  as  seen  in  the  pelvis,  is  more  or  less  oval ;  but  in  some, 
as  in  the  Gallinse  and  Eails,  it  is  distinctly  triangular.  Both  its  character 
and  the  presence  or  absence  of  a  bicipital  slip  are  recorded  in  the  majority 
of  the  Avian  families,  in  the  table  already  mentioned  in  the  account  of 
the  expansor  secundariorum. 

Besides  these,  a  few  other  myological  peculiarities  insisted  on  by  Prof. 
Garrod  in  various  papers  may  here  be  named,  such  as  the  presence  of  an 
additional  secondary  femoro-caudal  muscle  in  Apteryx,  and  the  presence 
in  it,  as  well  as  in  the  other  "  Struthious  "  birds  and  the  Crypturi,  of  a 
muscular  slip  to  the  accessory  femoro-caudal  above  the  exit  of  the 
sciatic  nerve  and  artery  *  ;  the  occasional  complete  absence  of  the  semi- 
membranosus  in  some  of  the  Grebes  t ;  and  the  double  condition  of  the 
great  pectoral  muscle  in  the  Storks,  Steganopodes,  Petrels,  and  their 
allies  J. 

VIII.  The  Conformation  of  the  Trachea  and  Syrinx. 

The  curious  contortions  of  the  trachea,  and  other  peculiarities  of  its 
structure,  in  various  birds,  such  as  the  Cranes,  Spoonbill,  and  Ducks, 
have  long  been  known  to  ornithologists ;  and,  as  far  as  concerns  this 
portion  of  the  subject,  Prof.  Garrod's  notes  on  these  structures  in  various 


*   P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  643,  644,  fig.  6. 

t  P.Z.S.  1873,  pp.  629,  642. 

|    P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  120,  and  1876,  p.  340. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  203 

forms  *  are  simply  confirmations  of,  or  additions  to,  our  previous  know- 
ledge of  the  subject.  But,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  little  or  no  attention 
had  ever  previously  been  paid  to  the  details  of  modification  in  the 
cartilaginous  or  ossified  tracheal  and  bronchial  structures  concerned  in  Ibis,  1881, 
the  formation  of  the  hard  framework  of  the  lower  larynx,  or  "  syrinx." 
Garrod's  investigations  into  this  subject  therefore  mark  a  new  line  of 
departure ;  and  it  is  exceedingly  to  be  regretted  that  only  one  part  of 
his  notes  on  the  subject  were  completed  before  his  death,  these  forming 
his  paper  "  On  the  Conformation  of  the  Thoracic  Extremity  of  the 
Trachea  in  the  Class  Aves. — Part  I.  The  Gallinae"t,  the  last  contribution 
of  his  pen  to  ornithological  science.  There  is  every  reason  to  believe 
that  this  line  of  research,  when  prosecuted  further,  will  lead  to  most 
valuable  results  as  a  means  of  separating,  on  anatomical  grounds,  allied 
genera  or  families  of  birds*.  Of  his  investigations  of  the  lower  larynx  of 
the  Passeres  I  propose  to  speak  later,  under  that  head. 

In  the  remaining  part  of  this  paper  I  propose  to  consider  the  results 
arrived  at,  from  the  consideration  of  these  and  other  anatomical  features, 
by  Prof.  Garrod  as  to  the  relationships  of  various  obscure  forms  of  birds, 
and  also  to  describe  certain  remarkable  peculiarities  of  others  as  first 
discovered  by  him.  In  these  remarks,  as  before,  I  shall,  for  convenience* 
sake,  follow,  as  nearly  as  possible,  a  chronological  order,  reserving, 
however,  till  the  last  any  general  views  on  the  classification  of  birds 
as  a  whole. 

1.  Strutkio§. — In  this  paper,  written  in  conjunction  with  Mr.  Frank 
Darwin,  the  principal  point  of  interest  is  the  discovery,  or,  at  all  events, 
first  notice,  of  a  peculiar  nodule  of  bone  lying  on  the  centre  of  the  pubis, 
and,  in  some  respects,  similar  to  the  "  marsupial "  bone  of  the  Impla-  Ibis,  1881, 
cental  Mammalia  and  its  corresponding  fibrous  representative  in  certain      p' 
Carnivora. 


*  "  On  the  Form  of  the  Lower  Larynx  in  certain  Species  of  Ducks,"  P.  Z.  S.  1875, 
pp.  151-156  (the  species  described  are  Sarcidiornis  melanonota,Rhodonessa  caryophyllacea, 
and  Metopiana  peposaca) ;  "  On  the  Form  of  the  Trachea  in  certain  Species  of  Storks 
and  Spoonbills,"  P.  Z.  S.  1875,  pp.  297-301  ( Tantalus  ibis  and  Platalea  ajaja) ;  "  On  the 
Trachea  of  Tantalus  loculator  and  of  Vanellus  cayennensis"  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  625-629. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  354-380,  figs.  1-35. 

\  A  second  part  of  Garrod's  notes  on  the  trachea,  describing  that  of  the  Cuculidae,  I 
found  in  a  nearly  complete  state  amongst  his  MSS.,  as  well  as  a  very  considerable 
mass  of  drawings  and  notes  on  this  subject  in  other  groups,  it  having  been  the  special 
object  of  his  study  up  to  within  a  very  few  weeks  of  his  death.  Indeed,  during  all  his 
last  illness,  when  too  weak  to  attend  to  larger  and  less  convenient  objects,  he  con- 
tinued to  work  away  with  all  his  old  enthusiasm  and  energy  at  the  windpipes  of  birds, 
especially  those  from  the  extensive  collection  of  Procellariidse  &c.  made  by  H.M.S. 
'  Challenger.' 

§  "  Notes  on  an  Ostrich  lately  living  in  the  Society's  Collection,"  P.  Z.  S.  1872, 
pp.  356-363. 


204     ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD's  CONTRIBUTIONS 

2.  Heteralocha*. — In  1872  the  true  affinities  of  the  Huia  bird  were 
quite   uncertain,   many   authorities   placing   it   amongst    the   Hoopoes 
(Upupidae).     From  ail  examination  of  the  specimen  that  lived  in  the 
Zoological  Society's  Garden's,  Prof.  Garrod  was  enabled  to  show  that  it 
was  truly  Passerine,  and  not  only  so,  but  in  many  respects  so  peculiarly 
Sturnine'f  as  to  entitle  it  to  a  place  "  at  the  head  of  the  family." 

3.  jSteatornis%. — Besides    the   myology    and    visceral    anatomy,   the 
pterylosis,  skull,  and   syrinx  (which   is  "bronchial")   are   particularly 
described  and  figured.     The  result  arrived  at,  as  regards  the  systematic 
position  of  Steatornis,  is  that  it  must  form  a  family  by  itself,  with  strong 
affinities  to  the  Owls,  Caprimulgidse,  and  Coraciidee  and  their  allies. 

4.  Columbce§. — In  these  papers  the  number  of  the  rectrices  (varying 
from  twelve  to  twenty  in  different  genera),  together  with  the  presence 
or  absence  of  the  oil-gland,  of  the  caeca,  and  of  the  ambiens  muscle, 
is  recorded  in  a  large  number  of  forms,  and,  from  the  various  combinations 
of  characters  so  obtained,  an  attempt  is  made  to  divide  up  the  group  of 
Pigeons,  in  which  are  included  the  Pteroclidae,  in  a  more  natural  way 
than  has  hitherto  been   done.     Attention  is  also  called   to  the  charac- 
teristic form  of  the  humerus  in  these  birds,  as  well  as  to  the  peculiar 
form  of  the  gizzard  in  the  genus  Ptilopus,  there  being  here  four  crushing- 
pads,  instead  of  two  as  in  all  other  birds,  including  even  Treron. 

Ibis,  1881  In  CarpopTiaga  latrans  the  stomach  is  even  more  peculiar ;  for  here 
p.  21.  the  epithelial  lining  of  the  gizzard  is  developed  into  about  two  dozen 
horny  conical  processes,  like  the  tubercles  of  a  Cidaris  or  similar  Sea- 
urchin.  A  similar  condition  has  been  described  by  MM.  Verreaux  and 
Des  Mars  in  G.  goliath  of  New  Caledonia  || ;  but  no  other  species  of 
Garpophaga  yet  examined  shows  any  trace  of  such  a  structure. 

5.  Psittaci^. — In  these  papers,  as  in  the  last,  the  condition  of  certain 
structures   is   recorded   in   a   large   number   of    forms,   and   from   the 

*  "Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Huia  Bird  (Heteralocha  gouldi),"  P.Z.S.  1872, 
pp.  643-647. 

f  Mr.  Sharpe  must,  we  fear,  have  overlooked  thia  paper  of  Prof.  GarrocVs,  as  he 
still  retains  Heteralocha  amongst  the  Corvidae  (Cat.  Birds,  iii.  p.  143),  quite  in 
opposition  to  the  conclusions  above  stated. 

J  "  On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  Steatornis"  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  526-535. 

§  "On  some  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Columbce"  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pp.  249-259; 
"  Notes  on  two  Pigeons,  lanthcenas  leucol&ma  and  Erythrwnas  pulcherrima,"  P.  Z.  S. 
1875,  p.  367;  "Note  on  the  Gizzard  and  other  Organs  of  Carpophaga  latrans" 
P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  102-105. 

||  This  has  lately  been  described  at  greater  length  and  figured  by  M.  Viallanes 
(Ann.  Sc.  Nat.  ser.  6,  vii.  art.  no.  12). 

^f  "  On  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Parrots  which  bear  on  the  Classification 
of  the  Suborder,"  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pp.  586-598,  pis.  Ixx.,  Ixxi. ;  "Notes  on  the  Anatomy 
of  certain  Parrots,"  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp,  691,  692 ;  "  Note  on  the  Absence  or  Presence  of 
a  Gall-bladder  in  the  Family  of  Parrots,"  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  793. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  205 

combinations  of  characters  so  obtained  a  scheme  of  classification  is 
sketched  out,  each  group  having  assigned  to  it  a  formula  stating  its 
most  essential  characters.  The  presence  or  absence  of  the  ambiens 
muscle,  of  a  furcula,  and  of  an  oil-gland  are  the  points  here  laid  stress 
on,  together  with  the  condition  of  the  carotid  arteries.  Of  these  there 
may  be  either  two  normally  situated,  or  only  one,  the  left  (Cacatua  and 
Licmetis  tenuirostris),  or  two,  the  left  of  which,  instead  of  running  with 
its  fellow  in  the  hypapophysial  canal,  as  already  explained,  runs 
superficially  up  the  neck  with  the  left  vagus  nerve  and  jugular  vein. 
This  last  condition,  which  obtains  in  no  other  birds,  is  considered,  as  I 
think  rightly,  sufficiently  important  to  divide  off  as  a  main  group  of 
Psittaci  all  those  possessing  it — a  group  including  all  the  American 
Parrots,  together  with  the  Platycercidae  (including  Laihamus),  Nestor, 
Dasyptilus,  and  the  African  Parrots,  other  than  Agapornis  and  Palceornis, 
of  the  Old- World  forms.  The  further  subdivision  of  these  groups  is 
effected  in  the  way  already  indicated.  In  a  supplementary  note  attention 
is  called  to  the  probably  invariable  presence  of  a  gall-bladder  in  the 
Cacatuince,  though  this  organ  has  not  been  found  in  any  other  Parrots. 
In  a  preceding  paper*  Prof.  Garrod  has  described  and  figured  the  tongue  Ibis,  1881, 
of  Nestor,  which,  as  he  shows,  is  peculiar,  and  not  like  that  of  the  Lories,  p*  22> 
with  which  it  has  often  been  associated. 

6.  Otididce^. — In    Eupodotis    australis    there   is    not,   as    had    been 
supposed,  and  even  stated  +,  by  previous  observers,  a  gular  pouch,  such 
as  has  been  seen  in  Otis  tarda.     On  the  contrary,  the  oesophagus  is  highly 
distensile,  and  so  produces  the  singular  appearance  of  the  males  of  this 
bird    when  excited    during    the    breeding- season.     In   a  young  male 
specimen  of  Otis  tarda  examined,  there  is  also  no  gular  pouch  present ; 
but  the  frcenum  linguce  was  double ;  and  it  is  suggested  that  the  pouch 
which  has  been  found  in  the  males  of  that  species  is  due  to  a  rupture  and 
distention  of  the   mucous   membrane   between  this   duplicate  feenum, 
owing  to  the  inflation  of  the  air-passages  during  the  period  of  display. 

7.  Chauna§. — The  pterylosis,  visceral  anatomy,  myology,  and  cranial 
and  other  characters  of  the  Derbyan  Screamer  are  here  fully  described. 
The  very  peculiar  nature  of  the  alimentary  canal,  in  the  glandular  parts 
of  the  proventriculus  forming,  not  a  zone,  but  a  patch,  as  well  as  in  its 
possession  of  long  sacculated  caeca,  without  any  spiral  valve,  which  open 
into  a  special  division  of  the  intestine  situated  between  the  colon  and 

*  "  Note  on  the  Tongue  of  the  Psittacine  genus  Nestor,"  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  pp.  787-789. 

t  "On  the  'Showing-off'  of  the  Australian  Bustard,"  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  pp. 471-473; 
"Further  Note  on  the  Mechanism  of  the  'Show-off'  in  Bustards,"  P.  Z.  S.  1874, 
pp.  673,  674. 

J  Ibis,  1862,  p.  114. 

§  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  Chauna  derbiana,  and  on  the  Systematic  Position  of  the 
Screamers  (Palamedeidae),"  P.Z.S.  1876,  pp.  182-200,  pis.  xii.-xv. 


206  ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD'S  CONTRIBUTIONS 

the  ileum,  is  particularly  worthy  of  notice,  Chauna*  being  absolutely 

unique  amongst  birds  in  this  combination  of  characters.     In  its  ptery- 

losis  and  syrinx,  too,  it  is  very  peculiar.     As  a  result  of  his  examination, 

Prof.  Grarrod  concludes  that  the  Palamedem  cannot  be  placed  amongst 

the  Anseres,  as  had  been  done  by  Professors  Parker  and  Huxley,  but 

Ibis,  1881,  must  form  an  independent  group  of  birds,  having  probably  "  sprung  from 

P'     •      the  primary  avian  stock  as  an  independent  offshoot  at  much  the  same 

time  as  did  most  of  the  other  important  families." 

8.  Aramus^. — In  the  schizorhinal  character  of  its  skull,  as  well  as  in 
the  presence  of  occipital  foramina,  Aramus  resembles  Grus,  Ibis,  Platalea, 
and  the  Limicolae,  and  not  the  Ballidae,  with  which  it  had  generally  been 
associated  previously;    and  this  collocation   is  quite   confirmed   by  its 
myology  and  visceral  anatomy. 

9.  Plotus$. — In  the  first  paper  the  anatomy  of  P.  anhinga  is  described 
at   considerable   length — particular   stress   being   laid   on   the    curious 
arrangement  of  the  cervical  vertebrae  which  makes   this  bird  literally 
unable  to   carry  its  neck   straight,  and   the   correspondingly   modified 
muscular  system.     Other  points  described  are  the  presence  of  but  one 
carotid  artery,  and  of  but  one  caecum — the  latter  a  feature  previously 
unknown  in  any  Steganopodous  bird,  though  constant  in  the  Herons. 
The   most  interesting  feature,  however,   of  Plotus  anhinga  is  its  very 
extraordinary  stomach,  previously  only  partially  described  by  Macgillivray. 
The  proventriculus,  instead  of  forming  a  zone  or  patch,  is  here  developed 
into  a  special   sac-like   diverticulum,  which  projects  from   the   gizzard 
externally  in  a  way  quite  unlike  that  of  any  other  bird.     Moreover  the 
pyloric  compartment  of  the  stomach,  which  is  present  in  a  less  complete 
form   in   Pelecanus,  the   Herodiones,  Ealconidae,  &c.,  here   develops   a 
covering  of  hairs,  "  a  peculiarity  which,  as  far  as  I  know,  is  found  only 
in   one  other  bird,  namely   Caihartes  aura."     This  very  extraordinary 
stomach  is  figured  on  plate  xxviii.,  and  is  certainly,  as  far  as  yet  known, 
unique  amongst  birds.      In  Plotus  levaillanti  the  same  features  in  its 
anatomy  generally  are  present  as  in  P.  anhinga.      But  there  are,  as 
usual,  two  small  caeca  :  and  its  stomach  differs  considerably ;  for  here 

Ibis,  1881,  there  is  no  proventricular  gland-pouch,  but  this  organ,  as  in  some  other 

p.  24.       birds,  assumes  the  form  of  two  separate  patches.     The  second  (pyloric) 

compartment  of  the  stomach  is  also  present,  in  a  well- developed  form, 

and  is  also  hair-clad.     But  here  another  difference  presents  itself ;  for 

"  the  hairy  epithelium  surrounding  the  pyloric  orifice  ....  is  produced 

*  The  anatomy  of  the  soft  parts  of  Palamedea  is  still,  I  believe,  almost  unknown. 

t  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  Aramus  scolopaceus"  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  275-277. 

J  ""  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  Plotus  anhinga"  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  335-345,  pis.  xxvi.- 
xxviii. ;  " Note  on  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  Levaillant's  Darter  (Plotus  levaillanti}" 
P.  Z.  8. 1878,  pp.  679-681. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  207 

into  a  considerable  conical  hair-covered  process,  projecting  into  the 
second  stomach,  and  evidently  acting  as  a  valve  to  close  the  pylorus  when 
necessary."  These  differences  in  two  species  so  closely  allied  in  all  other 
points  show  that,  though  in  nine  cases  out  of  ten  similarity  of  external 
characters  predicates  similarity  of  internal  structure,  nevertheless  in 
the  tenth  the  correspondence  breaks  down,  and  that,  too,  without  any 
obvious  differences  in  mode  of  life,  food,  &c.  The  parallel,  pointed  out 
by  Prof.  Garrod,  presented  by  these  two  species  of  Plotus  with  the  two 
living  genera  of  Sirenia  (Manatus  and  Halicore),  as  regards  the  modification 
of  their  gastric  gland- structures,  is  particularly  interesting. 

10.  Coliidce*. — The   skull   of    Colius  is  desmognathous,  and  has   no 
vomer,  as  in  Alcedo.     The  viscera  and  myology  do  not  bear  out  the  idea 
of  any  relationship  to  the  Parrots  or  Musophagidae ;  on  the  contrary, 
these  birds  are  truly  Anomalogonatous,   and  are  most   nearly   related 
perhaps  to  the  Alcedinidse  and  Bucerotidse.     Nevertheless  their  combina- 
tion  of  characters  fully  substantiates  their  claim  to  form  a  separate 
family,  Coliidae. 

11.  Thinocoridcet. — These  birds,  in  their  schizorhinal  skull,  and   in 
many  other  features,  visceral  and  myological,  resemble  most  some  of  the 
more  aberrant  forms  of  Limicoline  birds,  such  as  Cursorius  and  Olareola. 
Attention  is  also  drawn  in  this  paper  to  the  very  extensive  variations  in 
the  form  of  the  vomer  in  various  Charadriiform  birds,  it  being  (so  far 
from  always  "  tapering  to  a  point  anteriorly,"  as  it  should  [?]  do  in  these 
"  schizognathous  "  birds)  in  several  forms  extraordinarily  broad  or  even 
widely  emarginate  anteriorly ! 

12.  Momotidce  $. — The  colic  caeca  being  absent,  at  the  same  time  that,  ibia,  1881, 
except  in  Momotus,  the  oil-gland  is  tufted,  the  Momotidae  must  be  placed      P-  25- 
amongst  the  Piciform  series  of  Anomalogonatae,  close  to  the  Todidae,  and 

not  with  the  Coraciidae  amongst  the  Pas  serif  ormes.     The  syrinx  and  some 
other  points  in  their  anatomy  are  also  described. 

13.  Megacephalon  §. — A  short  paper  describing  the  pterylosis  (hitherto 
almost  unknown  in  the  Megapodidae),  syrinx,  and  other  points  in  this 
peculiar  form,  which  is  perfectly  gallinaceous. 

14.  Indicator  \\. — In  its   pterylosis,  visceral   anatomy,  myology,  and 
osteology,  Indicator  closely  approaches  the  Picidae,  Capitonidae,  and  their 
allies,  and  is  in  no  respect  Cuculine.     Its  vomer  is  large  and  strongly 
bifurcate  anteriorly,   as  in  the   Capitoninae ;    of  the  latter   some  are 


*    "  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Colies,"  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  416-420. 
t    "  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  and  Systematic  Position  of  the  Genera  Thinocorus  and 
Attagis?  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  pp.  413-418. 

\  "  On  the  Systematic  Position  of  the  Momotidae,"  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  100-102. 

§    "  On  the  Anatomy  of  the  Maleo,"  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  629-631. 

II    "  Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  Indicator  major,"  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  930-935. 


208     ON  THE  LATE  PROP.  GARROD*S  CONTRIBUTIONS 

desmognathous,  others,  as  in  Indicator,  not.  The  truncated  vomer  of 
Ramphastos  is  also  figured.  In  conclusion  it  is  suggested  that  Indicator 
should  form  but  a  subfamily,  to  be  comprised,  together  with  the 
Bamphastinae  and  Capitoninse,  in  a  larger  group,  the  Capitonidae. 

15.  Opisihocomus* '. — Opisihocomus  is  a  true  Homalogonatous  bird, 
having  both  the  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles  ;  it  cannot, 
therefore,  have  any  thing  to  do  with  the  Passeres.  It  is,  perhaps,  most 
nearly  related  to  the  Gallinae,  but,  at  the  same  time,  can  hardly  be  in- 
cluded with  them  ;  it  is  also  not  far  from  the  CuculidaD  and  Musophagidse, 
helping  thus  to  fill  up  the  gap  that  now  exists  between  these  latter 
families  and  the  Gallinaceous  birds. 

Ibis,  1881,  16.  Passeres  t. — To  define  by  anatomical  characters  supergeneric  groups 
p*  26'  in  the  immense  mass  of  Passerine  birds  was  always  a  favourite  object 
with  Prof.  Garrod ;  and  the  four  papers  quoted  above  J  are  the  published 
results  of  his  efforts  at  a  solution  of  the  difficulties  that  have  always 
attended  the  classification  of  this  group.  It  was  whilst  working  at  Pas- 
serine birds  that  the  classificatory  value  of  the  mode  of  termination  of 
the  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  muscle,  already  alluded  to  (supra, 
p.  200),  first  attracted  his  attention.  The  presence  also  in  certain  Pas- 
serine birds,  the  Cotingidae  and  Pipridse,  of  a  femoral  instead  of  a  sciatic 
artery  has  also  been  mentioned.  A  slight  exception,  too,  to  Sundevall's 
generalization  about  the  independent  muscular  supply  of  the  Jiallux  in 
Passerine  birds  (suprd,  p.  198)  was  found  by  him  to  exist  in  the  Eurylae- 
midse  (P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  447).  But  the  most  novel  fact  pointed  out  by 
Prof.  Garrod  as  regards  these  birds  is  that  they  may  be  divided  into  two 
main  groups,  according  as  to  whether  the  intrinsic  muscles  of  the  syrinx  are 
inserted  into  the  ends  or  into  the  middle  of  the  bronchial  semirings.  The 
former  group,  called  by  him  Acromyodi,  includes  all  the  ordinary  singing- 
birds  with  four  or  five  pairs  of  muscles,  the  Oscines,  together  with  two 
aberrant  Australian  groups,  formed  by  the  genera  Menura  and  Atrichia. 
In  these  the  number  of  intrinsic  muscles  is  reduced  to  three  and  two 
pairs  respectively  ;  but  they  are  still  inserted  into  the  tips  of  the  semi- 
rings §. 

*    "  Notes  on  Points  in  the  Anatomy  of  the  Hoatzin,"  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  100-114. 
t    "  On  some  Anatomical  Characters  which  bear  upon  the  Major  Divisions  of  the 
Passerine  Birds  :"  Part  L,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  506-519,  pis.  xlviii.-liii. ;  Part  II.,  P.  Z.  S. 

1877,  pp.  447-452;  Part  III.,  P.Z.  S.  1877,  pp.  523-526,  pi.  liii.;  Part  IV.,  P.Z.S. 

1878,  p.  143. 

|  Together  with  his  appendix  to  the  English  edition  of  Johannes  Miiller's  '  Stimm- 
organe  der  Passerinen.' 

§  I  may  here  remark  that  I  cannot  at  all  agree  with  Mr.  Sclater's  view  on  the 
position  of  these  two  genera,  which  form  his  group  "  Pseudoscines  "  (Ibis,  1880,  p.  345). 
By  placing  Atrichia  and  Menura  away  from  the  other  Acromyodian  Passeres,  and  inter- 
polating the  Mesomyodian  ones,  the  important  fact  is  ignored  that,  in  their  possession 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION.  209 

The  other  group,  the  Mesomyodi,  have  the  intrinsic  muscles  (which  Ibis,  1881, 
are  usually  reduced  to  a  single  pair,  one  on  each  side)  inserted  into  the 
middle  of  the  rings.  In  them,  too,  the  tenth  ("  first ")  primary  is  always 
more  or  less  long,  and  the  tarsus,  with  trifling  exceptions,  not  "  bila- 
minate."  They  nearly  correspond  to  the  "  Formicarioid "  Passeres  of 
Wallace,  except  that  Wallace  included  in  that  group  the  Acromyodian, 
though  in  some  respects  aberrant,  Menura.  The  Mesomyodi  include  all 
the  Tracheophone  Passeres,  together  with  the  Pipridse,  CotingidaB,  Tyran- 
nidaD,  Pittidae,  and  a  few  smaller  groups.  A  further  division  of  these 
two  main  groups  is  given  by  Prof.  G-arrod  in  the  first  paper  quoted  (t.  c. 
p.  518),  the  smaller  divisions  being  based  on  one  or  other  of  the  other 
characters  already  noticed.  A  considerable  number  of  the  previously 
unknown  syringes  of  Passerine  birds  were  described  by  him  for  the  first 
time  in  one  or  other  of  the  above  communications,  amongst  which  those 
of  Pitta  and  Atrichia  are  particularly  noticeable.  The  peculiar  form  of 
the  nasal  bones  in  certain  of  the  Tracheophonae,  so  that  these  birds  are 
to  this  extent  "  schizorhinal,"  has  already  been  mentioned  when  speaking 
of  that  character,  as  has  also  the  paper  on  Heteralocha. 

It  is  much  to  be  regretted  that  Prof.  G-arrod  did  not  live  to  make 
public  his  maturer  vriews  on  the  difficult  subject  of  the  general  classi- 
fication of  birds.  The  only  published  scheme  of  any  such  classification 
is  to  be  found  in  part  ii.  of  his  paper  on  the  Thigh-Muscles  (supra,  p.  194) ; 
and  it  is  within  my  knowledge  that  he  had  already  seen  reason  to  deviate 
in  some  respects  from  the  arrangement  there  adopted.  Nevertheless  I  Ibis,  1881, 
think  I  may  say  he  was  satisfied  to  the  last  as  to  the  naturalness  of  the  ^' ' 
two  main  groups  into  which  he  there  divided  birds,  the  "  Homalogonatao  " 
and  the  "  Anomalogonatae."  It  is  often  assumed  thab  this  division  rests 
only  upon  a  single  character,  namely  the  presence  or  absence  of  the 
ambiens  muscle.  As  a  matter  of  fact  this  is  not  the  case ;  for  the 
ambiens  muscle  is  absent  in  many  birds  that  are  ranked  amongst  the 
Homalogonatae.  What  Prof.  Garrod  says  is  this : — "  The  oftTnamed 

of  an  "  Acromyodian "  syrinx,  these  birds  depart  essentially  from  the  typical  avian 
"  Mesomyodian  "  structure,  the  one  which  there  cannot  be  the  slightest  doubt  is  the 
more  primitive  form.  "The  much  more  important  osteological  characters"  in  which 
these  two  forms  are  said  to  diverge  from  the  other  Passeres  are,  as  far  as  I  am  aware, 
two  only ;  and  these,  moreover,  are  individual  peculiarities  of  each  genus,  and  by  no 
means  common  to  the  two  forms — in  Menura  the  curved  posterior  margin  of  the 
sternum,  in  Atrichia  the  absence  of  clavicles  (Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  516).  As  is  now 
well  known,  Prof.  Huxley's  original  description  of  the  skull  in  Menura  (P.  Z.  S.  1867, 
p.  472)  was  founded  on  a  misconception  of  its  structure,  apparently  owing  to  the  im- 
perfection of  his  specimen  (cf.  Parker,  Trans.  Z.  S.  ix.  pp.  307,  308).  Moreover  the 
"most  anomalous  forms  of  Passerine  birds  yet  known,"  or  at  all  events  the  most 
generalized,  are,  according  to  the  views  of  Garrod  and  myself,  certainly  the  Eurylamidfe, 
which  last  therefore,  and  not  the  "  Pseudoscines,"  should  be  placed  at  the  end,  in  a 
descending  scale,  of  the  Passerine  series. 


210     ON  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD*S  CONTRIBUTIONS 

amliens  muscle  is,  in  my  mind,  the  key  to  the  whole,"  and  that,  not 
because  of  its  own  intrinsic  importance,  but  because  its  presence  is  always 
associated  with  peculiarities  in  other  parts  never  found  in  any  Anoma- 
logonatous  bird.  That  the  same  combinations  of  three  or  four  different 
characters  should  have  arisen  independently  in  different  birds  is  so  ex- 
tremely improbable,  that  we  can  hardly  ascribe  these  similarities  in  com- 
binations of  characters  to  any  other  cause  than  to  blood-relationship,  the 
expression  of  which  is  now  unanimously  accepted  as  the  true  end  of  all 
biological  classifications. 

"  The  facts  disclosed  by  a  study  of  the  myology  of  birds  do  not,  without 
extraneous  assistance,  place  the  families  in  their  true  relationship  to  one 
another.  Because  the  same  muscles  are  present  in  two  families  of  birds, 
it  cannot  therefore  be  said  that  their  kinship  is  extremely  close,  or  the 
reverse  ....  It  is  therefore  necessary  to  look  around  to  find,  if  possible, 
myological  characters  which  have  some  definite  relation  to  equally  well- 
marked  pterylographic,  visceral,  or  osteological  peculiarities  "  (P.  Z.  S. 
1874,  p.  114).  As  already  insisted  on,  it  was  in  this  combination  of 
characters  that  Prof.  Garrod  trusted  to  find  the  true  "  key "  to  the 
question. 

To  return  to  facts, — no  bird  which  is  "  Anomalogonatous  "  has  ever  an 
accessory  femoro-caudal  muscle ;  that  is,  the  letter  B  never  enters  its 
formula.  Again,  no  bird  that  is  Anomalogonatous  has  ever  a  tufted  oil- 
gland  and  caeca,  though  this  combination  is  nearly  always  found  in  the 
Homalogonatous  birds.  So  much  so  is  this  the  case,  that  there  are  only 
Ibis,  1881,  nuie  groups  of  Homalogonatous  birds  that  have  not  this  mentioned 
P-  29.  combination  *,  and  in  two  of  these  the  exception  is  caused  by  the  entire 
absence  of  the  oil-gland  (in  the  OtididaB  and  the  Struthiones).  Of  the 
remaining  seven,  in  which  the  caeca  and  a  tufted  oil-gland  are  not 
correlated,  I  find,  by  tabulation,  that  four  always  have  the  ambiens 
muscle  developed,  whilst  the  remaining  three  have  it  present  in  at  least 
some  of  their  members.  Of  these  latter,  moreover,  two  have  the 
accessory  femoro-caudal  (B)  always  present ;  so  that  it  is  only  certain 
Parrots  which  have  a  formula  like  that  of  any  anomalogonatous  bird  (for 
it  must  be  remembered  that  in  several  Parrots  the  ambiens  muscle  is 
present).  This  fact  will  be  made  clearer  by  the  accompanying  table, 
containing  the  names  of  the  three  main  groups  of  the  Anomalogonatae, 
Ibis,  1881,  followed  by  those  of  the  seven  groups  above  mentioned  as  the  exceptions 
P-  30.  to  the  combination  of  caeca  and  a  tufted  oil-gland  amongst  the  Homalo- 
gonatae. 

Thus,  of  the  whole  series  of  Homalogonatous  birds,  not  one,  except 
certain  Parrots  (the  most  specialized,  no  doubt,  of  all  that  series),  has 

*  One  or  two  genera  in  various  families,  as  e.  g.  Cancroma,  have  also  lost  the  oil- 
gland  tuft.  As,  however,  all  the  allied  genera  retain  it,  these  slight  exceptions  in  no 
way  invalidate  Prof.  Garrod's  argument. 


TO  BIRD-ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION. 


211 


Anibiens. 

Accessory 
femoro- 
caudal. 

Tuft  to  oil- 
gland. 

Caaca. 

Anomalogoiiat<B. 
Cypseliforines 

Passer  i  formes    

4- 

Piciformes  

+  * 

Exceptional  Homalogonatce. 
Me^apodidas 

_i_ 

_}. 

-|_ 

ThalassidrominsB  .        .  . 

4- 

-|- 

-}. 

Musophasridse            ... 

4. 

-f 

-f 

Psittacidse  

+ 

4- 

Columbida3 

4- 

4- 

4- 

CuculidtB   .       

4- 

+ 

4- 

Cathartidse 

4- 

OtheT  ffojndloooncit(B           .        . 

+ 

+ 

4- 

4- 

Ibis,  1881, 
p.  29. 


any  combination  of  these  characters  that  could  lead  to  its  inclusion  with  Ibls» 
the  three  combinations  present  in  the  Anomalogonatae. 

The  grand  division  into  Homalo-  and  Anomalogonatap  was  primarily 
made  by  Mr.  Garrod  on  the  strength  of  the  facts  here  tabulated.  But 
subsequent  investigations  of  quite  different  points  have  much  strengthened 
his  original  position.  One  of  these  is  the  difference  in  distribution  of 
the  plantar  tendons  in  the  two  groups  of  zygodactyle  birds,  already 
described  above.  1  believe  the  removal  of  the  Cuculidae  and  Musopha- 
gidae  from  the  so-called  "Picarian"  birds,  or  "  Coccygomorphae,"  on 
account  of  their  possessing  the  ambiens  muscle,  absent  in  the  others,  was 
considered  by  many  naturalists  a  striking  proof  of  the  artificial  nature  of 
Prof.  Garrod's  system.  But  it  has  been  most  remarkably  confirmed  by 
his  later  discovery,  and  so  is,  to  my  mind,  one  of  the  most  convincing 
proofs  of  the  correctness  of  his  arguments,  until,  at  least,  some  other 
explanation  shall  be  given  of  the  facts  here  adduced.  Yet  another  con- 
firmation is  afforded  by  the  pterylosis.  I  here  reproduce  Prof.  Garrod's 
own  words : — "  My  study  of  pterylography  has  led  me  to  look  upon  the 
nature  of  the  dorsal  tract  as  all  important  in  determining  to  which  great 
group  of  birds,  the  Homalogonatae  or  Anomalogonatse,  any  doubtful 
family  belongs.  When  the  dorsal  tract  develops  a  fork  between  the 
shoulders,  a  bird  is  Homalogonatous  ;  when  the  tract  runs  on  unenlarged 
to  near  the  lower  ends  of  the  scapulae,  then  it  is  Anomalogonatous  " 
(P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  931). 


*  In  Monnotus  the  tuft  is  absent. 


212 


BIRD  ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION. 


Ibis,  1881, 
p.  31. 


Ibis,  1881, 
p.  32. 


Very  few  exceptions  to  this  rule  obtain — the  Coraciidae,  in  that  they 
develop  an  interscapular  fork,  although  in  other  respects  truly  Anoina- 
logonatous,  being,  perhaps,  the  most  marked  one. 

The  Homalogonatous  nature  of  the  Cuculidse  is  fully  borne  out  by 
their  pterylosis,  the  dorsal  tract  in  them  dividing  between  the  scapulae. 
In  the  Musophagidae  the  pterylosis  above  is  peculiar,  and  gives  no  aid  in 
determining  their  affinities.  The  Strigidae,  Caprinmlgidoe,  and  Steatornis 
are,  judged  by  this  criterion,  Homalogonatous,  although  in  them  the 
ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  are  absent,  at  the  same  time  that 
they  have  caeca  and  a  nude  oil-gland.  But  the  very  difficult  question 
of  the  true  affinities  of  these  groups  was  one  on  which  Prof.  Grarrod  had 
not  finally  made  up  his  mind. 

Leaving  these  three  groups  aside,  the  following  is  the  arrangement 
adopted  by  Prof.  Grarrod  of  his  "  subclass  "  Anomalogonatae : — 


PlCIFORMES. 


PASSBRIFORMES. 


Oil-gland  tufted. 

Oil-gland  nude. 

Caeca  absent. 

Caeca  present. 

External  branch  of  pecto- 

Pectoral tract  simple,  or 

ral  tract  given  off  at  com- 
mencement of  breast*. 

with  the  external  branch 
given  off  beyond  middle 

(A)  X  Y. 

of  breast. 

Picidae. 

A  X  (Y). 

Capitonidse  t. 

Passeres. 

Upupidas. 

Bucconidse  (?). 

Bucerotidse. 

Galbulidas. 

Coliidae. 

Coraciidae. 

Alcedinidae. 

Meropidse. 

Momotidae. 

Trogonidse. 

OYPSELIPORMES. 

Oil-gland  nude. 
Casca  absent. 
A. 

Macrochires. 


As  regards  the  Homalogonatae,  these  were  divided  (P.  Z.  S.  1874, 
p.  119  &c.)  into  four  orders,  the  Gralliformes,  Anseriformes,  Ciconiiformes, 
and  Charadriiformes,  the  latter  including  all  the  Homalogonatous  schizo- 
rhinal  birds.  The  further  subdivisions  of  these  will  be  found  in  Prof. 
Garrod's  paper  as  quoted,  and  need  not  be  repeated  here. 

The  Strigidae,  there  included  with  the  Falconidae  amongst  the 
"  Ciconiiformes,"  would  almost  certainly,  in  a  revised  arrangement,  have 
been  removed  from  there  and  placed  elsewhere.  The  Tubinares,  or 
Petrels  and  Albatrosses,  placed  with  the  "Anseriformes,"  were  found, 
on  further  examination,  to  be  far  nearer  the '  Ciconiiform  birds ;  and  in 
the  unfinished  paper  on  Pelecanoides  already  alluded  to,  the  reasons  for 
this  change  were  to  have  been  given,  the  shortness  of  the  caeca  and  the 
double  great  pectoral  muscle  being  two  of  the  facts  adduced  in  favour 
of  it. 

In  this  imperfect  sketch  of  my  lamented  friend's  ornithological  work, 

*  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  931. 

t  Including  the  Bamphastinae  and  Indicator  (t.  c.  p.  935). 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  BIEDS.  213 

I  hope  I  have  succeeded  in  showing  my  fellow  members  of  the  B.  O.  U . 
and  others  that  Garrod's  work  and  generalizations  did  not  depend  upon 
any  single  character  or  set  of  characters.  No  man  probably  has  ever  yet 
enjoyed  such  opportunities  or  ample  material  for  research  in  any  single 
group  of  animals  as  he  did  ;  and  he  had,  in  addition,  the  advantage 
of  all  the  work  previously  done  on  the  subject,  the  value  of  which  was 
duly  estimated  by  him  in  forming  his  own  conclusions.  He  came  to  the 
question  of  the  classification  of  birds  quite  fresh,  with  none  of  those 
prejudices  on  the  subject  which  are  nearly  inevitable  amongst  those  who 
have  worked  at  birds  in  their  early  days  and  so  imbibed  more  or  fewer 
of  the  traditional  ideas  on  the  subject.  In  addition,  he  had  had  all  the 
advantages  of  a  regular  medical  and  scientific  education,  and  was  therefore 
the  less  likely  to  be  tempted  into  rash  generalizations  or  led  away  by 
crude  theories.  This  much  is  certain  :  no  future  attempt  to  classify  birds 
can  omit  to  take  into  consideration  the  contributions  to  this  subject 
made  by  the  brilliant  genius  of  our  late  member,  which  will  always 
remain  as  a  lasting  tribute  to  his  memory. 


36.  NOTES    ON    THE    UNFINISHED    WORK    LEFT    BY  Ibis,  1881, 
THE   LATE    PROF.    GARROD    ON    THE    ANATOMY      p" 174< 
OF  BIRDS  * 

As  many  of  the  readers  of  *  The  Ibis '  probably  already  know,  and 
as  I  have  incidentally  stated  above  (p.  2),  I  am  now  engaged  in  the  com- 
pletion of  the  unfinished  work  left  by  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  on  the 
Anatomy  of  Birds.  Thanks  to  the  stores  of  specimens  accumulated  by 
him,  and  my  prosectorial  advantages,  I  have  in  my  possession  (or,  at  all 
events,  have  prospectively)  specimens  in  the  flesh  of  nearly  all  of  the 
most  important  forms  of  birds. 

There,  are,  however,  still  left  a  considerable  number  of  which  I  have  Ibis,  1881, 
not  as  yet  succeeded  in  obtaining  any  examples  ;  and  of  these  I  append  a      P* I75- 
list.     It  is  naturally  my  wish  to  make  the '  Anatomy  of  Birds  '  as  complete 
as  possible,  and  to  examine,  for  that  purpose,  as  many  forms  of  birds  as  can 
be  obtained.     I  hope,  therefore,  that  any  members  of  the  B.  O.  U.,  or 
travellers  or  naturalists  generally,  who  may  have  it  in  their  power  to 
obtain  specimens  of  any  of  these  my  "  desiderata/''  will  do  all  they  can 
to  enable  me  to  acquire  these  forms. 

PASSERES. — In  this  group  of  birds  there  is  so  much  uniformity  in  anato- 

*  Ibis,  1881,  pp.  174-177. 


214  THE  LATE  PROF.  GARROD'S  UNFINISHED 

mical  structure  that  my  desiderata  are  comparatively  few,  and  mostly 
confined  to  some  of  the  more  obscure  forms  and  to  the  Mesomyodce.  I 
may  mention  the  following  as  being  desirable : — 

Of  the  Old-world  forms,  ETJRYL^MID^,  especially  Corydon  and 
Calyptomena ;  Philepitta ;  Hydrornis  and  Melampitta ;  Orthonyx  (particu- 
larly wanted) ;  Atrichia ;  Climacteris,  Sittella,  Xenicus,  Acantliisitta ; 
Drepanis,  or  any  of  its  allies  (Psittirostra  &c.)  ;  Grallina ;  Drymodes, 
Psophodes,  Petrceca ;  Eupetes ;  Irena  and  any  Dicruridae ;  Euryceros ; 
Falculia  and  BupTiaga. 

Of  American  forms,  CJiamcea  ;  Procnias  and  Pipridea  ;  also  any  of  the 
Mesomyodian  (Formicarioid)  groups,  especially  Phytotoma  and  OxyrJiam- 
phus,  both  particularly  wanted,  and  any  of  the  larger  Cotingine  forms, 
such  as  PtilocTiloris,  Cephalopterus,  Gfymnoderus,  Querula,  Phoenicocercus, 
&c. 

BUCCOKCD^;.  This  is  the  only  group  of  birds,  of  any  size,  of  which  I 
have  as  yet  been  utterly  unable  to  procure  spirit-specimens.  Any  will 
be  therefore  most  acceptable. 

MEBOPID^E,  G-ALBULIDZE,  and  TEOGOISTIDJE.  Any  species  will  be  accept- 
able, particularly  any  of  the  Old-world  Trogons. 

CORACIIDJE.  Eurystomus  and  any  of  the  anomalous  Madagascar  forms 
(Atefarnu,  Brachypteracias,  &c.). 

ALCEDINID^E.     Almost  any  except  Alcedo,  Dacelo,  and  Ceryle. 
UPTIPID^:.     Any,  especially  Irrisor.     (It  is  uncertain  whether  it  really 
belongs  here.) 

Ibis,  1881,       CTPSELID^E.    Any. 
p'       '          TROCHILIDJE.     Any  large  form,  especially  Patagona. 

CAPKIMTJLGIDJE.  jBatrctchostomus,  dZgotheles,  Podager,  Nyctibius,  and 
almost  any  others. 

PiciDjE.     Any  except  the  three  commoner  English  species.  Sphyrapicus 
I  particularly  want ;  also  Pieumnut,  Vivia,  and  Sasia. 
CAPITONID^E.     Any  except  Megalcema. 

CucuLiDjE.  Nearly  any  forms,  especially  Phcenicophaes,  Scythrops, 
Centropus,  and  Coua. 

PSITTACID^).  In  this  group  nearly  the  only  forms  required  are 
Cyclopsitta  and  Pezoporus.  Young  nestlings  of  Stringops  (the  younger 
the  better,  or  even  well- incubated  eggs)  would  also  be  very  interesting. 

GALLING.  Oreophasis,  Agelastus  and  Phasidus,  Leipoa,  and  Megcipodius 
are  my  chief  desiderata  here. 

COLUMBID^E.  Here  also  my  wants  are  few ;  any  species  of  Carpophaga 
and  Ptilopus  would  be  welcome  ;  also  Otidiphaps,  if  it  can  be  got ! 

TUBINAEES.  Any  species  will  be  very  acceptable,  as  I  am  engaged  on 
a  memoir  on  the  anatomy  of  the  group  for  the  voyage  of  H.M.S. 
'  Challenger/ 

In  the  remaining  groups  the  following  genera  are  still  very  imperfectly, 


WORK  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  BIRDS.  215 

or  not  at  all,   known  anatomically ;    all  present  special   features   of 
interest : — 

Platdlea  (except  P.  leucorodia  and  ajaja\  Anastomus,  Balczniceps, 
Esacus,  Mergulus,  PJialeris,  &c.,  Plotus  (exc.  P.  arihinga),  Thinocorus, 
Mesites,  and  Attagis ;  also  the  TUBNICID^ — Pedionomus  (particularly 
wanted)  ;  Rhynchcea,  IbidorTiynchus,  Tachydromus,  Pterocnemis  (=Rhea 
darwinii),  Tinamotis  and  Calodromas  (both  particularly  wanted;  the 
latter,  at  least,  ought  to  be  obtainable) ;  Parra  and  Hydrophasianus, 
Heliornis  and  Podica,  Dramas,  Nhynchops,  and  Palamedea  (not  Chauna). 

It  is  also  greatly  to  be  desired  that  the  osteology  and  anatomy  of  the 
lately  discovered  short-winged  Kails  of  the  genera  Megacrex  and  Pennula 
should  be  properly  examined  before  they  become  (as  they  almost  certainly 
will  shortly)  extinct. 

I  may  remark  that  any  tolerably  strong  spirit  will  do  to  preserve  birds   Ibis,  1881, 
in,  but  that  it  will  be  better,  especially  in  the  case  of  larger  birds,  to      P' 
change  it  two  or  three  times  during  the  first  few  days  that  the  birds 
remain  in  spirit.     All  that  is  necessary  in  the  way  of  preparation  is  to 
open  the  abdominal  cavity  by  a  slit  down  the  median  line,  so  as  to  allow 
the  spirit  access  to  the  viscera.     The  viscera  should  not  be  removed  in 
any  case. 

In  default  of  spirit-specimens,  carbolized  ones,  or  skeletons  of  many  of 
the  forms  mentioned  would  be  useful ;  but  spirit-specimens  in  all  cases 
are  to  be  preferred.  The  specimens  need  not,  of  course,  be  in  good 
plumage ;  and  the  wing  and  tail-feathers,  and  even  others,  can  be  cut 
short  to  save  space.  But,  unless  the  birds  are  named,  enough  of  the 
feathers  should  always  be  left  on  to  secure  identification. 

I  may  add  that  I  shall  be  very  grateful  if  some  of  the  many  ornitholo- 
gists resident  in  India  would  procure  me  about  half  a  dozen  specimens 
(adult)  of  wild-shot  Gallus  bankiva,  in  spirits,  or  even  skeletons.  As 
the  first  part  of  Prof.  Garrod's  treatise  is  devoted  to  the  anatomy  of  the 
Eowl,  it  is  desirable  to  have  wild  specimens  of  it  for  dissection,  or  at 
least  to  describe  the  bones  from  them,  and  not  from  any  of  our 
domestic  races. 


216          ON  THE  HABITS  OF  THE  DARTER. 


P.  z.  8.1881,  37.  NOTE  ON  MR.  BARTLETT'S  COMMUNICATION  ON 
P-m  THE  HABITS  OF  THE  DARTER.* 

THE  specimen  put  into  my  hands  by  Mr.  Bartlett  is  a  somewhat  broken 
bag-like  sac,  which  is  undoubtedly  the  shed  "  epithelial "  coat  of  the 
gizzard  of  the  Darter.  Where  the  "  epithelium  "  t  is  thickest  and  best 
developed,  at  the  bottom  of  the  gizzard,  the  walls  have  remained  intact ; 
but  above,  where  it  thins  off  towards  the  pyloric  and  ossophageal  openings, 
they  have  become  broken,  so  that  the  sac  is  widely  open  here.  A  small 
patch  of  the  characteristic  hairs  (cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  343, 
pi.  xxviii.  fig.  2)  of  the  pyloric  part  of  the  gizzard  has  come  away  with 
the  epithelium  ;  these  alone  would  suffice  to  indicate  the  bird  whence  it 
was  derived.  The  hard  epithelium  does  not  extend  above  the  limits  of 
the  gizzard :  hence  none  of  the  mucous  coverings  of  the  pro  ventricular 
gland  or  oesophagus  has  been  preserved  in  the  ejected  specimen.  The 
outer  surface  of  the  cast  epithelium  is  smooth  and  velvety,  and  exactly 
similar  in  appearance  to  epithelium  that  has  been  peeled  off  the  muscular 
walls  of  the  gizzard  artificially. 

A  microscopical  examination  of  a  part  of  the  cast  epithelium  shows 
that  it  is  quite  identical  in  structure  with  that  of  the  unshed  epithelium 
of  the  stomach. 

I  may  add  that  in  the  stomach  of  a  lately  dead  example  of  the  species — 
though  not  that  of  the  individual  which  "  moulted  "  its  stomach,  which 
is  still  (February  1)  alive  and  in  good  health — there  is  some  appearance 
of  a  similar  "  moult "  being  about  to  take  place,  the  epithelial  layer  being 
easily  detached  from  the  subjacent  ones,  whilst  beneath  it  there  is 
apparently  a  new,  though  still  very  thin,  coat  of  epithelium  in  course  of 
formation.  This  appearance  is  confirmed  by  sections  of  the  epithelium. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  p.  248.     Read  Feb.  1,  1881. 

t  I  use  this  term  in  the  same  sense  as  many  previous  writers  have  done,  as  a 
convenient  term  for  the  object  in  question,  without  committing  myself  to  any  opinion 
as  to  its  true  nature. — W.  A.  F. 


ON  THE  GENUS  CONOPOPHAGA.  217 


38.  CONTRIBUTIONS  TO  THE  ANATOMY  OF  PASSERINE  P.z.s.  1881, 
BIRDS.— PART    IV.*      ON    SOME    POINTS    IN    THE 
ANATOMY  OF  THE  GENUS  CONOPOPHAGA,  AND 
ITS  SYSTEMATIC  POSITION.f 

As  regards  the  true  relationships  of  the  genus  ConopopTiaga  con- 
siderable doubt  has  hitherto  prevailed  amongst  systematic  zoologists.  By 
Sundevall  J  it  was  placed  amongst  the  TyrannidaB,  on  account  of  its 
depressed  beak  and  the  nature  of  its  tarsal  scutellation.  Messrs.  Sclater 
and  Salvin,  in  their  valuable  '  Nomenclator  Avium  Neotropicalium '  §, 
followed  Sundevall — the  Conopophaginas,  consisting  of  the  genera  Cono- 
pophaga and  Coryifiopis,  therein  forming  the  subfamily  of  the  Oligo- 
myodian  Tyrannidse.  All  these  authors,  however,  had  overlooked  the 
fact  that  Johannes  Miiller,  in  his  classical  memoir  on  the  Voice-organs 
of  the  Passerines  ||,  had  described  the  syrinx  of  Conopophaga  aurita,  and 
had  found  it  to  be  completely  tracheophone,  that  of  the  TyrannidaB 
having,  of  course,  no  such  structure.  Grarrod  was,  no  doubt,  aware  of 
Miiller's  results ;  for  in  his  proposed  rearrangement  of  the  Tracheophone 
Passeres  II,  he  made  the  "  Conopophagidas  "  a  distinct  family,  which  he 
placed  between  the  Dendrocolaptidae  and  the  FormicariidsB.  No  reasons, 
however,  for  the  change  were  there  given. 

A  few  days  ago  Mr.  Salvin  called  my  attention  to  the  fact  that  in  a 
skeleton  of   Conopophaga  melanops,  lately  acquired  for  the  Cambridge 
University  Museum,  the  sternum  presented  four  notches  along  its  pos-  P.Z.S.  1881, 
terior  margin,  a  very  unusual  condition  in  Passerine  birds.     This  again 


Sternum  of  Conopophaga  lineata,  of  the  natural  size  ;  viewed,  slightly  obliquely, 

from  the  side. 

drew  my  attention  to  the  genus  ;  and  being  fortunately  the  possessor  of 
a   specimen  in  spirit  of  Conopopliaga  lineata  from  Peruambuco,  1  have 


*  For  Part  III.  see  P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  387. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  435-438.    Read  March  15,  1881. 

\  Teutamen,  p.  60:  Stockholm,  1872.  §  I.  c.  p.  41  :  London,  1873. 

||  Ueber  d.  Stimmorgane  &c.,  p.  39:  Berlin,  1847.     Garrod'e  edition,  p.  32. 

«f  P.Z.S.  1877,  p.  452. 


218  ON  THE  GENUS   CONOPOPHAGA. 

been  enabled  to  confirm  Mr.  Salvin's  discovery,  as  well  as  to  make  some 
other  notes  on  the  structure  of  this  genus.  As  regards  the  sternum,  it 
will  be  seen,  from  the  drawing  I  now  exhibit  (p.  217)  of  that  of  Carpophaga 
lineata,  to  possess,  as  already  stated,  four  notches,  two  on  each  side,  on 
its  posterior  margin.  Both  are  quite  distinct;  but  the  outer  one  is 
considerably  the  larger  of  the  two,  running  up  to  near  the  base  of  the 
"costal  process."  The  outer  xiphoid  process  diverges  considerably,  so 
that  there  is  a  wide  space  between  its  termination  and  that  of  the  internal 
one.  This  latter  is  terminally  expanded  and  closely  approximated, 
internally,  to  the  body  of  the  sternum,  with  only  a  very  narrow  cleft 
separating  the  ossified  parts  there.  In  other  respects  the  sternum  and 
its  appendages  are  characteristically  Passerine,  there  being  a  large 
bifurcated  manubrium  sterni,  and  a  long,  forwardly  directed,  costal 
process.  The  clavicles  are  well  developed,  with  a  large  hypodeidium  and 
strongly  expanded  scapular  ends.  The  carina  sterni  is  well  developed. 
The  only  other  Passerine  birds  in  which  the  sternum  is  four-notched  are, 
so  far  as  is  yet  known,  sundry  species  of  Pteroptochidse  (Pteroptochus 
albicollis,  the  species  of  Hylactes,  and  Scytalopus  indigoticus).  In 
Pteroptochus  albicollis  the  two  notches  of  each  side  are  more  nearly  equal 
in  size,  and  the  internal  xiphoid  process  is  separated  by  a  considerable 
interval  from  the  body  of  the  bone. 

As  regards  the  skull,  Conopophaga  is  typically  Passerine,  not  being  in 
the  slightest  degree  schizorhinal,  as  already  stated  by  Garrod  (I.  c.).  The 
vomer  is  broad  and  bifurcated.  The  maxillo-palatine  processes  are  fairly 
long,  spongy  at  the  base,  and  recurved  and  dilated  slightly  apically,  and 
do  not  articulate  with  the  vomer,  as  is  the  case  (e.  g.)  in  ThamnopJiilus*. 
The  "  transpalatine "  processes  are  well  developed.  In  the  macerated 
skull  the  external  nares  are  divided  into  an  anterior  and  a  posterior 
opening,  by  the  ossification  of  the  alinasal  cartilages.  The  same  is  the 
case  in  the  species  of  ThamnopJiilus  and  in  many  other  Passeres.  I  do 
not,  however,  attach  much  systematic  importance  to  this  character,  as  it 
P  Z  S  1881  occurs  in  Cymbirhyiwhus,  and  not  in  Calyptomena,  and  in  Hadrostomus, 
p.  437.  Tityra  (just),  and  Lipaugus,  but  in  none  other  of  the  Pipro-Cotingidte. 
The  only  Tyrannine  bird  in  which  I  have  observed  it  is  Arundinicola 
leucocephala. 

From  the  character  of  its  skull  nothing  very  definite  can  be  predicated 
of  Conopophaga,  except  that  it  clearly  has  no  relation  to  Furnariine 
forms.  In  its  visceral  anatomy,  myology,  pterylosis,  and  other  characters 
I  have  detected  no  deviation  from  the  ordinary  Passerine  structure.  The 
typical  arrangement  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  tendon  is  somewhat 
concealed,  as  in  Pteroptochus  and  Hylactes  (cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876, 
p.  510),  by  the  muscular  fibres  at  the  origin  of  the  extensor  metacarpi 

*  Cf.  Parker,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  ix.  p.  313,  pi.  Ivii.  fig.  9. 


ON  THE  GENUS  CONOPOPHAGA.  219 

muscle.  There  is  no  trace  of  a  vinculum  in  the  deep  flexor  tendons  of 
the  foot.  The  artery  of  the  leg  is  the  sciatic.  In  the  tarsi  the  anterior 
scutes,  about  six  in  number,  extend  round  to  the  posterior  margin 
exteriorly,  leaving  the  internal  plantar  space  covered  by  a  smooth  skin, 
with  no  signs  of  scutes  or  scutellse.  In  its  possession  of  an  "  exaspidean  "  * 
tarsus,  Conopophaya  differs  from  all  other  forms  of  Tracheophonae,  and 
resembles  Oxyrhynchus,  the  Tyrannidae,  and  Pipridse  alone  of  Passerine 
birds. 

The  Tracheophone  syrinx  of  ConopopTiaga  aurita  has  been  briefly  de- 
scribed and  figured  by  Miiller  t ;  and  from  that  species  C.  lineata  does 
not  essentially  differ.  I  find,  however,  that  in  this  latter  species  the 
commencement  of  the  tracheal  syrinx  is  less  abrupt  than  is  depicted  by 
Miiller,  the  few  preceding  tracheal  rings,  particularly  posteriorly,  be- 
coming gradually  less  and  less  deep  as  they  approach  the  membranous 
part.  The  last  tracheal  ring  is  deeper  and  stronger  than  its  predecessors, 
and  is  incomplete  in  the  middle  line  behind.  The  first  bronchial  semiring 
is  considerably  stronger  than  the  second  one,  and  bears  the  processus 
vocalis,  which  extends  upwards  for  about  two  rings.  The  last  tracheal 
and  first  two  bronchial  semirings  are  less  closely  connected  together  than 
in  Miiller's  figure.  The  tracheal  syrinx  forms  a  somewhat  dilated  tym- 
panum. As  regards  the  muscles,  my  observations  agree  with  Miiller's  as 
to  there  being  no  intrinsic  muscles,  as  the  lateral  tracheal  muscle  stops 
at  the  commencement  of  the  membranous  part  of  the  trachea,  from  which 
place  also  the  sterno-tracheales  diverge. 

This  syrinx  of  OonopopTiaga  does  not  exactly  agree  with  that  of  any 
other  Tracheophone  group.  In  that  it  possesses  processus  vocales  it 
resembles  that  of  the  Eurnariidae  and  Dendrocolaptidae  described  by 
Miiller  (Pteroptochus,  Hylactes,  Formicarius,  and  Grallaria),  and  differs 
from  Thamnophilus  and  Hypocnemis.  In  the  absence  of  any  intrinsic 
muscle  it  resembles  Grallaria  and  Hylactes,  as  described  by  Garrod,  as 
well  as  Chamceza,  Pteroptochus,  and  Formicarius.  In  Furnarius,  Dendro- 
colaptes,  &c.  this  muscle  is  always  present,  and  double.  But  in  both 
Grallaria,  Hylactes,  and  the  others  the  sterno-tracheales  muscles  arise  from 
the  end  of  the  vocal  process.  In  Conopophaga,  on  the  other  hand,  they 
leave  the  trachea  before  reaching  that  process. 

The  peculiarity,  therefore,  of  its  sternum,  when  taken  with  its  tarsal   P.Z.S.  1881, 
scutellation  and  peculiar  syrinx,  seems  to  demand  that,  as  has  already       p'  ^' 
been   proposed   by  Garrod,   the  genus    Conopophaga^   should   form   a 


*  As  defined  by  Sundevall,  1.  c.  p.  57. 

t  L.  c.  p.  39,  pi.  Ti.  fig.  12.     Garrod's  ed.  p.  32. 

\  Corythopis  has  not  yet  been  anatomically  examined ;  by  Sundevall  it  is  placed 
near  Formicarius.  It  is  therefore  nearly  certain  to  be  Tracheophoniue,  and  is  probably 
really  closely  allied  to  Conopophaga. 


220  ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND  SYSTEMATIC 

primary  division  of  the  Tracheophone  Passeres,  which  may  be  defined  as 
follows : — 

Conopophagidce. — Tracheophonine  Passeres,  with  a  holorhinal  skull  and 
four-notched  sternum,  an  exaspidean  tarsus,  and  a  syrinx  with  no 
intrinsic  muscles,  and  with  the  sterno-tracheales  not  attached  to  the 
processus  vocales. 

As  regards  the  possession  of  a  four-notched  sternum  by  these  birds 
and  the  Pteroptochidse,  I  am  not  inclined  to  consider  it  in  any  way  a 
primitive  character,  but  rather  as  an  instance  of  a  simple  modification 
having  been  independently  acquired  in  different  groups  of  birds  (many 
parallel  cases  might  be  given).  The  Tracheophonine  syrinx  must,  without 
doubt,  be  regarded  as  a  modification  of  some  Haploophonine  form  *  ;  and 
in  all  these  last  birds,  as  in  the  still  less  specialized  Eurylaemidae,  the 
sternum  has  the  typical  form  with  but  two  notches.  On  the  other  hand, 
the  similarity  of  form  of  the  sternum  in  the  Pteroptochidas  and  Conopo- 
phagidse  may  very  probably  indicate  that  these  groups  may  both  have 
sprung  from  some  common  stock  which  had  already  developed  a  peculiar 
sternum. 


p.z.s.  1881,     39.  NOTES     ON    THE    ANATOMY    AND     SYSTEMATIC 
p>  639'  POSITION  OF  THE  J  AC  ANAS 


IT  having  lately  been  my  good  fortune  to  dissect  two  specimens  of 
Parrajacana,  from  Pernambuco,  and  an  eviscerated  specimen  of  Meto- 
pidius  africanus,  as  well  as  to  examine  skeletons  and  skins  of  some  other 
species  of  this  group,  a  few  notes  on  their  anatomy  may  be  acceptable  to 
the  Society,  the  more  so  on  account  of  the  very  considerable  difference 
of  opinion  that  has  hitherto  existed  amongst  systematic  ornithologists  as 
to  the  true  relationships  of  this  group.  Two  main  views  on  this  subject 
have  been  put  forward,  one  placing  the  Jac,anas  near  the  Eails  (Kallidae), 
the  other  asserting  that  they  are,  essentially,  modified  Plovers.  The 
former  of  these  views  has  been  maintained  by  Jerdon  :£,  Sundevall  §,  and 
Milne-Edwards  [|,  to  mention  only  some  of  the  most  recent  ornithological 
writers  of  importance,  as  well  as  by  the  illustrious  Nitzsch  in  his  classical 
memoir  on  the  pterylography  of  birds  If.  The  latter  view  has  been 

*  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  517. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  639-647.    Eead  May  17,  1881. 
J  Birds  of  India,  iii.  p.  707.  §  Tentamen,  p.  130  (1872). 

H  Oiseaux  Fossiles,  ii.  p.  110  (1869-71). 
•If  Pterylography,  Bay  Society's  edition,  p.  126. 


POSITION  OF  THE  JACANAS.  221 

adopted  by  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Salvin  in  their  «  Nomenclator,'  where  the 
Parridje  are  interpolated  between  the  (Edicnemidae  and  the  Charadriidse 
as  members  of  the  order  "  LimicolaB  "  *.  The  late  Prof.  Garrod,  in  his  P. 1 
paper  on  the  nasal  bones  of  birds  t,  says  that  "  Parra  should  be  removed 
to  the  Charadriomorphse  "  from  the  Eallidse,  on  account  of  the  schizo- 
rhinal  nature  of  its  skull,  as  represented  in  the  figure  of  that  of  Parra 
(Hydralector)  cristata  on  p.  34  of  his  paper.  In  his  subsequent  paper  on 
the  muscles  of  the  thigh  in  birds  J,  Parra  (i.  e.  Metopidius)  africana  is 
placed  amongst  the  "  Grallae,"  with  the  other  Charadriine  or  Scolopacine 
forms,  and  not  included  in  the  Eallidae.  It  will  be  my  object  in  the 
present  paper  to  still  further  strengthen  this  latter  view  of  the  affinities 
of  the  Parridse  §. 

Pterylosis. 

Nitzsch,  in  his  *  Pterylography/  places  Rallm,  Or  ex,  Porphyrio,  and 
Parra  as  members  of  a  group  of  the  Fulicariae,  characterized  by  the 
narrow  form  of  the  tracts,  by  the  presence  of  a  distinct  outer  branch  to 
the  inferior  tract,  and  by  the  dorsal  tract  being  "  neither  interrupted  nor 
strikingly  weakened"  between  the  shoulder-blades.  He  says  (I.  c. 
p.  126) : — "  The  first  three  [genera]  have  twelve  tail-feathers,  and  exactly 
the  same  pterylosis  as  that  figured  as  occurring  in  Rattus  aquaticus.  In 
Parra,  of  which  I  have  examined  all  the  four  principal  species  (sinensis 
[i.  e.  Hydropliasianus  chirurgus],  cenea,  africana,  and  jassana),  I  found 
only  ten  tail-feathers,  and  a  remarkable  narrowing  of  the  bands  of  the 
dorsal  tract  close  behind  the  shoulder-blades ;  whilst,  on  the  other  hand, 


*  Op.  cit.  p.  142  (London,  1873).  The  term  "  Limicola  "  was,  I  believe,  originally 
used  by  Nitzsch  (Pterylogr.  p.  194)  to  include  the  birds  now  included  in  the  "  families  " 
Charadriidse  and  Scolopacidae,  together  with  some  aberrant  forms,  such  as  Dromas, 
Cursorius,  Thinocorus,  &c.  By  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Salvin  its  use  is  still  further  ex- 
tended to  include  the  (Edicnemidse,  Parridae,  and  Chionididae  in  addition.  Lastly, 
Prof.  Garrod  used  it  (P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  122,  &c.)  as  a  term  for  all  the  non-columbine 
"  Charadriiformes,"  including  in  it,  besides  Nitzsch's  groups,  the  Cranes,  Auks,  Gulls, 
and,  presumably,  the  Turnicidse,  Rhinochetidae,  Plataleidas,  and  Parridse  as  well.  In 
fact,  Garrod's  restricted  "  family  "  Charadriidae  corresponds  pretty  nearly  to  the  whole 
of  Nitzsch's  "  LimicolaB  sen  Scolopacinse."  To  obviate  further  confusion,  the  term 
"Limicolae  "  should  be  restricted  to  the  group  mentioned  by  Nitzsch  ;  and  I  propose 
to  substitute,  as  a  name  for  the  non-columbine  Charadriiformes  (the  "  Limicolaa "  of 
Garrod)  the  word  "  Pluviales,"  to  correspond  with  the  other  division,  "  Columbse  " 
(including  the  Colurnbidse  and  Pteroclidse),  of  that  great  group. 

t  "On  the  Value  in  Classification  of  a  Peculiarity  in  the  Anterior  Margin  of  the 
Nasal  Bones  of  certain  Birds,"  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  33-78. 

|  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  626-644. 

§  Besides  Metopidius  africanus,  Prof.  Garrod  dissected  a  specimen  of  Hydrophasianus 
chirurgus ;  and  some  MS.  notes  of  his  on  that  species  I  have  incorporated  in  what 
follows.- 


222  ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND  SYSTEMATIC 

the  hindmost,  or  pelvic  portion  of  it,  was  dilated.  This  genus  has  also 
weaker  lumbar  tracts  ;  and  these  are  united  with  the  uropygial  portion 
of  the  dorsal  tract  by  sparse  contour-feathers."  As  Mtzsch  himself 
later  on  says  that  the  pterylosis  of  the  "Lhnicolse"  closely  approaches 
that  of  the  Eallinae,  and  is  but  little  modified  from  that  type,  the  evidence 
from  pterylosis  of  the  Ealline  affinities  of  the  Jaganas  is  not  very  strong. 
In  their  possession  of  well-marked  firm  rectrices,  in  the  weakness  of  the 
lumbar  tracts,  and  in  the  tendency  to  a  division  of  the  dorsal  tract  into 
an  anterior  and  a  posterior  fork,  the  Parridse  differ  from  the  typical 
Eallidae,  and  approach  the  Limicoline  type.  The  same  relationship  is 
indicated  by  the  inner,  or  main,  pectoral  tract,  though  very  narrow, 
consisting,  at  least  at  its  commencement,  of  two  or  three  rows  of  feathers 
in  the  Parridae,  as  well  as  in  the  Charadriida3 ;  whereas  in  the  typical 
Eallidse,  according  to  Nitzsch,  it  issues  from  the  branch  as  only  a  single 
row  of  feathers. 

Visceral  Anatomy,  <$fc. 

The  tongue  is  long  and  narrow  in  shape,  thin,  and  of  horny  con- 
sistency. Its  apex  is  slightly  notched,  and  its  base  spinulose ;  for  the 
greater  part  of  its  length  it  is  strongly  concave.  The  oesophagus  develops 
P.Z.  S.  1881,  no  crop  ;  and  the  proventriculus  is  zonary.  There  is  a  muscular  gizzard, 
p.  641.  lined  by  a  rather  thick  and  hard  epithelium.  The  contents  of  the 
stomach,  in  one  of  the  specimens  examined,  consisted  of  small  seeds  mixed 
with  vegetable  debris  and  small  fragments  of  stone.  The  right  liver-lobe 
is  elongated,  and  twice  as  large  as  the  left ;  and  there  is  a  well-developed 
gall-bladder.  The  ceeca  are  lateral  in  position,  and  closely  approximated 
to  the  intestine,  which  makes  them  difficult  to  see.  They  are  mere 
nipples  '2  inch  long  *.  In  this  respect  Parra  differs  from  all  the  Eallidae 
(except  Porzana  notata)  which  have  been  examined,  as  in  all  of  these  the 
caeca  are  long,  sometimes  very  long.  Of  the  Pluvialine  birds,  only  the 
Plataleidae  and  Ehinochetidae,  with  Sterna,  Larus,  and  one  or  two  others, 
have  such  short  caeca.  The  intestines  measure,  in  these  two  specimens 
of  Parra  jacana — small  intestine  12-3  and  13'2  inches,  large  intestine  1-1 
and  1*0  inch  respectively. 

In  Parra  jacana  and  in  Hydrophasianus  africanus,  as  also  in  Metopidius 
africanus,  as  already  recorded  by  Grarrod  t,  there  are  two  carotid  arteries. 
This  is  the  number  found  in  all  the  Eallidae,  and  in  most  of  the  Pluviales, 
excepting  the  Turnicidas  and  Arctica  alle,  according  to  Grarrod  J,  where 
there  is  only  the  left  developed. 


*  In  Hydrophasianus  chirurgus  there  is  a  strong  gizzard,  and  the  left  liver-lobe  is 
smaller  than  the  right ;  the  caeca  measure  "15  inch,  the  whole  length  of  the  intestines 
being  12  inches.— Garrod's  MSS. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  469.  |  L.  c.  pp.  469,  470. 


POSITION  OP  THE  JA£ANAS.  223 

Myology. 

Parra  jacana  resembles  P.  (Metopidius)  africana,  as  recorded  by  Garrod*, 
in  possessing  the  ambiens,  femoro-caudal,  accessory  femoro-caudal,  semi- 
tendinosus,  and  accessory  semitendinosus  muscles,  all  well  developed  t. 
Their  formula  is  therefore  AB  .  XY  J.  In  both  these  species  the  gluteus 
primus  is  well  developed,  covering  the  biceps  superficially  towards  the 
median  line ;  the  gluteus  quintus  is  also  well  developed.  As  in  the  Eallidae, 
and  the  Gruidse§  and  Eurypyga,  amongst  the  Pluviales,  the  area  of  origin 
of  the  obturator  internus  is  triangular,  as  it  is  also  in  Hydrophasianus ;  in 
the  Pluvialine  birds  generally  it  is  oval.  The  two  deep  flexor  tendons  of 
the  foot  are  not  at  all  ossified,  but  completely  blend  together  some  way  up 
the  leg — in  Metopidius,  in  fact,  just  below  the  joint.  There  is  no  slip  at 
all  to  the  hallux,  as  was  also  found  to  be  the  case  in  Parra  africana  || 
and  Hydrophasianus  by  Prof.  Grarrod.  This  is  the  more  remarkable  on 
account  of  the  very  large  size  of  the  hallux  in  all  these  birds.  A  special 
tendinous  slip  to  that  digit  is  very  frequently  present  in  birds  which 
have  a  very  insignificant  hallux  indeed ;  and  I  know  of  no  other  case  of 
a  bird  with  such  a  large  hallux  as  that  of  the  Parridae  lacking  the  tendon. 
This  fact  would  seem  to  indicate  that  the  Parridaa  may  have  been 
developed  from  some  form  with  a  more  normal-sized  foot  and  a  small 
hallux,  which  had  no  special  long  flexor,  the  great  size  of  their  feet  p  z  g 
having  been  developed  in  accordance  with  their  peculiar  habits.  p.  642. 

In  the  anterior  extremity  the  second  pectoral  arises  from  nearly  the 
whole  length  of  the  sternum ;  in  all  three  genera  the  third  pectoral  is 
wanting.  The  expansor  secundariorum  is  strong  and  T-shaped,  as  in  all 
Ralline  and  many  Pluvialine  birds.  In  Parra  jacana  (as  in  Hydro- 
phasianus, according  to  Grarrod)  there  is  a  distinct  biceps  slip  to  the 
patagium,  as  in  all  the  EallidaB,  the  Charadriidae,  Gruidae,  and  many 
other  Pluvialine  birds.  In  Metopidius  africanus  it  is  apparently  absent, 
the  absence  being  probably  correlated  with  the  peculiar  expanded  form 
of  the  radius  (to  be  hereafter  described). 

In  the  wing- membrane  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  presents  a  peculiar 
arrangement,  the  tendon  being  completely  divided  into  two  portions — 
an  inner,  more  slender,  and  an  outer,  stronger  one.  The  former  runs 
on  to  the  fibrous  tissue  near  the  superficial  origin  of  the  extensor 
metacarpi  radialis  longior,  and  there  stops;  the  latter  continues  over 
this  last  muscle  to  the  ulnar  side  of  the  arm,  where  it  is  lost  in  the 
fibrous  covering-tissue  adjacent.  Before  crossing,  however,  it  sends  off 
a  short,  special  wrist  ward  slip  to  the  superficial  tendon  of  origin  of  the 

*  P.Z.S.  1873,  p.641. 

t  In  Hydrophasianus  all  these  five  muscles  are  also  present. 

I  Cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  123. 

§  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  199.  ||  p.  z.  S.  1875,  p.  348. 


224  ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND  SYSTEMATIC 

metacarpal  extensor,  as  in  many  other  groups  of  birds.  There  is  also  a 
thin  fibrous  expansion  given  off  just  before  this  to  the  teudon  of  the 
tensor  patagii  longus,  and  the  tissue  of  the  patagium  generally,  as  in 
many  Pluvialine  birds  *.  This  splitting  up  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis 
tendon  into  two  distinct  slips,  the  external  one  in  turn  giving  off  a 
special  wristward  slip,  occurs  in  many  Pluvialine  birds  (e.  g.  in  Namenius 
arquatus,  Totanus  calidris,  Machetes  pugnax,  Himantopus  nigi-icollis, 
ThinocoruSj  Attagis),  but  never  in  the  Bails,  where  the  tendon  is  always 
much  more  simple,  not  being  divided  into  two  separate  parts,  or  giving 
off  a  wristward  slip.  In  fact,  in  most  Eallidae  it  runs  quite  simply,  as 
a  narrow  straight  tendon,  on  to  the  origin  of  the  extensor  metacarpi 
muscle,  and  there  stops. 

The  trachea  is  provided  with  the  usual  pair  of  sterno-tracheal  muscles  ; 
and  the  lower  larynx,  which  is  of  simple  structure,  has  also  only  a  single 
pair  of  intrinsic  muscles. 

Osteology. 

From  a  consideration  of  the  pterylographic,  visceral,  and  myological 

features  only  of  the  Parridae,  perhaps  no  very  definite  conclusion  as  to 

their  affinities  could  be  drawn.     But  their  osteological  characters,  in  this 

case,  leave  no  doubt  as  to  their  real  position.     All  the  skulls  of  ParridsD 

which  I  have  examined,  including  those  of  Parrce  jacana  a,nd.gymnostoma, 

Metopidii  indicus,  africanus  and  albinucha,  and  HydropJiasianus  chirurgus, 

like   that   of    Hydralector   cristata   figured    by    Grarrodt.    are   strongly 

schizorhinal,  therein   differing   completely  from  that  of   the  Bails,  and 

P.  Z.  S.  1881    resembling  that  of   the   Pigeons,  Plovers,  and   their  allies  (the  "  Cha- 

p.  643.          radriiformes  "  of  Garrod  £)  only  amongst  Homalogonatous  birds. 

Fig.  1. 


Skull  of  Parra jacana,  from  below;  natural  size. 

There  are  well-developed  basipterygoid  processes,  which  are  always 
absent  in  the  Eails,  though  of  very  frequent  occurrence  amongst  the 
"  Pluviales,"  occurring  in  all  the  Charadriinso  and  Scolopacinae  I  have 
examined. 

In  Parra  jacana  and  Metopidius  albinucJia,  the  long,  narrow,  slightly 

*  In  Hydrophasianus  much  the  same  arrangement  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  obtains, 
to  judge  from  a  small  drawing  in  Garrod's  MS. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  34,  fig.  5.  \  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  117. 


POSITION  OF  THE  JA^ANAS.  225 

decurved  vomer  is  emarginate  apically,  as  in  certain  Charadriidaj  *  (see 
fig.  1).     In  the  Ballidae  it  is,  I  believe,  always  sharp  at  the  point. 

The  maxillopalatine  processes  are  rather  slender  and  directed  back- 
wards; they  have  the  form  of  concavo-convex  lamellae,  are  not  at  all 
swollen,  and  do  not  unite  by  some  way  in  the  middle  line,  the  vomer 
appearing  between  and  (when  the  skull  is  viewed  from  the  palatal  aspect) 
below  them. 

There  is  no  ossified  internasal  septum,  nor  any  ossification  of  the 
narial  cartilages.  The  lachrymal  is  small,  ankylosed  with  the  naso- 
frontal  region  of  the  skull  above,  and  with  the  "  pars  plana  "  below. 

On  the  posterior  aspect  of  the  skull  there  are  no  traces  of  the  occipital 
fontanelles,  which  are  found  in  so  many  of  the  birds  related  to  the 
Plovers. 

The  supraorbital  impressions  for  the  nasal  glands,  which  are  so 
conspicuous  in  most  Plovers,  the  Gulls,  Auks,  and  many  other  birds,  are 
absent  in  the  Parridae. 

The  combinations  depending  on  the  presence  or  absence  of  basi- 
pterygoid  processes,  of  occipital  foramina,  and  of  impressions  on  the  top 
of  the  skull  for  the  supraorbital  glands,  coincide,  as  may  be  seen  from 
the  following  Table  (p.  226),  pretty  accurately,  with  hardly  an  exception, 
with  the  chief  groups  of  the  Pluviales  (the  web-footed  Laridae  and  Alcidae 
being  omitted  as  irrelevant  to  our  present  purpose)  as  determined  by 
other  characters.  In  the  Table  +  and  -  represent  respectively  the 
presence  or  absence  of  the  structure  indicated.  In  the  Plataleidae  and 
Gruidae  the  nasal  glands  occupy  the  truncated  edge  of  the  cranium  above 
the  orbits,  and  hardly  appear  on  its  upper  surface :  this  condition  I 
have  indicated  by  the  use  of  the  double  sign  (  +  ). 

The  drawing  (fig.  2,  p.  227)  of  the  sternum  of  Metopidius  albinucTia  will  P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
show  how  unlike  it  is  to  that  of  the  Kallidse.     In  the  latter  group  the       p'  645' 
sternum  is  always  peculiar  in  that  the  xiphoid  processes  exceed  in  length 
the  body  of  the  sternum,  which  tapers  to  a  point  posteriorly,  and  from 
which  they  are  separated  by  very  long  and  well-marked  triangular  notches. 
The  carina  sterni  also  is  less  well  developed ;    and  the  clavicles  are 
weaker  and  straighter,  being  less  convex  forwards,  than  in  the  ParridaB. 
The  sternum  and  clavicles  of  Parr  a  and  Metopidius  in  general  form,  on 
the  other  hand,  resemble  closely  the  type  found  in  some  of  the  Pluvialine 
birds  (e.  g.  Thinocorus,  Attagis). 

The  pelvis,  again,  of  the  Bails  presents  certain  well-marked  pecu- 
liarities. If  that  of  Rallus  aquaticus  be  taken  as  a  typical  form,  it  will 
be  found  that  the  ilia  are  long  and  narrow,  and  but  little  expanded  in 
their  preacetabular  part.  The  postacetabular  portion  of  the  pelvis  is 
but  little  bent  down  on  the  preacetabular  part ;  and  the  ischia  and  pubes 

*  Cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  417,  figf.  2-4. 


226 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND  SYSTEMATIC 


P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
p.  644. 


PLATALEID^E. 

Ibis  rubra 4- 

leaajaja   

leucorodia 

GRUID.E. 

Grus  cinerea 4- 

americana    

australasiana    4- 

Aramus  scolopaceus 4- 

CHARADRIID^E. 

Numenius  arquatus 4- 

phseopus  4- 

Recurvirostra  avocetta    4- 

Tringa  canutus 

cinclus 

JEgialites  hiaticula  

Eudromias  morinellus 4- 

Vanellus  (cristatus  ?)  4- 

Machetes  pugnax 4-* 

Hsematopus  ostralegus    4- 

Himantopus  nigricollis    

Limosa  melanura 4- 

PARRID^S. 

Metopidius  albinucha 

indicus 

Parra  jacana 

Hydrophasianus  chirurgus.. 

Turnix  lepurana  

Hemipodius  varius  

Dromas  ardeolat 

Chionis  alba 

Attagisgayi  

Thinocorus  rumicivorus 

dorbignyanus  

Cursorius  gallicus    

Glareola  pratincola 

RHINOCHETID.B. 

Rhinochetus  j  ubatus    

Eurypyga  helias  

MESITID.B. 

Mesites  unicolor  J    


Occipital 
foramina. 


Basiptery- 
goid  pro- 


lupraorbi- 
al  impres- 
sions. 


*  Sometimes  ossified. 

t  There  is  a  perfect  skeleton  of  this  peculiar  form  in  the  Cambridge  University 
Museum,  which  I  have  examined. 

J  I  only  know  the  cranial  characters  of  this  bird  from  the  plate  illustrating 
M.  Milne-Edwards's  memoir  (Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  [6]  vol.  vii.  art.  no.  6). 


POSITION  OF  THE  JA£ANAS.  227 

are  but  little  everted.    The  ischia  are  united  by  broad  bony  plates  to  p-  Z'6^51881' 

about  the  three  most  posterior  "  sacral "  vertebra  ;  between  these  plates 

and  the  expanded  part  of  the  ilia  above  are  well-developed  and  deep 

fossa?,  occupied,  in  the  fresh   state,  by  the  posterior   portion  of  the 

kidneys.     Viewed  from  above,  the  well-marked  "  postacetabular  "  ridge, 

which  divides  off  the  dorsal  from  the  lateral  aspect  of  the  pelvis,  running 

Fig.  2. 


Sternum  and  shoulder-girdle  of  Metopidius  albmucha,  viewed  laterally  ; 
natural  size. 

from  just  behind  the  antitrochanteric  eminence  to  the  posterior  spine  of 
the  ilium,  presents,  a  little  behind  those  two  points,  a  strongly  projecting 
process.  The  greatest  breadth  of  the  postacetabular  part  of  the  pelvis  is 
therefore  here,  and  not  at  the  more  anteriorly-situated  prominence,  close 
to  the  antitrochanter.  Viewed  from  the  side,  this  ridge  forms  a  sort  of 
overlapping  roof  to  the  slightly  excavated  external  pelvic  fossa.  The 
genera  Ocydromus,  Aramides,  Fulica,  and  Porphyrio  do  not  essentially 
depart  from  this  type. 

In  Parr  a  and  Metopidius*  the  ilia  are  wider  and  more  expanded 
anteriorly.     The  postacetabular  ridge  has  hardly  any  median  projection  ;  P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
and  the  pelvis  is  widest,  dorsally,  just  behind  the  antitrochanter s.     The      P*  ^* 
plates  of  bone  between  the  ischia  and   sacrum  are  narrower,  and  the 
posterior  part  of  the  renal  fosssD  less  well  developed,  and  more  open,  in 
consequence.     In  all  these  points  these  forms  thus  approach  the  Limi- 
coline  birds. 

There  is  one  other  point  of  interest  in  the  osteology  of  the  Parridse. 
This  is  the  extraordinary  form  assumed  by  the  radius  in  some  of  tha 
genera.  In  birds,  as  a  rule,  the  ulna  is  -a  stouter  bone  than  the  radius, 
this  last  being  almost  universally  a  slender  cylindrical  bone.  In  Meto- 
pidius africanus,  as  already  noticed  by  M.  A.Milne-Edwards  t,  as  well  as 

*   Milne-Edwards  has  also  described  tke  difference  of  the  pelvis  in  the  Jasanas  as 
compared  with  that  of  the  true  Ballidse :  cf,  '  Oiseaux  Fossiles,'  ii.  p.  123. 
t  '  Oiseaux  Fossiles,'  ii.  p.  134. 

Q2 


228  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  JA£ANAS. 

in  M.  albinucna  and  in  M.  indicus  (as  I  have  been  able  to  ascertain  by 
extracting  the  wing-bones  from  a  skin),  the  radius  presents   the  form 
shown  in  the  drawing  (fig.  3),  being  dilated  and  flattened  into   a  sub- 
Fig.  3. 


Wing-bones  of  Metopidius  albinucka,  to  show  the  peculiarly  modifie  d  radius  ; 

natural  size. 

triangular  lamellar-like  expansion  for  its  distal  half.  Its  superior  surface 
is  slightly  grooved  posteriorly  for  the  tendon  of  the  extensor  metacarpi 
radialis  longior  muscle. 

This  dilated  portion  forms  the  margin  of  the  patagial  space  for  its 
distal  portion.  A  considerable  portion  of  the  marginal  tendon  of  the 
tensor  patagii  longus  is  inserted  into  the  radius  at  the  angle  of  the  bone  ; 
the  main  tendon,  however,  continues  in  a  groove  on  the  inferior  aspect 
of  that  bone,  a  little  behind  the  border,  to  its  ordinary  insertion.  About 
half  of  the  peculiar  flattened  radius  is  left  bare  of  muscle  above,  the 
extensor  metacarpi,  as  already  stated,  playing  over  its  lower  half.  Below, 
the  flattened  area  is  largely  covered  by  the  fibres  of  the  pronator  radii 
superficialis,  which  extend  up  nearly  to  the  margin  of  the  bone ;  below 
this  is  the  pronator  radii  profundus,  which  likewise  has  an  extensive 
insertion  into  the  lower  part  of  the  bone.  The  margin  of  the  bone,  where 
it  is  superficial,  is  slightly  roughened ;  and  no  doubt  the  peculiar  form  of 
radius  is  associated  with  the  quarrelsome  habits  of  these  birds,  this  dilated 
and  somewhat  scimitar-shaped  bone  being  probably  capable  of  inflicting  a 
very  severe  downward  blow. 

In  Parrajacana  and  P.  gymnostoma  the  radius  presents  the  ordinary 
form ;  and  the  same  is  the  case  in  Hydrophasianus  chirurgus. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  In  these  two  genera,  it  is  to  be  observed,  the  metacarpal  "spur"  is 
much  more  developed  and  sharp  than  in  the  species  of  Metopidius,  where 
it  is  small  and  blunt ;  so  that  there  is  a  correlation  apparently  between  a 
sharp  spur  and  a  simple  radius,  and  a  blunt  spur  and  flattened  radius. 
In  Hydralector  gallinacea  there  is  a  blunt  spur,  with,  so  far  as  I  can 
make  out  from  a  skin,  a  flattened  radius. 

The  "  claw  "  or  "  spur  "  of  the  wing  of  the  Jaganas  has,  it  may  be  ob- 
served, no  relation  whatever  to  the  "  claw  "  or  nail  of  the  pollex,  which 
is  also  present,  though  small,  in  all  the  three  genera  I  have  examined. 
The  "  spur,"  in  Parrajacana  at  least,  consists  of  an  external,  translucent, 


ON  THALASSIDKOMA  NEREIS.  229 

yellow  epidermic  layer,  which  invests  a  central  core  of  compact  fibrous 
tissue,  this  in  turn  being  supported  by  a  bony  projection  developed  at  the 
radial  side  of  the  first  metacarpal. 

As  regards  the  position  of  the  Parridaa  in  the  group  Pluviales,  it  appears 
to  me  that  they  form  a  well-marked  family,  with  no  very  obvious  relation- 
ships to  any  of  the  other  families  of  that  group,  approaching,  however, 
perhaps  most  nearly  to  the  CharadriidaB,  from  which  they  are  easily 
distinguishable  by  the  absence  of  supraorbital  glands  and  occipital 
foramina,  by  their  enormously  elongated  toes,  by  the  number  of  rectrices, 
and  other  points.  A  brief  definition  of  the  Parridae  may  be  given  as 
follows : — 

Charadriiform  birds,  with  ten  rectrices,  short  caeca,  and  a  tufted  oil- 
gland  ;  with  the  ambiens,  accessory  femoro-caudal,  and  accessory  semi- 
tendinosus  muscles  developed,  and  with  the  obturator  internus  triangular ; 
with  a  two-notched  sternum,  and  with  the  digits,  including  the  hallux, 
greatly  developed ;  with  the  skull  provided  with  basipterygoid  processes, 
but  lacking  occipital  foramina  and  supraorbital  gland-impressions. 


40.  ON  THE  PETREL  CALLED  THALASSIDROMA  NEREIS  P.  z.  s.  1881, 
BY  GOULD,  AND  ITS  AFFINITIES.*  p' 735' 

IN  this  Society's  Proceedings  for  the  year  1840,  the  late  Mr.  Gould 
described  a  "beautiful  fairy-like " new  species  of  Stormy  Petrel  from 
Bass's  Straits,  which  he  called  Thalassidroma  nereis  (torn.  cit.  p.  178), 
under  which  name  it  is  figured  in  the  last  volume  of  the  *  Birds  of 
Australia/ 

Dr.  Elliott  Coues,  in  his  revision  of  the  family  Procellariidaa  t,  treating 
of  the  species  under  the  name  Procellaria  nereis,  says  : — "  I  have  had  the 
pleasure  of  examining  Mr.  Gould's  types  of  this  species  from  Bass's 
Straits,  Australia,  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Philadelphia  Academy. 
It  is  a  beautiful  little  species,  quite  unlike  any  other  known  Stormy 
Petrel.  In  form  it  comes  nearer  to  Procellaria  pelagica  than  to  any 
other  species  ;  and  it  is  probably  congeneric  with  it,  though  it  differs  some- 
what $  in  the  proportion  of  the  tarsus  and  toes,  and  very  widely  in  its 

pattern  of  coloration The  proportions  of  the  tibia  and  tarsus  differ 

from  those  of  pelagica  in  the  greater  comparative  length  of  the  former." 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  735-737.    Bead  June  21,  1881. 
t  Proceedings  of  the  Academy  of  Natural  Sciences  of  Philadelphia,  1864,  p.  81. 
The  italics  are  mine.— W.  A.  F. 


230  ON  THALASSIDROMA  NEREIS. 

Amongst  the  Petrels  mentioned  at  various  times  by  the  late  Prof. 
Garrod  as  having  been  examined  by  him,  a  species  several  times  occurs 
which  is  doubtfully  named  "  Procellaria  (or  Thalassidroma)  fregata  ?  "  * 
The  specimens  dissected  by  him  are  now  before  me,  and  have  been 
identified  by  Mr.  Salvin  as  being  really  referable  to  the  Procellaria  nereis 
of  Gould,  an  example  of  which,  from  the  Falkland  Islands,  is  now  in  the 
museum  of  Messrs.  Salvin  and  Godman.  A  careful  examination  of  the 
three  spirit-specimens  of  this  bird,  as  well  as  of  the  skin  mentioned, 
has  convinced  me  that  this  species  is  not  referable  to  the  true  genus 
Procellaria  as  represented  by  Procellaria  pelagica,  and  is  in  fact  in  no 
way  related  to  that  group  of  Petrels,  but  has  its  nearest  allies  in  the  flat- 
clawed  genera  Oceanites,  Fregetta,  and  Pelagodroma. 

In  his  paper  on  the  muscles  of  the  thigh  in  Birds  t  the  late  Prof. 
Garrod  divided  the  Nasutae,  or  Petrels,  into  two  groups,  the  "  Storm- 
Petrels  "  and  the  Eulmaridae,  the  former  group  differing  from  the  latter 
in  that  they  possess  the  accessory  semitendinosus  muscle  (T),  but  lack 
intestinal  caeca.  In  the  Fulmaridae,  on  the  other  hand,  the  accessory 
semitendinosus  muscle  is  absent,  but  caeca  are  present.  The  species  of 
Storm-Petrels  on  which  this  generalization  was  based  are  called,  with 
doubt J,  "Procellaria  pelagica  and  P.  fregata"  the  latter  being  the 
P.  Z.  S.  1881,  species  now  identified  by  Mr.  Salvin  as  P.  nereis.  As  regards  the  first- 
p.  736.  named  species,  there  can  be  little  or  no  doubt  that  the  bird  really  dissected 
by  Prof.  Garrod,  and  called  by  him  " 'Procellaria  pelagica"  was  Wilson's 
Petrel  (Oceanites  oceanicus),  as  in  this  bird  there  are  no  caeca  §,  at  the 
same  time  that  the  accessory  semitendinosus  muscle  is  present.  The 
true  Procellaria  pelagica  (of  which  I  have  lately  dissected  two  perfectly 
fresh  examples)  agrees  with  the  Fulmaridse,  as  defined  by  Prof.  Garrod, 
in  having  cseca  ||,  but  no  accessory  head  to  the  semitendinosus ;  and 
Cymochorea  leucorrlioa  agrees  in  both  these  points  with  Procellaria 
pelagica. 

The  so-called  "  Procellaria  nereis  "  of  Gould  is  therefore  obviously  not 
a  true  Procellaria  at  all ;  and  this  view  is  confirmed  by  other  characters, 
such  as  the  shape  of  its  nostrils,  the  elongated  tarsi,  which  are  much 
longer  than  the  mid  toe  U"  and  covered  anteriorly  with  transversely 


*  Cf.  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  pp.  470  and  641. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  122.  J  P.  Z.  S.  1873,  p.  641. 

§  Cf.  also  Macgillivray,  in  Audubon's  '  Ornithological  Biography/  v.  p.  646. 

||  Cf.  Macgillivray,  I.e.  p.  313  ;  also  Wagner  in  Naumann's ' Vogel  Deutschlands,' 
x.  p.  556. 

^[  In  Procellaria  pelagica  and  Cymochorea  leucorrlioa  the  tarso-metatarse  is  not 
longer,  and  may  be  shorter,  than  the  3rd  toe.  As  against  21  '5  and  21  '5,  and  23  and  26 
millitn.  in  the  two  first-mentioned  genera,  in  the  so-called  Procellaria  nereis  the  lengths 
of  the  two  are  respectively  34  and  26  millims. 


ON  THALASSIDKOMA  NEKEIS.  231 

arranged  scutella  *,  the  very  minute  hallux,  and  the  lamellar,  concave 
form  of  the  claws.  It  belongs,  in  fact,  to  the  group  of  Oceanites,  Fregetta, 
and  Pelagodroma,  but  is  not  exactly  congeneric  with  any  of  them.  I 
propose  therefore  to  make  it  the  type  of  a  new  genus,  to  be  called 
Garrodia,  in  memory  of  my  lamented  friend  A.  H.  G-arrod,  not  only  as  a 
token  of  my  personal  esteem  for,  and  indebtedness  to  him,  but  also  as 
some  slight  recognition  of  the  thanks  ornithologists  generally  owe  him  for 
the  additions  he  made  to  our  knowledge  of  the  anatomy  of  birds. 
The  genus  Garrodia  may  be  shortly  defined  as  follows  : — 

GABBODIA.  Genus  ex  ordine  Tubinarium  OCEANIT^  maxime  affine,  tarsis 
pro  diyitis  longioribus  et  antice  scutellatis,  necnon  margine  sterni  pos- 
teriore  integro  distinguendum. 

Type  Procellaria  nereis,  Grould. 

Garrodia  is  perhaps  most  closely  allied  to  Oceanites,  as  already  stated, 
but  differs  from  that  genus  in  having  the  tarso-metatarsi  covered  anteriorly 
with  a  series  of  transverse  scutella  instead  of  being  "  entire,"  in  their 
slightly  greater  proportional  length  as  compared  with  the  third  toe  t,  in 
the  even  more  minute  hallux,  and  in  the  more  flattened  and  lamellar 
form  of  the  claws.  The  sternum  too  is  posteriorly  entire,  whereas  in 
Oceanites  oceanicus  it  is  slightly  notched.  The  coloration  of  the  two 
genera  is  also  quite  different.  From  Fregetta,  Garrodia  may  be  easily 
distinguished  by  the  very  different  proportions  and  forms  of  the  nails 
and  feet  in  that  genus,  and  from  Pelagodroma  by  its  much  shorter  feet 
and  entire  tail. 

These  four  genera — Oceanites,  Garrodia,  Pelagodroma,  and  Fregetta —  ^'Z'™ 
form  a  very  well-marked  family  of  the  Tubinares,  which  may  be  called 
Oceanitidae,  as  distinguished  from  the  remainder  of  the  group,  or 
Fulmaridae  of  Prof.  Garrod.  Anatomically,  these  four  genera  agree 
together,  and  differ  from  the  Fulmaridse  (on  nearly  all  the  genera  of 
which,  including  Diomedea  and  Puffinuria,  I  have  notes),  in  the  two 
important  characters  already  mentioned — the  absence  of  caeca  and  the 
presence  of  the  accessory  semitendinosus  muscle.  Externally  they  may 
be  at  once  recognized  by  their  peculiar  elongated  tarsi,  lamellar  nails, 
and  by  nev  naving  more  than  -10  secondaries,  Procellaria  and  Puffinuria 
having  13,  and  the  remaining  Fulmaridae  more  (in  Diomedea,  according 
to  Nitzsch,  as  many  as  40).  My  family  Oceanitidae,  in  fact,  corresponds 
to  Bonaparte's  section  "  **  Unguibus  depressis  "  of  his  Procellaridae  J,  and 
toCoues's  "  second  group'*  of  the  similarly-named  section  in  his ' Review '§, 

*  In  Procellaria  pelagica  the  tarsi  are  pretty  uniformly  covered  with  somewhat 
irregular  hexagonal  scutes. 

t  In  a  specimen  of  Oceanites  oceanicus  (in  spirit)  the  middle  toe  measures  29  millim.  • 
in  one  of  Garrodia  the  length  is  26  millim.  The  length  of  the  inetatarse  in  both  is  34 
millim.  J  Consp.  Av.  ii.  p.  197  (1857). 

§  Op.  cit.  p.  74,  where  characters  for  it  are  given. 


232  ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  RAT1TE  "  BIRDS. 

with  the  addition,  in  each  case,  of  Garrodia,  included  by  both  authors  in 
the  restricted  genus  Procellaria. 

Being  now  engaged  in  a  report,  for  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  '  Challenger,' 
on  the  anatomy  of  the  Petrels  collected  during  that  expedition,  I  propose 
to  reserve  further  details  of  the  differences  and  characters  of  these  two 
groups,  and  of  the  genera  composing  them,  till  that  occasion. 


P.  z.  s.1881,  41.  ON  THE  CONFORMATION  OF  THE  THORACIC  END 
P-  778.  TRACHEA  m  THE  «RATITE"  BIRDS.* 


IN  the  present  communication  I  propose  to  follow  out  the  line  of  work 
developed  by  the  late  Prof.  Grarrod  in  his  paper  on  the  trachea  of  the 
Gallinse  t,  by  describing  in  detail  the  structure  of  the  bifurcating  trachea 
in  the  "  Eatite  "  birds. 

So  far  as  I  am  aware,  no  proper  description  of  this  structure  in  the 
birds  in  question  has  ever  been  given,  though  the  statement,  apparently 
originally  due  to  Meckel  £,  that  in  them  "  there  is  no  lower  larynx,"  has 
been  very  generally  followed  and  copied,  even  in  the  latest  text-books  on 
the  subject  §.  Prof.  Owen  has  briefly  described  the  bifurcating  trachea 
in  the  Ostrich  ||  and  Apteryx  ^[  ;  and  his  accounts,  as  far  as  they  go,  are 
accurate  enough.  More  recently  E.  Alix  has  very  briefly  mentioned 
some  peculiarities  of  this  part  in  the  Ehea;  and  his  account  will  be 
found  quoted  below. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,        Struthio  camelus  (figs.  1,  2),  on  account  of  its  size  and  simple  structure, 

p.  779.          may  be  described  here  first.     The  trachea,  inferior  to  the  insertion  of 

the  sterno-tracheales,  slightly  narrows,  having  above  the  antepenultimate 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  ring  a  diameter  of  about  one  inch.  The  tracheal  rings  are  here,  as 
p.  780.  elsewhere,  entire  simple  rings,  of  an  average  depth  of  about  *15  inch,  and 
are  separated  only  by  very  slight  interannular  intervals.  The  trachea  is 
slightly  compressed  and  posteriorly  carinated  for  about  the  last  7  rings. 
The  last  ring  but  four  is  somewhat  produced  downwards  in  the  middle 
line,  both  anteriorly  and  posteriorly;  it  is,  in  consequence,  narrower 

*   Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  p.  778-788.    Read  June  21,  1881. 

t  "  On  the  Conformation  of  the  Thoracic  Extremity  of  the  Trachea  in  the  Class 
Aves.  Part  I.  The  Galling,"  P.  Z.  S.  1879,  pp.  354-380. 

\  '  Trait<§  general  d'Anatomie  comparee,'  x.  p.  571  (1838). 

§  Cf.  Huxley's  'Anatomy  of  Vertebrates,'  p.  313;  Macalister,  'Morphology  of 
Vertebrates,'  p.  161. 

||  '  Catalogue  of  the  Physiological  Series  of  the  Museum  of  the  Royal  College  of 
Surgeons,'  ii.  p.  1C3,  prep.  1159  (1834). 

^[  Trans.  Zool.  Soc  ii.  p.  279. 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  EATITE  "  BIRDS. 
Fig.  1. 


233 


P.Z.S.  1881, 
p.  779. 


Bifurcating  trachea  of  Struthio  camelus,  from  before. 
b.  Section  of  wall  of  trachea,  from  behind,  to  show  the  vocal  cord  formed  by  the 

thickening  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  interior.     I.  II.,  first  two  bronchial 

semirings.     1,  2,  &c.,  last  trachea!  rings. 
Here,  and  elsewhere  in  these  figures,  o  indicates  the  last,  oo  the  penultimate,  ooo  the 

antepenultimate  tracheal  rings. 

Fig.  2. 


The  same,  from  behind.     About  natural  size. 

laterally  than  elsewhere.     The  antepenultimate  ring  presents  the  same  P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
features  more  strongly  developed.     In  two  of  the  four  specimens  exa-        p'       ' 
mined  it  sends  down  a  small  pessulif  orm  process  of  cartilage  in  the  middle 
line  behind,  filling  the  chink  left  between  the  posterior  extremities  of 
the  two  next  (incomplete)  rings.     The  penultimate  ring  is  narrower  and 


234  ON  THE  TKACHEA  IN  THE  "  RATITE  "  BIRDS. 

more  cylindrical  than  its  predecessors ;  it  is  also  wider  transversely, 
and  incomplete  behind  in  the  middle  line,  its  extremities,  however,  being 
closely  approximated  to  each  other.  The  last  tracheal  ring  is  still  wider 
transversely,  and  more  cylindrical ;  and  it  too  is  incomplete  posteriorly, 
to  a  greater  extent  than  its  predecessor ;  viewed  from  the  side  it  is 
convex  upwards,  as  are  its  few  immediate  predecessors  in  a  less  degree. 
The  interannular  intervals  between  all  these  rings  are,  when  undisturbed, 
mere  chinks  filled  up  by  dense  fibrous  and  elastic  tissues.  There  is  no 
trace  of  a  pessulus,  though  the  last  tracheal  ring  is  slightly  produced 
downwards  in  front.  The  first  bronchial  semiring,  on  each  side,  is 
narrow  and  cylindrical,  strongest  anteriorly,  and  somewhat  attenuated 
posteriorly.  It  is  separated  only  by  a  narrow  interval  from  the  last 
tracheal  ring.  The  second  and  third  rings  are  similar,  but  are  more 
slender  and  lengthy  ;  they  are  convex  downwards,  but  very  slightly  so  ; 
hence  the  interannular  intervals  are  small  here  also.  Their  anterior 
ends  are  very  slightly  inturned,  impinging  but  to  a  small  extent  on  the 
membrana  tympaniformis,  which  completes  the  bronchial  tubes  internally, 
and,  in  consequence  of  the  absence  of  any  three-way  piece,  passes  con- 
tinuously from  one  bronchus  to  the  other,  so  closing  the  tracheal  tube 
inferiorly.  The  fourth,  fifth,  and  succeeding  bronchial  rings  are  similar 
in  character ;  but  their  ends,  which  tend  to  be  dilated  posteriorly,  are 
successively  more  and  more  incurved  to  about  the  tenth.  Nowhere  are 
the  bronchial  rings  complete. 

There  is,  at  most,  only  a  trace  of  a  membrana  semilunaris,  in  the  form 
of  a  very  feeble,  scarcely  raised,  antero-posteriorly  directed  fold  of 
mucous  membrane. 

Internally,  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  interior  is  greatly  thickened, 
forming  a  vocal  cord,  in  the  region  of  the  last  three  tracheal  rings  and 
first  two  bronchial  semirings  (vide  fig.  1,  6). 

There  is  no  trace  of  any  intrinsic  voice-muscle  ;  and  the  lateral  tra- 
cheal muscles  stop  at  the  point  of  insertion  of  the  sterno-tracheales. 

The  genus  Apteryx,  in  the  simplicity  of  the  structure  of  its  lower  larynx, 
stands  on  the  same  level  as  Struthio.  In  Apteryx  mantelli  (figs.  3,  4) 
about  the  last  dozen  tracheal  rings  are  quite  simple  in  form,  with  narrow 
interannular  intervals,  and  no  anterior  and  posterior  notching.  The 
penultimate  ring  is  produced  slightly  downwards,  in  a  triangular  way, 
both  anteriorly  and  posteriorly.  The  last  ring  is  also  produced  down- 
RZ.  S.  1881,  wards  anteriorly,  but  is  incomplete  in  the  middle  line  behind;  it  is 
p.  781.  slightly  wider  and  stronger  than  the  preceding  rings.  The  first  two 
bronchial  semirings  on  each  side  closely  resemble  it  in  form  ;  the  first 
semirings  of  opposite  sides  are  almost  in  contact  at  both  extremities,  the 
next  pair  being  more  widely  separated  at  those  joints.  There  is  only  a 
narrow  space  between  the  last  tracheal  and  the  first  bronchial  ring.  The 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  RATITE  "  BIRDS.  235 

Fig.  3. 


Bifurcating  trachea  of  Apteryx  mantelli,  from  before. 
Fig.  4. 

\ 


The  same,  from  behind.    About  twice  the  natural  size. 

succeeding  bronchial  semirings  are  perfectly  simple,  rather  deep  and  stout 
pieces  of  cartilage,  separated  by  narrow  interannular  spaces,  and  com- 
pleted internally  by  a  broad  membrana  tympaniformis ;  nowhere  do  they 
become  complete  circles.  As  in  Struthio,  there  is  no  pessulus,  and  no 
intrinsic  muscle.  There  is  a  slight  antero-posteriorly  directed  vertical 
fold  of  mucous  membrane  between  the  two  bronchial  apertures  internally, 
and  also  a  feebly  developed  vocal  cord  on  the  external  wall  of  the  bronchi, 
where  they  diverge  from  the  trachea.  The  lateral  muscles  stop  some 
way  before  the  end  of  the  trachea,  at  the  place  where  the  sterno-tracheales 
are  inserted.  Apteryx  australis,  A.  haasti,  and  A.  oweni  have  all  been 
examined  by  me,  and  all  agree  closely  in  their  tracheal  structure  with 
A.  mantelli.  My  specimens  of  A.  australis  and  A.  oweni  (two)  agree 
together  in  having  the  last  three  tracheal  rings  incomplete  posteriorly ; 
whilst  in  A.  mantelli  and  A.  Jiaasti,  of  which  I  have  seen  only  single 
specimens,  the  last  ring  alone  is  complete. 

In  the  Casuariidse  we  meet  with  peculiarities  in  the  structure  of  the 


P.Z.S.  1881 

p.  782. 


236  ON  THE  TEACHEA  IN  THE  "  EATITE  "  BIRDS. 

bifurcating  trachea  not  existing  in  the  other  "  BatitaB."  In  Casuarius 
galeatus  (figs.  5,  6,  p.  237)  the  trachea  is  somewhat  dilated  for  the  ter- 
minal inch  or  so  of  its  extent,  transversely  and  also  posteriorly.  The  last 
tracheal  rings  (for  a  number  varying  in  different  specimens,  in  the 
specimen  in  question  12,  in  another  23)  are  incomplete  in  the  middle 
line  behind,  though  the  posterior  ends  are  closely  approximated 
together  *. 

These  rings  are  tolerably  uniform  in  breadth  posteriorly,  tapering  only 
somewhat  at  their  extremities;  the  interannular  intervals  are  mere 
chinks.  Anteriorly,  however,  the  rings  being  dilated  in  the  median 
line  and  attenuated  laterally,  the  intervals  are  better  developed.  The 
last  5  or  6  rings  are  more  and  more  curved  downwards  anteriorly,  whilst 
their  posterior  moieties  are  somewhat  dila.ted,  their  ends  gradually  rece- 
ding more  and  more  from  each  other  in  the  middle  line.  There  is  no 
trace  of  a  pessulus. 

The  first  bronchial  semirings  much  resemble  the  last  tracheal  rings, 
their  anterior  extremities  being  closely  approximated  together,  and  their 
posterior  ones  dilated,  and  somewhat  pointed,  terminally.  The  second, 
third,  and  fourth  bronchial  semirings  are  simple  cartilaginous  hoops, 
tolerably  deep,  separated  only  by  narrow  intervals,  and,  as  usual,  com- 
pleted internally  by  a  membrana  tympaniformis.  The  fifth,  sixth,  and 
seventh  are  similar  but  longer  semirings,  the  sixth  and  seventh  being 
dilated  anteriorly.  The  succeeding  rings  are  similar  but  quite  simple 
hoops,  never  forming  anywhere  complete  circles. 

There  is  no  trace  of  any  intrinsic  muscles.  The  sterno-tracheales  are 
inserted  on  the  trachea  at  about  the  twelfth  ring  from  the  last.  Ante- 
riorly they  expand  on  the  tracheal  wall,  and  are  in  contact  with  each 
other  over  the  middle  line,  as  is  also  the  case  in  Dromceus,  though  not  in 
the  other  three  genera.  A  small  part  of  each  muscle  runs  to  be  inserted 
into  the  posterior  wall  of  the  trachea  near  the  margin.  The  lateral 
muscle  of  the  trachea  passes  between  these  two  portions  of  the  sterno- 
trachealis  of  its  side,  but  does  not  pass  down  further  than  the  com- 
mencement of  the  tracheal  tympanum. 


*  Between  the  extremities  of  each  imperfect  tracheal  ring  runs  a  short  band  of 
connective  and  elastic  tissue,  with  the  fibres  running  transversely.  These  extend  the 
whole  length  of  the  trachea,  and  when  well  developed  have  the  appearance  of  a  longi- 
tudinal band  running  along  the  middle  line  of  the  tube  posteriorly.  By  the  contraction 
of  these  fibres,  the  ends  of  the  tracheal  rings,  where  these  are  incomplete,  or  their 
more  slender  middle  portions  where  perfect,  are  drawn  together,  and  pressed  into  the 
interior  of  the  tube,  so  forming  what  at  first  sight  looks  very  much  like  a  longitudinal, 
though  incomplete,  tracheal  septum,  such  as  is  found  in  some  Procellariidas  and  other 
birds.  In  consequence  of  this  structure,  a  transverse  section  of  the  tracheal  tympanum 
posteriorly  presents  two  strong  convexities  separated  by  a  median  concavity. 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  EATITE  "  BIRDS. 

Fig.  5. 


237 


P.Z.S.  1881, 
p.  783. 


Bifurcating  trachea  of  Casuarius  galeatus,  from  before. 
Fig.  6. 


The  same,  from  behind.     About  natural  size.     The  portion  of  the  stemo-tracheales 
muscles  at  their  insertion  is  represented  in  each  figure. 

As  compared  with  Struthio  and  Apteryx,  all  the  tracheal  and  bronchial   p.  z.  S.  1881, 
rings  are  much  less  firm  and  more  cartilaginous  in   Casuarius,  as  also       P-  784. 
in  Dromceus. 

The  membrana  tympaniformis  completing  the  trachea  below  is  a  simple 
membrane,  passing  continuously  from  one  bronchus  to  the  other,  with 
no  intervening  pessulus. 


238  ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "RATITE"  BIRDS. 

Internally,  a  very  slight  thickening  of  this  membrane  in  an  antero- 
posterior  direction,  at  the  bifurcation  of  the  tube,  may  be  seen ;  but 
there  is  nothing  that  can  be  properly  called  a  membrana  semilunaris 
present.  The  external  vocal  cord,  on  the  other  hand,  situated  over  the 
first  two  bronchial  semirings,  is  very  well-developed,  with  a  sharply- 
defined  margin. 

On  the  internal  wall  of  the  bronchus  there  is,  in  addition,  a  second, 
much  slighter  and  less  prominent  fold,  slightly  concave  forwards,  running 
somewhat  obliquely  backwards  and  downwards,  and  supported  by  the 
anterior  ends  of  the  third  and  sixth  bronchial  semirings. 

Besides  Casuarius  galeatus,  I  have  examined  trachea  of  CC.  beccarii, 
bennetti,  uni-dppendiculatus  (2  specimens),  and  westermani ;  and  in  none  of 
these  species  can  I  detect  any  difference  of  importance  from  the  arrange- 
ment I  have  described  above.  In  the  last-named  species  (an  adult  specimen) 
there  is  a  considerable  amount  of  ossification  in  the  last  tracheal  and 
first  bronchial  rings.  The  mucous  fold  on  the  internal  walls  of  the 
bronchi  varies  much  in  development  in  different  specimens.  In  adults 
there  is  a  great  accumulation  of  the  fibrous  and  elastic  tissues  of  the 
mucous  membrane  in  the  region  of  the  tracheal  tympanum . 

Of  Dromceus  novce-nollandice  I  have  only,  as  yet,  been  able  to  examine 
one  trachea,  and  that  too  from  a  young  specimen.  This  closely  resembles 
that  of  Casuarius ;  but  the  number  of  imperfect  tracheal  rings  seems  to 
be  considerably  smaller,  in  the  specimen  in  question  only  the  last  three 
being  incomplete  behind.  The  third  and  fourth  bronchial  semirings 
are  considerably  stronger  than  the  first  two  and  the  immediately 
preceding  tracheal  rings.  There  is  no  pessulus;  but  the  membrana 
semilunaris,  especially  posteriorly,  seems  to  be  better  developed. 

The  insertion  of  the  sterno-tracheales  is  as  in  Casuarius.  The  lateral 
tracheal  muscles  extend  down  to  within  about  1-5  inch  of  the  end  of  the 
trachea. 

In  the  genus  Rhea  (as  represented  by  R.  americana  and  R.  macro- 
rhyncha)  a  very  different  condition  of  things  occurs,  there  being  a  highly- 
specialized  and  peculiar  syrinx,  provided  with  a  pair  of  intrinsic 
muscles  *. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,       In  Rhea  americana  (figs.  7,  8)  the  average  diameter  of  the  trachea 
p.  785. 

*  I  had  observed  the  peculiar  syrinx  of  Rhea  some  months  before  I  met  with  M. 
Alix's  short  paper  on  this  bird  in  the  "  Bulletin  "  of  the  Society  Philomatique  for  1874 
(p.  38),  in  which  he  points  out,  for  the  first  time,  the  fact  that  Rhea  possesses  a  true 
syrinx.  His  account,  which  I  here  reproduce,  runs  as  follows: — "II  y  a  chez  le 
Nandou  un  larynx  inferieur.  Les  cordes  vocales  sont  placees  a  1'origine  des  bronches, 
dont  les  premiers  anneaux  sont  incomplets,  en  sort  que  la  paroi  interne  qui  leur  corre- 
spond a  1'aspect  d'une  membrane  tympaniforme.  Le  reste  des  bronches  est  forme 
par  des  anneaux  complete."  This  description  is,  as  will  be  seen,  very  incomplete,  and, 
in  the  last  statement,  incorrect. 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  RATITE  "  BIRDS.  239 

interiorly  is  about  1  inch,  and  it  is  somewhat  compressed  from  before 
backwards.    The  cartilaginous  tracheal  rings  are  complete  behind,  and 

Fig.  7. 


Bifurcating  trachea  of  Ehea  americana,  from  before. 
Fig.  8. 


The  same,  from  behind.  About  the  natural  size.  The  intrinsic  muscle  has  been 
removed  on  the  right  side.  In  fig.  8  the  fibrous  band  running  down  the  middle 
of  the  trachea  posteriorly,  as  described  above  in  Casuarius,  is  also  represented. 

closely  approximated  to  each  other.     The  last  four  tracheal  rings  are 

soldered  together  to  form  a  cartilaginous  box,  the  constituents  of  which 

are  marked  out  by  the  interannular  sutures,  which  are  only  interrupted  in 

the  middle  line  anteriorly  and  posteriorly.    The  exact  number  of  tracheal  P.  Z.  S.  1881, 

rings  which  are  fused  to  form  this  box  varies  in  different  specimens  from      p*  786> 


240  ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  EAT1TE  "  BIRDS. 

four  to  six ;  in  some  cases  it  is,  apparently,  formed  by  four  rings  on  one 
side  and  five  on  another.  The  lowest  tracheal  ring  is  strongly  concave 
downwards,  but  in  front  in  the  middle  line  is  transversely  truncated. 
Posteriorly  the  tympanic  box  is  deeply  and  widely  notched.  There  is  a 
distinct,  narrow,  cartilaginous  pessulus,  which  runs  from  behind  forwards, 
connecting  the  anterior  and  posterior  walls  of  this  box,  and  interrupting, 
in  the  mid  line,  the  continuity  of  the  membrana  tympaniformis,  which 
completes  the  bronchial  walls  internally. 

The  first  bronchial  semiring  is  nearly  straight,  and  of  cylindrical 
form.  It  is  closely  connected  at  its  extremities  with  the  last  tracheal 
ring;  but  between  these  points  is  a  pretty  wide,  lunate,  interannular 
interval.  The  anterior  ends  of  these  first  semirings  are  inturned  con- 
siderably, but  do  not  meet  each  other,  or  the  pessulus ;  posteriorly  they 
do  not  extend  inwards,  by  some  way,  as  far  as  the  preceding  or  succeeding 
rings.  The  second  bronchial  semiring  is  similar  in  form,  but  dilated 
slightly  behind ;  it  is  closely  approximated  to  the  preceding  ring  in  the 
greater  part  of  its  extent,  but  is  anteriorly  strongly  curved  downwards 
(in  a  somewhat  sinuous  way),  so  that  here  a  considerable  space  is  left 
between  the  two  semirings  in  question.  The  third  and  fourth  rings  are 
considerably  dilated,  and  produced  inwards,  posteriorly ;  anteriorly,  in 
the  particular  specimen  figured,  they  are  fused  into  a  comparatively 
narrow  ring.  The  fifth,  sixth,  and  succeeding  semirings  are  quite  simple 
incomplete  hoops  of  cartilage,  which  become  smaller  and  less  complete 
internally  as  they  approach  the  lungs. 

Between  the  pessulus  in  the  middle  line  and  the  tracheal  box  and  first 
four  bronchial  semirings,  is  spread  a  membrane,  completing  the  tracheal 
and  bronchial  walls  at  the  bifurcation  of  the  tube.  This  membrana 
tympaniformis  is  thinnest  posteriorly ;  but  in  the  middle  part  of  its 
extent,  over  a  triangular  area — the  base  of  the  triangle  resting  on  the 
pessulus,  whilst  the  apex  is  at  the  posterior  end  of  the  fourth  bronchial 
semiring— it  is  thickened  and  of  a  fibro-cartilaginous  consistency. 

From  the  sides  of  about  the  last  ten  tracheal  rings  a  single  thin  but 
broad  band  of  muscle  arises,  the  fibres  of  which,  running  downwards  and 
forwards,  are  inserted  into  the  anterior  halves  of  the  first  five  bronchial 
semirings  and  the  membranes  between  them,  extending,  in  some  speci- 
mens, almost  to  the  anterior  tips  of  the  first  two  semirings.  This  muscle 
is  therefore  in  all  respects  a  true  intrinsic  syringeal  one.  The  lateral 
tracheal  muscle  stops  anteriorly  to  the  origin  of  the  intrinsic  one. 

Internally,  there  is  a  well-marked,  sharp-bordered  membrana  semilu- 
naris,  resting  on  the  pessulus,  developed  between  the  bronchi.  In  the 
space  corresponding  to  the  interval  between  the  last  tracheal  and  first 
bronchial  rings,  an  accumulation  of  the  fibrous  and  elastic  tissues  of  the 
lining  membrane  of  the  bronchus  gives  rise  to  a  well -developed  vocal 
cord. 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  IN  THE  "  RATITE  "  BIRDS.  241 

Rliea  macrorliynclia  closely  resembles,  in  all  respects,  R.  americana  in 
the  structure  of  its  syrinx.     In  the  single  specimen  I  have  by  me,  the    P'Z>,?-  J881» 
tympanic  box  is  anteriorly  marked  by  four  sutures  on  one  side,  and  by 
three  only  on  the  other,  as  sometimes  happens  in  R.  americana  (as,  e.  </., 
in  the  specimen  described  and  figured  above). 

Reviewing  the  facts  herein  detailed,  the  most  striking  fact  that  comes 
out  is  the  great  difference  exhibited  by  Shea  when  compared  with  the 
four  other  genera  described.  In  the  possession  of  a  tracheal  box  formed 
by  the  fusion  of  the  few  last  tracheal  rings,  in  the  greater  amount  of 
specialization  of  the  first  two  bronchial  semirings  of  each  side,  in  the 
presence  of  distinct  interannular  membrane-covered  fenestrae,  in  the 
development  of  a  well-marked  cartilaginous  pessulus,  and  in  the  possession 
of  a  pair  of  true  intrinsic  syringeal  muscles  running  from  the  trachea  to 
the  bronchial  semirings  Rhea  stands  out  by  itself  as  sharply  opposed  to 
all  the  remaining  "  Ratite  "  birds.  Of  the  latter,  Struihio  and  Apteryx, 
as  far  as  regards  tracheal  structure,  form  one  group,  the  Casuariid® 
another,  the  difference  between  the  two  being,  however,  comparatively 
slight  as  compared  with  those  between  them  generally  and  Rhea. 

Struthio  and  Apteryx,  in  the  tendency  of  the  trachea  to  narrow  before 
its  bifurcation,  in  the  greater  amount  of  solidity  of  the  cartilaginous 
structures,  in  the  more  sharply-defined  junction  between  the  two  con- 
stituent parts  of  the  bifurcating  trachea,  owing  to  the  better  development 
of  the  few  last  tracheal  rings,  differ  from  the  Casuariidae,  where  the 
terminal  part  of  the  trachea  tends  to  develop  into  an  expanded  tympanum, 
the  cartilaginous  structures  are  softer  and  more  pliant,  the  terminal 
tracheal  rings  are  narrower,  and  tend,  especially  in  Casuarius,  to  become 
imperfect  posteriorly,  and  the  junction  of  trachea  and  bronchi  is  less 
marked.  In  the  Casuariidae,  too,  the  insertion  of  the  sterno-tracheales  is 
different  from  that  of  the  other  genera. 

As  regards  the  alleged  absence  of  a  lower  larynx  (or  "  syrinx ")  in 
these  "  Ratite  "  birds,  it  is  obviously  untrue  as  regards  the  genus  Rhea. 
In  the  other  genera,  an  answer  is  less  easy,  and  its  nature  must  depend 
upon  what  is  meant  by  the  term  "  lower  larynx." 

The  presence  of  intrinsic  voice-muscles  cannot  be  regarded  as  essential 
in  the  definition  of  that  term,  any  more  than  the  development  of  apes- 
sulus ;  indeed  either  or  both  (e.  g.  Conopophaga)  may  be  absent  in  birds 
with  well- developed  vocal  organs.  If  the  presence  of  semirings  externally, 
and  of  a  membrana  tympaniformis  internally,  forming  the  walls  of  the 
bronchi,  and  of  vocal  cords  developed  in  the  interior  of  those  tubes,  be 
held  to  be  sufficient  to  characterize  a  "  syrinx,"  then  it  will  be  incorrect 
to  say  that  the  Eatite  birds  have  no  voice-organs  *.  As  I  have  here  shown, 

*  It  is  sometimes,  though  most  erroneously,  supposed  that  because  a  bird  has  no 
intrinsic  voice-muscles,  it  is,  therefore,  mute.  Were  such  the  case,  all  (he  Gallinje, 

B 


242  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

P.  Z.  S.  1881,  all  these  three  structures  are  present,  variously  developed,  in  the  genera 
p.  Too.  .Q  quesfjjollj  together  with  at  least  a  rudiment  of  a  membrana  semilunaris. 
If  a  bird  existed  with  its  tracheal  rings  in  no  way  modified  at  the  bifur- 
cation, with  the  bronchi,  in  their  course  thence  forward  to  the  lungs, 
completely  encircled  by  tracheiform  rings  of  simple  form,  and  with  no 
vocal  cords  or  semilunar  membrane,  it  might  be  said  with  truth  that  in 
such  a  form  "  there  is  no  lower  larynx."  But,  so  far  as  I  know,  no 
existing  bird  possesses  so  simple  an  arrangement,  though  some  of  the 
Cathartida)  approach  such  a  type  very  nearly. 


Ibis,  1H81,    42.  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.* 
p.  312. 

HAVING  been  able  during  the  past  summer  to  gratify  a  wish  that  every 
Ibis,  1881,  naturalist  must  feel  more  or  less  strongly — to  visit  personally  some  part 
of  the  tropics — by  making  a  short  excursion  to  the  provinces  of  Pernam- 
buco  and  Parahyba  do  Norte  in  Brazil,  some  account  of  my  ornithological 
doings  there  may  be  acceptable  to  my  brother  members  of  the  B.  0.  LT. 

Although  Pernambuco  is  situated  nearer  to  Europe  than  any  other 
important  city  in  South  America,  and  is,  indeed,  the  first  port  usually 
touched  at  in  that  continent  by  the  various  lines  of  mail-steamers  to  the 
Brazilian  Empire  and  River  Plate,  very  little  appears  to  be  known  as 
regards  any  branches  of  its  natural  history.  Mr.  Darwin  was  there  for 
a  few  days  on  his  homeward  voyage  in  the  '  Beagle,'  and  has  given  us,  in 
his  *  Journal 'f,  some  account  of  it,  but  he  says  nothing  about  its  zoology. 
Swainson,  in  1817,  visited  this  part  of  Brazil  J  and  collected  some  bird- 
skins,  some  of  which  are  now,  I  believe,  in  the  Cambridge  Museum. 
Collections  of  bird-skins  made  in  this  locality  have  also  from  time  to  time 
come  into  the  hands  of  Parzudaki  and  other  dealers,  but  nothing,  I 
believe,  has  been  recorded  of  the  avifauna  of  the  district.  Pernambuco 
being  thus,  as  was  pointed  out  to  me  by  Mr.  Sclater,  comparatively  little 
known  and  easily  accessible  from  this  country,  I  determined  on  making  a 
short  trip  there.  I  left  England  accordingly  on  June  24th,  in  the  Royal 
Mail  Steamer  *  Guadiana,'  and  arrived  at  Lisbon  five  days  afterwards. 
Here  I  landed  for  a  few  hours,  and  of  course  called  on  the  well-known 
Portuguese  naturalist,  Professor  Barboza  du  Bocage.  Unfortunately, 

Ducks,  Chauna,  and  many  other  noisy  birds  should  be  voiceless.  As  regards  the 
Ratitaj,  the  statement  made  by  Meckel  that  they  are  mute  or  nearly  so  (1.  c.  p.  571),  is, 
I  believe,  equally  groundless.  I  am  assured  by  Mr.  Bartlett  that  all,  except  perhaps 
the  Apteryx,  have  the  power  of  making  considerable  noises.  As  regards  the  Ostrich, 
indeed,  Livingstone  states  that  it  is  frequently  difficult  to  distinguish  its  bellowing 
from  the  roaring  of  the  Lion. 

*  Ibis,  1881,  pp.  312-362.  t  Nat.  Voy.  (1870)  pp.  497-499. 

|  Lardner's  Cab.  Cycl.  "  Tax.  and  Biogr.  of  Nat."  p.  344. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  243 

however,  it  was  a  Saint's  day,  or  some  similar  "festa"  and  he  was  absent 

in  the  country  and  the  Museum  closed.     The  only  birds  of  interest  I 

saw  at  Lisbon  were  three  nice  living  Blue  Magpies  (Cyanopica  coold)  in 

one  of  the  numerous  bird-shops  near  the  river.     Stormy  Petrels  (Procd- 

laria  pelayica  ?)  had  appeared  on  June  26th  in  the  Bay  of  Biscay,  and 

followed  the  ship  for  a  day  or  two  to  Carril,  and  now,  after  leaving 

Lisbon,  they  were  again  seen  once  or  twice.     St.  Vincent  was  reached 

on  July  5th ;  but  unfortunately  the  ship  was  put  into  quarantine,  having 

taken  on  board  a  passenger  from  the  Lazaretto  at  Lisbon  ;  consequently  Ibis,  1881, 

there  was  no  getting  on   shore.     Thus   I   had  to   console  myself  by      **' 

watching  from  the   ship   the  numerous  Egyptian  Vultures   (Neophron, 

percnopterus)  flying  about  the  town,  and  was  also  gratified  by  seeing,  for 

the  first  time,  one  or  two  Frigate-birds  (Fregata  aqulla)  soaring  high  in 

the  air.     As  I  again  saw  several  of  these  birds  (all  in  immature  plumage) 

on  my  voyage  home  in  October  at  the  same  place,  I  have  little  doubt 

that  Freyata  breeds  somewhere  in  the  Cape-Verd  group,  very  likely  on 

the  "  Bird  Eock  "  that  lies  at  the  mouth  of  the  harbour  of  St.  Vincent. 

After  leaving  these  islands  no  birds  appeared  for  some  days,  save  a 

solitary  black-and-white  Petrel  (?  Freyettft  gralkiria)  seen  in  the  distance ; 

its  flight,  I  noticed,  was  very  different  from  that  of   the  Procellarial 

Passing  Fernando  Xoronha  on  the  evening  of  July  10,  a  Koddy  (Anous 

sp.  *)  flew  on  board  and  was  caught  by  a  sailor. 

Numerous  flying-fish  and  Physalice,  the  usual  accompaniments  of  an 
intertropical  voyage,  helped  to  break  the  monotony  of  the  sea,  till  Per- 
nambuco  was  reached  on  July  12. 

Pernambuco  or,  as  I  shall  henceforth  call  it,  Recife  (the  latter  word 
meaning  a  reef,  from  the  celebrated  sandstone  reef,  described  by  Darwin 
and  others,  which  forms  its  harbour)  lies  low,  being  built  t>n  a  sort  of 
delta  of  two  small  rivers,  the  Capibaribe  and  the  Beberibe,  which  here 
flow  into  the  sea.  A  little  to  the  north  of  Recife  is  the  old  town  of 
Olinda,  situated  on  a  hill  of  perhaps  200  feet  or  so  above  the  sea,  and 
commanding  an  extensive  view  of  the  flat  and  marshy  country  to  the 
south  which  immediately  surrounds  Recife.  Looking  inland  from  this, 
the  ground  is  seen  to  rise  gradually,  and  then  becomes  more  or  less 
forest^covered,  these  low  hills  running  to  the  south  and  west,  and 
continuing  into  the  hilly  country  which  runs  thence,  more  or  less  parallel 
with  the  coast,  both  north  and  southwards. 

Recife  itself,  now  probably  the  second  city  of  the  Brazilian  Empire, 
with  a  population  of  about  90,000  souls,  consists  of  three  towns,  con- 
nected with  each  other  by  excellent  iron  bridges.     That  with  the  port  is 
Recife  proper ;  the  other  two  are  called  San  Antonio  and  Boa  Vista.   Ibb,  1881, 
p.'  310. ' 

*  I  will  not  venture  to  ascribe  any  specific  name  to  this  bird,  seeing  the  difficulty 
that  attaches  to  its  correct  determination. 


244  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTEKN  BRAZIL. 

Northwards  there  lies  between  Eecife  and  Olinda  a  low,  mangrove- 
covered,  swampy  tract,  separated  from  the  sea  by  a  beach  of  sand  and 
shingle,  whilst  to  the  south  lies  Cocoa-nut.  Island  and  more  swampy 
country.  Towards  the  west  lies  the  suburb  called  Boa  Vista  ;  and  here, 
and  extending  more  or  less  to  Caxanga  (an  outlying  village  celebrated 
for  its  pine-apples,  with  which  Eecife  is  connected  by  a  street-railway), 
are  situated  the  villas  and  houses  of  the  more  wealthy  inhabitants. 
These  are  generally  surrounded  by  gardens,  often  well  kept  and  stocked 
with  all  kinds  of  tropical  plants,  native  or  otherwise.  Here,  in  a  quarter 
called  Estancia,  I  found  excellent  accommodation  at  a  boarding-house  kept 
by  two  American  ladies,  and  tenanted  chiefly  by  Englishmen  engaged  in 
business  in  Eecife.  As  the  house  stood  in  a  large  garden  of  its  own, 
with  numerous  fruit-trees,  and  abutted  on  a  considerable  tract  of  marshy 
and  little-cultivated  ground,  I  determined  on  ma'king  this  my  head 
quarters,  and  after  safely  passing  my  baggage  through  the  Custom  House, 
set  to  work  on  the  birds  and  insects. 

There  are  some  considerable  patches  of  wood  on  the  outskirts  of  the 
town  in  this  direction,  and  numerous  more  or  less  deserted  gardens, 
orangeries,  and  pieces  of  marshy  ground,  in  which  birds  were  fairly 
abundant,  though  in  the  town  itself — excepting  Urubiis  (Cathartes  atratus), 
a  stray  Humming-bird  or  two,  Swallows  (Hirundo  leucorrhoa),  and 
"  Lavenderas  "  (Fluvicola  dimacura),  which  last  are  to  be  seen  everywhere 
and  are  very  tame,  like  Eobins — not  a  bird  is  to  be  seen.  No  regular 
forest  is  met  with  till  near  Caxanga,  about  8-10  miles  from  Eecife,  where 
the  country  becomes  hilly  and  covered  with  thick  wood,  which,  in  places, 
is,  I  believe,  undoubted  virgin  forest,  though  most  of  this  has  been  cleared 
and  replaced  by  second-growth  (capoeira)  of  varying  size  and  thickness. 
Unfortunately  the  weather  was  not  all  favourable  to  collecting  during 
my  stay  in  Eecife,  the  rainy  season,  which  usually,  I  was  told,  ceases 
about  the  end  of  July,  lasting  on  more  or  less  for  another  month  *.  As 
Ibis,  1881,  the  soil  here  is,  as  nearly  universally  elsewhere  in  Brazil,  a  thick  red 
p.  316.  clay,  the  roads  and  by-paths  remained  almost  impassable,  rain  falling 
heavily  nearly  every  day  for  some  hours. 

In  the  "  Gymnasium "  of  San  Antonio  is  a  small  museum,  with  a 
decent,  though  badly  named,  series  of  birds  and  Mammalia.  Most  of  the 

*  The  dry  and  hot  weather  (which  also  is  the  season  for  yellow  fever  on  the  coast) 
in  Pernambuco  commences  about  September  and  continues  till  March.  November, 
January,  and  February  are  usually  about  the  hottest  months.  May,  June,  and  July 
are  all  very  wet  months,  on  the  coast  at  least.  The  heat,  even  during  the  hot  season, 
is  never  very  great ;  during  my  stay,  the  ordinary  temperature  was  about  7S°-80°  F. 
in  the  shade,  and  about  8°-10°  cooler  at  night.  The  thermometer  rarely  falls  below 
65°  even  on  the  coldest  nights,  and  at  that  temperature  one  begins  to  shiver  in  the 
tropics  and  want  blankets  !  Further  information  on  the  climate  of  Pernambuco  will 
be  found  in  a  paper  by  M.  Beringer  in  the  '  Annuaire '  of  the  French  Meteorological 
Society,  vol.  xxvi.  p.  28  (1878). 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  245 

birds,  however,  are  either  from  Para  or  Bio,  comparatively  few  from 
Pernambuco  itself.  I  noticed  two  specimens  of  Rhea  macro rhyncha  (of 
which  more  below)  and  an  Ara  spixi,  said  to  be  from  Angola  !  Amongst 
the  Mammalia  I  saw  some  good  specimens  of  the  big  Armadillo  (Prio- 
dontes),  which  were  said  to  be  from  the  Sertoes  of  the  interior. 

After  being  in  Recife  for  about  ten  days,  an  opportunity  occurred  of 
making  a  flying  visit  to  Goyanna,  a  town  situated  near  the  coast  about 
fifty  miles  north  of  Recife,  and  a  great  emporium  of  the  sugar-trade. 
As  there  is  a  decent  road  the  whole  way,  which  passes  by  Olinda  and 
Iguarassu,  and  the  weather  was  not  at  all  settled,  we  decided  to 
and  drive.  I  was  thus  enabled  to  see  something  of  the  general  features 
of  the  country,  though  there  was  little  chance  of  shooting  birds.  Between 
the  two  towns  the  country  rises  somewhat,  the  more  elevated  parts  being 
pretty  generally  covered  with  forest,  often  thick,  whilst  the  lower  slopes 
of  the  hills,  and  the  moister  bottoms  between  them,  are  nearly  uniformly 
cleared  or  planted  with  sugar,  some  of  the  fields  being  of  enormous 
extent.  Birds  were  plentiful,  especially  in  the  more  wooded  parts  ;  and 
I  now  saw  Jacamars  and  Parrots  alive  and  wild  for  the  first  time,  as  well 
as  "  Sangre  de  Boi"  (Ramphoccelus  bmsilius)  and  many  other  birds  not  Ibis,  1881, 
to  be  found  in  the  immediate  vicinity  of  Recife. 

After  about  three  weeks'  stay  at  Estancia,  I  paid  a  week's  visit  to  Cabo, 
a  station  about  twenty  miles  from  Recife  on  the  Recife  and  Sao  Francisco 
Railway,  and  the  head  quarters  of  the  staff  of  that  Company.  Mr.  Wells 
Hood,  the  general  manager  of  the  line,  with  whom  I  had  gone  out  from 
England,  possesses  a  capital  residence  here,  and  was  kind  enough  to 
entertain  me  during  my  visit  to  Cabo.  Here  the  country,  which  is 
generally  flat  so  far,  begins  to  rise  in  low,  rounded  hills,  of  no  great 
elevation,  which  are  covered,  on  their  tops  and  steeper  slopes,  with  the 
remains  of  the  virgin  forest.  Unfortunately  the  weather  during  my  stay 
at  Cabo  was  exceedingly  bad.  It  rained  continuously  for  about  three 
days,  which  resulted  in  a  general  flood  of  all  the  low-lying  ground  in  the 
vicinity.  Hence  my  collection  of  birds  did  not  increase  much,  though  I 
believe  from  what  I  saw  that  Cabo  would  in  more  favourable  weather 
be  a  good  locality.  On  August  12  I  returned  to  Estancia,  making 
excursions  thence  to  Caxanga  and  other  places  in  the  vicinity.  Having 
pretty  well  exhausted  the  neighbourhood  of  Recife  by  this  time,  on 
August  181  started  for  a  trip  to  Parahyba  do  Norte,  the  capital  of  the 
next  province  to  the  north  of  Pernambuco,  in  company  with  my  friend 
Mr.  C.  A.  Craven,  of  the  Recife  Gas  Company,  whose  acquaintance  I 
had  made  in  Recife,  and  whom  I  found  much  interested  in  the  natural 
history  of  the  country.  Parahyba  is  about  ten  hours'  run  up  the  coast, 
and  I  found  the  steamers  belonging  to  the  Brazilian  Steam  Navigation 
Company  by  no  means  worthy  of  the  evil  reports  I  had  heard  of  them. 
They  are  fine,  well-built  boats,  receiving  a  heavy  government  subsidy 
for  each  trip  made.  By  their  means  communication  is  kept  up  between 


246  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

the  imperial  capital  and  the  capitals  of  the  more  northern  provinces  of 
the  empire  up  to  Para.  Parahyba  is  situated  in  reality  only  about  four 
to  five  miles  from  the  sea-coast,  on  a  river  which  is  navigable  for  these 
steamers  nearly  up  to.  the  town.  The  river,  however,  turns  off  consider- 
ably to  the  north  at  about  the  point  where  the  town  is  situated,  so  that 
Ibis,  1881 ,  it  is  a  trip  of  some  ten  to  fifteen  miles  up  the  river  from  the  bar  at  its 
p*  "  mouth  to  where  the  steamer  stops.  The  country  is  low,  and  the  river  is 
fringed  on  each  side  with  mangrove- swamps,  behind  which  the  forest- 
covered  country,  which  rises  towards  the  interior,  appears.  On  the 
mud-banks  exposed  at  low  tide  many  white  Egrets  (Ardea  candidissimct) 
might  be  seen,  as  well  as  tens  of  thousands  of  a  large  and  brightly 
coloured  land-crab,  with  vermilion  white-tipped  claws,  which  gave  quite  a 
bright  appearance  to  the  scene.  A  railway,  the  Conde  d'Eu,  has  just 
been  commenced  at  Parahyba,  to  run  inwards  for  about  fifty  miles,  with 
the  object  of  developing  the  sugar  business.  The  inaugural  fetes  which 
celebrated  the  turning  of  the  first  sod  had  just  terminated  when  we 
arrived,  and  the  English  engineers  charged  with  the  construction  of  the 
line  were  now  the  most  important  and  popular  personages  in  the  town. 
Their  then  chief,  Mr.  A.  M.  Rymer  Jones,  a  son  of  the  well-known 
naturalist  lately  deceased,  was  kind  enough  to  entertain  me  at  the  house 
they  occupied,  and  he  and  his  companions  made  us  very  much  at  home 
during  our  stay  there. 

The  country  round  Parahyba  is  flat,  but  rather  thickly  covered  with 

forest,  which  extends  from  near  the  town  to  near  the  sea.     I  succeeded 

in  securing  the  services  of  a  Brazilian  "  Cagador  "to  shoot  and  show  the 

way  about.     Though  the  number  of  birds  I  got  did  not  at  all  equal  the 

anticipations  I  had  formed  from,  his  glowing  accounts  of  the  abundance 

of  all  kinds  of  beasts  and  birds  around  Parahyba,  I  nevertheless  got  a 

considerable    number   of   new   ones,   and   had   several   very   enjoyable 

excursions  with  him  and  some  of  my  English  friends.     Besides  the  thick 

forests,  nearer  the  town  there  is  a  good  deal  of  scrub  and  bush-covered 

country,  where  small  birds  were  rather  plentiful.     In  the  forests,  indeed, 

these  were  far  less  abundant  than  in  the  more  open  parts ;  and  several 

times  I  walked  for  miles  along  tracts  in  the  high  and  thick  forests  scarcely 

seeing  or  hearing  a  bird  of  any  kind.     "  Antonio/'  however,  assured  us 

that  at  the  proper  season  of  the  year,  i.  e.  when  the  fruits  were  ripe, 

these  forests  abounded  with  "  Tocanos,"  "Trocas"  (Columba  speriosa), 

"  Grallegas  "  (Columba  rufina),  and  many  other  birds  of  which  I  saw 

Ibis,  1881,  nothing.     Antonio  himself  was  armed,  like  most   Brazilians,  with  an 

P'  319'       ancient  muzzle-loader  of  Trench  make ;  it  was  quite  uncertain  whether 

or  not  this  weapon  would  go  off  when  needed.     Usually  it  missed  fire 

three  or  four  times  in  succession,  by  which  time  the  bird  aimed  at  had 

generally  been  prudent  enough  to  retire  out  of  range.    Hence  he  did 

not  increase  my  bag  very  much,  though  his  astonishment  at  the  shooting- 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  247 

powers  of  my  own  gun,  a  double-barrelled  central-fire  of  16  bore,  was 
immense,  a  successful  shot  being  invariably  greeted  with  much  gesticu- 
lation of  delight  and  loud  remarks  of  "  Espingarda  6oa,  espingarda 
ingleza"  &c. 

After  a  very  pleasant  week  at  Parahyba  I  returned  to  Eecife  by  the 
steamer  on  the  24th.  The  *  Espirito  Santo,'  which  had  come  from  Para, 
had  on  board  as  miscellaneous  an  assortment  of  passengers  as  I  have  ever 
travelled  with,  and  it  would  be  difficult  to  say  whether  there  were  more 
parrots  or  slaves  on  board ;  of  the  latter  we  had  at  least  200,  on  their 
way  south  to  Kio  to  be  sold  for  the  coffee-plantations.  Besides  the 
parrots,  chiefly  Chrysotis  cestiva,  there  were  a  lot  of  other  birds  and 
beasts,  including  a  nice  and  tame  Layothrix  and  some  electric  eels.  Of 
the  birds  the  most  noticeable  was  an  Icterus  chrysocephalus,  said  to  have 
come  from  the  Rio  Negro.  This  I  bought,  and  kept  alive  in  Recife,  but 
unfortunately  it  died  on  its  way  home  just  as  we  got  to  Lisbon.  I  never 
saw  the  species  alive  in  Europe  nor  elsewhere  in  Brazil. 

When  I  left  England  I  hoped  to  be  able  to  go  overland  from  Eecife  to 
the  great  waterfall  Paulo  Affonso,  the  "Niagara  of  Brazil,"  on  the" 
S. -Francisco  river.  However,  the  state  of  the  roads  up  to  the  present 
time,  as  well  as  the  difficulty  of  getting  an  interpreter  (my  own  know- 
ledge of  Portuguese  being  very  rudimentary),  had  prevented  my  making 
a  start  as  soon  as  I  had  hoped.  At  length  I  succeeded  in  getting  hold  of  a 
man  who  would  do,  and  a  day  or  two  after  my  return  from  Parahyba,  started 
with  him  from  Eecife.  I  had  also  endeavoured  to  get  some  one  to  skin 
and  shoot,  but  in  this  was  unsuccessful,  the  only  man  I  could  hear  of 
wanting  terms  for  his  services  which  were  quite  unreasonable.  The 
Eecife  and  S.-Francisco  railway  runs  for  about  70  miles  in  a  S.S.W.  Ibis,  1881, 
direction  towards  the  river  from  which  it  derives  its  name.  From  its  p' 
terminus  at  Una  (or  Palmares)  another  line  of  about  the  same  length  is 
now  in  progress,  continuing  it  on  to  Garanhuns,  which  is  situated  about 
halfway  in  a  straight  line  between  Eecife  and  the  Paulo  Affonso.  It  was 
originally  intended  to  have  continued  the  line  to  the  river  above  the  falls 
near  Boa  Vista,  and  so  to  have  brought  down  all  the  traffic  of  the  upper 
part  of  the  S.-Francisco  river  to  the  port  of  Eecife.  This,  however,  has 
proved  too  expensive  for  the  government,  and  the  "  Prolongamento,"  as 
it  is  called,  is  now  destined  to  stop  at  Garanhuns.  There  is  therefore  but 
little  chance  at  present  of  the  Eecife  and  S.-Francisco  railway  ceasing 
to  be  a  misnomer.  A  line,  however,  has  been  made  and  opened  from 
the  river  above  the  falls  near  Tacaratu  to  Piranhas,  situated  below  them, 
so  that  the  traffic  that  was  to  have  come  to  Eecife  now  goes  down  to 
Penedo  and  Maceio  at  the  mouth  of  the  river. 

The  line  of  railway  after  leaving  Cabo  passes  through  a  country  similar 
to  that  which  I  have  described  as  commencing  there.  The  cultivation  of 
sugar  is  general,  and  it  is  only  on  the  tops  of  the  hills,  which  are  more 


248  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

or  less  rounded,  hummocky,  and  low,  the  highest  being  perhaps  700-800 
feet  in  height,  that  any  extent  of  the  virgin  forest  is  left.  In  some 
places  along  the  line  patches  of  quite  open  country  may  be  seen,  which 
are  covered  with  grass,  without  trees  or  under-growth,  and  in  general 
character  a  good  deal  resemble  our  south  downs.  I  at  first  thought  they 
were  natural,  but  afterwards  found  out  that  they  were  inclosed  spaces, 
used  for  horses  and  cattle.  The  grazing  has  evidently  prevented  them 
from  becoming  covered  with  a  thick  growth  of  capoeira,  which  always 
covers  the  hills  where  these  have  been  cleared  for  sugar  and  afterwards 
allowed  to  lie  fallow  for  a  time.  The  destruction  of  the  forests  is  still 
going  on,  as  new  ground  is  continually  cleared  by  burning  and  cutting 
away  the  undergrowth  for  more  sugar,  so  that  in  a  few  years  there  will, 
if  this  goes  on,  be  Jittle  trace  of  the  old  forests  left. 

Ibis,  1881,  At  Palmares  the  railway  ceases,  and  henceforward  all  travelling  and 
p.  621.  traffic  has  to  be  done  on  horseback,  there  being  no  roads  in  the  interior 
worthy  of  the  name.  The  earthworks  of  the  "  Prolongamento  "  are  now 
nearly  complete,  only  a  few  of  the  deeper  cuttings  and  a  tunnel  or  two 
being  unfinished.  The  line  of  railway  now  forms  the  chief  road  to  the 
interior ;  but  at  this  time,  after  the  end  of  the  rainy  season,  the  stiff  red 
clay  had  become  worked  up,  in  most  places,  into  the  most  frightful  mud 
conceivable,  so  that  the  horses  were  often  up  to  their  knees  in  it,  and 
the  rate  of  progression  in  consequence  was  a  walk.  At  Palmares  I  was 
fortunate  enough  to  fall  in  with  the  engineer-in- chief  of  the  first  section, 
Dr.  Abel,  a  most  pleasant  and  well-educated  Brazilian  gentleman.  He 
too  was  going  up  country  with  the  paymaster,  so  that  I  had  the  advantage 
of  his  company  and  escort  (two  Brazilian  troopers)  for  the  first  part  of 
my  ride.  As  far  as  Barra  do  Jangada  (a  small  village  situated  on  the 
river  Pirangi,  which  falls  into  the  Una  near  Palmares),  about  thirty  miles 
from  Palmares,  the  country  retains  much  the  same  features,  though  it 
gradually  rises  towards  the  interior.  The  hills  perhaps  are  higher,  and  in 
some  places,  as  around  Catende,  still  pretty  thickly  covered  with 
"  matto  "  (the  Brazilian  term  for  the  virgin  forest),  there  being  less  sugar- 
cultivation  here  than  nearer  the  coast.  Towards  Barra  do  Jangada 
cotton  appears  for  the  first  time,  a  sure  sign  of  the  increasing 
elevation  of  the  country.  Biding  along  in  this  way  I  had  no  opportunity 
of  shooting,  but  from  the  saddle  I  saw  many  birds  already  seen  or 
secured.  The  "  Sangre  de  Boi,"  however,  disappeared  soon  after  leaving 
Catende,  and  I  saw  no  more  of  it  as  we  approached  the  Sertoes.  Another 
day's  ride  brought  us  to  Quipapa,  the  most  important  town  between  Una 
and  Graranhuns. 

After  leaving  Barra  the  country  gets  decidedly  more  hilly  and  open, 
and  the  forest  begins  to  disappear,  though  many  blackened  and  dead 
trunks  of  old  forest  trees  standing  on  the  higher  hills  show  that  this  is 
due  in  large  part  to  man's  action.  The  soil  is  still  clayey,  restiog  on 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  249 

solid  rock,  apparently  granite  or  gneiss,  which  in  some  places  on  the 

shoulders  of  the  hills  is  left  quite  bare  in  great  rounded  patches.     These 

at  first  suggest  glacial  action  ;  but  I  am  inclined  to  think  that  in  reality   Ibis,  1881, 

they  are  merely  the  beds  of  old  streams  which  formerly  flowed  down  over 

them  before  the  disappearance  of  the  forests  on  the  hills  around  had 

reduced  the  rainfall,  and  so  caused  their  drying-up.     I  had  no  chance  of 

shooting  before  getting  to  Quipapa,  though  between  that  town  and  Barra 

I  fell  in  with  a  fine  specimen  of  the  much-dreaded  Jararaca  (Trigonocephalus 

brasilieusis  ?),  a  rather  rash  attack  on  which  resulted  in  nothing  further 

on  my  part  than  a  narrow  escape  from  being  bitten. 

Quipapa  is  distant  12  leagues  from  Palmares,  on  the  Pirangi,  and  is  at 
an  elevation  of  about  1450  feet  above  the  sea.  The  mean  annual  tempe- 
rature is  about  720>5  F.,  the  maximum  being  about  92°  and  the  minimum 
62°.  For  these  details  I  am  indebted  to  my  friend  Mr.  H.  E.  Weaver, 
an  English  engineer  who  resides  there,  and  who  is  chief  of  the  second 
section  of  the  "  Prolongamento."  He  entertained  me  most  hospitably  at 
his  house  for  several  days,  and  aided  me  greatly  in  obtaining  specimens 
of  all  kinds,  as  well  as  in  other  ways.  There  is  no  high  forest  very  close 
to  Quipapa,  though  there  are  still  patches  of  it  on  the  higher  hills  here, 
as  elsewhere.  The  lower  slopes,  where  not  cleared  for  sugar,  are  covered 
with  a  rather  thick  growth  of  brushwood,  in  which,  particularly  along  the 
river,  birds  were  rather  abundant.  The  weather  too  had  now  become 
markedly  finer  ;  in  fact,  since  leaving  Eecife,  hardly  a  drop  of  rain  had 
fallen.  Soon  after  leaving  Una  I  had  made  up  my  mind  that  any  idea 
of  getting  to  the  S.  Francisco  in  the  limited  amount  of  time  (about  a 
month)  now  at  my  disposal  must  be  abandoned,  as  I  was  due  at  Cam- 
bridge by  the  middle  of  October.  I  very  much  regretted  having  to  give 
up  the  Paulo  Affonso,  but  getting  there  and  back  in  a  month  would  have 
entailed  continual  travelling,  and  I  should  have  had  no  chance 
whatever  of  collecting.  I  therefore  determined  to  go  no  further  than 
Garanhuns  or  thereabouts,  staying  en  route  at  various  places  to  collect. 
At  Quipapa  I  remained  till  September  6,  and  then  went  on  a  few  miles 
to  a  Brazilian  friend  living  at  Vista  Alegre,  two  houses  in  a  valley  off 
the  main  line  of  the  railway.  From  here  I  went,  after  a  couple  of  nights,  Ibis,  1881, 
to  Macuca,  where  I  found  a  most  hospitable  (if  somewhat  primitive)  Pe 
welcome  from  Mr.  J.  "Watt,  also  an  English  engineer  employed  on  the 
Prolongamento.  The  country  here  much  resembles  that  around  Quipapa, 
but  there  is  less  forest  and  sugar  and  more  capoeira.  I  continually 
added  new  birds  to  my  list,  and  no  doubt  if  I  had  had  any  assistance 
could  have  much  increased  the  number  both  of  species  and  specimens. 
But  I  had  to  do  all  my  skinning  myself ;  the  Brazilians,  though  they 
talked  much,  did  little,  and  that  chiefly  in  snakes  and  lizards :  my  inter- 
preter was  useless  for  any  purpose  but  to  interpret  (I  doubt  if  he  had 
ever  fired  a  gun  in  his  life),  and  my  English  friends  were  too  busy  with 


250  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

their  professional  duties  to  be  able  to  spare  much  time  to  shoot ;  more- 
over, there  were  no  guns  available  except  those  of  the  natives,  and,  as  I 
have  already  said,  the  capabilities  of  these  weapons  as  firearms  were 
small. 

After  a  few  days  most  agreeably  spent  at  Macuca  I  went  on  to 
G-aranhuns,  the  termination  of  the  "  Prolongamento,"  distant  about  80 
miles  from  Una.  Garanhuns  is  situated  in  the  zone  of  country  called 
the  *'  Agreste,"  that  intervenes  between  the  forest-clad  "  Matto,"  which 
extends  inwards  60  to  70  miles  from  the  sea-shore,  and  the  open, 
elevated  country,  or  Sertoes  (pronounced  "  Sertongs  "),  of  the  interior. 
The  "  Agreste  "  zone  participates  to  some  extent  in  the  features  of  both 
"  Matto "  and  "  Sertad " ;  the  forests  have  not  altogether  disappeared, 
but  are  smaller  in  size  and  of  a  different  character ;  the  climate  is  much 
drier,  and  the  vegetation  lower  and  more  scrubby  in  character. 

In  the  Sertoes,  I  am  told  (for  I  did  not  actually  get  into  the  real 
Sertoes  country),  the  vegetation  becomes  still  more  low  and  scrubby, 
and  the  aspect  of  the  country  generally  arid  and  stony.  There  is  little 
water,  and  cultivation  is  confined  chiefly  to  the  ridges  of  hills  that 
intersect  the  general  level  of  the  plateaux  of  3000-5000  feet  forming 
the  Sertoes.  In  the  height  of  the  dry  season  many  of  the  shrubs  and 
trees  lose  their  leaves.  The  growth  of  cotton  and  the  raising  of  stock 
are  the  two  great  industries  pursued  in  the  Sertoes,  which  probably 
p.'  324. '  extend  over  nearly  the  entire  area  of  the  interior  of  the  province  of 
Pernambuco.  The  distance  from  Macuca  to  Garanhuns  is  about  33 
miles ;  after  leaving  Canotinho,  about  an  hour  and  a  half's  riding  from 
Macuca,  the  aspect  of  the  country  begins  to  alter  visibly.  The  soil 
becomes  sandy,  and  the  vegetation  generally  lower  and  more  scrubby, 
with  patches  of  forest  in  places.  Great  Cacti,  too,  some  40-50  feet 
high,  and  forming  large  trees  in  some  places,  become  conspicuous 
features  in  the  landscape,  and  two  or  three  species  of  Begonias  also 
appear.  In  bird-life  the  "Salta  Caminho"  (Zonotrichia  pileata)  for 
the  first  time  appears,  hopping  about  the  sandy  roads,  and  marking  the 
changed  nature  of  the  country. 

Garanhuns  is  a  large  village  (although  called  a  city)  of  perhaps  more 
than  2000  inhabitants,  and  lies  at  an  elevation  of  about  3000  feet  above 
the  sea.  The  country  round  is  hilly,  though  none  of  the  hills  attain 
any  great  elevation ;  these  are  pretty  uniformly  covered  with  a  thick 
scrub  of  low  bushes  and  aromatic  herbs,  with,  in  some  places,  small 
patches  of  "  matto."  There  is  little  water.  The  temperature  is 
noticeably  cooler  than  nearer  the  coast,  though  sufficiently  hot  when  the 
sun  shines;  indeed,  on  account  of  its  dry  soil  and  rather  bracing 
atmosphere,  Garanhuns  is  acquiring  some  celebrity  in  Pernambuco  as  a 
sanitarium,  during  the  dry  season,  for  the  residents  in  the  lower  parts. 
I  was  most  hospitably  entertained,  during  my  week's  stay  at  Garanhuns, 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  251 

by  Senhor  Doutor  Jose  Aloes  Lima,  the  Juiz  Municipal,  who  most  kindly 

placed  an  empty  house  at  my  disposal,  where  I  slept  and  kept  my 

apparatus.     The  country  round  Garanhuns  seemed  to  be  rather  rich  in 

birds  ;  but  partly  from  the  thickness  of  the  scrub,  which  in  some  cases 

was  nearly  impenetrable,  and  partly,  I  think,  from  the  recent  occurrence 

of  a  prolonged  "  Secca?  or  drought,  during  which  everybody  who  could 

went  out  and  shot  small  birds  indiscriminately,  thereby  rendering  them 

very  shy,  I  failed  to  get  several  species  I  saw  there  and  did  not  elsewhere 

meet  with.     A  more  prolonged  stay  would,  I  feel  sure,  have  added 

numerous  species  to  my  lists.     I  also  believe  that  Garanhuns  would 

prove  a  very  rich  station  for  a  botanist,  judging  from  what  I  saw  of  its  Ibis,  1881, 

flora  during  my  rambles  after  birds  or  insects.  p> 

Garanhuns  is  the  principal  town  of  a  considerable  district,  and  every 
Saturday  a  fair  takes  place  there,  which  is  largely  attended  by  the 
"Matutos"  or  peasants  of  the  country  round.  I  was  told  this  fair 
would  be  a  capital  chance  of  obtaining  animals  and  birds  from  the 
country  people  who  come  in  to  attend  it ;  and  I  therefore  decided  to  stay 
a  couple  of  days  to  witness  it,  rather  than  going  on  to  S.  Bento,  in  the 
Sertoes,  about  35  miles  north  of  Garanhuns,  and  returning  thence  by  a 
different  route  to  Macuca,  as  I  had  originally  intended.  However,  the 
fair,  though  it  certainly  gave  me  an  excellent  chance  of  seeing  "  the 
natives"  (and,  perhaps  I  should  add,  of  their  seeing  me),  produced 
nothing,  or  next  to  nothing,  in  the  way  of  "  bichos"  a  most  convenient 
term  used  in  Brazil  for  denominating  all  and  any  animals  from  an 
elephant  to  a  blackbeetle.  I  managed,  however,  to  pick  up  a  live  "  Ema  " 
(Rhea  macrorhyncha),  of  which  more  anon,  at  Garanhuns,  as  well  as  a 
lot  of  Tinamus,  sundry  Hawks,  Guans,  and  other  live  birds,  so  that  when 
I  left  I  had  a  regular  caravan  of  living  animals,  which  necessitated  my 
taking  on  an  extra  horse  or  two  and  man  for  their  safe  conveyance  to 
Palmares.  I  finally  left  Garanhuns  on  September  19th,  and  returning 
by  the  same  way  as  I  came,  stopped  en  route  a  night  at  Macuca  and  two 
days  at  Quipapa,  and  reached  Recife  September  24th.  A  few  days  were 
spent  in  packing  up  and  settling  things  generally ;  and  on  September 
29th  I  left,  with  my  live  animals,  which  had  now  increased  to  about  35 
in  number,  in  the  Royal  Mail  Steamer  *  Neva/  and  arrived  at  Southamp- 
ton October  15th. 

Before  concluding  this  account  of  my  trip,  I  ought  to  return  my  best 
thanks  to  the  numerous  gentlemen  in  Brazil  who  did  all  in  their  power 
to  help  me,  and  especially  to  my  friends  Mr.  Wells  Hood  of  Cabo,  who 
most  kindly  procured  me  numerous  valuable  introductions,  to  Messrs. 
W.  Elliott  and  C.  A.  Craven  of  Eecife,  to  Mr.  Curling  of  Parahyba,  as 
well  as  to  Messrs.  Weaver,  Watt,  Abel,  and  the  other  engineers  of  the 
"  Prolongamento,"  and  to  Dr.  Lima  of  Garanhuns. 

The  total  number  of  species  of  birds  of  which  I  obtained  or  observed  Ibis,  1881, 

p.  326. 


252  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

specimens  during  my  trip  was  116.  In  the  following  list  they  are 
treated  of  in  systematic  order,  according  to  the  nomenclature  of  Messrs. 
Sclater  and  Salvin's  '  Nomenclator  Avium  Neotropicalium,'  unless  other- 
wise stated.  I  am  much  indebted  to  Mr.  Sclater  for  having  kindly  gone 
through  and  named  the  greater  number  of  my  birds  for  me,  whilst  Mr. 
Salvin  was  good  enough  to  give  me  the  names  of  the  few  others. 

As  far  as  can  be  judged  from  the  results  of  a  short  trip  like  mine,  the 
avifauna  of  Pernambuco  is  essentially  South-east  Brazilian,  with  few,  if 
any,  Amazonian  forms.  It  would  appear  from  my  observations  on  the 
birds,  and  from  the  general  features  of  the  country,  that  Pernambuco  is 
far  less  rich  in  birds  than  either  Bahia  or  Para,  the  comparative  poverty 
no  doubt  being  due  to  the  long  time  that  the  country,  at  least  near  the 
sea,  has  been  colonized,  and  to  the  consequent  destruction  of  the  primaeval 
forests.  Moreover,  as  the  forest  only  forms  a  comparatively  narrow  zone 
along  the  coast,  with  a  dry  and  elevated  "  campos  "  country  behind, 
there  has  been  no  possible  retreat  towards  the  interior  for  the  original 
inhabitants  of  the  coast  forests,  and  many  of  the  most  characteristic 
forms  have,  in  consequence,  disappeared  or  become  scarce.  Of  course, 
my  collections  do  not  represent  any  thing  like  the  total  number  of 
species  to  be  found  in  Pernambuco ;  but  I  think  the  above  conclusion 
will  be  confirmed  by  further  collections  from  that  district. 

From  what  I  heard  of  the  nature  of  the  country,  Ceara,  and  most 
likely  Maranhao  as  well,  must  probably  be  included  within  the  limits  of 
the  South-east  Brazilian  fauna,  so  that  the  boundary  between  it  and  the 
Amazonian  province  must  lie  still  further  north-west  on  the  coast,  whilst 
in  the  interior  it  may  correspond  to  the  watershed  between  the  Tocantins 
and  the  Paranahyba. 

The  following  is  an  account  of  the  birds  of  which  I  obtained  or 
observed  specimens.  The  specimens  are  mostly  deposited  in  Mr.  Sclater's 
collection. 

Ibis,  1881,         !•   TUEDUS  FUMIGATUS. 

p.  327.  j  am  no^.  quite  certain  as  to  the  correctness  of  the  above  name,  though 
it  is  probably  this  species  that  occurs  in  this  part  of  Brazil,  as  the  only 
specimen  of  this  Thrush  that  I  shot  fell  into  a  swollen  stream  and  was 
lost.  Two  I  bought  alive  also  escaped. 

The  "  Sabia,"  as  it  is  called  by  the  Brazilians,  is  very  much  esteemed 
by  them  as  game,  and  therefore  relentlessly  shot  down ;  hence  it  has 
become  a  very  shy  bird,  at  least  in  the  neighbourhood  of  towns.  It  has 
a  rather  pleasant  song,  and  is  also  on  this  account  sought  after  by  the 
natives,  who  keep  it  as  a  cage-bird  very  commonly.  I  saw  caged 
specimens  in  nearly  every  place  I  visited  from  Parahyba  to  Garanhuns, 
but  only  a  few  times  observed  it  in  its  native  state  at  Cabo  and  Recife,  so 
can  say  nothing  further  on  its  habits. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  253 

2.  TURDUS  RUFIYENTRIS. 

I  found  this  Thrush  common  all  over  the  districts  I  visited,  except  in 
the  immediate  neighbourhood  of  Recife.  In  its  habits  it  much  resembles 
the  common  Thrush  of  England  (T.  musicus),  spending  a  good  deal  of 
its  time  on  the  ground  in  pursuit  of  its  food.  It  is  usually  to  be  seen  in 
paths  in  the  lower  second  growth,  or  in  the  clearings  for  railways,  or  on 
the  line  itself,  and  is  not  found  in  the  thick  forests.  The  Brazilians  call 
this  Thrush,  as  well  as  the  preceding  species,  "  Sabia,"  and  esteem  it 
highly  for  eating-purposes.  Hence  probably  it  has  become  rare  near 
Recife,  and  shy  elsewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  towns. 

Eyes  brown ;  beak  greenish  yellow,  the  upper  mandible  greyer ;  feet 
dirty  flesh. 

3.  POLIOPTILA  LEUCOGASTRA. 

I  first  met  with  this  elegant  little  bird  near  Parahyba,  and  subse- 
quently saw  it  frequently  in  the  interior  between  Quipapa  and  Garanhuns. 
It  goes  about  in  small  companies  of  two  or  three,  and  is  a  most  active 
little  creature,  in  almost  perpetual  motion  from  twig  to  twig,  the 
meanwhile  constantly  flipping  its  tail  up  and  down. 

Eyes  brown. 

4.  DOXACOBIUS  ATRICAPILLUS.  Ibis,  1881, 

p.  328. 
This  bird  I  first  observed  from  the  train  on  the  railway  between  Cabo 

and  Una,  frequenting  the  marshy  bottoms  of  the  valleys.  I  subse- 
quently saw  it  at  Cabo,  and  found  it  more  or  less  abundant  in  suitable 
situations  all  along  my  route  thence  to  Macuca.  It  is  a  very  noisy 
bird,  with  a  loud  chattering  cry.  It  flies  about  in  small  companies  of 
three  or  four,  and  is  found  among  the  marshy  vegetation  that  grows 
along  the  banks  of  the  stream.  The  bird  is  a  very  conspicuous  one, 
both  owing  to  its  noisy  cry  and  the  habit  it  has  of  fluttering  its  short 
and  rounded  wings,  when  the  white  bar  at  the  base  of  the  primaries 
forms  a  very  much  more  striking  mark  than  would  be  imagined  from  the 
skins.  I  heard  the  name  "  Casaca  do  Couro,"  signifying  "  Leathern 
Jacket,"  applied  to  this  bird  by  a  Brazilian  friend  who  had  paid  some 
attention  to  animals ;  but  whether  it  is  the  same  bird  as  that  mentioned 
by  Capt.  Burton  ('  Highlands  of  Brazil,'  ii.  p.  316)  under  the  same 
name,  and  noticed  by  him  on  account  of  its  remarkable  nest,  I  do  not 
know.  I  never  saw  Donacobius  nesting.  As  mentioned  by  Burrneister 
(Thiere  Bras.  ii.  p.  130)  there  is  a  narrow  naked  space,  about  an  inch 
long,  on  the  neck  of  this  bird,  behind  the  angle  of  the  jaw,  which  shows 
conspicuously  in  the  shot  bird.  It  is  coloured  bright  chrome-yellow 
(Burmeister  says  "fleischroth  "),  and  with  the  bright  yellow  irides  makes 
a  freshly  shot  Donacobius  a  far  more  beautiful  object  than  one  that  is 


254  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

skinned.  This  brightly  coloured  nude  space  is  probably  present  in  both 
sexes,  as  the  only  specimen  I  procured  was  a  female.  I  do  not  at 
present  recall  any  precisely  similar  case  of  ornamentation  by  a  bright 
nude  skin-space  on  this  part  of  the  neck  in  any  other  bird — certainly 
not  in  any  other  Passerine.  The  feet  are  grey. 

5.  TEOGLODTTES  FUEYTJS. 

This  is  the  common  Wren  of  the  country,  and  is  very  abundant 
everywhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  houses  or  gardens,  though  it  is  not 
much  of  a  forest-bird.  It  has  a  remarkably  strong  song  for  such  a 
small  bird,  and  may  often  be  seen  perched  on  the  roofs  of  the  houses  of 
the  villages  in  the  early  morning,  carolling.  Eor  its  notes  it  is,  I  think, 
on  the  whole  the  best  singing-bird  I  heard  whilst  in  Brazil. 

Eyes  brown  ;  feet  flesh-coloured. 

6.  BASILEUTEEUS  AUEICAPILLTJS  (Sw.)  *. 

I  shot  a  single  female  specimen  of  this  bird,  the  only  one  I  saw,  in 
the  depths  of  some  high  forest  near  Quipapa. 

7.  CTCLOEHIS  ALBIYENTRIS. 

I  found  this  curious  bird  rather  common  nearly  all  over  the  country  I 
visited,  though  nowhere  abundant.  It  is  found  amongst  the  vegetation 
of  the  more  open  parts,  usually  singly,  and  seems  to  be  a  very  quiet  bird, 
hopping  about  from  leaf  to  leaf  of  the  bush  or  tree  it  is  in,  and  not 
uttering  any  cry  ;  at  least  I  never  remarked  any. 

The  irides  are  beautiful  bright  orange-yellow  ;  the  strangely  shaped 
bill  has  the  upper  mandible  dark  flesh-coloured,  the  lower  pale  bluish 
slate.  The  feet  are  pale  dirty  fleshy. 

8.  HlKTTNTK)  LEUCOEEHOA. 

This  Swallow  I  found  very  common  in  Recife,  where  it  might  be  seen 
flying  about  in  numbers  in  some  of  the  streets,  as  well  as  over  the  rivers 
which  separate  the  various  parts  of  the  town.  I  also  observed  it  at 
Parahyba  ;  but  in  the  interior  it  seems  to  disappear,  and  be  replaced  by 
the  Atticora  next  mentioned. 

9.  ATTICOEA  CYANOLEUCA. 

I  did  not  bring  home  any  specimens  of  this  Swallow,  the  only  one  I 
shot  having  been  too  much  damaged  to  skin ;  I  have,  however,  little 
doubt  that  this  is  the  species  I  met  with,  as  I  continually  saw  it  in 
numbers,  and  was  able  to  examine  it  often  through  my  field-glasses.  It 
was  very  abundant  at  Cabo,  and  might  be  seen  there  sitting  in  numbers, 

*  Cf.  Berlepsch,  Ibis,  1881,  p.  240. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  255 

particularly   in  the   morning,  on  the   telegraph-wires   of   the   railway 
opposite  Mr.  Hood's  house ;  I  also  saw  it  at  Parahyba  and  Graranhuns, 
perched  on  the  roofs  and  eaves  of  the  churches,  and  therefore  not  to  be 
shot  at  with  impunity.     In  Recife,  on  the  other  hand,  I  never  saw  it  at  Ibis,  1881, 
all,  though  the  last  species,  as  already  mentioned,  abounded  there. 

10.  STELGIDOPTEETX  RUFICOLLIS. 

This  Swallow  I  found  common  in  numerous  places  from  Recife  and 
Parahyba  on  the  coast  inland  as  far  as  Macuca.  It  perches  freely,  and 
may  be  often  seen  along  the  roads  and  railway,  where  there  are  cuttings 


Eyes  brown. 

11.  DACKES  CAYANA. 

I  only  rarely  met  with  this  species,  once  near  Caxanga,  and  another 
time  near  Eecife,  where  I  came  across  a  small  flock  of  three  or  four  in 
an  old,  overgrown  garden  some  two  miles  from  Estancia ;  of  these  only 
one  was  a  full-plumaged  male.  I  also  saw  one  or  two  near  Parahyba. 

Irides  red-brown ;  beak  blackish  brown,  with  the  base  of  the  mandible 
fleshy  ;  legs  fleshy,  the  claws  greyer. 

12.  DACNIS  PLTJMBEA. 

I  only  met  with  this  bird  in  the  garden  at  Estancia,  and  there  only 
saw  it  a  few  times.  It  hops  about  the  trees  and  bushes  in  a  systematic 
sort  of  way,  going  from  leaf  to  leaf  in  search  of  small  insects  and  other 
food,  which  it  picks  up  off  the  leaves.  I  did  not  observe  any  full- 
plumaged  male. 

Eyes  (in  the  female)  greyish  brown ;  legs  dirty  flesh-coloured ;  beak 
pale  fleshy,  with  the  culmen  broadly  darker,  horny  black. 

13.  C(EEEBA  CYANEA. 

Only  once  did  I  come  across  this  bird — a  single  specimen  in  immature 
plumage  that  I  saw  in  the  garden  at  Estancia. 

14.  CEETHIOLA  CHLOEOPYGA. 

This  little  bird  is  one  of  the  very  commonest  in  those  parts  of  Brazil  I 
was  in,  being  most  abundant  in  all  the  gardens  near  Eecife,  and  almost 
equally  so  elsewhere  in  the  neighbourhood  of  houses,  though  sometimes 
seen  in  the  wilder  parts.     It  assiduously  visits  all  the  shrubs  that  may 
happen  to  be  in  flower  in  any  particular   spot,   collecting  from   the 
blossoms  its  meal  of  insects,  mixed,  no  doubt,  with  the  nectar  of  the  Ibis>  1881i 
flowers.     It  has  a  weak,  though  rather  pleasing,  song  of  a  few  notes,      P< 
the  last  note  being  considerably  more  powerful  than  those  that  precede 


256  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

it.     It  is  known  by  the  Brazilians  as  "  G-uarratan,"  a  name,  however, 
which  it  shares  with  the  Euphonia  and  some  other  Tanagers. 
Eyes  brown. 

15.  EUPHONIA  VIOLACEA. 

This  violet-and-yellow  Tanager  I  found  sparingly  round  Eecife,  and 
also  at  Parahyba,  both  in  gardens  and  in  the  vicinity  of  high  forest.  I 
did  not,  unfortunately,  see  enough  of  its  habits  to  throw  any  light  upon 
the  raison  d'etre  of  the  peculiarly  developed  stomach  of  this  genus,  a 
feature  first  observed  by  the  late  Dr.  Lund,  and  lately  redescribed  and 
figured  by  myself  *.  This  bird  is  kept  commonly  as  a  cage-bird  by  the 
Brazilians,  who  call  it  "  Gruarratan,"  a  name,  as  already  observed,  also 
applied  to  several  other  small  brightly  plumaged  birds. 

16.  CALLISTE  FASTUOSA. 

This  very  beautiful  Tanager,  to  my  mind  one  of  the  finest  of  the 
beautiful  genus  it  belongs  to,  is  believed  to  be  peculiar  to  the  province 
of  Pernambuco,  from  which  skins  are  occasionally  received  by  the 
dealers  in  Paris  and  elsewhere.  It  is  a  species  often  seen,  too,  alive 
in  the  larger  Zoological  Gardens  of  Europe,  though  no  naturalist  seems 
to  have  yet  met  with  it  in  the  wild  state.  It  does  not  appear  to  be 
common  in  Pernambuco — at  least  I  only  met  with  it  twice,  once  near 
Macuca,  where  I  shot  a  female  out  of  some  bushy  capoeira,  and  again  at 
Quipapa,  where  I  saw  what  I  believe  was  this  species  in  the  virgin 
forest.  The  bird,  however,  was  perched  at  a  great  height  from  the 
ground,  in  the  topmost  branches  of  a  large  tree,  and  only  the  brilliant 
orange-yellow  of  its  rump  was  visible.  Whilst  staying  at  Cabo,  a  freshly 
shot  adult  of  this  bird  was  also  brought  to  me  to  skin,  so  that  probably 
Ibis,  1881,  it  is  also  to  be  found  considerably  nearer  to  the  coast  than  the  localities  I 
P-  332>  saw  it  in. 

Eyes  brown. 

17.  CALLISTE  FESTIVA. 

I  only  saw  this  beautiful  Oalliste  once,  when  I  fell  in  with  a  small 
party  of  it  in  a  patch  of  virgin  forest  near  Quipapa,  and  succeeded  in 
shooting  a  fine  male. 

Eyes  brown. 

18.  CALLISTE  FLAVA. 

This  beautiful,  though  peculiarly  coloured,  bird  is,  perhaps  with  the 
exception  of  Tanagra  cana,  the  commonest  Tanager  in  the  provinces  I 

*  P.Z.S.  1880,  pp.  143-147,  "  On  the  Structure  of  the  Stomach  in  certain  Genera 
of  Tanagers." 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  257 

visited.  I  met  with  it  everywhere  from  Recife  to  Garanhuns ;  and 
though  never  seen  in  numbers,  it  appeared  to  be  fairly  abundant.  It 
frequents  chiefly  gardens  or  plantations  of  fruit-trees,  but  I  have  also  seen 
it  in  thick  forest  country.  It  was  abundant  in  the  garden  at  Estancia, 
frequenting  the  orange-trees,  sapotis  (Achras  sapotd),  and  other  fruit- 
bearing  plants ;  and  I  have  also  met  with  it  feeding  on  the  flowering 
shrubs  of  the  virgin  forest.  It  goes  about  either  singly  or  in  small 
companies,  and  most  of  the  specimens  seen  are  either  immature  or 
females.  The  adult  males  are  usually  met  with  singly,  though  I  have 
seen  three  perched  close  together  in  the  same  tree.  I  failed  in  iny 
endeavours  to  bring  living  specimens  to  England,  though  I  got  one  as 
far  as  St.  Vincent. 

Eyes  brown ;  feet  lead-grey. 

19.  TANAGRA  SATACA. 

This  Tanager  is  abundant  all  over  the  country.  It  is  found,  like  the 
last  species,  in  small  flocks  of  four  or  five,  and  is  common  near  the 
vicinity  of  houses  and  gardens  wherever  there  are  fruit-trees.  At 
Estancia  it  abounded,  visiting  the  orange-  and  lemon-trees,  also  the 
sapotis,  mamans  (Carica  papaya},  and  other  fruits  in  season.  It  did 
not  apparently  mix  with  T.  palmarum,  and  left  the  cocoa-palms  to  the 
latter  species,  preferring  the  lower  and  bushy  trees.  The  Brazilian 
name  is  "  Saya§u,"  a  name,  however,  which  they  also  apply  to  T. 
palmarum. 

Eyes  brown. 

20.  TANAGEA  PALMAEUM.  Ibig 

This  Tanager  is  very  abundant  near  the  coast,  and  may  be  seen  in  P-  333' 
numbers  quite  close  to  Recife.  In  the  interior  it  is  less  common,  though 
I  saw  it  once  or  twice  near  Macuca.  The  specific  name  is  very  appro- 
priate, as  the  bird  frequents  the  cocoanut-palms,  flying  in  small  flocks 
from  one  tree  to  another,  and  settling  about  the  root  of  the  "  crown," 
where  it  probably  finds  abundant  food  in  the  shape  of  insects  and 
spiders. 

Eyes  brown ;  feet  leaden  grey. 

21.  RAMPHOCXELUS  BRASILIUS. 

I  first  met  with  this  splendid  bird  on  the  road  between  Iguarassu  and 
Olinda,  and  subsequently  found  it  abundantly,  in  favourable  situations, 
nearer  Recife,  as  well  as  at  Parahyba  and  all  along  the  line  of  railway  as 
far  as  Catende.  It  seems,  however,  an  essentially  low-country  bird,  and 
as  the  country  rises  in  the  interior  disappears.  This  bird  goes  about 
like  several  of  the  other  Tanagers,  in  small  parties,  composed  chiefly  of 


258  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN   BRAZIL. 

immature  or  female  birds,  so  that  the  number  of  those  seen  in  the  gorgeous 
crimson  and  black  dress  of  the  adult  male  is  comparatively  small.  It  is 
always  to  be  found  in  the  low  bushes  and  vegetation  that  grow  about  the 
lower  slopes  and  bottoms  of  the  valleys  in  the  neighbourhood  of  water, 
and  is  never,  according  to  my  observation,  found  in  gardens  or  the  virgin 
forests.  It  has  a  quick,  rather  loud,  sharp,  chirping  note,  of  a  single 
syllable,  repeated  several  times  in  sharp  succession,  which  one  soon  gets  to 
recognize.  The  Brazilian  name  is  "  Sangre  de  Boi,"  i.  e.  ox's  blood,  from 
the  brilliant  crimson  of  the  plumage  of  the  male. 
Irides  orange-brown. 

22.  TACHYPHCXNTJS  MELALETJCUS. 

This  Tanager  is  widely  spread  over  the  province  of  Pernambuco,  where 
I  met  with  it  at  nearly  all  the  places  I  visited,  from  Caxanga  to  G-aranhuns  ; 
and  I  also  obtained  it  at  Parahyba.  It  is  usually  seen  singly  or  in  pairs, 
the  black  male  with  the  chestnut  female.  The  stomach  of  one  I  examined 
contained  insects. 

Eyes  brown. 

Ibis,  1881,       23.  NEMOSIA  PILEATA. 

P'       '  I  obtained  this  species  of  Nemosia  in  the  garden  at  Estancia,  where, 

however,  I  only  observed  it  once  or  twice.  The  only  other  place  I  met 
with  it  was  at  Cabo,  where  I  once  saw  two  or  three  in  Mr.  Hood's 
garden. 

Eyes  bright  yellow ;  legs  horny  yellow,  with  the  claws  horny. 

24.  NEMOSIA  FTJLVESCENS. 

I  first  met  with  this  Tanager  at  Quipapa,  where  it  was  not  uncommon 
in  the  low  bushy  capoeira  near  the  river.  It  was  usually  seen  in  small 
companies  of  three  or  four,  hopping  about  amongst  the  leaves  like  a  Dacnis. 
I  also  saw  it  at  Garanhuns,  but  not  nearer  the  coast. 

Eyes  brown  ;  beak  and  legs  grey. 

25.  SALTATOB,  MAGNUS. 

I  only  once  met  with  this  bird,  which  I  shot  in  thick  and  high  forest 
some  miles  from  Parahyba. 
Eyes  brown. 

26.  ORCHESTICUS  CAPISTRATUS. 

This  curious  Bullfinch-like  Tanager  I  first  met  with  near  Vista  Alegre, 
about  halfway  between  Quipapa  and  Macuca.  I  subsequently  saw  it  at 
both  those  places,  as  well  as  at  Garanhuns ;  indeed  it  seems  rather  a 
common  bird  in  this  part  of  the  province.  It  is  nearly  always  seen 
singly  near,  but  not  in,  high  forest,  and  perches  in  the  larger  trees  that 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN    BRAZIL.  259 

rise  above  the  bushes  and  undergrowth  of  the  capoeira.     It  appears  to  be 
not  at  all  shy,  and  is  easily  shot.     The  sexes  are  similar. 
Eyes  reddish  brown ;  feet  black-grey. 

27.  ORCHESTICUS  ATER. 

This  bird  was  rather  abundant  round  Parahyba  in  the  neighbourhood 
of  the  forest,  and  in  its  habits  resembles  the  last  species.  At  Vista 
Alegre  I  found  both  species  together  in  the  same  locality,  but  beyond 
that  point  it  seems  to  be  replaced  by  0.  capistratus. 

At  Parahyba  I  obtained  a  specimen   which   is  in  all  probability  the  Ibis,  1881, 
young  bird  of  this  species,  though  it  was  the  only  one  seen  in  that       P*  ^* 
plumage.     It  is  of  a  dark  olive-green  above,  lighter  below,  with  the  fore- 
head, chin,  breast,  and  angle  of  the  wing  greenish  yellow.     It  is  probably 
0.  ater  in  this  phase  of  plumage  that  was  described  by  Sclater  as  Tanagra 
olivina  (cf.  Sclater,  P.Z.S.  1881,  p.  213). 

I  bought  a  single  living  specimen  of  this  bird  in  a  shop  in  Eecife,  and 
brought  it  safely  to  London,  where  it  is  still  living  in  the  Zoological 
Society's  Gardens.  I  never  before  saw  it  living  in  Europe. 

Eyes  reddish  brown ;  the  beak  leaden  grey,  with  the  tip  broadly  black 
(in  the  adult). 

28.  GUIRACA  CYANEA. 

The  Blue  Grosbeak  I  first  saw  on  the  road  between  Iguarassu  and  Olinda, 
and  I  subsequently  met  with  it  at  most  of  the  places  I  stayed  at  as  far  as 
Parahyba  and  Garanhuns.  It  frequents  low  bushy  ground,  and  is  usually 
seen  singly  or  in  pairs.  The  Brazilians  call  it  "  Azulin." 

Eyes  brown. 

29.  ORYZOBORUS  TORRIDUS. 

I  only  twice  met  with  this  little  Einch,  which  I  saw  singly  near  Cabo 
and  Parahyba. 

An  allied  species  (0.  maximiliani*!)  is  kept  as  a  cage-bird  by  the 
Brazilians,  who  give  high  prices  for  them,  they  being  much  esteemed  for 
their  song,  which  is  supposed  to  be  only  surpassed  by  that  of  the  "  Patitiva." 
They  call  it  "  Bicuda,"  from  its  large  beak. 

30.  AMATJROSPIZA  UNICOLOR. 

Whilst  staying  at  Quipapa  a  Brazilian  servant  of  Mr.  Weaver's  brought 
me  a  fresh  specimen  of  this  rather  rare  little  Einch,  which  he  had  obtained 
near  the  town.  This  was  the  only  specimen  I  saw. 

Eyes  brown;  feet  fleshy  grey. 

31.  SPERMOPHILA  NIGRO-AURANTIA. 

I  obtained  this  species  at  Recife,  frequenting  the  same  localities  as  the 

82 


260  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

IbiS'l?f81'  next  two,  but  it  appeared  to  be  less  common.  I  also  saw,  and  shot,  what 
I  believe  was  a  specimen  of  this  bird  near  Vista  Alegre,  but  did  not 
succeed  in  finding  it.  The  Brazilians  call  it  "  Caboclo,"  a  name  applied 
to  the  tamed  aboriginal  Indians  in  Pernambuco.  It  may  sometimes  be 
seen  in  Recife  in  cages  with  crowds  of  sundry  other  Spermophilce, 
Canaries  (Sycalis\  Cardinals  (Paroaria),  &c. 

32.  SPEEMOPHILA  GUTTTJEALIS. 

This  little  Spermopliila  was  very  abundant  in  the  garden  at  Estancia, 
frequenting  the  reedy  and  marshy  parts,  where  it  congregates  in  small 
flocks,  feeding  on  the  seeds  of  the  grasses,  sedges,  and  other  similar  plants. 
I  also  saw  it  abundant  afterwards  at  Quipapa,  as  well  as  in  the  low  bush- 
covered  country  round  Garanhuns,  so  that  it  is  by  no  means  confined  to 
the  sea-board  or  even  to  the  neighbourhood  of  water.  It  is  often  kept 
as  a  cage-bird. 

Eyes  brown. 

33.  SPEEMOPHILA  HTPOLEUCA. 

This  species  of  Spermophila  is  also  common  and  widely  distributed, 
frequenting  grassy  or  open  places,  and  often  coming  into  gardens.  It 
appears  to  feed  mainly  on  grass-seeds,  and  is  social  in  its  habits.  The 
females  are  brown.  Called  by  the  Brazilians  "  Papa  Cupim,"  i.  e.  grass- 
eater.  This  name  it  shares  with  S.  gutturalis. 

Eyes  brown  ;  bill  (in  the  male)  fleshy  red. 

A  closely  allied  species  (S.  plumbea,  distinguished  easily  by  its  smaller 
and  black  beak)  I  never  succeeded  in  identifying  for  certain  in  a  wild 
state,  though  it  is  greatly  esteemed  by  the  Brazilians  as  a  cage-bird. 
They  call  it  "  Patitiva  de  Parahyba  "  (those  caught  at  that  place  being 
supposed  to  be  particularly  excellent  songsters)  and  often  pay  considerable 
prices  for  good  singers.  The  song  is  loud  for  the  size  of  the  bird  and 
rather  pretty,  though  monotonous,  and  not  at  all  comparable  to  a 
Nightingale's,  or  even  a  Red  Cardinal's  (Cardinal™). 

34.  VOLATimA  JACAEINA. 

This  little  Pinch,  though  not  very  common  as  a  rule,  I  found  widely 

Ibis,  1881,   spread,  extending  from  Parahyba  and  Recife  on  the  coast  to  Quipapa  and 

p.  337.      yista  Alegre  in  the  interior.     The  adult  males  may  often  be  seen  singly, 

and  they  have  a  peculiar  habit  of  selecting  some  particular  twig  on  a 

bush  or  small  tree  as  a  pet  perch.     Here  they  sit  for  a  long  time, 

twittering  out  a  little  song  of  a  few  notes,  and  then  jumping  vertically  up 

some  little  way  in  the  air,  and,  turning  a  somersault,  alighting  in  the  same 

place.     I  have  watched  them  on  several  occasions  repeat  this  performance 

a  number  of    times    consecutively,  continuing,  in    fact,  till    they  were 

disturbed.     They  would  then  fly  off  to  some  other  place,  and  go  on  with 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  261 

their  performance.     The  females  and  young  birds  are  brown,  and  these 
seem  to  be  more  sociable,  going  about  in  small  flocks.     The  Brazilians 
call  the  bird  "  Saltado." 
The  eyes  are  brown. 

35.  PAEOAEIA  LARVATA. 

The  Red-headed  Cardinal  I  found  common  at  Parahyba,  and  again 
saw  it  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Garanhuns,  so  that  it  occurs  all  over  the 
district  I  traversed.  It  is  usually  seen  singly  or  in  pairs  in  the  more  or 
less  cleared  and  open  ground  near  cultivation.  Many  dozens  are  brought 
into  the  market  at  Recife  to  sell  as  cage-birds. 

The  Brazilians  call  it  "  Gallo  do  campina." 

36.  ZONOTEICHIA  PILEATA. 

This  bird  marks  the  approach  of  the  traveller,  as  I  have  already 
mentioned,  to  the  Sertoes  of  the  interior.  I  never  once  saw  it  on  the 
coast,  or  anywhere  in  the  "  matto  "  zone,  though  on  passing  Canotinho 
and  getting  on  to  the  sandy  soil  of  the  interior,  it  almost  at  once  becomes 
abundant.  Round  Garanhuns  it  was  very  common,  hopping  about  the 
highroads,  often  two  or  three  together,  and  very  tame. 

The  Brazilian  name  is  "  Salta  Caminho,"  or  "  Road-Hopper." 

37.  COTUENICULITS  MANIMBE. 

I  only  got  this  bird  at  Caxanga,  where  it  seemed  rather  common, 
frequenting  the  heaps  of  rubbish  left  near  the  railway  station. 
Eyes  brown. 

38.  CHEYSOMITRIS  TAEEELLI.  Ibig 

Of  this  pretty  little  bird  I  obtained  a  living  specimen  at  Parahyba,       P- 
which  is  now  alive  in  the  Zoological  Gardens.     I  subsequently  saw  one 
near  Garanhuns,  and  a  pair  near  some  forest  close  to  Quipapa.     The 
Brazilian  name  was,  I  understood,  "Pinta  Silva"  (?  Pintasilgo=  Gold- 
finch). 

39.  SYCALIS  FLAVEOLA. 

The  "  Brazilian  Canary  "  is  a  very  abundant  bird  in  the  parts  of  Brazil 
visited  by  me,  being  found  from  the  coast,  at  Parahyba  and  Recife,  to 
the  interior.  Large  flocks  of  it,  sometimes  containing  one  or  two  hundred 
individuals,  may  be  seen  in  suitable  localities,  which  are  usually  the 
more  or  less  cleared  grounds  in  the  neighbourhood  of  engenhos,  or  sugar- 
farms.  In  these  places  it  frequently  consorts  with  numbers  of  the  little 
green  Tapacu  Parrakeets  (Psittacula  passenna).  A  specimen  which  I 
shot  near  Cabo  "  towered  "  in  the  air  as  wounded  Partridges  and  other 


262  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

birds  often  do,  to  a  height  of  fifty  or  sixty  feet  or  more,  and  then 
dropped  down  dead ;  on  examination  I  found  it  had  been  shot  through 
the  brain. 

The  "  Canario  "  is  a  very  common  cage-bird  with  the  Brazilians,  nearly 
every  house  having  one  or  more  pairs. 

40.  CASSICUS  PEESICUS. 

This  is  one  of  the  commonest  and  most  characteristic  birds  of  the 
country  near  the  coast,  where  it  is  very  abundant,  and  may  be  seen 
commonly,  even  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Recife,  nearly  anywhere  where 
cocoa-palms  grow.  It  usually  goes  about  in  small  parties  of  about  four 
or  five,  which  keep  up,  when  perched,  a  continuous  chattering,  often 
leading  to  their  discovery  before  being  seen  themselves.  Towards  even- 
ing they  seem  to  collect  in  larger  parties,  as  at  that  time  numbers  might 
often  be  seen  returning  homewards,  always  flying  in  the  same  direction, 
and  usually  making  for  a  clump  of  palms,  on  which,  no  doubt,  to  pass 
the  night.  In  the  interior  it  is  much  less  common,  and  I  often  went 
several  days  without  seeing  one.  The  Brazilians  call  it  "  Sheshou,"  and 
keep  it  often  in  cages. 

Irides  deepish  blue. 

Ibisv1881,          41.   ICTEETJS  TIBIALIS. 

This  bird  I  first  observed  at  Quipapa,  where  it  was  not  uncommon  in 
the  vicinity  of  the  town,  flying  about  in  small  companies  of  twos  and 
threes.  I  afterwards  found  it  at  Macuca  and  Garanhuns,  and  saw  a 
single  specimen  in  the  garden  at  Cabo  a  few  days  before  I  sailed,  though 
I  did  not  see  the  species  at  all  during  my  previous  stay  there.  The  bird 
is  also  found  at  San  Lorenzo,  a  village  about  20  miles  west  of  Eecife, 
as  a  living  specimen  I  bought  in  Eecife  came  from  there.  The  bird  is 
not  rarely  to  be  seen  caged  in  the  houses  of  the  Brazilians,  who  call  it 
"Sheshou  de  Bananeira,"  to  distinguish  it  from  the  common  " Sheshou" 
(Cassicus  persicus).  It  is  also  sometimes  called  "  Soldado,"  or  soldier.  I 
succeeded  in  bringing  three  specimens  alive  to  London,  two  of  which  are 
still  living  in  the  Zoological  Gardens,  where  it  has  not  before,  I  believe, 
been  exhibited  alive. 

Eyes  reddish  brown  ;  feet  bluish  grey. 

42.  MOLOTHETTS  BONABIENSIS. 

I  never  met  with  this  species  in  the  wild  state,  but  saw  several  in  cages 
in  Eecife,  Quipapa,  and  elsewhere,  and  was  told  that  it  was  found  in  the 
neighbourhood. 

43.  LEISTES  STJTEECILIAEIS. 

This  Eed- breasted  Hangnest  I  only  saw  at  Cabo.  Here  it  was  abun- 
dant in  the  open,  down-like  fields  that  are  found  on  the  engenJios  where 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  263 

the  forest  has  been  cleared  and  subsequently  inclosed  for  the  use  of 
cattle  and  horses.  I  only  once  or  twice  saw  the  f  ull-plumaged  birds  ; 
all  the  others  were  immature,  and  these  kept  in  large  flocks  like  Starlings, 
feeding,  like  them,  largely  on  the  ground  on  the  insects  and  other  crea- 
tures always  present  where  cattle  are  feeding. 

This  is,  I  believe,  the  most  northern  locality  from  which  the  species 
has  yet  been  recorded.  It  is  replaced  further  north  by  a  representative 
(L.  guianensis}  which  has  no  white  supercilia. 

44.  APHOBUS  CHOPI. 

A  single  female  skin  that  I  brought  home  is  apparently  referable  to  a 
small  form  of  this  species,  which  I  found  rather  abundant  at  one  or  two 
localities,  Vista  Alegre  and  Macuca,  in  the  interior   of  Pernambuco.   ibis,  1881, 
Though  local,  the  bird  was  common  where  it  occurred,  flying  about  in      P-  34°- 
large  flocks,  like  Starlings,  in  the  neighbourhood  of  sugar-plantations. 
They  were  rather  wary  and  not  easily  approached.      The  Brazilians 
called  it  "  Arumara." 

Eyes  brown. 

45.  FLUVICOLA  CLIMACURA. 

This  bird  is,  I  consider,  the  most  characteristic  of  the  country  of  all 
the  species  met  with  during  my  trip.  Save  in  the  thick  forest,  it  may  be 
seen  nearly  everywhere,  even  in  the  busiest  parts  of  the  town  of  E/ecife, 
close  to  the  sea,  and  everywhere  it  is  conspicuous  alike  by  its  tameness 
and  its  sharply  contrasted  colours.  To  the  structure  of  a  Tyrant-bird  it 
unites  the  habits  of  a  Wagtail  and  a  good  deal  of  the  appearance  of  a 
Saxicola.  It  spends  a  great  part  of  its  time  on  the  ground,  running 
swiftly,  like  a  Wagtail,  after  the  insects  which  it  puts  up,  and  seizing 
them  as  they  rise  from  the  ground.  It  is  by  no  means  afraid  of  man, 
coming  up  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  houses,  and  mixing  freely  with 
the  poultry  and  dogs  of  the  establishment.  Usually  it  is  seen  in  twos  or 
threes,  but  never,  so  far  as  my  experience  goes,  in  flocks  or  larger  parties. 
Frequently  two  may  be  seen  perched  on  the  top  of  a  wall  or  house, 
"  standing  up  "  to  each  other,  with  fluttering  wings,  spreading  tails,  and 
outstretched  necks,  chattering  away  vigorously  at  each  other  the  whole 
time.  It  is  nearly  the  only  bird  that  is  not  shot  or  eaten  by  the  Brazilians. 
They  call  it  the  "  Lavendera,"  or  Washerwoman,  from  a  legend  of  its 
having  formerly  performed  those  functions  to  the  Virgin  Mary.  Hence 
they  hold  it  almost  an  act  of  sacrilege  to  kill  one,  and  think  very  much 
the  same  of  a  man  who  shoots  a  "  Lavendera  "  as  we  do  in  England  of 
one  who  kills  a  Robin.  In  consequence  of  this  immunity  from  destruc- 
tion, the  Lavendera  is,  as  I  have  already  said,  exceediugly  tame  and  familiar 
everywhere,  and  even  nests  close  to  the  houses.  One  or  two  nests  that 
I  observed  were  built  in  low  bushes,  and  composed  of  a  loose  fabric  of 


264  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

Ibis,  1881,  grass-stems,  vegetable  fibres,  &e.     Both  tlie  birds  seemed  to  take  part  in 

p.  341.     the  construction  of  the  nest,  and  made  a  great  business  of  it,  though  it 

was  apparently  done  in  a  desultory  sort  of  way,  and  as  much  for  pleasure 

as  business.     At  least  two  nests  I  observed  closely  were  never  finished, 

and  apparently  ultimately  abandoned. 

46.  ABTJKDINICOLA  LEUCOCEPHALA. 

This  bird  I  only  observed  near  the  sea-coast  round  Eecife,  at  Caxanga, 
and  near  Parahyba.  It  frequents  the  margins  of  ponds  or  rivers,  as  its 
name  well  indicates,  and  is  usually  seen  solitarily,  though  near  Caxanga 
I  came  across  three  or  four  together  on  the  edge  of  the  same  pool,  a 
family  party  of  parents  and  young  birds,  the  latter  being  distinguishable 
by  their  less-defined  colouring. 

Eyes  brown  ;  beak  blackish  horny,  the  lower  mandible  at  base  (normally) 
yellowish ;  legs  and  claws  black,  the  soles  paler. 

47.  MACHETOBKCS  EIXOSA. 

I  obtained  this  bird  at  Eecife,  and  subsequently  saw  it  at  Cabo.  Its 
habits  resemble  those  of  Myiozetetes,  from  which,  indeed,  I  did  not,  at  the 
time  of  getting  my  specimen,  distinguish  it. 

[    48.    TODIROSTETJM  CINEEETTM. 

This  little  Tody -like  Tyrant  I  found  rather  common  from  Eecife  and 
Parahyba  to  Garanhuns.  It  is  usually  seen  singly,  but  I  have  sometimes 
seen  two  or  three  together,  chasing  each  other  and  fighting  furiously,  like 
Humming-birds.  It  hops  about  nimbly  from  twig  to  twig  of  the  par- 
ticular bush  or  shrub  it  is  in,  in  search  of  insects,  and  does  not,  as  far  as 
1  saw,  select  a  particular  perch  from  which  to  dart  off  at  any  passing 
insect,  like  so  many  of  its  congeners. 

49.    EUSCAKTIIMUS  GTTLAKIS. 

I  only  met  with  this  bird  once  or  twice  round  Garanhuns,  where  it 
occurred  usually  singly,  actively  hopping  and  creeping  about  the  thick 
scrub  which  is  so  prevalent  there,  very  much  in  the  same  way  as  the  last 
species. 

Irides  brown. 

Ibis,  1881        50.  SEEPHOPHAGA  SUBCEISTATA. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  this  bird  in  the  thick  scrub  near  Garanhuns. 

51.  PHTLLOMTIAS  SEMIFTJSCA. 

This  little  bird  was  abundant  in  gardens  round  Eecife,  resembling  in 
its  habits  Elainea  pagana. 

52.  ELAINEA  PAGANA. 

This  Tyrant  I  also  met  with  commonly,  from  the  sea-coast  to  Gara- 
nhuns. In  its  habits  it  resembles  the  other  larger  Tyraimidse,  but  has 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  265 

no  loud  call-note.     It  is  common  in  gardens,  and  has  rather  a  pleasant, 
low,  warbling-like  song  of  a  few  notes  ;  when  the  bird  sings,  its  throat- 
feathers  are  considerably  puffed  out.     The  elongated  head-feathers  form 
a  sort  of  crest,  which  is  erected  when  the  bird  is  excited. 
Eyes  brown. 

53.  MTIOZETETES  SIMILIS. 

This  species  of  Tyrant-bird  is  very  abundant  in  those  parts  of  Brazil  I 
visited.  In  its  habits  it  resembles  Pitangus  sulphuratus,  being  usually 
seen  singly  or  in  pairs,  perched  in  conspicuous  positions  on  the  projecting 
or  topmost  branches  of  the  trees,  and  flying  off  from  them  in  pursuit  of 
its  prey.  It  is  common  in  gardens,  even  in  the  neighbourhood  of  houses, 
and,  compared  with  the  Pitangus,  it  is  a  silent  bird,  without  the  charac- 
teristic notes  of  that  species.  The  Brazilians,  however,  do  not  discrimi- 
nate between  the  two,  and  call  both  alike  "  Bentivi." 

Eyes  greyish  brown. 

54.  PITANGUS  STTLPHTJKATUS. 

This  bird  is  one  of  the  very  commonest  and  most  characteristic  of  the 
country,  being  seen  nearly  everywhere,  and  from  its  habits  most  con- 
spicuous, even  to  the  casual  observer.  The  "  Bentivi,"  as  it  is  called, 
from  its  note,  almost  always  selects  some  prominent  twig  or  branch  of  a 
tree  on  which  it  perches,  and  from  that  post  of  vantage  flies  off  after  any 
passing  insect ;  then,  having  captured  it,  it  returns  to  its  favourite  spot 
to  repeat  the  process,  varied  only  by  continually  uttering  its  loud,  some-  Ibis,  1881, 
what  plaintive,  but  screaming  cry,  ben-ti-vi,  ben-ti-vi,  &c.  Frequently  **' 
two  may  be  seen  together,  but  they  are  not  at  all  gregarious  in  their 
habits.  Where  these  birds  are  common,  as  in  most  gardens  in  the  neigh- 
oourhood  of  houses,  the  ear  soon  gets  to  recognize  their  continued  ben-ti- 
vis  as  a  pleasant  evidence  of  the  Neotropical  fauna.  The  flight  is  weak 
and  undulating  and  never  long  sustained. 

55.  HlBTJKDINEA  BELLICOSA. 

The  first  specimen  of  this  curiously  coloured  Tyrant  I  saw  was  just 
after  landing  at  Parahyba,  where  it  was  perched  on  the  roof  of  one  of 
the  houses  close  to  the  river.  Subsequently  I  saw  it  again  several  times, 
both  there  and  at  Quipapa,  in  similar  positions,  but  being  always  in  the 
towns,  and  on  houses,  or,  more  frequently,  churches,  I  was  unable  to  get 
a  shot  at  one,  for  fear  of  consequences  in  the  shape  of  a  "  row  "  with  the 
police  or  other  authorities.  From  its  post  of  vantage  it  flies  off  after 
passing  insects,  and  after  capturing  them  returns  to  its  former  perch,  in 
the  manner  of  other  Tyrannidse.  I  was  rather  surprised  to  meet  a  pair 
of  the  same  birds  a  few  days  afterwards  at  Macuca,  both  of  which  I  got. 
They  were  met  with  in  capoeira,  a  long  way  from  any  houses,  perching 
in  the  larger  trees  which  rose  above  the  thick  scrub  and  bushes  below. 

Eyes  brown. 


266  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

56.  MYIOBIUS  N^EYIUS. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  this  Tyrant  in  a  patch  of  high  forest  near 
Macuca. 

Eyes  straw-yellow. 

57.  MTIOCHANES  CINEEETJS. 

I  only  got  this  species  twice,  in  the  high  trees  of  the  forest  near 
Quipapa  and  at  Macuca.  It  appears  to  be  solitary  in  its  habits. 

Irides  brown ;  feet  black ;  upper  mandible  blackish  brown,  lower  pale 
orange. 

58.  MYIAECHUS  TYEAKNTJLUS. 

Ibis,  1881.       I  first  met  with  this   bird   near  Quipapa,  and  afterwards  obtained 
several  specimens  between  there  and  Garanhuns.    It  is  a  quiet  soli- 
tary bird,  which  usually  I  met  with  perched  on  the  sides  of  paths  or 
tracts  through  the  brushwood,  and  was  not  shy. 
Irides  brown. 

59.  TYEAjrNTJS  MELANCHOLICUS. 

This  is  nearly  as  common  as  Pitangus  9ulpkur<ttU9  or  Myiozetetes  affinis, 
and  occurred  at  every  place  I  collected  in.  It  is  solitary,  and  in  its  habits 
does  not  materially  differ  from  those  species,  though  it  is  perhaps  less 
frequently  found  near  houses,  resorting  more  to  the  open  country,  and 
being  often  seen  in  large  fields  where  there  are  few  or  no  trees.  It  then 
selects  a  stone,  post,  or  some  small  shrub  for  its  perch.  It  is  a  quiet 
bird,  unlike  the  Pitangus.  Brazilians  and  strangers  alike  confound  all 
these  yellow-breasted  Tyrant-birds  under  the  common  appellation  of 
"  Bentivi." 

60.  PlPEA  EUBRTCAPILLA. 

I  first  met  with  this  bird  in  the  outskirts  of  the  forest  near  Caxanga, 
where  I  obtained  a  pair  of  specimens  and  saw  others.  I  also  afterwards 
saw  what  I  believe  to  have  been  a  young  male  (just  acquiring  the  red 
colour  of  the  head)  in  some  scrubby  forest  between  Eecife  and  Beberibe, 
but  not  having  a  gun  at  the  time,  could  not  get  it.  My  experience  of 
this  Pipra  was  that  it  was  nearly  always  found  in  the  thickest  and  most 
dark  parts  of  the  forest,  where  no  other  birds  were  to  be  seen  or  heard. 
They  feed,  I  think,  on  berries. 

The  irides  (of  the  male  at  least)  are  pale  yellowish  white,  in  the  female 
or  young  bird  they  are  darker. 

61.  CHIEOXIPHIA  PAEEOLA. 

I  shot  a  single  male  specimen  of  this  bird,  the  only  one  I  saw,  in  some 
thick  and  dense  forest  near  Parahyba. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  267 

62.  PACHTEHAMPHUS  ATRICAPILLUS. 

I  obtained  a  single  female  specimen  of  this  bird  from  a  small  boy  at 
Macuca,  who  had  shot  it  with  an  earthen  pellet  discharged  from  a  bow — 
a  style  of  shooting  much  indulged  in  by  the  youthful  Brazilians,  who   Ibis,  1881, 
become  very  good  marksmen  in  this  rather  primitive  method.  P*  346' 

Irides  brown. 

63.  CONOPOPHAGA  LTffEATA. 

I  only  once  met  with  this  bird,  and  that  was  one  day  when  out 
shooting  with  Mr.  Weaver  in  a  patch  of  forest  on  the  top  of  the  hills 
near  Quipapa.  "We  were  going  along  a  narrow  path  in  the  forest, 
which  was  so  thick  as  to  prevent  our  seeing  more  than  about  a  yard  in 
any  direction.  We  could  bear  a  number  of  birds  with  a  very  loud 
chattering  cry  around  us,  and  occasionally  could  get  a  glimpse  of  one 
as  it  hopped  about  in  the  dense  undergrowth.  A  lucky  shot  on  my 
friend's  part  secured  a  specimen  ;  but  further  efforts  were  fruitless. 
The  silvery-white  tufts  of  feathers  on  the  sides  of  the  head  are  very 
striking  on  the  freshly  shot  bird. 

Irides  brown. 

I  may  here  remark  that  the  genus  ConopopTiaga  has  been  wrongly 
placed  by  Messrs.  Sclater  and  Salvin  in  their  valuable  '  Nomenclator/ 
By  them  it  is  included  as  a  member  of  the  "  OligomyodaB,"  the  Gonopo- 
phaginse  being  placed  as  the  first  subfamily  of  the  Tyrannidae.  We 
know,  however,  from  the  researches  of  Miiller  (Stimmorgane  d.  Passeri- 
nen,  p.  39,  and,  ibid.,  Garrod's  edition,  p.  32),  that  Conopophaga  aurita 
possesses  a  typically  Tracheophone  syrinx,  so  that  it  is  amongst  those 
forms  that  the  genus  must  be  correctly  located  (cf.  Garrod,  P.  Z.  S.  1877, 
p.  452,  also  a  paper  by  the  writer,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  435). 

64.  FuBNABIUS  FIGTJLUS. 

The  Oven-bird  does  not  appear  to  be  found  in  the  immediate  neigh- 
bourhood of  Recife,  but  I  found  it  at  nearly  all  the  other  places  I  stayed 
at,  from  Parahyba  to  Garanhuns.  At  Cabo,  where  I  first  saw  it,  it 
was  abundant  close  to  Mr.  Hood's  house,  both  in  the  garden  and  on  the 
line  of  railway  adjoining.  It  is  a  very  noisy  bird,  and,  in  the  mornings 
particularly,  may  often  be  seen,  sometimes  two  or  three  together,  perched 
on  the  roofs  of  houses  or  on  the  telegraph-wires,  pouring  forth  a  loud 
song  of  peculiar  chattering  notes.  It  also  spends  a  good  deal  of  its  time  ibis,  1881, 
on  the  ground,  and  when  there  walks  in  a  peculiar  way,  \\  ith  an  action  P-  '<&**• 
that  somewhat  reminds  one  of  a  high-stepping  horse.  Unfortunately 
I  never  saw  a  nest  of  the  Furnaritts,  nor  did  I  hear  from  the  Brazilians 
any  stories  of  it  similar  to  those  narrated  by  Burmeister. 


268  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

65.  SYNALLAXIS  FBONTALIS. 

This  bird  and  the  next  I  did  not  distinguish  on  the  spot,  so  I  can 
give  no  exact  particulars  as  to  the  exact  range  of  the  two  species,  which 
may  very  possibly  occur  together.  I  met  with  these  birds  at  all  the 
localities  I  stayed  at,  from  the  coast  to  Graranhuns,  and  usually  they 
were  abundant.  They  frequent  low  shrubs  and  bush-covered  ground, 
and  creep  about  actively  in  the  thick  vegetation,  singly  or  in  pairs, 
uttering  continually  a  loud  cry,  repeated  several  times,  sounding  like 
acqui,  acqui. 

Irides  brown ;  feet  dirty  fleshy ;  beak  grey,  the  upper  mandible 
except  at  base,  darker. 

66.  SYNALLAXIS  ALBESCENS. 

I  did  not  at  the  time  distinguish  between  this  and  the  last  species, 
which  it  much  resembles  in  habits. 
The  eyes  are  red-brown. 

67.  SYNALLAXIS  CINNAMOMEA. 

This  is  one  of  the  most  abundant  birds  in  Pernambuco  and  Parahyba, 
being  found  nearly  everywhere  in  suitable  positions  ;  that  is,  where  the 
country  is  not  densely  forest-clad  and  in  the  vicinity  of  water.  It 
was  very  abundant  in  the  garden  at  Estancia,  and  is  a  very  noisy  bird, 
with  a  peculiar  loud  chattering  cry.  A  couple  of  males,  which  are  larger 
and  brighter  than  the  females,  might  often  be  seen  flying  after  and 
chasing  each  other,  and  in  these  cases  a  female  bird  was  usually  not  far  off. 
It  builds  a  large  nest  of  sticks,  many  of  which  are  of  considerable  size 
and  thickness.  In  Mr.  Hood's  garden  at  Cabo  a  pair  of  these  birds  had 
a  nest  in  a  low  bush  a  few  yards  from  the  windows,  and  I  used  often  to 
watch  the  bird  flying  in  from  the  garden  with  sticks,  sometimes  con- 
Ibis,  1881,  siderably  longer  than  the  birds  themselves.  I  think  both  sexes  took  a 
p.  347.  share  in  the  construction,  in  which  they  were  most  assiduous.  The  nest 
was  a  large,  somewhat  triangularly  shaped  mass  of  sticks  and  twigs, 
thickly  matted  together,  and  with  an  opening  for  the  birds  at  one  end. 
Very  possibly  the  same  nest  is  used  for  a  number  of  years  in  succession, 
being  repaired  and  increased  in  size  every  breeding-season. 

Eyes  chestnut-brown ;  legs  blue-grey,  with  the  soles  lighter. 

68.  THAMNOPHILTTS  PALLIATUS. 

This  bird  is  abundant  in  some  places  and  its  presence  is  betrayed  by 
its  very  curious  loud  chattering  notes,  which  are  commenced  in  a  high 
key,  and  fall  lower  as  their  conclusion  is  approached.  The  bird  creeps 
about,  singly  or  in  pairs,  the  bushes  and  small  trees  of  the  more  open 
parts,  and  is  by  no  means  shy.  I  got  specimens  at  Cabo  and  Parahyba, 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  269 

and  also  saw  it  near  Macuca  and  Garanhuns,  so  that  it  is  probably  widely 
distributed. 

The  irides  (in  both  sexes)  are  pale  yellowish  white ;  the  beak  and 
legs  are  leaden  grey. 

09.  THAMISTOPHILTJS  TORQUATUS. 

I  only  once  got  a  specimen  of  this  bird,  which  I  shot  near  Quipapa  ; 
afterwards  I  obtained  one  from  my  friend  Herr  Miiller,  who  had  shot  it 
near  Recife,  where  also  I  believe  I  saw  it  once  or  twice.  The  bird  I 
shot  at  Quipapa  attracted  my  attention  by  its  remarkable  cat-like  miauling 
cry,  very  different  from  that  of  T.  palliatus. 

The  irides  are  chestnut-brown. 

70.  HERPSILOCHMUS  PILEATUS. 

This  little  bird  was  rather  abundant  near  Garanhuns,  frequenting  the 
thick  scrub,  and  flying  actively  about,  in  small  parties  of  three  or  four, 
amongst  the  tops  of  the  bushes,  like  a  Parus  or  Polioptila.  I  did  not 
meet  with  it  elsewhere. 

71.  HERPSILOCHMTJS,  sp.  inc. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  a  second  species  of  the  genus  near  Macuca, 
but,  having  been  preserved  in  spirit,  it  is  not  in  sufficiently  good  order 
to  describe  or  identify.     Mr.  Sclater,  who  thinks  it  is  probably  new,  has  Ibis,  1881, 
kindly  given  me  the  subjoined  note  on  it : —  p' 

"  A  single  example  of  a  species  allied  to  H.  pileatus  of  Pelzeln,  but 
probably  distinct,  having  the  head  striated  with  white." 

72.  EORMICIYORA  GRISEA. 

I  obtained  specimens  of  this  bird  at  Parahyba  and  Quipapa,  and  also 
believe  that  I  saw  it  in  the  second-growth  woods  outside  Eecife,  but  it 
was  nowhere  common. 

Eyes  brown ;  beak  black ;  feet  dark  grey,  the  nails  blacker. 

73.  FORMICIYORA  RUFATRA. 

I  got  this  bird  in  the  bush-covered  country  around  Parahyba,  but  did 
not  afterwards  meet  with  it. 

Irides  brown  ;  legs  lead-coloured. 

74.  APHANTOCHROA  CIRROCHLORIS. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  this  Hummer  out  of  a  large  tree,  in  which 
it  was  perched  high  above  the  ground,  in  a  patch  of  forest  covering  the 
top  of  a  hill  near  Macuca. 


270  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

75.  CHRYSOLAMPIS  MOSCHITFS. 

I  shot  a  specimen  of  this  widely  distributed  species  out  of  a  high  tree 
in  some  forest  near  Graranhuns. 

76.  CHRYSOBEONCHUS  YIEESCENS. 

The  commonest  Humming-bird  at  Eecife,  where  it  may  be  seen  all 
round  the  town  in  gardens,  coming  sometimes  into  houses ;  and  I  have 
also  seen  it  once  or  twice  hovering  round  the  flowei-ing  bushes  in  the 
gardens  in  the  town  itself.  I  also  got  it  at  Cabo.  The  name  applied 
to  all  Humming-birds  is  "  Bejaflor,"  or  "  Kiss-Flower." 

77.  ETJCEPHALA  C^EETJLEA. 

This  Hummer  I  believe  I  saw  several  times  near  Eecife,  in  the  lanes 
and  roads  outside  the  town.  At  Parahyba  it  was  rather  common,  and 
there  I  shot  specimens. 

78.  HYDROPSALIS  FOKCIPATA. 

Ibis,  1881,  Whilst  staying  at  the  house  of  my  friend  Dr.  Lustoza,  situated  in  a 
p.  349.  valley  off  the  line  of  railway  between  Quipapa  and  Macuca,  I  shot  a 
single  specimen  of  this  bird.  It  was  with  another  flying  about  at  dusk 
over  the  ground  near  the  house,  and  settling  occasionally  on  the  path- 
way. The  long  outer  rectrices  gave  it  a  curious  appearance  on  the 
wing.  Brazilian  name  "  Bacurau." 

79.  CHLORONERPES  AFFINIS. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen,  a  young  bird,  of  this  species  in  the  outskirts 
of  some  forest  near  Macuca.  This  was  the  only  Woodpecker  I  obtained 
specimens  of,  though  I  saw  at  various  times  at  least  three  others,  but 
always  out  of  shot.  The  Brazilian  name  for  Woodpeckers  generally  is 
"  Pica-pao." 

Irides  brown  ;  legs  and  beak  dark  grey,  the  lower  mandible  whitish 
grey. 

80.  CEETLE  AMERICANA. 

This  species  of  Kingfisher  I  found  abundant  in  the  neighbourhood  of 
the  coast  round  Eecife  and  at  Parahyba.  It  occurred  even  just  outside 
the  town,  a  couple  of  these  birds  haunting  the  small  stream  and  ponds 
in  the  gardens  round  Estancia,  perching  on  the  walls  and  on  the  man- 
grove-bushes on  the  look-out  for  small  fish  and  other  animals  as  prey. 
When  perched  the  tail  is  directed  nearly  straight  backwards,  in  a  line 
parallel  with  the  axis  of  the  beak,  an' altitude  which  gives  the  bird  a 
remarkable  character. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  271 

81.  GrALBTJLA  BUFO-VIRIDIS. 

I  saw  my  first  live  Jacamars  when  driving  between  Iguarassu  and 
Goyanna,  in  the  thick  forests  that  in  many  places  border  the  highroad 
between  the  two  towns.  Here  they  seemed  to  be  rather  abundant, 
coming  out  in  the  early  morning  and  perching  on  the  trees  or  telegraph- 
wires  (!)  lining  the  road.  I  once  saw  as  many  as  three  close  together, 
though  they  are  usually  solitary.  They  seemed  quiet  and  apathetic,  and 
not  at  all  shy,  flying  off,  like  Tyrannidse,  from  their  perch  after  food 
and  again  returning.  Subsequently  I  again  met  with  Jacamars,  but  only 
singly,  in  the  woods  near  Caxanga  and  at  Parahyba.  I  tried  very  hard 
to  obtain  live  specimens,  but,  in  spite  of  offering  good  rewards,  the 
Brazilians  were  much  too  lazy  to  trouble  themselves  about  procuring  ibis,  1881, 
living  birds.  The  name  "  Jacamar  "  I  never  heard  used  by  them  ;  they  P-  35°- 
call  the  birds  "  Bejaflor  do  matto,"  or  "  Bejaflor  Grande,"  evidently 
thinking  the  bird  only  a  kind  of  gigantic  Hummer. 

The  irides  are  brown. 

82.  CEOTOPHAGA  ANI. 

The  "  Anu,"  or,  as  it  is  called  by  many  Englishmen,  the  "  Black 
Parrot "  (I  suppose  from  some  fancied  resemblance  in  the  bill),  is  one  of 
the  most  characteristic  birds  of  Brazil.  They  may  be  seen  everywhere  in 
the  neighbourhood  of  cultivation,  coming  even  into  the  gardens  round 
Recife,  and  being  most  abundant  in  the  neighbourhood  of  cattle.  They 
are  eminently  social  birds,  the  flocks  usually  numbering  about  twentv 
individuals,  though  sometimes  much  less.  They  like  to  perch  on  low 
trees  and  bushes,  and  a  bush  may  often  be  seen  with  a  dozen  or  more 
of  these  "  black  birds "  settled  on  it.  If  alarmed  one  rises  and  flies 
slowly  away,  the  others  following  with  a  chorus  of  their  low,  plaintive, 
rather  whistling  note,  which  sounds  a  good  deal  like  ennui,  with  the  last 
syllable  accented.  In  flight  the  long  tail  is  extended  straight  out  behind 
the  body,  and  the  wings  are  kept  rather  horizontal  and  move  but  slowly 
and  feebly.  The  Anu  seems  very  fond  of  the  sun  ;  and  I  have  sometimes 
seen  twenty  or  more  perched  in  a  row  on  the  top  of  a  wall  sunning 
themselves  and  preening  their  feathers.  Whilst  so  engaged  they  often 
elevate  their  tail  and  bring  it  forward  over  the  head,  in  much  the  same 
way  as  Toucans  sometimes  do. 

83.  GrUIEA  PIEIEIGUA. 

This  Cuckoo  I  only  saw  at  Parahyba,  where  I  once  or  twice  came 
across  a  small  flock  of  three  or  four  individuals  in  the  garden  near  the 
town.  In  flight  and  cry  it  much  resembles  Crotophaga ;  and  the  Bra- 
zilians rightly  recognize  the  affinity  of  the  two  genera  by  calling  the 


272  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

present  species  "  Anu  branco,"  or  "  White  Arm,"  as  opposed  to  the 
common  or  black  species. 

Ibis,  1881,         84.    DlPLOPTEEUS  N^EVIUS. 
p.  351. 

I  only  once  saw  this  bird,  at  Garanhuns.     It  was  feeding  in  the  road, 

from  which  it  flew  up,  as  I  approached,  into  a  neighbouring  tree.  Thence 
it  flew  down  again  into  an  adjoining  maize-field,  where  its  colour  matched 
well  with  that  of  the  soil.  A  successful  stalk  on  my  part  ended  its 
career. 

The  irides  are  palish  brown. 

85.    PlAYA  CAYANA. 

This  Cuckoo  I  first  saw  at  Cabo  ;  afterwards  I  met  with  it  at  Parahyba, 
and  again  at  Quipapa.  It  is  usually  seen  singly,  and  is  apparently  by 
no  means  rare.  Though  generally  seen  in  trees,  it  seems  awkward  and 
by  no  means  at  its  ease  off  the  ground.  It  sits  quietly  for  a  long  time, 
and  then,  when  disturbed,  creeps  off  through  the  leaves  and  flies  away  on 
the  other  side.  It  has  a  loud  screaming  cry,  which  frequently  betrays  its 
presence.  Once,  at  Quipapa,  I  saw  one  being  mobbed  by  some  small  birds, 
just  as  Owls  or  Hawks  often  are  in  this  country.  The  Brazilians  know 
the  bird  well,  as  it  is  rendered  conspicuous  both  by  its  colour  and  cry, 
and  call  it  "  Almo  do  G-ato."  The  colouring  of  the  soft  part  makes  this 
bird,  when  alive  or  freshly  killed,  far  handsomer  than  would  be  inferred 
from  the  skin  alone. 

The  irides  are  bright  ruby-red  and  the  eyelids  scarlet  ;  the  beak  is 
yellowish  green  ;  the  feet  grey,  with  the  soles  yellowish. 


86.  CONUBUS  JEtfDAYA. 

This  Parrakeet,  called  by  the  Brazilians  "  Jandaia,"  may  often  be  seen 
tamed  in  houses,  and  to  this  species  no  doubt  belonged  most  of  the 
Conuri  that  I  continually  saw  flying  in  small  flocks  of  from  four  to 
twenty  or  so,  both  at  Parahyba  and  between  Quipapa  and  Garanhuns. 
These  birds,  however,  were  so  wary  that  I  only  once  succeeded  in  at  all 
making  out  what  they  were  by  means  of  a  glass,  which  clearly  revealed 
their  yellow  undersides.  At  other  times  they  were  invariably  high  in 
the  air,  far  out  of  gun-shot  and  almost  out  of  sight  ;  indeed  their  presence 
was  usually  first  indicated  by  their  cries,  which  were  audible  long  before 
Ibis,  1881,  they  themselves  became  visible.  Only  once,  in  a  patch  of  forest  near 
p.  352.  Quipapa,  did  I  get  anywhere  within  shot  of  these  birds,  and  then  they 
were  off  directly  they  became  aware  of  the  presence  of  a  stranger. 

87.  CONUEUS  CACTOEUM. 

Numerous  living  specimens  of  this  little  Parrakeet  were  brought  to  me 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  273 

by  the  natives  at  Garanhuns,  who  called  it  simply  "  Perriquito."  I  have 
already  noticed  the  abundance  of  large  Cacti  in  the  sandy  districts  around 
Garanhuns,  and  on  these,  no  doubt,  these  Parrakeets  largely  subsist. 
I  never  succeeded  in  identifying  the  bird  in  a  wild  state,  though  I  every 
day  saw  or  heard  flocks  of  a  Conurus  flying  high  in  the  air  around 
Garanhuns.  Prince  Maximilian  also  met  with  it  in  the  Sertoes  of  Bahia 
(cf.  Burmeister,  Thiere  Bras.  ii.  p.  170). 

88.  CHETSOTIS  ESTIVA. 

This  was  the  only  species  of  Clirysotis  I  saw  at  all  in  the  districts  I 
traversed.  Of  it,  however,  one  sees  many  dozens  for  sale  in  all  the  shops 
where  live  birds  &c.  are  sold  in  Recife,  and  nearly  every  hut  in  the 
country  has  also  its  "  Papagaio."  In  the  wild  state  I  only  met  with  it 
in  the  forests  near  Parahyba,  where  we  several  times  saw  it,  usually 
flying  high  over  the  trees  in  small  flocks,  and,  like  other  Parrots,  voci- 
ferating vigorously  whilst  on  the  wing.  With  the  aid  of  my  "  Ca9ador," 
Antonio,  we  succeeded,  after  a  long  hunt,  in  finding  a  lofty  forest  tree 
where  the  Parrots  were  feeding,  as  evidenced  by  the  heaps  of  its  "  shelled  " 
fruit  that  lay  on  the  ground  below,  or  came  patteriDg  down  from  above 
as  we  stood  beneath  the  trees.  Hoping  to  get  a  good  view  of  some 
Parrots  "  at  home,"  I  proceeded  to  lie  down  on  my  back  beneath  the 
trees,  in  order -to  have  a  good  look  at  the  birds  above  through  my  glasses. 
However,  they  saw  us  before  we  could  "  spot "  them,  hidden  as  they 
were  by  the  thick  canopy  of  leaves,  and  flew  screaming  off  to  some  less 
disturbed  spot,  no  doubt  to  resume  their  meal  on  some  other  tree. 

The  Brazilians  call  Ckrysotis  cestiua  the   "  Papagaio "  par  excellence. 
Artificially  produced  varieties,  with  more  or  fewer  yellow  feathers,  are  Ibis»  ^l, 
called  "  contrafeitos,"  and  are  considered  to  be  both  more  beautiful  and 
more  valuable  than  those  that  have  not  been  thus  tampered  with. 

89.  PSITTACULA  PASSEEINA. 

I  first  saw  the  South- American  "  Love-bird  "  on  the  road  between 
Iguarassu  and  Olinda,  and  subsequently  in  nearly  every  place  I  stayed 
at.  In  the  interior  it  is  very  abundant,  flying  about  in  large  flocks, 
often  in  company  with  the  Brazilian  Canary  (Sycalis  flaveola},  generally 
frequenting  the  gardens  or  plantations  round  houses,  especially  where 
there  are  castor-oil  (Ricinus)  trees.  Its  flight,  though  quick,  is  not  pro- 
longed. You  see  two  or  three  alight  in  a  bush  or  small  tree,  which  sit 
there  quietly  till  they  are  joined  by  two  or  three  more ;  then  perhaps  a 
few  more  arrive,  and  so  on,  till  twenty  or  thirty  are  assembled  in  the 
same  tree,  and  after  a  while  they  fly  off,  together  or  in  small  batches,  as 
they  arrived.  Mr.  Weaver,  at  Quipapa,  told  me  that  a  few  weeks  before 
my  visit  these  Parrakeets  were  immensely  numerous  there,  and  that  the 

T 


274  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

numbers  we  then  saw  were  nothing  to  what  there  had  been  previously, 
before  the  greater  part  had  gone  more  inland  towards  the  Sertoes,  as  they 
do  towards  the  commencement  of  the  dry  season.     The  Brazilians  call  it 
"  Perriquito  Tapacu." 
Eyes  brown. 

90.  STEIX  FLAMMEA. 

Whilst  staying  at  Quipapa  a  boy  brought  me  a  specimen  of  a  Barn- 
Owl,  which,  as  far  as  I  could  see,  differed  in  no  important  respect  from 
English  specimens. 

91.  GAMPSONYX  SWAINSONI. 

I  shot  a  single  specimen  of  this  pretty  little  Hawk  out  of  a  high  tree 
near  Parahyba. 

Irides  red ;  feet  orange-yellow ;  beak  and  claws  black. 

92.  HEKPETOTHEKES  CACHINNANS. 

Whilst  staying  at  Garanhuns  I   bought  a  beautiful   pair  of  living 
specimens  of  this  Hawk,  which  had  come,  with  some  other  birds,  from 
Ibis,  1881,   Aguas   Bellas,  a   village   in  the   Sertoes,  some   seventy  miles   beyond 
p.  354.      GJ-aranhuns.     Unfortunately  they  succumbed  to  the  jolting  and  heat  of 
the  journey  down  to  Palmares,  dying  the  day  before  we  reached  Eecife. 
The  Brazilians  considered  it  a  rare  bird,  and  called  it  "  Couao."     As 
noticed  by  Burmeister  (Thiere  Bras.  ii.  p.  92),  these  birds,  after  a  good 
meal,  showed  a  naked  "  craw  "  protruding  through  the  breast-feathers. 
Irides  dark  brown. 

93.  POLYBORTJS  THARUS. 

The  "  Cara-cara "  I  saw  several  times  on  the  coast,  both  near  Eecife 
and  around  Parahyba.  In  the  interior  I  did  not  identify  it.  On  the 
wing  it  has  a  decidedly  fine  appearance. 

94.  CATHARTES  ATOA. 

The  Eed-headed  "  Urubu  "  is  never,  as  far  as  I  saw,  to  be  met  with  in 
towns,  though  it  was  by  no  means  rare  in  the  country.  I  first  saw  it  at 
Goyanna,  and  afterwards  met  with  it  plentifully  at  Parahyba  and  near 
Cabo.  It  is  usually  seen  singly  or  in  pairs  ;  but  on  one  occasion,  at  an 
"  engenho  "  near  Cabo,  I  saw  a  considerable  number,  perhaps  twenty,  of 
it  together.  The  Brazilians,  as  a  rule,  did  not  distinguish  between 
G.  aura  and  C.  atratus.  Gypagus  papa,  however  (a  species  I  did  not 
meet  with,  though  it  occurs  sometimes  not  far  from  Eecife),  is  well 
known  to  them  as  the  "  Urubu  Ee,"  or  King  Urubu. 

95.CATHARTES  ATBATUS. 

The  "  Urubu  "  is  one  of  the  first  birds  to  attract  the  stranger's  eye  on 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  275 

his  landing  in  Recife,  as  ever)'-  day  several  of  these  birds  may  be  seen 
flying  heavily  about  in  the  outskirts  of  the  town,  or  even  over  waste 
places  in  it,  on  the  look  out  for  offal  of  any  kind.  Before  Recife  boasted 
of  a  drainage  company  (a  benefit  it  now  possesses)  the  Urubus  are  said 
to  have  been  much  more  numerous  than  they  now  are,  and,  indeed,  they 
were  then  the  main  agents  for  sanitary  purposes.  Even  now  they  are 
useful  in  this  way,  to  some  extent,  as  scavengers,  and  a  considerable 
fine  is  imposed  for  shooting  one.  The  white  patch  on  the  remiges  is 
very  conspicuous  on  the  bird  when  flying,  and  diminishes  somewhat  the 
monotony  of  its  appearance.  Outside  the  large  towns  this  Urubu  is  Ibis,  1881, 
replaced,  apparently,  by  Gathartes  aura.  P-  355- 

96.  ARDEA  CAKDIDISSIMA. 

When  on  the  Parahyba  river,  between  the  bar  at  its  mouth  and  the 
anchorage  below  the  town,  I  saw  great  numbers  of  this  beautiful  white 
Egret,  either  flying  slowly  up  stream  in  twos  and  threes,  high  in  the  air, 
or  wading  about  on  the  mud- flats  left  bare  by  the  tide  in  search  of 
food. 

97.  BUTOEIDES  CYANURUS. 

This  small  Bittern  was  very  common  in  marshy  ground  round  Recife, 
and  a  pair  or  two  frequented  the  reed-beds  at  the  bottom  of  the  garden 
at  Estancia.  These  had  a  nest  in  the  mangrove-bushes  near  the  stream. 
The  nest  was  a  loose  platform  of  sticks,  a  couple  of  feet  or  so,  I  was 
told,  above  the  ground. 

The  native  name  is  "  Socoa." 

98.  SARCIDIORNIS  CARTJNCULATA. 

Of  the  South-American  Black-backed  Goose  I  found  a  fine  living  pair 
in  the  garden  at  Estancia,  and  their  owner  was  kind  enough  to  send 
them  to  London  for  the  Zoological  Gardens,  where  they  now  are.  These 
birds  had  been  brought  down  some  months  before  from  the  Sertoes  of 
the  interior  by  a  "  matuto  "  for  sale  in  Recife. 

According  to  Mr.  Sclater  (P.  Z.  S.  1876,  p.  695),  in  the  American 
Sarcidiornis  "  the  sexes  are  nearly  equal  in  size,  the  female  bears  a  cornb 
on  the  head  as  well  as  the  male,  and  the  flanks  are  conspicuously  black." 
These  remarks  were  based  upon  the  examination  of  three  specimens  then 
living  in  the  Zoological  Gardens,  supposed  to  be  "  an  adult  male  and  an 
adult  and  younger  female,"  and  to  have  been  imported  from  Maranham. 
The  pair  of  birds  I  brought  back,  however,  do  not  agree  with  the  above- 
quoted  description,  inasmuch  as  the  female  bird  is  much  smaller  than 
the  male  and  has  no  wattle  at  all  on  the  head,  in  those  respects  agreeing 
with  the  hen  of  the  Indian  species  (S.  melanonota).  Of  the  three  birds 
mentioned  by  Mr.  Sclater,  two  have  since  died,  and  on  dissection  turned 

T2 


276  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL. 

Ibis,  1881,  out  to  be  males ;  the  third  is  still  (February  10)  alive,  and  in  all  respects 
agrees  with  the  male  of  my  pair,  having  a  large  comb,  and  being  much 
bigger  than  the  female.  There  can  be  no  doubt,  therefore,  that  this 
specimen  too  is  a  male,  and  that  Mr.  Sclater's  so-called  "  females  "  were, 
in  reality,  only  young  males.  The  female  of  my  birds  has  little,  if  any, 
more  black  on  the  flanks  than  a  female  S.  melanonota  in  the  adjacent 
inclosure,  so  that  the  only  remaining  available  distinction  between  the 
two  forms  is  the  black  sides  of  the  male  of  the  American  bird ;  and  this 
character,  as  far  as  I  have  yet  seen,  seems  to  hold  good. 

[P.S.  Since  the  above  was  written,  both  my  birds  have,  unfortunately, 
died.  Their  sex  was  verified  by  dissection.— May  19,  1881.] 

99.  COLTJMBA  PICAZUEO. 

This  Pigeon  is  well  known  to  the  Brazilians  as  the  "  Azu  Branca," 
or  White-winged  Dove.  I  was  told  it  was  sometimes  abundant  round 
Parahyba,  and  also  heard  of  it  at  Quipapa,  Garanhuns,  and  other  places. 
However,  I  never  succeeded  in  seeing  it  wild,  though  I  got  several  living 
specimens  at  Parahyba  and  elsewhere. 

100.  COLTJMBA.  ETJFIKA. 

I  obtained  a  single  living  specimen  of  this  Pigeon  at  Parahyba,  where 
I  was  told  that,  at  some  seasons  of  the  year,  when  certain  fruits  were 
ripe,  it  was  common  in  the  forests  around. 

The  Brazilians  know  it  as  the  "  Gallega." 

101.  SCAEDAFELLA  SQUAMOSA. 

I  first  met  with  this  pretty  Dove  in  some  of  the  gardens  in  the  out- 
skirts of  Parahyba.  Afterwards,  when  riding  between  Macuca  and 
Garanhuns,  I  several  times  flushed  little  coveys  of  it,  which  rose  up  from 
the  road  and  took  refuge  in  the  nearest  tree.  Usually  these  parties 
consisted  of  about  four.  "When  rising  they  make,  apparently  with  their 
wings,  a  curious  rattling  noise,  whence  they  are  called  by  the  Brazilians 
"  Eola  Cascavel," — Gascavel  meaning  a  rattle,  and  being  also  the  name 
applied  by  the  natives  to  the  Brazilian  rattlesnake  (Crotalus  ~horridus\ 
which  is  by  no  means  rare  in  the  district. 

Ibis,  1881,       102.  CHAM^PELIA  GEISEOLA 
p.  357. 

I  got  specimens,  through  Herr  Miiller,  of  this  little  Ground-Dove 

from  the  neighbourhood  of  Eecife,  where,  I  think,  I  also  saw  it  several 
times,  as  well  as  near  Parahyba. 

103.  CHAM^EPELIA  TALPACOTI. 

The  Eola,  as  this  little  Pigeon  is  called  by  the  Brazilians,  is  a  very 
common  bird  all  over  the  parts  I  visited.  It  is  found  solitarily  or  in  pairs, 
and  is  much  esteemed  for  the  pot,  and  persecuted  in  consequence. 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  277 

104.  LEPTOPTILA  OCHROPTEEA. 

Of  this  Dove,  or  a  closely  allied  species,  I  got  one  or  two  living 
specimens  at  Garanhuns,  which  had  been  caught  in  the  surrounding 
country.  The  Brazilians  know  it  as  the  "  Jurute." 

105.  PENELOPE  STTPEECILIAEIS. 

I  obtained  a  single  living  specimen  of  this  bird  at  Garanhuns,  which 
had  been  caught  originally  at  Panellas,  a  small  village  north  of  Quipapa. 
I  was  told  that  further  in  the  interior,  towards  Aguas  Bellas,  the  present 
species  is  not  uncommon  in  some  of  the  Serras  that  intersect  the  plateau 
of  the  Sertoes.  Its  Brazilian  name  is  "  Jaeu." 

106.  OETALIS  ALBIVENTEIS. 

Whilst  staying  at  Macuca,  one  evening,  a  little  before  sunset,  I  was 
surprised  by  the  very  loud  calls  of  a  bird  I  had  never  heard  before,  and 
which  proceeded  from  the  wooded  hills  on  the  other  side  of  the  valley 
where  Mr.  Watts's  house  lay.  On  inquiring  of  him  what  bird  it  was,  I 
was  informed  it  was  the  "  Aracuao,"  which  was  described  as  a  sort  of 
small  Pheasant,  of  a  brownish  colour,  that  was  sometimes  met  with  in 
small  parties  in  the  forests,  and  was  well  known  to  the  natives.  A  few 
days  after,  at  Garanhuns,  a  live  Aracuao  was  brought  to  me  which  had 
been  caught  in  the  neighbourhood.  This  I  bought  and  brought  alive  to 
London ;  and  it  turns  out  to  be  the  present  species,  which  was  also 
found  by  the  late  Dr.  Wucherer  in  the  neighbouring  province  of  Bahia. 
1  subsequently  saw  other  living  examples  of  the  species  in  Becife.  With 
regard  to  the  peculiar  loud  cry  of  the  present  species,  it  may  be  re-  Ibis,  1881, 
membered  that,  like  many  other  Cracidse,  the  male  bird  has  a  convoluted  P-  ^' 
trachea,  the  fold  (which  lies  outside  the  pectoral  muscles)  in  some  cases 
extending  as  far  as  the  posterior  end  of  the  sternum. 

107.  BALLUS  LONGIROSTRIS. 

My  friend  Herr  M tiller,  of  Becife,  during  my  absence  in  the  interior, 
got  a  specimen  of  this  bird  for  me,  which  he  had  shot  in  the  close  vicinity 
of  Becife. 

108.  BALLTJS  NIGRICASTS. 

A  second  species  of  Bail,  also  brought  to  me  alive  at  Quipapa,  I 
identified  with  this  species  from  Burrneister's  description.  It  fell  a 
victim  to  rats  daring  my  absence. 

Irides  bright  red;  feet  dull  red ;  beak  yellowish  green,  greyer  at  the  tip. 

109.  ARAMIDES  CATENNENSIS. 

Whilst  staying  at  Quipapa  some  boys  brought  in  for  sale  a  livin  g 
specimen  of  this  Bail,  which  they  had  caught  near  the  town. 


278  ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NOKTH-EASTERN  BEAZIL. 

1 10.  CARIAMA  CEISTATA. 

The  occurrence  of  the  Cariama  in  the  Sertoes  of  Pernambuco  is  a  fact 
of  some  interest,  as  it  marks,  I  believe,  at  present  the  most  northern 
limit  of  this  curious  genus.  I  did  not  myself  see  the  Cariama  in  the 
wild  state ;  but  I  saw,  at  Garanhuns,  one  that  had  been  captured  by  the 
Indians  near  Aguas  Bellas,  a  town  some  seventy  miles  further  S.W.  in 
the  direction  of  the  Paulo  Alfonso  falls.  I  was  also  told  that  it  occurs 
not  rarely  in  the  open  country  near  San  Bento,  another  small  town  about 
thirty-five  miles  north  of  Garanhuns,  and,  like  Aguas  Bellas,  also  in  the 
Sertoes.  The  Brazilian  name  of  the  Cariama  is,  I  may  observe,  uSiri- 
ema,"  a  form  also  used  by  Burmeister  in  his  elaborate  treatise  on  this 
bird.  "  Ema,"  as  we  shall  presently  see,  is  the  name  given  to  the  Rhea 
(H.  macrorTiyncha\  which  is  found  along  with  the  present  species  in  the 
open  plains  of  the  Sertoes,  and  "  Siri"  is  a  diminutive  of  Indian  extrac- 
tion, the  word  thus  signifying  "  little  Ema." 

Ibis,  1881,       HI-  PAERA  JACANA. 

The  "  Jaeana  "  (the  c  is  soft,  and  the  final  a  strongly  accented)  is  a 
very  common  and  conspicuous  bird  in  the  low  country  near  the  sea,  and 
may  be  seen  on  nearly  every  large  weed-covered  pool  of  any  extent. 
Near  Recife  it  might  be  seen  in  numbers  on  some  large  ponds  on  the 
Beberibe  road,  about  a  mile  outside  the  town ;  and  at  Parahyba  it  was 
equally  abundant  close  to  that  place.  I  did  not  see  it  further  inland  than 
Catende.  In  its  actions  the  Ja9ana  strongly  resembles  a  Waterhen.  It 
is  not  apparently  shy,  but  usually  keeps  well  out  of  reach  on  the  weeds 
in  the  middle  of  the  pond.  When  flying,  the  canary-yellow-coloured 
primaries  are  very  conspicuous,  and,  with  the  light  colour  of  the  soft 
parts,  greatly  show  off  the  chestnut  and  black  plumage  of  the  bird. 
Near  Recife  I  saw  three  or  four  of  the  young  birds  in  down,  of  a  mottled 
black  and  white  colour,  walking  about  with  their  parents  on  the  weeds. 

112.  GALLLNAGO  FEENATA  ? 

A  Snipe  is  not  uncommon  at  some  time  of  the  year  in  the  more  marshy 
districts  of  Pernambuco,  and  affords  some  sport  to  the  English  and  other 
residents  in  Recife.  I  saw  the  bird  once  or  twice  at  Cabo,  and  between 
Quipapa  and  Macuca  got  from  a  Brazilian  friend  a  nest  of  two  eggs,  on 
which  the  hen  bird  was  sitting.  Unfortunately  my  friend  omitted  to 
shoot  the  bird ;  but  I  believe  there  is  no  doubt  that  it  belongs  to  the 
present  species. 

The  Brazilian  name  is  "  Agaxadera." 

113.  CBTPTUEUS  TATAUPA. 

The  "  Nambu,"  as  the  present  species  of  Tinamou  is  called,  is  not  at 
all  an  uncommon  bird  in  the  neighbourhood  of  Macuca  and  Garanhuns, 


ELEVEN  WEEKS  IN  NORTH-EASTERN  BRAZIL.  279 

where  I  several  times  heard  its  cry,  and  once  or  twice  flushed  it.     Its 

flight,  however,  though  strong,  is  short,  the  bird  soon  settling  again ;  and 

the  country  is  so  thickly  covered  with  brushwood  and  undergrowth  that 

it  is,  in  consequence,  no  easy  matter  to  shoot  these  birds,  at  least  without 

the  aid  of  dogs.     Sometimes  they  are  stalked  and  shot  by  the  Brazilian 

sportsmen  ;  but  more  usually  they  are  snared.     At  Garanhuns  I  bought  Ibis,  1881, 

a  lot  of  seventeen  Nambus  and  a  pair  of  the  next  species  for  2500  reis       p'  36°' 

(about  five  shillings) — not  a  bad  bargain  perhaps  ! — from  a  boy  who  had 

just  caught  them ;  and  afterwards  I  had  many  more  offered  to  me  for 

sale. 

The  beak  is  vermilion-red,  the  feet  dirty  pink-red,  and  the  irides  rich 
red-brown. 

114.  CRYPTUKTJS  NOCTIYAGTJS. 

This  Tinamou  is  known  as  the  "  Zabille ;"  of  it,  too,  I  got  living 
specimens  at  Graranhuns,  which  had  been  caught  in  the  district  round. 
One  of  these  that  died,  and  which  I  preserved  in  spirit,  Mr.  Salvin  has 
identified  with  the  above-named  species. 

115.  EHYNCHOTUS  EUFESCENS. 

I  saw  one  or  two  living  birds  of  this  species  in  confinement  at 
Garanhuns,  and  was  informed  that  it  too  occurred  in  that  neighbourhood. 

116.  EHEA  MACRORHYNCHA. 

Rhea  macrorhyncha  was  originally  described  by  Mr.  Sclater  some 
twenty  years  ago  (P.  Z.  S.  1860,  p.  207,  &  Trans.  Z.  S.  iv.  p.  356,  pi.  Ixix.), 
from  a  specimen  living  in  the  Zoological  Society's  Gardens,  of  unknown 
origin.  Since  then  several  more  specimens  (some  half  dozen  in  all, 
perhaps)  have  been  secured  at  intervals ;  but  the  exact  locality  of  any  of 
these  has  never,  I  believe,  been  precisely  ascertained,  though  it  has  been 
supposed  to  be  the  "  campos  "  of  Northern  Brazil  or  Guiana  (cf.  Sclater 
P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  160). 

When  I  arrived  in  Pernambuco  I  made  anxious  inquiries  about  the 
existence  of  any  Ehea  in  that  part  of  Brazil,  and  was  told  by  several 
persons  that  it  existed  in  the  interior,  in  the  dry  and  open  Sertoes  ;  and 
the  dry  country  near  the  falls  on  the  S.  Francisco  river  was  especially 
mentioned  as  a  locality  where  it  was  to  be  found  abundantly.  In  the 
small  museum  in  the  "  Gymnasium,"  I  found  two  stuffed  Eheas,  one 
adult,  and  one  in  the  tawny-brown  plumage  of  immaturity,  which,  as  far 
as  I  could  see,  were  probably  R.  macrorhyncha ;  these  were  said  to  have 
come  from  the  Sertoes.  At  Garanhuns  I  was  fortunate  enough  to  come  j^  1881 
across  a  living  specimen  of  this  bird,  brought  along  with  a  Cariama  and  p.  361. ' 
two  Herpetoiheres  cachinnans,  from  Aguas  Bellas,  where  it  had  been 
captured  young  by  the  Indians.  This  bird  was  not  yet  adult,  though 


280  ON  THE  DESCENT  OF  BIKDS. 

nearly  full-grown.  As  I  was  very  anxious  to  make  out  for  certain  the 
species,  1  bought  it,  and,  after  a  good  deal  of  trouble,  succeeded  in 
getting  it  alive  to  Recife,  and  eventually  to  London,  where,  however, 
unfortunately,  it  did  not  live  long.  The  "  Ema,"  as  the  Ehea  is  called 
by  the  Brazilians,  is  well  known  to  the  people  in  the  Sertoes ;  it  is  now 
said  to  be  rare  near  Aguas  Bellas,  but,  I  was  told,  is  still  found  pretty 
numerously  (as  is  the  Cariama)  in  the  open  grass-covered  country  near 
San  Bento.  Indeed  during  the  secca,  or  drought,  that  has  prevailed  for 
the  last  few  summers  in  this  part  of  the  country,  and  which  resulted  in 
a  general  famine,  the  "  Emas  "  became  so  tame  through  hunger  that  they 
might  be  found  close  to  the  town  itself,  and  even  came  into  the  gardens, 
and  so  were  caught.  My  friend  Mr.  "Weaver,  of  Quipapa,  told  me  he 
had  had  a  young  live  Ema  for  some  time  in  his  house,  which  had  been 
sent  him  as  a  present  by  a  lady.  This  specimen  came  from  Pianco,  a 
small  town  in  the  province  of  Parahyba ;  so  that  evidently  the  range  of 
Rhea  macrorhyncha  extends  to  the  north  of  Pernambuco.  I  hope,  ere 
long,  to  obtain,  through  the  agency  of  some  of  my  Brazilian  friends, 
specimens  of  the  eggs  and  young  of  this  bird  to  compare  with  those  of 
the  commoner  species.  What  the  exact  northern  extension  of  the  latter 
is  I  do  not  exactly  know,  though  it  certainly  extends  north  of  the  Biver 
Plate  into  Uruguay ;  probably  the  barrier  between  the  two  species  is  a 
continuously  wooded  country  lying  between  that  district  and  the  Sertoes 
of  Bahia,  where  the  species  is  also  most  probably  found.  Capt.  Burton, 
who  alludes  to  the  existence  of  a  Ehea  in  Brazil  several  times,  saw  one 
himself  on  the  banks  of  the  S.  Francisco  near  the  Bio  do  Corrente,  above 
Bom  Jardim  ('  Highlands  of  Brazil/  ii.  p.  296),  and  others  at  Jaguara 
(I.  c.  ii.  p.  26),  in  the  province  of  Minas. 

I  hope  on  some  future  occasion  to  be  able  to  compare  the  skeletons  of 

Ibis,  1881,  Rhea   americana   and   R.   macrorhynclia ;    externally,    though   certainly 

p<       *    closely  allied,   the  latter   species   is   distinguishable    by  its   generally 

browner  colouring,  by  the  darker  crown,  which  is  nearly  black,  and  by  its 

longer  bill. 


43-  THE  DESCENT  OP  BIRDS* 

THERE  is  one  passage  in  the  report  of  Prof.  Mivart's  lecture  on 
chamseleons  ('  Nature/  vol.  xxiv.  p.  338)  that  I  cannot  allow  to  pass 
without  demurring  to,  and  that  is  the  suggested  probability  of  a  "  double 

*    'Nature/  xxiv.  p.  380  (Aug.  25,  1881). 


SYSTEMATIC  POSITION  OF  EUPETES  MACROCERCUS.        281 

origin  "  for  the  class  Aves.  I  do  not  wish  at  present  to  raise  the  issue 
as  to  how  far  the  division  of  all  living  birds  into  two  groups — "  Ratite  " 
and  "  Carinate" — is,  or  is  not,  a  natural  one ;  for  at  present  we  have 
not,  I  think,  sufficient  information  or  evidence  on  the  subject  to  allow  of 
any  very  definite  reply.  But  any  one  who  is  acquainted  with  the 
structure  of  a  Tinamu  will,  I  think,  be  unable  to  conceive  of  the  many 
resemblances  that  group  of  birds  presents  to  some  of  the  "  Ratitse "  as 
having  been  developed  independently  of  any  genetic  connexion  between 
the  two — and  that  is  what  Prof.  Mivart's  suggestion  practically  amounts 
to.  That  structures  so  peculiar  as  feathers — which,  as  far  as  we  know, 
are  absolutely  confined  to  birds,  though  universal  amongst  them — should 
have  been  twice  over  developed,  is  to  me  in  the  highest  degree 
improbable — as  improbable,  almost,  as  that  the  resemblances  of  the 
Tunicates  and  Amphioxus  to  the  rest  of  the  Chordata  should  also  be 
accidental. 


44.  NOTE  ON  THE  SYSTEMATIC  POSITION  OF  EUPETES  *z. 
MACROCERCUS.* 

SOME  months   ago   Mr.  R.  B.  Sharpe   directed   my  attention  to   the 
remarkable  similarity  in  general  facies  of  Eupetes  macrocercus  to  the  genus  p.  z.  8. 1881, 
Mesites,  and  suggested  that  that  bird  might  be  in  reality  closely  allied  to       ?•  8^8. 
the  last-named  one,  and  not  at  all  congeneric  with  the  other  species  usually 
included  in  the  genus  Eupetes. 

Our  knowledge  of  the  internal  structure  of  Mesites  is  due  to  M.  Alphonse 
Milne-Edwards,  who,  in  the  '  Annales  des  Sciences  Naturelles '  t  has 
described  its  osteology,  with  some  remarks  on  the  muscles  and  other 
points.  From  its  osteology,  as  well  as  from  the  presence  of  two  carotid 
arteries,  and  of  the  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles,  the 
non-passerine  nature  of  Mesites  is  rendered  absolutely  certain.  M.  Milne- 
Edwards  associates  it  with  the  Rails.  Prom  the  presence  of  powder- 
down  patches  :£,  combined  with  the  schizorhinal  nature  of  the  skull,  I 
should  prefer  to  locate  it  near  Eurypyga  and  Rhinochetus  in  my  group 
Pluviales  §. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  837,  838.    Read  Nov.  15,  1881. 
t    6e  s6rie,  Zool.  t.  vii.  art.  no.  6,  pi.  vii. 

t  First  discovered  by  Mr.  E.  Bartlett,  vide  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  299. 
§  Antea,  p.  221. 


282  ON  THE  STEUCTUEE  OF 

,  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  M.  Milne-Edwards  has  not  in  any  way 
touched  upon  the  pterylosis  of  Mesites ;  and  as  yet  I  have  been  unable 
to  obtain  any  skin  of  that  form  to  supplement  this  deficiency.  From  a 
skin  of  Eupetes  macrocercus  I  have,  however,  been  able  to  ascertain  a 
Sufficient  number  of  points  to  show  that,  unlike  Mesites,  this  form  is 
certainly  Passerine. 

The  pterylosis  is  quite  Passerine,  there  being  a  nude  oil-gland,  twelve 
rectrices,  and  nineteen  remiges,  of  which  ten  are  primaries.  Of  these 
last  the  tenth  (or  so-called  "  first")  is  half  as  long  as  the  ninth.  The 
saddle  of  the  dorsal  tract  is  covered  by  very  long  feathers,  some  being  as 
much  as  3  inches  in  length.  The  aftershaft  is  apparently  quite  absent, 
as  is  the  case  in  some  other  Passeres  (e.  g.  Artamus  and  Eurylcemus) 
according  to  Nitzsch.  There  are  no  traces  of  any  powder-down  patches. 
,  In  the  leg  there  is  no  plantar  vinculum,  as  in  all  the  Eleuthero- 
dactylous  Passeres*,  and  as  in  them  only,  if  we  except  Upupa  and 
certain  Ardeidae. 

The  arrangement  of  the  terminal  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  is 
also  Passerine,  as  described  by  Garrod  t,  with  the  slight  difference  that, 
as  in  Menura  and  Atrichia  J,  the  recurrent  tendon  is  more  or  less 
intimately  blended  with  that  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  subjacent  to  it. 

The  skull,  extracted  from  the  skin,  is  also  typically  Passerine,  with 
the  characteristically  truncated  vomer  of  those  birds.  The  maxillo- 
palatines  are  long  and  thin,  and  recurved  apically ;  the  transpalatines 
well  developed.  Like  all  other  known  Old-World  Passeres,  Eupetes  is 
holorhinal. 

The  exact  place  iu  the  Passerine  series  of  Eupetes  has  yet  to  be 
determined ;  judging,  however,  from  the  bilaminate  tarsal  planta,  it  is  a 
truly  Oscinine  form,  and  therefore  very  probably  to  be  included  in  the 
"  Tiineliidae." 


P.z.s.1881,  45.  NOTE  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  PALATE  IN 

THE  TROGONS  (TROGONID^).§ 

IT  is  my  desire  in  the  present  communication  to  correct  an  error  which, 
though  it  has  been  before  the  ornithological  world  some  years,  has 
hitherto  apparently  escaped  attention — the  more  so,  as  it  has  some  bear- 
ing upon  the  general  question  of  the  classification  of  birds. 

*  P.  Z.  S.  1880,  p.  391.  t  '  Scientific  Papers,'  pp.  356,  357. 

J  L.  c.  p.  358,  pi.  xxiv.  fig.  2. 

§  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  836,  837.  Bead  Nov.  15,  1881. 


THE  PALATE  IN  TROGONS.  283 

The  only  description  of  the  palate  of  the  Trogons  I  have  met  with  is 
that  contained  in  Prof.  Huxley's  celebrated  paper  on  the  Classification 
of  Birds  in  the  Society's  '  Proceedings  '  for  1867.  It  runs  as  follows  *  : 
"  The  only  Trogon  skull  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of  examining  is  that 
of  T.  reimvardti.  It  possesses  basipierygoid  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  Musophagidse ;  the  vomer  seems  to  be  equally  rudimentary ; 
and  the  maxillo-palatines,  though  less  spongy,  unite  in  the  middle  line." 
The  Trogonidae  are  therefore  included  in  Prof.  Huxley's  Desmognathous 
series. 

Recent  examination  of  the  skulls  of  several  species  of  Neotropical 
Trogons  (including  Trogones  puella,  mexicanus,  atricollis,  and  caligatus, 
and  Pharomacrus  mocinno),  for  the  opportunity  of  which  I  am  indebted 
to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  Salvin,  as  well  as  of  one  of  Harpactes  reinwardti 
(the  species  described  by  Prof.  Huxley)  from  the  Eyton  collection,  has    p.  z.  S.  1881, 
convinced  me  of  the  incorrectness  of  the  last  part  of  Prof.  Huxley's  de-      P-  83/^ 
scription.     In  fact,  the  Trogons  are  not  in  the  slightest  degree  desmo- 
gnathous,  but  schizognathous,  Prof.  Huxley's  error  having  probably  been 
due  to  the  imperfect  preparation  of  the  specimen  which  he  inspected. 

As  will  be  evident  from  the  drawing  I  now  exhibit  (see  figure)  of  the 


Palate  of  Pharomacrus  mocinno. 

palate  of  Pharomacrus  mocinno,  the  somewhat  spongy  and  remarkably 
transverse  maxillo-palatines  do  not  unite  with  each  other,  or  with  any 
median  ossification,  across  the  central  line.  On  the  contrary,  their  inner 
ends  are  free  both  from  each  other,  from  the  lower  border  of  the  nasal 
septum,  which  is  ossified,  and  from  the  thin  and  filiform  vomer,  which 
runs  between  their  ends  to  terminate  in  a  point  a  little  anteriorly  to  them. 
The  same  is  the  case  in  the  other  five  species  already  named. 

The  Trogons  being  thus,  as  I  have  shown,  not  desmognathous,  would 
have,  if  Prof.  Huxley's  group  of  "  CoccygomorphaB  "  were  retained,  to  be 

*  L.  c.  p.  444. 


284        ON  THE  PETRELS  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER/ 

removed  thence  to  some  other  position,  presumably  in  his  suborder 
"  Schizognathse."  But,  in  fact,  as  we  now  know  from  Prof.  Garrod's 
investigations*,  the  so-called  Coccygoinorphse  are  an  artificial  group, 
made  up  of  at  least  three  very  distinct  series  of  birds.  Furthermore,  the 
fact  that  the  Trogons  are  schizognathous,  whereas  their  near  allies,  such  as 
the  Bucconidae,  Galbulidao,  Coraciidae,  Podargus,  &c.,  are  desmognathous, 
shows  that  the  structure  of  the  palate  has  not  that  unique  and  peculiar 
significance  that  has  been  claimed  for  it  in  the  classification  of  birds. 


Rep.B.Assoc.  46.  ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE 
1881,  P.  671.  PETRELS,  BASED    UPON   THOSE    COLLECTED    BY 

H.M.S.  '  CHALLENGER/  f 

AFTER  stating  the  reasons  why  hitherto  the  anatomy  of  this  group  of 
birds  had  been  hardly  at  all  studied,  the  author,  who  has  been  enabled, 
thanks  mainly  to  the  specimens  collected  by  the  '  Challenger,'  and  entrusted 
to  him  for  anatomical  examination  by  Sir  Wyville  Thomson,  to  dissect 
nearly  all  the  chief  genera  of  this  group,  proceeded  to  give  an  account  of 
the  results  as  yet  arrived  at. 

After  describing  briefly  some  of  the  more  remarkable  peculiarities  of 
structure  of  the  group  of  Petrels  or  Tubinares,  of  which  about  150  species 
are  now  known,  the  author  proceeded  to  consider  the  questions  of  their 
classification  and  affinities. 

The  Tubinares  form  a  very  well-defined  group,  separated  off  from  all 
other  birds  by  a  combination  of  characters,  external  and  internal,  not 
found  elsewhere,  as  well  as  by  some  peculiar  to  the  group  itself.  Two 
well-marked  families  now  exist :  one,  the  Oceanic  Petrels  (Oceanitidas) 
represented  by  four  genera,  and  about  eight  species ;  the  other  (Pro- 
cellariidse)  containing  all  the  remainder  of  the  group,  and  being  divisible 
again  into  three  subfamilies,  the  Albatrosses  (Diomedeinae),  the'  Diving 
Petrels  (Pelecanoidinae),  and  the  true  Petrels  (Procellariinae),  this  last 
division  containing  by  far  the  greater  number  of  the  genera  and  species. 

As  regards  the  affinities  of  the  group,  the  author  was  of  the  opinion 
that  the  Petrels  are  probably  much  modified  descendants  of  some  ancient 
form,  which  was  related  to  the  Ciconiiform  birds  of  Garrod,  i.  e.  the 
Storks,  American  Vultures,  Accipitres,  Steganopodes,  and  their  allies. 
Any  relationship  to  the  Gulls  (Laridae)  was  not  borne  out  by  the  anatomy 
of  the  two  groups  in  question. 

*  '  Scientific  Papers,'  pp.  214,  215,  &c. 
t  Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1881,  p.  671. 


ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON.  285 


47.  OBSERVATIONS    ON    THE    INCUBATION   OF    THE  P.  z.  8.1881, 
INDIAN     PYTHON      (PYTHON    MOLURUS),    WITH      p*  96°* 
SPECIAL    REGARD  TO  THE    ALLEGED   INCREASE 
OF  TEMPERATURE  DURING  THAT  PROCESS.* 

THE  first  exact  observations  of  the  incubation  06  their  eggs  by  the  females 
of  the  constricting  Serpents  included  in  the  genus  Python  were  made, 
forty  years  ago,  by  M.  Valenciennes  in  the  Jardin  des  Plantes  at  Paris, 
his  account  having  been  published  in  the  13th  volume  of  the  '  Comptes 
Rendus'  for  1841  f.  In  this  case  the  species  observed  was  Python  bivit- 
tatus :  a  female,  about  10  feet  long,  which  had  been  in  company  with  a 
male  of  the  same  species  of  rather  smaller  size,  and  with  which  she  had 
been  seen  several  times  in  copula,  laid  at  the  beginning  of  May  fifteen 
eggs,  round  which  she  coiled  herself  up,  and  so  remained  for  fifty-six 
days,  when  eight  of  the  eggs  hatched,  producing  young  snakes  about  half 
a  metre  in  length.  During  the  period  of  incubation  Valenciennes 
observed  a  marked  increase  of  temperature  in  the  female,  highest  at  the 
commencement  of  incubation  and  gradually  diminishing  thence  till  its 
close.  His  observations  on  the  temperature  are  recorded  in  a  table 
appended  to  the  memoir  already  cited ;  and  to  them  I  shall  have  further 
occasion  to  refer  in  the  sequel. 

In  the  year  1862,  a  large  female  Python  sebce  laid  a  number  of  eggs,  and 
also  incubated  on  them,  in  this  Society's  Gardens,  as  described  by  Mr, 
Sclater  at  length*.  The  period  of  incubation  lasted  82  days ;  at  the  end 
of  that  time  the  eggs  were  removed,  as  none  had  hatched,  and  they  were 
evidently  decomposing.  On  examination  five  or  six  were  found  with 
embryos  inside,  one  of  these  being  eleven  inches  in  length.  A  few  obser- 
vations on  the  temperature  of  the  female  were  taken,  that  of  the  male 
in  the  same  compartment  being  taken  at  the  same  time.  In  every  case, 
the  female  wras  found  to  be  several  degrees  warmer  than  the  male,  the 
difference  ranging  between  2°*8  F.  and  12°'4  F.  when  the  surface  tem- 
perature was  recorded,  and  between  6°-8  F.  and  20°-0  F.  when  that 
between  the  folds  of  the  animals  was  measured. 

During  the  past  summer  we  have  again  had  an  opportunity  of  obser- 
ving the  incubation  of  a  Python  in  the  Society's  Gardens.  A  female 
Python  molurus,  about  12  feet  long,  which  had  been  living  in  company 
with  two  somewhat  smaller  males  (one  of  this  species,  the  other  being  a 
Python  Uvittatus},  deposited  during  the  night  of  June  5th-6th  a  number 
of  eggs,  about  twenty.  Round  these  she  coiled  herself  up,  in  the  same 
way  as  already  observed  by  Valenciennes  and  Mr.  Sclater,  the  eggs  being 
nearly  entirely  concealed  from  view  by  her  folds.  In  this  position  she 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  960-967.    Bead  Nov.  29,  1881. 

t  Tom.  cit.  pp.  126-133.  \  P.  Z.  S.  1862,  pp.  365-368. 


286  ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON. 

remained  for  six  weeks,  without  once  eating,  and  with  only  one  break  in 
P.  Z.  S.  1881,    her  incubation,  in  the  early  part  of  July,  when  she  left  her  eggs  for  a 
p.  961.  few  hoarS)  returning  to  them  again  however  and  coiling  herself  up  as 

before,  though  now  the  regularity  of  her  folds  was  not  so  great  as  it  had 
been  previously.  On  July  18th  (that  is,  after  a  period  of  forty-three 
days  from  the  date  of  laying),  as  the  eggs  were  evidently  decomposing, 
they  were  removed :  and  their  state  on  examination  was  found  to  be  very 
similar  to  that  observed  by  Mr.  Sclater  on  the  previous  occasion. 
Several  of  those  examined  showed  no  traces  of  having  been  impregnated ; 
at  least,  no  signs  of  any  development  inside  remained ;  one  or  two,  how- 
ever, contained  embryos,  one  of  which  was  about  11  inches  long,  and  had 
its  scales  well  developed. 

From  the  discrepancies  existing  between  the  observations  of  Valenciennes 
and  those  made  here  previously  on  the  temperature  of  the  incubating 
Pythoness,  it  seemed  highly  desirable  to  utilize  the  opportunity  afforded 
by  this  last  instance  for  a  further  and  more  extensive  series  of  obser- 
vations on  the  phenomenon  in  question.  Mr.  Zambra,  of  the  well-known 
firm  of  Negretti  and  Zambra,  who  had  himself  taken  part  in  the  obser- 
vations made  in  1862,  was  kind  enough  to  give  me  his  most  valuable  aid 
and  assistance  in  this  investigation.  He  not  only  supplied  us  with 
excellent  self-registering  thermometers  of  the  newest  pattern  and  most 
delicate  make,  but  was  also  kind  enough  to  attend  regularly — often,  I 
fear,  at  considerable  inconvenience  to  himself — to  superintend  and  take 
the  necessary  readings.  With  the  assistance  of  Mr.  Bartlett,  Mr.  Clarence 
Bartlett,  and  the  keeper  of  the  reptiles,  J.  Tyrrell,  Mr.  Zambra  and  I 
were  thus  enabled  to  take  a  very  considerable  number  of  observations  on 
the  point  in  question,  with  instruments  of  a  more  accurate  kind  than  had 
been  available  for  our  predecessors.  Our  first  observations  were  taken 
on  June  14th,  about  nine  days  after  the  eggs  were  laid  ;  and  they  were 
continued  thence  without  intermission,  at  intervals  of  two  or  three  days, 
till  the  eggs  were  removed  on  July  18th.  The  readings  were  always 
taken  about  the  same  time  of  day,  from  12  to  2  o'clock,  in  order  to  avoid  any 
differences  that  might  be  due  to  the  diurnal  variation  of  temperature. 
Following  Mr.  Sclater's  example,  we  took  a  double  series  of  observations, 
one  set  on  the  incubating  female,  another  on  the  male  of  the  same  species, 
which,  after  it  had  been  removed  from  the  female  when  the  eggs  were 
laid,  was  kept  in  the  cage  next  to  that  of  the  female  under  conditions 
practically  identical.  The  temperature  of  the  Snakes  was  ascertained, 
first  by  placing  the  thermometer  on  the  surface  of  their  bodies,  and  then 
by  placing  it  between  the  folds  of  their  coils.  In  each  case  their  bodies 
were  covered  by  the  blankets  under  which  they  usually  rest ;  and,  as  far 
as  possible,  the  different  readings,  of  which  we  usually  took  three  in  each 
set,  were  obtained  in  as  many  different  places  in  the  coils,  one  towards 


ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON.  287 

the  centre,  the  others  more  towards  the  outside.  The  temperature  of  the 
air  was  taken  by  suspending  a  thermometer  a  little  way  above  the  floor 
of  the  cages ;  that  of  the  gravel  in  the  cages  by  burying  the  bulb  of  the 
thermometer  in  the  gravel,  in  the  same  position  in  each  cage,  and  over 
the  hot-water  pipes  which  run  beneath  the  floors  of  the  cages. 

The  observations  are  given  in  extenso,  as  we  took  them,  in  Table  I.  !*•  Z.  S.  1881, 
(p.  290).  In  Table  II.  (p.  292)  I  have  given  the  average  temperatures  p-  962' 
of  the  two  Snakes,  as  deduced  from  these  observations,  as  well  as  the 
difference  for  each  set  of  readings  in  the  temperature  in  the  two  sexes.  In 
the  diagrams  (figs.  1  and  2,  p.  288)  I  have  recorded  these  averages  in  a 
graphic  form,  the  upper  line  marking  the  average  temperature  between  the 
folds  and  the  middle  line  the  average  on  the  folds,  whilst  the  lowest  one 
indicates  the  temperature  of  the  air  in  the  respective  cages.  This  last  curve 
is  nearly  identical  in  the  two  cases,  that  in  the  male's  cage  averaging, 
however,  a  trifle  higher.  Although  this  is  the  case,  it  will  nevertheless  be 
observed  that  both  the  temperature-curves  of  the  female  are  higher  than 
the  corresponding  ones  for  the  male,  especially  the  upper  one.  All  four 
are  clearly  influenced  by  the  variations  in  the  external  medium,  the 
maxima  temperatures  of  the  snakes'  bodies  being  attained  when  the  air 
is  hottest  or  nearly  so. 

Not  only  are  the  temperature-curves  of  the  female  higher,  but,  as 
shown  by  their  less  amount  of  angularity,  the  temperature  of  the  female 
continues  more  constant  throughout  the  time  observed.  This,  no  doubt, 
may  in  part  be  due  to  the  fact  of  the  female  being  in  a  condition  of  repose 
throughout,  with  no  variations  produced  by  exercise,  the  assimilation  of 
food,  or  other  causes. 

Taking  the  averages  of  the  first  four  columns  of  Table  II.,  we  get 
respectively  82°-98  F.  and  86°-03  F.  as  the  temperature  of  the  male,  and 
84°-38  F.  and  89°-07  F.  as  that  of  the  female,  according  to  whether  the 
temperature  is  taken  on  the  surface  or  between  the  folds.  The  figures 
give  a  difference  of  l°-4  F.  and  a  little  over  3°-0  F.,  the  difference  being  in 
each  case  in  favour  of  the  female. 

The  tnaxima  readings  obtained  were,  as  may  be  seen  from  Table  I., 
89°-6  F.  (July  4)  and  89°-8  (July  15)  for  the  male  (surface  and  folds), 
and  89°-8  F.  (July  15)  and  92°-8  F.  (July  1)  for  the  female.  The  maxi- 
mum observed  by  Valenciennes  was  41°'5  C.  (106°'7  F.),  or  nearly  14° 
higher  than  the  highest  I  observed. 

The  greatest  difference  between  the  temperature  of  the  air  and  that 
of  the  surface  of  the  two  Snakes  was  8°-3  F.  (on  June  16th)  in  the  case 
of  the  male,  and  9°-6  F.  (on  June  18th)  in  the  case  of  the  female.  The 
greatest  differences  between  the  air  and  the  coils  were  also  observed  on 
the  same  days,  and  amounted  to  ll°-6  F.  in  the  case  of  the  male,  16°'7 
F.  in  the  female.  Valenciennes  found  on  one  occasion  the  difference,  as 


288 


P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
p.  963. 


ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON.  289 

measured  between  the  coils,  as  much  as  21°-5  C.  (between  18°'0  C.  and 
39°-5  C.)  or  38°-7  F.,  a  difference  enormously  greater  than  any  we 
observed. 

It  would  seem  therefore  that,  if  his  observations  are  to  be  relied  on, 
throughout  the  case  recorded  by  Valenciennes  the  female  developed  a  far 
greater  amount  of  heat  than  ours  did,  though  she  was  kept  in  a  cage  that 
was  apparently  considerably  colder*.    As  in  this  case  more  than  half  the   P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
eggs  hatched  out,  it  may  be  that  the  failure  of  our  animal  to  do  the  same      **' 
was  due  to  the  lack  of  heat.    There  is  also  in  our  case  none  of  that  steady  • 
fall  in  temperature,  from  the  commencement  to  the  close  of  incubation, 
observed  by  Valenciennes.     In  his  case,  at  the  commencement  of  incu- 
bation the  female  had  a  temperature  of  41°-5  C.  (106°*7  F.)  between  the 
folds  (the  highest  observed  at  all),  falling  at  the  end  to  28°  C.  (82°-4  F.). 
In  our  case,  the  maximum  temperature  was  very  nearly  obtained  on  three 
different  occasions. 

The  second  set  of  observations,  those  made  here  in  1862,  are  hardly 
complete  enough  to  allow  of  much  comparison;  but  throughout  that 
series  the  differences  between  the  sexes  are  greater,  though  the  absolute 
temperatures  are  considerably  lower  t  than  the  average  ones  I  obtained. 

Eenewed  observations  will  be  required  to  satisfactorily  settle  the 
amount  of  the  increase  of  temperature — a  fact  of  which  there  can  now, 
I  think,  be  no  doubt — which  is  produced  in  these  reptiles  by  the  process 
of  incubation.  The  average  difference  of  3°  F.  which  I  have  obtained  is, 
it  may  be  observed,  very  nearly  identical  with  that  which  occurs  in  the 
case  of  the  temperature  of  fever-patients  as  compared  with  the  normal. 
And  as  the  increase  of  heat  in  an  incubating  bird  is  essentially  of  the 
same  nature  as  that  produced  by  an  inflammation  of  a  tissue,  and  such  is 
also  presumably  the  case  in  an  incubating  reptile,  the  nearness  of  the 
results  thus  arrived  at  is,  in  itself,  an  argument  in  favour  of  the  correct- 
ness of  my  observations. 

*  The  extreme  temperatures  of  the  air  recorded  by  Valenciennes— who  took  his 
observations  when  the  cages  were  coldest,  i.  e.  before  the  fresh  hot  water  was  put  in — are 
17°'C.  and  23°  C.  (62°-6  F.  and  73°'4  F.)  respectively.  The  temperature  of  the  two 
cages  in  which  our  animals  were  kept  was  only  on  three  occasions  kss  than  the  highest 
in  Valenciennes'  series. 

t  Except  in  the  case  of  one  reading  of  96°  F.,  taken  on  the  female,  which  was  on 
that  day  20°  F.  warmer  than  the  male.  This  observation,  however,  is,  I  think,  open 
to  doubt. 


290 


ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON. 


TABLE  I. 

Record  of  Observations  on  the  Temperature  of  the  incubating  (Female)  and 
non-incubating  (Male)  Pythons. 


P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
p.  965. 


1 

+5 

03 

5 

i 

ja 

Q 

M 

_j 

Date. 

6 

1 

i 

gfi 
2 

1 

1 

i 

Remarks. 

1 

1 

o 

1 

fj 

1 

o 

-i 

i 

.ft 

1 

1 

1 

1 

a 

i 

i 

0 

o 

o 

O 

o 

o 

0 

June  14  

rf 

84-8 

86-9 

89-5 

86-7 

88-5 

Q 

87-6 

88-9 

75'0 

77-2 

82-5 

88-7 

16 

867 

88-1 

83'6 

'90-8 

An  observation  taken 

76-6 

83-5 

871 

86-9 

88-8 

on  the  tail  of  the  male 

75-7 

787 

83-3 

84-6 

87-5 
867 

83-3 

90-3 

gave  82°'3.     Two  on 
another  male  on  the 
tree  in  cage  gave  76°  '7 

(each  time). 

18 

* 

82-6 

86-3 

84-4 

91-3 

The  male  had  fed  the 

75-5 

79-6 

84-5 

83-5 

83-8 

85-4* 

90-0 

previous  night. 

p 

83-6 

86-5 

84-0 

91-7 

*  Tail. 

75-0 

81-3 

83-8 

„     20  

c? 

84-0 

87-9 

85-0 

88-6* 

*  The    blanket    over 

78-0 

77-2 

86-3 

84-5 

88-0 

82-9 

927t 

here  was  wet. 

Q 

84-5 

89-6 

82-7 

91-3 

t  Tail. 

76-2 

76-4 

83-5 

88-4 
88-4 

92-0 

87-2 

„     22  

^ 

77-3 

84-5 

80-9 

88-9 

The  temperature  of  an 

77-4 

79-1 

84-7 

79-8 

82-8 

83-4 

89-7 

egg,    on  the  exposed 

{-\ 

80-1 

83-8 

85-9 

89-9 

surface,    was     88°'3 

¥ 

77-8 

82-3 

84-0 

78-6 

(two  observations). 

„     24  

cJ 

79-2 

84-4 

78-3 

88-7 

Temperature  of  an  egg 

76-3 

737 

83-5 

78-6 

84-4 

80-6 

89-3 

880-1. 

$ 

80-7 

84-3 

81-8 

88-0 

7*4 

73-9 

79-5 

„     27  

J 

74-6 

75-4 

83-8 

81-0 

856 

82-4 

87-9 

Q 

777 

84-4 

81-2 

88-6 

73-4 

76-2 

82-0 

79-4 

86-6 

77-6 

88-0 
87-2 

ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON. 


291 


TABLE  I.  (continued). 


a 

i 

. 

1 

Date. 

03 

«P 

2 

D 

e2 

£ 

Remarks. 

6 

g 

1 

1 

1 

§ 

1 

.s 

S3 
* 

1 

-1 

O 

<D 

3 

* 

j 

i 

I 

June  29  

o 

c? 

O 

o 

7°8'6 

79-3 

8°3'0 

88-0 

76-6 

79-8 

83-0 

76-9 

80-4 

83-6 

89-0 

o 

77-0 

82-2 

81-0 

87-5 

¥ 
74-0 

78-2 

82-2 

777 

82-8 

July    1 

tf 

87-0 

88-0 

88-4 

90-8 

80-8 

81-5 

85-4 

85-2 

85-5 

85-8 

91-5 

Q 

87-0 

89-6 

87-6 

92-8 

79-5 

80-0 

86-2 

84-6 

88-4 

85-8 

90-8 

„       4 

j 

88-2 

89-2 

86-2 

90-0 

87-0 

86-6 

90-6 

88-6 

89-6 

85-6 

90-0 

p 

89-6 

89-8 

88-8 

90-8 

86-6 

82-4 

89-0 

91-1 

90-8 

„       6  

c? 

81-4 

82-6 

80-2 

90-0 

78-8 

82-6 

89-2 

81-0 

87-0 

83-7 

90-0 

80-4 

84-0 

85-2 

83-8t 

t  On  neck. 

76-2 

81-5 

87-2 

85-0 

81-5 

88-7 

8  

c? 

79-8 

83-0 

78-6 

85-0 

72-8 

77-2 

84-0 

79-3 

83-2 

79-6 

86-2 

Q 

79-0 

80-4 

79-4 

85-4 

72-3 

76-2 

82-0 

83-4 

„     11  

... 

84-3 

86-6 

80-8 

86-8 

Two  observations  on  a 

3 

83-0 

85-2 

84-4 

85-8 

81-7 

85-5 

male  that  had  been  in 

80-3 

85-6 

86-8 

83-3 

871 

the  water  gave  80°  '4 

p 

86-6 

and    79°  -8    between 

80-2 

79-0 
80-3 

84-8 

the  folds. 

„     13 

(J 

QQ-4 

QK.K 

QK.A 

00.7 

TTVm    Pfrafl    n,rrt    n.11    PY 

79-3 

80-7 

85-1 

oo  TI 

83-3 

O«J  *J 

85-9 

OO  4: 

86-2 

OO  i 

89-6 

j_iio    i  i-£££3  uro   tin    t/X" 

posed. 

5 

84-3 

851 

87-1 

89-0 

J  A    male    that   had 

79-2 

83-3 

83-8 

897 

been  in  the  water  gave 

82°1     between    the 

folds. 

„     15  

Q 

87-7 

90-3J 

87-7 
88-7 
88-6 

89-8  § 

86-8 
87-8 
89-8 

90-9 
91-2 
92-2 

§  Only     one      obser- 
vation,the  male  being 
very  restless.    A  Boa 

87-1 

86-0 

89-4 

917 

(  <$  )  in  the  same  cage 

„     18  

82-2 

86-0 

89-2 

851 

84-5 

88-0 
87-4 

86-2 
85-7 

88-0 
86-6 

gave  also  89°'8  as  its 
temperature  between 
the  folds. 

£ 

85-4 

86-2 

84-3 

88-8 

80-0 

82-8 

86-8 

P.  Z.  S.  1881, 
p.  966. 


u  2 


292 


ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE  INDIAN  PYTHON. 


TABLE  II. 
P.  Z.  S.  1881, 

QA'Z 

Showing  the  Averages  of  the   Observations  recorded  in   Table  /.,  and  the 
Differences  in  Temperature  between  the  two  sexes. 


Date. 

Male. 

Female. 

Difference. 

o| 

CO 

f  3 

fi 

Sl 

0>     CO 

£3 

*• 

4 

g 

8    OS 

II 

June  14   

o 

8°7-l 

87-4 
85-5 
88-5 
83-7 
84-4 
85-5 
80-6 
87'9 
89-9 
84-7 
82-5 
86-5 
85-5 
89-8 
87-1 

o 

84:6 
84-6 
83-5 
83-4 
80-2 
80-4 
82-6 
86-9 
86-9 
82-7 
79-2 
81-9 
86-2 
88-2 
85-4 

O 

88-9 
90-0 
91-0 
90-4 
89-5 
88-7 
87-9 
88-2 
91-5 
90-4 
88-1 
85-5 
86-5 
89-3 
915 
87-8 

0 

•3 

1-4 
8 
4-4 
•7 
1-0 
5-0 
•9 
1-9 
1-8 
•2 
2-9 
2-5 
•1 
•4 

o 

1-8 
2-6 
5-5 
1-9 
5-8 
4-3 
2-4 
7-6 
3-6 
•5 
3-4 
3-0 

3-8 
1-7 

•7 

16 

84-9 
83-2 
84-3 
79-0 
79-5 
79-4 
77-6 
86-0 
88-8 
80-9 
79-4 
84-8 
83-7 
88-3 
85-0 

18  

20 

22  

24 

27  

29 

July     1  

4     ... 

6  

8  .. 

11  

13        

15  

18 

Average  

82-98 

86-03 

84-38 

89-07 

N.B.  The  figures  in  black  type  point  out  when  the  difference  of  temperature  is  in 
favour  of  the  male.  Such  cases,  it  is  to  be  observed,  only  occur  when  the  surface- 
temperature  is  observed. 


Rep.  B.  Assoc. 
1881,  p.  723. 


48.  OBSERVATIONS  ON  THE  INCUBATION  OF  THE 
INDIAN  PYTHON  (PYTHON  MOLURUS)* 

THE  only  two  previously  recorded  instances  of  the  incubation  of  their 
eggs  by  female  Pythons  in  captivity  are  those  recorded  by  Valenciennes 
('  Comptes  Rendus/  1841,  xiii.  pp.  126-133)  and  Sclater  (P.  Z.  S.  1862, 
pp.  365-368),  for  P.  Uvittatus  and  P.  sebce  respectively.  During  the 
summer  of  1881  a  female  of  the  Python  molurus,  about  12  feet  long, 
which  was  kept  in  the  same  cage  in  the  Reptile-house  in  the  Zoological 
Society's  Gardens  as  two  other  Pythons  of  the  opposite  sex,  one  being 
of  the  same  species,  the  other  P.  bivittatus,  laid  about  fifteen  eggs,  on 


Rep.  Brit.  Assoc.  1881,  p.  723. 


THE  mSECTARIUM  AT  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GARDENS.         293 

which  she  sat  steadily  for  about  six  weeks,  in  exactly  the  same  manner 
as  in  the  two  instances  mentioned  above.  At  the  termination  of  that 
period,  as  the  eggs  were  decomposing  and  obviously  bad,  they  were 
removed;  some  at  least  were  fertilized,  an  embryo  about  11 1  inches  long 
having  been  extracted  from  one. 

With  the  kind  aid  of  Mr.  Zambra,  of  the  well-known  firm  of  Negretti 
and  Zambra,  who  not  only  had  special  thermometers  of  the  most  approved 
kind  constructed  for  this  occasion,  but  also  regularly  attended  himself  to 
help  in  the  observations,  a  series  of  observations,  about  two  hundred  in 
number,  were  taken  at  regular  intervals  of  48  or  72  hours,  to  ascertain 
the  temperature  of  the  sitting  female,  as  compared  with  that  of  the  non- 
incubating  male,  kept  next  door  under  nearly  identical  conditions  of  tem- 
perature and  moisture.  The  result  of  these  shows  that,  whereas  the  tem- 
perature of  the  male,  whether  taken  on  the  surface  or  between  the  folds  of 
the  coiled-up  body,  varied  very  much  as  the  temperature  of  the  air  in  the 
cage,  the  curves  falling  or  rising  with  it,  that  of  the  female,  taken  in  the 
same  way,  was  much  more  constant,  particularly  of  the  body  between  the 
folds.  Not  only  so,  but  the  average  temperature  of  the  female  was  much 
higher,  the  temperature  of  the  two  sexes  being  respectively  86°*7  F.  and 
89°-75  F.  between  the  folds,  and  on  the  surface  82°-5  F.  and  84°-4  F., 
giving  differences  of  3°-05  and  10<9  in  favour  of  the  female.  In  no  case 
did  the  temperature  of  the  male,  taken  between  the  folds,  exceed  that  of 
the  female ;  and  in  most  cases  there  was  a  marked  excess  in  that  of 
the  female,  the  average  in  one  set  of  observations  being  as  much  as  7°*6. 
In  no  case  was  any  such  difference  as  20°-0,  like  that  recorded  by 
Sclater,  found.  The  highest  temperature  observed  in  the  female  was  920>8 ; 
the  highest  observed  by  Valenciennes  was  106°'7,  or  14°'0  higher.  The 
greatest  difference  between  the  surface  of  the  snake  and  that  of  the  air 
in  the  cage  observed  was  9°'6  F. 

No  such  decline  in  temperature  from  the  commencement  to  the  end  of 
incubation  as  was  observed  by  Valenciennes  could  be  made  out  in  the 
present  case.  The  maxima  were  attained  when  the  temperature  of  the 
surrounding  air  was  also  at  its  highest,  the  range  of  the  between-folds 
temperature  being  6°  (85°«5  to  91°-5). 


49.  THE  INSECTARIUM  AT  THE  ZOOLOGICAL 

Ent.M.M.xviii. 

GARDENS.*  P.  15(1881). 

WITHIN  the  last  few  weeks  a  new  house  in  the  Zoological  Society's 
Gardens  has  been  opened,  which  promises  to  be  of  great  interest  to  the 

*  Ent.  Month.  Mag.  xviii.  pp.  15,  16  (1881). 


294         THE  INSECTAKIUM  AT  THE  ZOOLOGICAL  GAEDENS. 

public  generally,  and  to  entomologists  in  particular.  This  is  an  "  Insec- 
tarium,"  or  house  devoted  to  the  exhibition  of  living  specimens,  in  their 
various  stages,  of  the  class  of  Insects.  Such  an  exhibition  is  not  absolutely 
new,  it  is  true,  for  something  of  the  kind  has  been  tried  already  in  this 
country  at  the  Westminster  Aquarium,  as  well  as  on  the  continent  at 
the  Hamburg  Zoological  Gardens.  In  neither  case,  however,  was  the 
experiment  made  on  any  large  scale,  and  in  the  first  instance,  at  least,  it 
has  not  proved,  hitherto,  a  great  success.  The  "  Insectarium  "  stands  in 
what  is  known  as  the  "  North  Garden  " — as  the  slip  of  land  lying  on  the 
northern  bank  of  the  Begent's  Canal  is  called — not;  far  from  the  northern 
entrance  to  the  gardens.  It  is  of  an  oblong  shape,  with  a  glass  roof,  and 
with  three  of  its  sides,  including  the  south  one,  also  consisting  largely 
of  glass.  The  remaining  or  northern  side  is  of  cement  and  brick.  The 
floor  is  paved  with  tiles,  and  beneath  it  hot-water  pipes  run  round  the 
house,  which  admit  of  its  being  kept  up  to  any  necessary  temperature. 

The  larger  insects  are  exhibited  in  glass  cages,  provided  with  tops  of 
perforated  zinc,  and  with  metal  floors  in  which  can  be  inserted,  if 
necessary,  a  flower-pot  with  growing  plants  for  the  larvae  to  feed  on. 
These  cages,  which  are  rather  larger  than  an  ordinary  Wardian  case,  are 
arranged  along  two  sides  of  the  house,  those  on  the  south  side  being  at 
present  chiefly  occupied  by  various  exotic  silk-producing  Bombyces,  whilst 
the  smaller  ones  on  the  north  are  devoted  to  English  Lepidoptera  of 
various  species.  On  tables  in  the  middle  of  the  room  are  bell-glasses 
with  various  aquatic  insects,  as  well  as  other  cages  containing  smaller 
species,  or  very  young  larvae  of  Lepidoptera,  together  with  a  few  insects 
of  other  groups. 

At  the  present  time,  the  Lepidoptera  are  best  represented.  There  is  a 
good  collection  of  the  cocoons  of  the  Bombyces  exhibited,  and  many  of 
these  have  come  out,  and  produced  beautiful  images.  Amongst  others, 
Samia  gloveri  and  S.  cecropia,  Attacus  atlas  and  Actias  luna  may  be 
mentioned  as  having  been  exhibited  alive  during  the  past  few  weeks. 
Eggs  of  most  of  these  have  also  been  obtained,  so  that  no  doubt  before 
long,  larvae  of  them  will  be  visible,  though  at  present  the  only  silk-moth 
larvae  shown  are  those  of  A.  yama-mai. 

Of  European  Lepidoptera,  images  of  Papilio  machaon,  Melitcea  cinxia, 
and  Nemeobius  lucina  may  be  seen,  whilst  there  are  larvae  in  various 
stages,  or  pupae,  of  many  others,  amongst  which  those  of  Melitcea  maturna, 
Apatura  ilia  and  iris,  Limenitis  populi  and  sibylla,  and  Catocala  fraxini 
are,  just  now,  perhaps  the  most  interesting. 

The  other  Orders  are  represented  chiefly  by  aquatic  forms  at  present, 
in  the  shape  of  sundry  Hydradephaga  and  Pldlhydrida  from  amongst  the 
Coleoptera,  by  larvae  of  Ayrion,  LibelMa,  and  Ephemera,  together  with 
Phryganidce  in  their  cases,  Nepa,  Notonecta,  and  a  .few  others.  The 
Hymenoptera  are,  as  yet,  hardly  represented,  though  in  time  there  seems 


ON  THE  HOENS  OF  THE  PRONGBUCK.  295 

no  reason  why  the  visitors  to  Regent's  Park  should  not  be  able  to  study 
for  themselves  the  habits  of  the  ant  and  the  economy  of  the  hive-bee. 
Perhaps  Sir  John  Lubbock  could  help  here  ? 

As  yet,  of  course,  only  a  beginning  has  been  made,  but  enough  has  even 
now,  we  think,  been  done  to  prove  the  success  of  the  experiment,  which  is 
of  course  capable  of  development  to  almost  any  extent.     As  the  season 
advances,  the  number  of  insects  exhibited  will  no  doubt  become  much 
increased,  whilst  constant  changes,  both  as  regards  the  condition  of  the  EntM.M.xviii. 
specimens  and  the  various  forms  exhibited,  will  always  give  the  charm  of    £• 16  (18  ^ 
novelty  to  a  visit  to  this  house.     It  is  to  be  hoped,  indeed,  that  at   no 
distant  period  the  Londoner  may  be  able  to  contemplate  at  leisure  the 
charms  of  a  live  MorpTio  or  Urania,  without  going  further  from  his  home 
than  the  Eegent's  Park. 

The  Insectarium  is  under  the  charge  of  Mr.  W.  Watkins,  already  well 
known  to  many  readers  of  this  magazine,  and  under  him  will  no  doubt 
daily  increase  in  efficiency  and  attraction,  and  so  perform  its  main 
mission  of  instructing  and  amusing  the  public.  When  more  experience 
in  the  working  of  the  Insectarium  has  been  gained,  it  may  also  be 
possible  to  utilize  some  of  the  opportunities  now  afforded  for  experiments 
in  such  matters  as  the  effect  of  increased  temperature  or  moisture  in 
producing  variation  in  insects.  It  would  also  be  interesting  to  experi- 
ment further  on  the  reproduction  of  Aphides,  with  the  object  of  dis- 
covering how  many  generations  in  succession  of  agarno-genetic  individuals 
(if  the  term  may  be  thus  used)  could  be  produced  under  circumstances 
favourable  for  their  propagation  presented  in  the  Insectarium. 


50.  REMARKS  UPON  THE  HORNS  OF  THE  P.  z.  8.1882, 

PRONGBUCK.* 

ME.  W.  A.  FORBES  exhibited  and  made  remarks  on  the  horns  shed  by 
the  male  Prongbuck  (Antilocapra  americana)  living  in  the  Society's 
Gardens  since  December  1879,  which  had  been  dropped,  one  on 
November  15  and  the  other  on  November  24,  of  1881.  This,  it  was 
believed,  was  the  first  instance  on  record  of  one  and  the  same  individual 
of  this  species  having  shed  its  horns  in  consecutive  years,  though  that 
this  event  took  place  periodically  had  been  rendered  nearly  certain  from 
previous  observations  t. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  p.  1. 
t  SeeP.Z.S.  1880,  p.  540. 


296  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 


P.z.s.1882,  51.  ON   SOME   POINTS    IN    THE    ANATOMY    OF    THE 
P-287-  GREAT  ANTEATER  (MYRMECOPHAGA  JUBATA)* 

(Plate  VIII.) 

THE  literature  relating  to  the  anatomical  structure  of  the  Edentata, 
though  very  considerable,  is  unfortunately  much  scattered,  and  with 
many  blanks  as  regards  special  points.  The  genus  MyrmecopJiaga  may 
be  considered — thanks  chiefly  to  the  labours  of  Owent  and  PouchetJ, 
who  have  elaborately  described  many  parts  of  its  organization — to  be  the 
best  known,  as  regards  anatomical  structure,  of  all  the  existing  Anteaters. 
Two  adult  female  specimens  of  this  animal  having  lately  §  passed  through 
my  hands  in  my  prosectorial  capacity,  I  have  had  the  opportunity  of 
confirming  a  large  part  of  the  already  published  accounts  of  its  anatomy, 
as  well  as  of  correcting,  or  adding,  certain  details,  which  I  now  lay  before 
the  Society. 

1.  Alimentary  Canal  and  Appendages. — The  palate  (fig.  1,  p.  297)  is 
not  absolutely  smooth,  but  presents  anteriorly  a  series  of  irregular 
transverse  ridges  notched  along  their  margin,  best  developed  and  nearly 
meeting  mesially  anteriorly,  posteriorly  becoming  much  more  oblique 
backwards  and  less  regular,  the  ridges  not  being  opposite  each  other  but 
more  or  less  alternating.  In  all  there  are  about  seven  of  these  ridges. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  287-302.     Bead  March  7,  1882. 

t  "On  the  Anatomy  of  the  Great  Anteater,"  Part  I.,  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  iv.  pp.  117- 
140,  pis.  xxxvii.-xl. ;  Part  II.,  1.  c,  pp.  179-181,  pis.  li.-liii. 

J  Memoires  sur  le  Grand  Fourmilier :  Paris,  1874. 

In  addition  to  these,  there  are  brief  references  to  Myrmecophaga  jubata  in  Rapp's 
'Edentaten'  (2e  Aufl.,  Tubingen,  1852),  and  Prof.  Flower's  Hunterian  Lectures 
(Med.  Times  and  Gazette,  Nov.  30, 1872,  p.  591 ).  The  submaxillary  glands  have  been 
described  by  Gervais  (C.  E.  Ixix.  pp.  1110,  1111  [1869]);  and  the  brain  by  the  same 
author  ("  M6moire  sur  les  formes  cer6brales  propres  aux  Edentes  vivants  et  fossiles," 
Nouv.  Arch.  Mus.  v.  pp.  1-56,  pis.  i.-v.),  and  by  G.  Pouchet  ("  Memoire  sur  1'encephale 
des  Edentes,"  Kobin's  Journal  de  TAnatoniie,  1868,  pp.  658-675,  and  1869,  pp.  1- 
18,  &c.). 

§  The  first  of  these,  from  Buenos  Ayres  (spec,  d  of  the  List  of  Vertebrates),  was 
presented  to  the  Society  by  the  Hon.  L.  S.  Sackville  West  (now  H.  B.  M.'s  Minister 
at  Washington)  on  Sept.  7,  1877.  It  died  Nov.  29,  1881,  from  severe  inflammation  of 
the  connective  tissues  lying  in  and  around  the  submaxillary  glands. 

The  second  (specimen  a)  was  presented  so  long  ago  as  October  4,  1867,  by  Dr.  J.  A. 
Palin,  C.M.Z.S.,  and,  after  living  for  more  than  fourteen  years  in  the  Society's  Gardens, 
died  on  the  5th  of  February  of  the  present  year.  The  only  disease  detected  in  it,  on 
post-mortem  examination,  was  a  considerable  enlargement  of  the  thymus  gland,  and 
acute  inflammation  of  the  laryngeal  mucous  membrane.  This  second  specimen,  though 
an  aged  animal,  was  by  no  means  so  large  as  the  first,  having  a  total  length  of  6  ft.  1^  in. 
(from  the  tip  of  the  nose  to  the  end  of  the  tail,  which  was  2  ft.  4  in.  long),  as  against 
7  ft.  54  in.  in  the  other. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER. 


297 


The  floor  of  the  mouth  to  about  2  inches  beyond  the  most  posterior 
opening  of  the  submaxillary  glands,  the  gums  over  the  tip  of  the  lower 
jaw,  and  the  lateral  callous  pads  which  are  present  as  in  Tamandua,  are 
all  covered  with  minute,  retroverted,  closely-set  papillae.  The  tip  of  the 
tongue  is  quite  glabrous  and  globular ;  but  the  greater  part  of  the  rest  of 
its  extent,  anterior  to  the  pair  of  circumvallate  papillae,  is  dorsally  and 
laterally  covered  with  similar,  but  smaller,  retroverted  papillae,  best 
developed  towards  the  tip  of  the  organ,  and  gradually  getting  smaller 
and  smaller  towards  its  base,  till  they  are  scarcely  visible  to  the  unaided 
eye  except  in  certain  lights.  There  is  a  median  glabrous  line,  or  shallow 

Fig.  1. 


Palate  of  Myrmecophagajubata-,  from  a  preparation  in  the  Museum  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons,  prepared  from  specimen  a. 

groove  running  along  the  tongue  till  near  its  apex ;  but  this  is  ventral  in 
position.  According  to  Owen  there  is  a  similar  dorsal  one ;  but  if  so,  it 
is  not  very  evident  (1.  c.  p.  129).  The  dorsal  surface,  however,  is  slightly 
fluted  towards  the  apex.  In  front  of  the  circumvallate  papillae  a  slightly 
raised  median  longitudinal  ridge  extends  for  some  5  inches. 


Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  288. 


298  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,  My  observations  on  the  salivary  glands  agree  well  in  most  points  with 
p.  289.  those  of  my  predecessors,  except  as  regards  the  number  and  openings  of 
the  ducts  to  the  submaxillary  glands,  regarding  which  very  different 
statements  have  been  made  at  various  times.  Of  these,  Gervais's 
description,  as  given  in  some  remarks  accompanying  the  exhibition  before 
the  French  Academy  of  Sciences  of  some  models  of  these  glands  (C.  It. 
s.  c.),  agrees  best  with  my  observations.  He  says : — "  Deux  paires  des 
canaux  dont  il  s'agit  viennent  aboutir  separement  dans  la  bouche  en  se 
rendant  a  deux  poches  situees  aupres  de  la  symphyse  mentonniere ;  la 
troisi&me  paire  verse  un  peu  en  arriere,  egalement  dans  une  petite  dilatation 
terminate." 

A  similar  arrangement  is  described  by  J.  Chatin  in  the  genus 
Tamandua*,  except  that  he  says  that  there  are  two  openings  on  each  side 
at  the  symphysis.  Pouchet,  on  the  other  hand,  maintains  ('  Memoires ' 
&c.  pp.  v  and  88)  that  there  are  only  two  ducts  on  each  side,  one  of  these 
being  formed  by  the  confluence  of  two  of  the  three  primary  ducts  coming 
from  the  corresponding  three  lobes  of  which  each  gland  is  composed. 
He  only  describes  a  single  pair  of  openings  close  to  the  symphysis. 
Owen,  finally,  describes  the  three  ducts  of  each  side  as  eventually  uniting, 
and  opening,  also  by  a  single  aperture,  close  to  the  symphysis. 

An  examination,  however,  of  his  specimen  (now  preserved  in  the 
Hunterian  Museum,  where,  by  the  kind  permission  of  Prof.  Mower,  I 
was  allowed  to  examine  it)  demonstrates  the  existence  of  a  second  pair 
of  apertures  in  the  floor  of  the  mouth  situated  some  2  inches  behind  the 
first  pair,  which  lie  immediately  behind  the  symphysis,  in  this  respect 
quite  agreeing  with  Gervais's  description,  and  with  my  own  observations 
on  the  second  of  my  (fresh)  specimens  (vide  Plate  VIII.  fig.  3  c).  This 
second  pair  of  apertures,  which  lie  close  to  each  other  on  each  side  of  the 
median  line  and  are  very  minute,  are  the  openings  of  the  deeper  ducts, 
which,  one  on  each  side,  arise  from  the  more  anterior  (cervical)  portion  of 
the  gland  t.  As  these  lie  quite  behind  the  other  pair  of  apertures,  any 
injection  passed  into  the  latter  can  of  course  only  fill  the  two  pairs  of 
ducts  (a,  b)  which  debouch  into  them.  This  may  easily  explain,  therefore, 
Pouchet's  only  having  found  two  ducts  on  each  side,  though  it  is  possible 
that  individual  specimens  may  vary  in  this  respect.  I  must  at  least 
notice  that  in  the  first  specimen  that  passed  through  my  hands  (the 
submaxillary  ducts  of  which  were  injected  from  the  anterior  pair  of 

*  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  5,  (Zool.)  xiii.  art.  no.  9. 

t  Such  was,  at  least,  the  condition  in  the  only  specimen  of  Myrmecophaga  in  which 
these  ducts  had  been  satisfactorily  injected  examined  by  me.  In  Tamandua,  according 
to  Chatin's  figure  (op.  cit.  pi.  14),  it  is  the  ducts  from  the  posterior  (sternal)  part  of  the 
gland  that  open  here.  This  point  requires  reexamination,  as  also  the  number  of  aper- 
tures anteriorly. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER.  299 

apertures  alone),  I  found  on  the  left  side  a  single  duct  only,  and  on  the 

right  tivo,  which  united  together  at  about  the  level  of  the  articulation  of 

the  lower  jaw.      This  specimen,  however,  had,  it  is  to  be  remembered, 

extensive  inflammation  in  these  parts,  which  may  possibly  have  effected 

an  alteration  in  the  relations  and  number  of   the  ducts.     It  is  pretty 

clear,  however,  that  three  pairs  all  together  is  the  ordinary  number  of 

these  ducts,  that  having  been  found  in  Gervais's  specimen  (perhaps  in   P.  Z.  S.  1882, 

two),  in  Owen's,  and  in  one  of  mine  for  certain.  p>  290> 

I  found  the  opening  of  the  two  other  ducts  exactly  as  described  by 
Pouchet  (1.  c.  p.  89)  and  Gervais,  one  of  these  being  dilated  terminally, 
the  dilatation  receiving  the  other  duct  and  opening  by  a  single  aperture 
into  the  mouth  (vide  Plate  VIII.  fig.  3). 

At  the  point  where  the  three  submaxillary  ducts  of  each  side,  coming 
from  the  three  lobes  of  the  gland,  converge,  and  become  united  intimately 
by  their  walls  to  each  other,  they  become  surrounded  by  a  bulb-like  mass 
of  muscular  tissue,  the  exact  relations  of  which  I  shall  describe  below. 
But  I  could  not  perceive  that  this  structure,  which  externally  looks  like 
a  bulbous  reservoir  surrounded  by  a  muscular  coat,  corresponded  to  any 
dilatation  of  the  ducts  which  pass  through  it ;  on  the  contrary,  these 
seem  to  preserve  a  nearly  uniform  diameter  throughout  this  part  of  their 
course,  a  condition  corresponding  to  that  described  by  Chatin  in 
Tamandua. 

The  terminal  reservoirs,  1  may  add,  of  the  two  pairs  of  submaxillary 
ducts  lie  just  above  the  long  thin  median  tendon  of  the  genio-hyoid,  the 
contraction  of  which  muscle  may  possibly,  by  compressing  the  floors  of 
these  reservoirs,  aid  in  the  ejaculation  of  the  fluid  contained  in  them. 

The  stomach  of  MyrmecopTiaga  generally  resembles  Prof.  Owen's 
figures  and  description ;  but  the  thick  pyloric  pads  are  softer  and  more 
vascular,  and  the  whole  less  gizzard-like,  than  I  had  been  led  to  anticipate 
from  his  account.  The  gyriform  folds  of  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
cardiac  part  of  the  stomach,  which  quite  resemble  those  of  the  stomach 
in  many  other  animals,  are,  in  particular,  not  happily  represented  in 
his  fig.  1,  pi.  lii. 

The  liver  of  both  specimens  agrees  very  well  with  Prof.  Flower's 
description  of  this  viscus.  Both  caudate  and  Spigelian  lobes  are 
practically  absent. 

As  accurately  described  by  Pouchet  ('  Memoires,'  pp.  191,  192),  the 
pancreatic  duct  ends  in  a  vesicle,  in  the  walls  of  which  the  hepatic  duct 
runs  for  a  little  way  and  then  opens  into  it,  the  vesicle  then  opening  by 
a  separate  aperture  into  the  duodenum. 

In  the  first  (larger)  specimen  examined  by  me  the  intestines  measured 
as  follows :— small  intestine  24  ft.  10  in.,  large  intestine  2  ft.  3|  inches. 
The  caecum  can  hardly  be  said  to  exist  as  a  separate  part.  The  median 
longitudinal  ridge  of  mucous  membrane  was  continuous  for  the  posterior 


300 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 


P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  292. 


15  feet  3  inches  of  the  small  intestine,  and  reappeared  above  this  at 
intervals  in  a  less  regular  and  less  developed  way. 

I  could  see  no  longitudinal  folds  of  mucous  membrane,  such  as  are 
described  by  Owen,  in  the  rectum,  which,  however,  had  distinctly 
transverse  ones,  irregularly  disposed  in  a  gyriform  way,  well  marked. 

The  right  lung  is  trilobed,  with  an  azygos  lobe  superadded ;  the  left 
lung  is  bilobed,  the  lowest  lobe  in  each  lung  being  biggest. 

The  kidneys  are  quite  smooth  externally :  there  are  no  distinct 
Malpighian  pyramids,  the  tubules  opening  internally  on  a  single  slightly- 

Fig.  2. 


Brain  of  Myrmecophaga  juhata  (specimen  a)  from  above. 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,   elevated  ridge,  which  in  one  specimen  is  divided  into  three  or  four  slightly- 
p.  291.         marked  papillae. 

2.  Brain. — The  late  Prof.  Grervais  has  given,  in  his  memoir  on  the 
brain  of  Edentata,  figures  of  the  superior,  inferior,  and  lateral  aspects  of 
the  brain  of  Myrmecophaga  jubata,  as  well  as  of  the  cranial  casts  of  that 
and  the  other  species  of  Anteater  *.  Pouchet,  in  his  '  Memoires,'  also  gives 

*   Nouv.  Arch.  v.  pi.  i.  figs.  3,  3«,  3 b,  pi.  ii.  figs.  1-3. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER. 


301 


figures  of  the  cranial  casts  of  Myrmecophaga,  and,  in  the  article  in  the 
'  Journal  de  1'Anatomie '  above  cited,  representations  of  the  brain  itself 
of  Tamandua  and  Cycloturus,  that  organ  having  been  previously  figured 
in  the  latter  species  by  Tiedemann  *. 

As  I  find  Gervais's  figures  of  the  brain  in  some  respects  unsatisfactory, 
I  have  taken  this  opportunity  of  giving  representations  of  the  brains  ex- 
Fig.  3. 

jr 


P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  293. 


Brain,  from  the  side,  of  specimen  d. 
Fig.  4. 


The  same,  from  the  inside.    All  these  figures  are  of  the  natural  size. 

a,  Limbic  fissure  (inferior  arc  of  Broca) ;  b,  fissure  of  Rolando  (Broca) ;  c,  primary 
parietal  sulcus  ;  d,  e,  additional  sulci  of  circumsylvian  gyrus  ;  s,  fissure  of  Sylvius ; 
l.s.s,  island  of  Reil  (lobule  sous-sylvien,  Broca) ;  c.m,  c.m',  c.m'',  calloso -marginal 
sulcus  (superior  arc  of  limbic  fissure,  Broca);  h,  hippocampal  sulcus;  a.c,  an- 
terior commissure  ;  opt,  optic  nerve  ;  r.l  (fig.  4),  "  Pli  de  passage  retro-limbique " 
(Broca) ;  -f  (fig.  2),  bridging  convolution  between  frontal  and  parietal  lobes. 

tracted  from  my  two  specimens,  including  one  showing  the  disposition   P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
of  the  deeper  parts  (figs.  2,  3,  4). 

The  olfactory  lobes  are  very  large,  projecting  forwards  for  -7  inch  in 

*  Icones  cerebri  Simiarum,  pi.  v.  fig.  8. 


p.  291. 


302  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

front  of  the  cerebral  hemispheres  :  in  the  lateral  view  of  the  brain  they 
occupy,  at  least  anteriorly,  almost  the  lower  half  of  the  parts  there  ex- 
posed. They  are  continuous  basally  with  the  well-developed  "  hippo- 
campal  lobe,"  in  front  of  which  appears  a  large  oval  swelling  of  grey 
matter,  on  the  middle  root  of  the  olfactory  lobe,  of  an  antero-posterior 
extent  of  more  than  half  an  inch.  Towards  their  base,  the  olfactory 
tracts  are  curiously  marked  by  slight  transverse  impressions  (fig.  3) 
giving  them  a  striated  appearance,  which  may  also  be  observed  in  the  cor- 
responding regions  in  the  brains  of  Tamandua  and  Orycteropus.  The 
cerebral  hemispheres  are  but  little  arched  superiorly  * ;  but  the  vermis 
cerebelli  is  very  prominent,  rising  above  the  general  level  of  the  hemi- 
spheres (fig.  2).  Viewed  from  above,  the  hemispheres  appear  somewhat 
truncated  posteriorly,  though  they  here  completely  conceal  the  corpora 
quadrigemina,  abutting  on  the  cerebellum  (fig.  2).  Attaining  their 
greatest  breadth  anterior  to  this,  a  little  in  front  of  the  level  of  the  pos- 
terior end  of  the  median  fissure  (1-95  inch  long),  they  taper  somewhat 
rapidly  anteriorly. 

The  cerebellum  is  well  convoluted,  with  its  lateral  extent  (1-5  inch) 
greater  than  its  antero-posterior  (1-15).  The  vermis  is  much  narrower 
than  the  lateral  lobes ;  it  is  prominent,  and  in  one  specimen  (the  larger) 
considerably  twisted  on  itself.  The  flocculi  are  distinct. 

The  nates  are  much  larger  than  the  testes  :  the  latter  are  very  narrow 
from  before  backwards  as  compared  with  their  combined  transverse 
extent  (-075  :  '6  inch),  and  are  not  distinctly  separated  from  each  other. 
The  nates  are  larger,  more  prominent,  and  distinctly  paired,  being  sepa- 
rated by  a  well-marked  constriction ;  they  are  somewhat  triangular  in 
shape,  with  their  longer  axis  transverse. 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,       The  pineal  gland  has  a  distinct  hard  mineral  deposit ;  its  peduncles  are 
easily  made  out. 

There  is  no  very  distinct  corpus  mamillare,  it  being  only  represented 
by  a  white  swelling  on  the  infundibulum.  The  hypophysis  cerebri  is  very 
large.  The  anterior  commissure  is  distinct,  but  not  particularly  large, 
its  antero-posterior  extent  being  '15  inch.  The  soft  commissure  is  very 
large  ('25  inch  long) ;  the  posterior  distinct.  The  third  nerves  are 
small,  the  optic  not  large. 

There  is  a  good  septum  lucidum  ('25  inch  deep  anteriorly),  with  a  con- 
tained fifth  ventricle.  The  fornix  is  very  well  developed,  with  but  few 
precommissural  fibres.  The  corpus  callosum  is  very  well  developed,  more 
than  an  inch  long,  and  nearly  horizontal  in  position,  with  but  a  slight 
genu  anteriorly.  Posteriorly  it  forms,  with  the  fornix,  a  prominent  pad 
(bourrelei). 

*  Gervais's  figure,  L  c.  fig.  3  a,  makes  their  outline  much  too  convex  antero- 
postcriorly. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER.  303 

The  cerebral  sulci  are  not  exactly  alike  in  my  two  specimens,  the  brain 
of  the  bigger  of  the  two  animals,  though  of  the  same  dimensions  as  its   P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
fellow,  being  more  richly  convoluted  by  the  development  in  it  of  minor        p<  293' 
fissures  and  impressions  not  present  in  the  other.     It  is  that  of  which 
the  lateral  and  internal  views  are  here  figured  (figs.  3  &  4,  p.  301) :  the 
description   of  the   main   sulci   is   taken  from   the  simpler   specimen 
(represented  in  fig.  2),  but  applies  in  all  essential  respects  to  both. 

The  olfactory  lobe  is  separated  from  the  cerebral  hemispheres  above  by  p.  z.  S.  1882, 
a  shallow  fissure  (a),  which,  at  the  level  of  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  P-  294* 
prominent  "  hippocampal  lobe,"  turns  downwards,  and  runs  along  the 
external  and  inferior  face  of  that  lobe  till  it  terminates  on  its  inner  face 
(fig.  4,  a),  not,  however,  reaching  the  hippocampal  sulcus  (A).  At  the 
point  where  its  downward  course  commences  there  is  a  small  triangular 
area  (l.s.s.)  exposed  on  the  lateral  surface  of  the  brain,  from  which  a 
short  curved  shallow  sulcus  (s)  runs  a  short  way  upwards,  forming  with 
the  descending  part  of  a  a  f or wardly- convex  curve.  In  the  larger  speci- 
men figured  (fig.  3)  this  short  upwardly-running  sulcus  (s)  is  separated,  as 
will  be  seen,  by  a  narrow  bridging  fold  from  the  triangular  depression 
and  its  posterior  continuation  (a).  From  the  antero-inferior  angle  of  this 
triangular  space,  but  separated  by  a  very  narrow,  more  or  less  deep, 
bridging  convolution  from  a,  another  sinuous  fissure  (6)  runs  forwards 
and  upwards  to  terminate  near  the  anterior  angle  of  the  hemisphere  *. 
Above,  on  the  supero-lateral  aspect  of  the  brain,  and  nearly  parallel  with 
the  median  longitudinal  fissure,  is  a  distinct  longitudinal  sulcus  (c), 
convex  upwards,  which  runs  in  an  antero-posterior  direction  for  a  space 
of  1-2  inch. 

Finally,  parallel  with  the  posterior  edge  of  the  hemisphere,  dividing 
the  external  surface  of  this  "  temporal  lobe,"  is  a  vertically-directed 
sulcus  (t?)  about  *75  inch  in  extent. 

On  the  internal  aspect  of  the  brain  (fig.  4)  runs  a  well-marked  "  calloso- 
marginal "  sulcus  (c.m),  broken  up  into  three  or  more  parts,  the  most 
posterior  being  nearly  vertical  in  position,  and  separated  by  but  a  little 
space  from  the  posterior  extremity  of  fissure  a.  In  its  usual  position  is 
a  well-marked  hippocampal  sulcus  (7i),  with  a  broad  "fascia  dentata" 
between  it  and  the  corpus  fimbriatum,  the  fascia  dentata  being  continued, 
as  described  by  Prof.  Turner  in  Dasypus  f,  as  a  thin  layer  of  longi- 
tudinally-disposed fibres  over  the  corpus  callosum  to  near  its  genu.  The 
hippocampal  sulcus  does  not  extend  as  high  as  the  corpus  callosum.  The 
lateral  ventricle  is  fair-  sized :  I  can  see  not  a  trace  of  any  posterior 
cornu.  The  hippocampus  major  is  strongly  convex.  The  "  hippocampal 

*    In  the  smaller  specimen  (fig.  2),  this  fissure  is,  on  the  right-hand  side  only,  broken 
up  into  two  by  a  narrow  bridging  convolution  (-j-). 
t  Journ.  Anat.  Phys.  i.  (1867),  p.  314. 


304 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 


P.Z.S.  1882, 
p.  295. 


lobe "  has,  on  its  inferior  aspect,  a  few  irregular  dentations  developed 
near  its  antero -internal  angle. 

In  the  smaller  and  simpler  brain  of  Tamandua  (represented  diagram- 
matically  in  fig.  5),  the  only  sulei  present  are  those  corresponding  to 
«7&,  c  in  the  larger  species,  with  some  slight  representatives  of  d. 

Adopting  the  late  Prof.  Broca's  ideas  *  as  to  the  nature  and  com- 
position of  the  "  scissure  limbique"  the  inferior  arc  of  this  is  clearly  repre- 
sented by  the  fissure  a,  which  is  separated  by  a  narrow  "pli  de  passage 
retro-limbique"  (fig.  4,  r.l)  from  its  superior  arc,  represented  by  what  we 
commonly  call  the  "  calloso-marginal  sulcus "  (c.w,  &c.).  The  slight 
sulcus  at  s,  developed  above  the  triangular  depression,  will  accordingly  be 
the  Sylvian  fissure,  b  is  then,  following  Broca's  identifications,  the 
fissure  of  Eolando,  the  gyrus  lying  anterior  to  and  below  it  being  the  re- 
duced equivalent  of  the  frontal  lobe.  As  has  already  been  pointed  out, 
this  gyrus  is  connected  posteriorly  by  a  small,  sometimes  deep,  bridging 
fold  with  the  triangular  space  (Ls.s.)  below  the  Sylvian  fissure.  This 
triangular  space  is  Broca's  "  lobule  sous-sylvien"  its  equivalent  in  the 
Primates  being  the  lobe  of  the  island  of  Reil  (1.  c.  p.  430). 

The  longitudinal  sulcus  c  corresponds  probably  to  Broca's  "  sillon 
parietal  primaire  •"  the  gyrus  above  and  internal  to  it  will  thus  be  the 
"circonvolution  sagittale"  that  below  it  the  "cir  convolution  sylvienne,"  which 
in  the  more-convoluted  of  the  brains  (fig.  3)  becomes  divided  up  by 
smaller  sulci  (d,  e,  &c.)  into  a  number  of  imperfect  gyri. 

Fig.  5. 


rJ, 


Diagram  of  right  cerebral  hemisphere  of  Tamandua  tetradactyla,  from  above. 

From  my  study  of  the  brains  of  the  remaining  genera  of  Edentata,  I 
have  little  doubt  that  the  sulci  a,  b,  and  c,  here  described,  can  be  traced, 


*  "  Anatomie  comparee  des  circonvolutions  cerebrales.  Le  grand  lobe  limbique 
et  la  scissure  limbique  dans  la  se"rie  des  Mammiferes,"  Revue  d'Anthropologie,  vii. 
pp.  385-498. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER.  305 

with  various  modifications,  iri  nearly  all  the  members  of  this  group. 
Onjcteropus  in  its  cerebral  characters  seems  to  approach  Myrmecophaga 
more  nearly  than  any  other  form,  the  sulci  and  gyri  of  the  brains  of 
the  two  forms,  as  well  as  their  general  conformation,  being  very  similar ; 
Manis  seems  to  possess  the  three  typical  sulci  well  developed ;  and  these 
are  also  present  in  the  larger  Dasypodidae,  though  apparently  much  re- 
duced in  the  smaller  forms  of  that  group.  The  Sloths  conform  to  the 
same  general  type.  But,  in  the  absence  of  a  larger  series  of  brains  of 
this  group  than  is  at  present  available  for  comparison,  satisfactory  gene- 
ralization on  this  subject  is  impossible,  most  of  the  published  figures  of 
Edentate  brains  being  very  unsatisfactory  in  detail,  whilst  nothing  of 
importance  is  known  as  regards  the  development  of  the  sulci  in  any 
member  of  this  group. 

3.  Female  Generative  Organs  (fig.  6,  p.  306). — These  have  been  briefly  p.  z.  S.  1882, 
described  by  Pouchet  *,  as  well  as  by  Kapp  ;  but  their  accounts  will,  in       P-  2ytJ- 
some  respects,  bear  supplementing. 

A  cloaca,  in  the  true  sense  of  the  word,  is  not  present  in  the  Great 
Anteater.  The  labia  majora,  which  bound  the  vertical  urine-genital 
fissure,  are  very  prominent  and  hirsute.  Above  them,  but  separated  by 
a  distinct  perineal  space,  slightly  hair-clad,  is  the  transverse  anal  aperture, 
the  mucous  membrane  lining  which  is  pink,  quite  different  from  that  of 
the  lower  passage  and  its  boundaries,  which  is  grey.  Slightly  inclosing 
these  two  apertures  above  is  a  widely-open  V-shaped  tegumentary  fold, 
with  its  apex  situated  superiorly  towards  the  root  of  the  tail. 

There  are  no  labia  minora  visible  ;  and  no  clitoris  is  present  as  a  free 
organ,  though  the  corpora  cavernosa  can  be  felt  as  tough  bodies  lying  in 
the  walls  of  the  vulva. 

The  length  of  the  uriiio-genital  canal  is  2*7  inches  :  about  1  inch  from 
its  external  orifice  may  be  seen,  on  each  side  of  the  middle  line,  two  or 
three  small  pore-like  depressions  ;  a  bristle  passed  through  the  largest  of 
these  enters  a  short  duct,  connected  with  one  of  a  pair  of  globular  com- 
pact glands  about  the  size  of  a  small  cherry,  which  lie  in  the  walls  of  the 
urine-genital  canal  above,  between  it  and  the  rectum.  They  are,  no 
doubt,  "  vulvo-vaginal "  glands,  or  glands  of  Bertolini,  corresponding  to 
the  male  Cowper's.  The  urino-genital  canal  is  lined  by  smooth,  vascular, 
mucous  membrane. 

Communication  between  this  and  the  next  section  of  these  organs  is 
effected  by  means  of  two  small  apertures,  each  admitting  readily  enough 
the  passage  into  the  vagina,  through  the  here  constricted  walls  of  the 
common  tube,  of  a  probe.  From  between  these  apertures  is  prolonged 
downwards,  for  a  slight  distance  along  the  dorsal  wall  of  the  urino-genital 
canal,  a  slight  ridge  of  mucous  membrane,  on  each  side  of  which  are 

*  Mem.  p.  194. 


306 


P.  Z.  S.  1882. 
p.  297. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 
Fig.  6. 


Female  generative  organs  of  Myrmc cophaga  jubata,  from  before,  reduced,  and  some- 
what diagrammatic.  The  walls  of  the  tube  have  been  laid  open  anteriorly  to 
show  the  vaginal  septum  (v.  s),  beneath  which  an  arrow  is  passed,  appearing 
above  in  the  vagina  (v},  and  below  emerging  by  the  vaginal  aperture  of  that  side 
(v.  a)  into  the  urino-genital  canal  (u.g}.  The  opening  of  the  vagina  into  this  on 
the  other  side  is  laid  open. 

b.  g,  openings  of  Bertolini's  glands  ;  ves,  bladder,  turned  to  one  side ;  u,  uterus  ;  /,  /, 
Fallopian  tubes  (cut  short,  with  the  rest  of  the  uterine  appendages  on  the  left 
side) ;  o,  ovary  ;  h,  hydatid  of  Morgagni ;  b.  I,  broad  ligament  of  the  uterus,  cut 
short. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATKR.  307 

visible  numerous  small  pore-like  apertures,  arranged  in  series  in  lines   P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
running  outwards  from  the  middle  line. 

On  laying  open  the  vagina  along  its  anterior  wall,  it  is  seen  to  pass 
above  with  no  marked  constriction  or  "  os  uteri "  into  the  pyriform  simple 
uterus,  the  only  distinction  between  the  two  parts  being  afforded  by  the 
thicker  and  more  muscular  walls  of  the  uterus,  and  by  the  difference  in  the 
character  of  the  mucous  membrane,  this  being  quite  smooth  and  spongy 
in  the  uterus,  whilst  that  of  the  vagina  is  thrown  into  a  close-set  series 
of  thick,  more  or  less  longitudinal,  somewhat  foliaceous  plaits.  For 
about  the  lower  inch  of  the  vagina  there  extends  a  complete  median  sep- 
tum, attached  to  both  dorsal  and  ventral  walls  of  the  tube,  extending  a 
little  further  along  the  dorsal  wall,  and  terminating  superiorly  by  a  free 
semilunar  margin,  concave  upwards.  Hence  the  terminal  part  of  the 
vagina  consists  of  two  quite  separate  tubes,  fused  together  above,  but 
each  opening  into  the  urino-genital  sinus  by  a  single  aperture  of  its  own 
below. 

The  vagina  proper  measures  about  4  inches  in  length.  The  pyriform 
uterus  is  not  more  than  2  inches  long :  it  presents  not  the  slightest  sign 
of  being  double.  Its  walls  are  very  thick  and  muscular  ;  but  there  is  no  P.  Z.  S,  1832, 
constriction  or  valve  at  all  at  its  junction  with  the  vagina.  It  receives  P-  29^. 
the  Fallopian  tubes,  not  at  its  supero-external  angles  as  in  Homo  &c., 
but  at  a  point  about  one  third  down  its  total  length.  These  are  not  par- 
ticularly long,  nor  much  convoluted,  and  lie  along  the  anterior  edge  of 
the  broad  ligament.  The  ovaries  are  completely  covered  by  a  peritoneal 
coat  superiorly,  but  by  their  ventral  faces  open  into  a  spacious  peritoneal 
pouch,  open  anteriorly,  in  the  floor  of  which  is  the  very  considerable 
aperture  of  the  morsus  diaboli,  surrounded  by  the  expanded  extremity  of 
the  Fallopian  tube.  This  is  not  much  fimbriated,  and  is  externally  pro- 
longed to  meet  the  external  border  of  the  ovary  of  the  same  side.  On 
this  surface  of  the  ovary  may  be  seen  a  few  scars,  probably  due  to  the 
eruption  of  Graafian  follicles,  as  well  as  a  couple  of  small  clavate  pro- 
cesses which  depend  freely  from  it  into  the  cavity  of  the  pouch.  Towards 
the  outer  part  of  the  broad  ligament,  and  lying  anteriorly  to  the  ovary  and 
round  ligament,  is  a  large  "  hydatid  of  Morgagni "  nearly  the  size  of  a  pea. 

The  opening  of  the  vagina  into  the  urino-genital  sinus  by  two  distinct 
apertures  seems  to  be  characteristic  (according  to  the  statements  by  Owen* 
and  Eapp  t)  both  of  the  Anteaters  and  the  Sloths,  though  Pouchet  con- 
sidered it  in  his  specimen  as  "  sans  doute  une  anomalie  "  (1.  c.  p.  195). 
The  latter  author  describes  as  the  "  uterus  "  what  I  have  here  considered 
to  represent  both  uterus  and  vagina,  whilst  what  he  calls  "  vagina  "  is 
only  so  in  a  functional  sense,  being  morphologically  the  urino-genital 
canal.  Eapp  also  describes  these  animals  as  having  a  single  uterus  with 

*    Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  690.  t  L.  c.  p.  102. 


308  OX  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

two  bra  ("  einfacJie  Gebannutter  mit  doppeltem  (redden  und  linJcen)  Mutter- 
mund"  I.  c.  p.  104).  Nevertheless  I  see  no  reason  for  doubting  the  view- 
adopted  by  Prof.  Owen,  that  the  genital  tube  above  the  urethral  opening 
represents  in  reality  both  uterus  and  vagina. 

The  presence  of  a  vaginal  septum,  a  remnant  of  the  coalescence  of  the 
primitively  paired  Miillerian  ducts,  in  MyrmecopTiaga  is  a  peculiarity 
shared,  judging  from  Owen's  account,  by  the  genus  Cholcepus  *  only 
amongst  other  families  of  Edentates. 

In  the  Indian  Elephant  there  is,  at  least  sometimes,  a  similar  but 
more  perfect  septum  dividing  into  lateral  halves  not  only  the  vagina,  but 
the  uterus  (here  provided  with  a  distinct  os  uteri)  also  t.  In  other  cases 
this  disappears  completely,  except  externally,  forming  then  the  so-called 
"  hymen"  of  Miall  and  Greenwood. 

In  the  genus  Lagostomus,  on  the  other  hand,  as  first  described  by  Prof. 

Owen  J,  the  accuracy  of  whose  statement  I  have  lately  had  an  oppor- 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,  tunity  of  verifying,  this  median  septum  is  developed  along  the  proximal 

p.  299.         (uterine)  part  of  the  vagina,  instead  of  the  distal  (external)  as  in  Myr- 

mecopJiaga  §. 

As  Pouchet,  though  describing  the  two  apertures,  does  not  mention 
any  median  septum,  it  is  possible  that  this  vaginal  septum  may  disappear, 
as  there  seems  to  be  good  reason  for  supposing  that  it  does  in  Elephas 
indicus,  in  the  gravid  state.  The  penis  in  Myrmecophaga  is  so  small  that 
during  coitus  it  is,  I  expect,  entirely  contained  in  the  urine-genital  tube, 
and  does  not  enter  the  vagina,  as  is  also  the  case  in  Eleplias ;  the  disap- 
pearance of  the  vaginal"  septum  can  therefore  hardly  be  due,  in  this 
species  at  least,  to  the  non-virgin  condition  of  any  particular  female. 

4.  As  regards  other  points,  I  may  mention  that  the  external  and 
internal  iliac  arteries  come  off  separately,  as  in  many  other  mammals  ||, 
there  being  no  common  iliac  arteries. 

*  "  In  the  Unau  (Bradypns  didactylus)  the  rudiment  of  a  uterine  septum  appears  as 
a  longitudinal  ridge  from  the  inner  surface  of  the  anterior  wall  in  the  unimpregnated 
state :  in  this  species  also  [the  same  condition  having  been  already  noted  in  Bradypus 
tridactvlus\,  the  utero-vaginal  canal  communicates  in  the  virgin  animal  by  two  dis- 
tinct orifices  with  the  short  urogenital  tract."  Anat.  Vert.  ii.  p.  690. 

t  M.  Watson,  "  On  the  Anatomy  of  the  Female  Organs  of  the  Proboscidea,"  Trans. 
Z.  S.  xi.  p.  116  &c.  pi.  xxii.  fig.  1. 

J  P.  Z.  S.  1839,  p.  177  ;  Anat.  Vert.  iii.  p.  686. 

§  A  similar  condition  of  things  to  that  here  described  in  the  genus  Myrmecophaga 
occurs  sometimes,  it  may  be  observed,  as  a  malformation,  known  as  "  vagina  duplex  ct 
uterus  simplex"  in  the  human  female,  the  vagina  being  more  or  less  completely  divided 
into  two  chambers  by  a  median  septum,  and  opening  externally  by  two  quite  separate 
orifices.  C'f.  a  paper  by  Dr.  T.  Matthews  Duncan,  Journ.  Anat.  Phys.  i.  pp.  209-274, 
and  Dr.  Morrison  Watson's  paper,  "  The  Homology  of  the  Sexual  Organs  illustrated 
by  Comparative  Anatomy  and  Pathology,"  I.  c.  xiv.  pp.  60-62. 

II    Cf.  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  188. 


THE  GKEAT  ANTEATEB.  309 

As  in  Mams  tridentata  as  described  by  Rapp  *,  the  chevron  bones  in 
the  tail  contain  a  curious  caudal  rete  mirabile,  composed  of  both  venous 
and  arterial  elements,  which  completely  surrounds,  as  in  a  sheath,  a 
central  artery  of  large  size,  which  is  the  direct  continuation  onwards  of 
the  abdominal  aorta,  and  gives  off  here  no  branches  at  all  to  the  rete. 
The  arterial  elements  of  this  rete  are  derived  from  several  small  trunks 
on  each  side,  which  arise  from  the  caudal  artery  beyond  the  origin  of 
the  internal  iliacs,  and  then  break  up  into  a  number  of  more  or  less 
parallel,  rarely  anastomosing,  branches,  mixed  up  with  which  are  similar 
venous  trunks.  A  similar  rete  occurs  in  Tamandua,  and  also,  as  1 
am  informed  by  Prof.  Flower,  in  the  Spider  Monkeys  of  the  genus 
Ateles. 

The  paired  eyelids  are  very  small,  and  hardly  exist  as  special  organs  ; 
there  are  no  eyelashes.  The  third  eyelid,  on  the  other  hand,  is  very 
large  and  well  developed.  It  contains  a  large  cartilage  of  concavo- 
convex  shape ;  on  the  internal  surface  of  this  eyelid,  just  below  the 
inferior  border  of  the  contained  cartilage,  opens  the  minute  aperture  of 
the  Harderian  gland,  which  is  very  large,  almost  completely  surrounding 
the  orbit,  and  concealing  the  much  more  minute  lachrymal  gland.  As 
described  and  figured  by  Pouchet,  it  consists  of  three  chief  lobes. 

As  already  suggested  by  Chatin,  I  have  little  doubt  that  it  is  the 
Harderian  gland  that  has  been  described  by  Cuvier  (Anat.  Comp.  2ine 
ed.  iv.  part  1,  pp.  430,  431)  and  Owen  (I.  c.  pi.  xl.  fig.  36)  in  Cycloturus 
as  a  salivary  gland  opening  into  the  mouth. 

Clavicles  are  frequently  supposed  to  be  absent  in  the  Great  Anteater,   P.  Z.  S.  1882. 
though   present    as    rudiments  in  Tamandua,    and    well  developed    in       p' 
Cycloturus  t. 

In  the  larger  specimen  of  the  two  examined  by  me  I  find,  however, 
a  distinct  one  present  on  each  side,  lying  in  the  muscles,  about  an  inch 
long,  nearly  straight,  of  flattened  form,  with  one  end  cylindrical.  Similar 
ones  were  also  present,  closely  attached  to  the  sternum,  but  of  smaller 
size,  in  the  second  specimen.  Eapp  (1.  c.  p.  40)  found  a  rudimentary 
cartilaginous  one  in  Myrmecophaga,  though  he  (erroneously)  denies  one 
to  Tamandua.  There  is  also  an  accessory  ossicle  developed  at  the  head 
of  the  fibula,  as  in  some  of  the  fossil  forms. 

In  the  anterior  comu  of  the  hyoid  bone,  I  find  in  both  specimens  three 
distinct  ossifications  J.  The  proximal  of  these  is  a  small  nodule  of  bone, 
•3  inch  long,  articulating  below  with  the  basihyal ;  it  is  called  the 


*  L.  c.  p.  92. 

t  '  Osteology  of  the  Mammalia,'  by  W.  H.  Flower,  p.  235  :  London,  1876. 
J  The  accounts  given  by  different  authors  of  the  composition  of  the  hyoid  bones  in 
the  Anteaters  differ  considerably  infer  se.     Cf.  Pouchet,  '  Memoires,'  pp.  93-95. 


310  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

"  apohyal "  by  Poucbet,  but,  according  to  the  nomenclature  now  ordi- 
narily employed,  must  really  be  the  cerato-hyal  *.  The  other  two  long 
curved  ossifications  of  the  anterior  cornu  must  therefore  be  the  epi-  and 
stylo-hyals  respectively. 

Both  Rapp  (I.  c.  p.  61)  and  Pouchet  ('  Memoires/  p.  95,  pi.  xii.  figs. 
1-3)  describe  the  posterior  cornu  as  articulating  externally  with  the 
anterior  one.  But  in  neither  of  my  specimens  can  I  find  any  evidence 
of  such  a  joint,  as  the  two  cormta,  when  in  their  undisturbed  condition, 
are  separated  by  a  considerable  space,  in  part  occupied  by  a  muscle  (the 
inter  cornualis,  Owen,  1.  c.  p.  127) ;  and  in  the  cleaned  bones  I  also  find 
it  impossible,  without  violence,  to  bring  the  two  arches  into  such  contact 
together.  In  Tamandua,  though  there  is  a  distinct  ligament  between 
the  two  arches,  they  are  nevertheless  similarly  separated;  and  neither 
Duvernoy  f,  who  dissected  this  species,  nor  Owen,  in  his  account  of 
Myrmecophaga,  allude  to  any  such  interarticulation  existing ;  Owen's 
figure  (pi.  xxxix.  fig.  2)  indeed  clearly  shows  the  two  cornua  separated 
by  the  intercornualis  muscle,  as  also  observed  by  me  (cf.  Plate  VIII.  fig.  1, 

in*). 

At  the  place  where  the  three  main  ducts  of  the  submaxillary  glands  of 
each  side  converge  to  become  intimately  connected  together  by  their 
walls,  though  they  still  remain  quite  separate  tubes,  they  are  covered  by 
a  mass  of  muscle  which  forms  a  bulb-like  swelling  for  an  extent  of  1| 
inch  on  the  inferior  aspect  of  the  conjoined  ducts  (Plate  VIII.  fig.  1). 
It  is  this  mass  of  muscles  that  has  been  described  by  Owen  (I.  c.  p.  126) 
as  the  "  constrictor  salivaris"  a  name  adopted  by  Pouchet  subse- 
quently. 

The  external  aspect  of  the  ducts  is  also,  for  the  posterior  half  inch  of 
this  space,  covered  by  a  thick  muscular  coating,  so  that  in  this  portion 
the  three  ducts  are  encircled  by  a  broad  ring  of  muscular  fibres.  These 
fibres  arise  from  the  anterior  edge  of  the  anterior  hyoid  coruu,  on  each 
P.Z.S.  1882,  side  of  the  junction  of  the  stylo-  and  epihyal  bones;  running  then 
p.  301.  forwards  and  outwards,  they  pass  beneath  and  to  the  outside  of  (in  a 
sternal  view)  the  conjoined  ducts,  and  then  ascend  to  fan  out  and  form 
the  muscular  bulb.  The  more  anterior  of  these  fibres  are  inserted  into 
the  internal  and  upper  part  of  the  combined  ducts,  and  cease  there. 
The  most  posterior,  on  the  contrary,  completely  encircle  the  ducts, 
running  inwards  over  the  ducts,  and  then,  recurving  on  themselves, 
ascend  on  the  deep  aspect  of  the  ducts,  to  be  inserted  on  the  stylohyal 


*  In  Tamandua  I  am  unable  to  find  any  corresponding  ossification,  though  both  the 
epi-  and  stylo-hyals  are  well  developed. 

t  Mem.  Soe.  Hist,  Nat.  Strasbourg,  1830;  and  Cuvier's  Anat.  Conip.  2nic  ed.  iv. 
part  1,  p.  476. 


1 


•r^^ 


PI. VIII 


P  Z.S.1882.PI.XV 


sh.tn 


sh/rn. 


Fia.1 


J.SmiLliLh. 


Fiff.3. 

ANAT.OMY  OF  MYRMECOPHAGA 


Hanhart  imp. 


THE  GREAT  ANTEATER.  311 

bone  for  the  greater  part  of  its  length,  not,  however,  extending  to  either 
of  its  extremities.  Along  the  anterior  (free)  border  of  the  ascending 
part,  at  the  point  where  it  is  in  contact  with  the  ducts  and  the  deep 
part  of  their  muscular  ring,  is  developed  a  strong  tendinous  edge  (s.h.m.t.), 
the  "  commissural  tendon  "  of  Owen. 

The  muscular  fibres  inserted  on  this  and  attached  to  the  stylohyal 
(ceratohyal  of  Owen's  nomenclature)  are  described  by  that  author  as  the 
"  cerato-hyoideus"  whilst  Pouchet  more  correctly  applies  to  it  the  name 
of  "  stylo-hyoideus"  the  rest  of  the  muscular  arrangement  here  described 
forming,  as  already  stated,  the  "  constrictor  scdivaris  "  of  both  authors. 

It  appears  to  me  that  the  whole  muscle  may  be  more  correctly  con- 
sidered as  the  stylo-hyoideus^  which  has  developed  this  remarkable  course 
round  the  submaxillary  ducts  in  order  to  aid  the  ejaculation  of  the  saliva 
therein  contained  by  the  constriction,  on  contraction  of  the  muscle,  of 
their  walls  between  the  circularly-disposed  fibres  surrounding  them  and 
the  tendon  developed  on  its  anterior  margin. 

In  the  genus  Tamandua*  (Plate  VIII.  fig.  2)  there  is  no  special  mus- 
cular envelope  developed  round  the  ducts  in  this  position.  The  most 
posterior  fibres  of  the  mylo-Tiyoideus  (m.h1)  arise  from  the  posterior  end 
of  the  stylo-hyal  bone,  running  inwards  and  forwards,  and  blending 
internally  with  the  genio-hyoid.  To  this  point  also  run  backwards  and 
inwards  the  fibres  of  a  narrow  flattened  muscle  (s.h.  m\  which  crosses 
the  hyoid  origin  of  the  mylo-hyoid  superficially,  and,  as  it  arises  from 
the  stylo-hyal  bone,  must  be  considered  to  represent  a  stylo-Jiyoideus. 
At  the  point  where  it  meets  the  genio-hyoid  and  mylo-hyoid,  all  three 
muscles  become  closely  connected  together,  the  stylo-hyoid  developing 
here  an  anterior  tendinous  edge  (s.h.  m.  t).  Between  this  tendon  and 
the  conjoined  mylo-hyoid  and  genio-hyoid  run  the  three  ducts  of  the 
submaxillary  gland,  so  that  contraction  of  these  muscles  here  also  serves 
a  purpose  similar  to  that  produced  by  the  more  specialized  arrangement 
found  in  the  larger  species. 

[P.S.  July  13,  1882. — I  have  found  the  disposition  of  the  salivary 
ducts  and  the  arrangement  of  the  stylo-hyoideus  muscles  exactly  the 
same  as  those  here  described  in  a  third  specimen  of  Myrmecophaga  just 

dead.— w.  A.  p.] 

EXPLANATION  OF  PLATE  VIII. 

Fig.  1.  Dissection  of  the  left  suprahyoidean  region  of  Myrmecophaga  jubata,  to 

show  the  course  and  relations  of  the  stylo-hyoideus  muscle,      s.h,  stylo-      P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
hyal ;  e.p,  epihyal ;  c.h,  cerato-hyal ;  b.h,  basihyal  ;  t.h,  thyro-hyal ;  s.h.  m',       ?•  ^0^- 


*  Cf.  Duyernoy,  Mem.  Strasb.  1830,  "  Meruoire  sur  la  laugue"  &c.,  p.  3. 


312  ON  AN  ABNORMAL  PITflECIA  SATANAS.      * 

origin  of  the  stylo-hyoideus ;  s.h.  m,  its  insertion ;  s.h.  m.  t,  its  tendinous 
edge  (this,  being  deep  of  the  muscle  and  ducts,  is  diagrammatically 
represented  by  a  dotted  line) ;  m.h,  m.h',  mylo-hyoideus,  cut  and  reflected  ; 
s.g,  sterno-glossus  (cut  short)  ;  g.h',  genio-hyoideus,  at  its  origin,  cut  short 
and  reflected  ;  h.g,  hyo-glossi ;  ep,  epipharyngeus  (Owen) ;  hy,  hyopharyngeus 
(Owen);  int>intercornualis;  1,2,3,  the  three  ducts  of  the  submaxillary 
gland,  converging  to  be  surrounded  by  the  stylo-hyoideus. 

Fig.  2.  The  same  parts  in  Tamandua  tetradactyla,  enlarged.  The  letters  as  before, 
excepts.h.m,  stylo-hyoideus  muscle,  with  its  anterior  tendinous  edge  (s.h.m.f), 
blending  here  with  the  mylo-  (m.h.}  and  genio-hyoid  (g.h)  muscles,  and 
surrounding  the  three  submaxillary  ducts  (s.m.d],  which  are  cut  short  and 
reflected  ;  m.h',  hyoid  origin  of  the  mylo-hyoid. 

3.  Diagram  to  show  the  openings  into  the  mouth  of  the  three  ducts  of  the 
submaxillary  gland  in  Myrmecophaga.  at  b,  the  two  ducts  from  the  more 
posterior  parts  of  the  gland,  opening  together  ;  c,  the  third  duct,  from  the 
cervical  part,  opening  posteriorly  to  the  other  two  ducts. 


52-  NOTE  ON  AN  ABNORMAL  SPECIMEN  OF 
P1THECIA  SATANAS* 

A  YOUNG  male  specimen  of  PitTiecia  satanas,  which  was  lately  forwarded 
to  the  Society's  Gardens,  and  died  shortly  after  its  arrival,  presented  an 
abnormal  condition  that  is  perhaps  worth  recording  in  the  Society's 
c  Proceedings.' 

The  peculiarity  consists  in  the  completely  "  webbed  "  condition  of  the 
third  and  fourth  digits  of  the  manus  on  each  side,  these  two  fingers 
being  completely  connected  together  down  to  their  tips  by  a  fold  of  nude 
skin,  and  with  their  nails  closely  apposed,  though  not  connected,  along 
their  contiguous  margins.  The  other  digits  of  the  hands,  as  well  as  all 
of  those  of  the  feet,  are  quite  normal,  the  webbing  of  them  not  extending 
beyond  the  middle  of  the  first  phalanx. 

The  case  is  interesting,  partly  as  affording  an  excellent  instance  of  an 
abnormal  condition  affecting  homologous  parts  of  opposite  sides  in  an 
exactly  similar  way,  and  partly  as  showing  that  the  lower  Primates  are 
subject,  occasionally,  to  a  condition  of  things  which,  as  is  well  known, 
also  occurs  not  at  all  rarely  in  Man. 


*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  p.  442.     Bead  May  16, 1882. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OP  THE  CHINESE  WATER-DEER.         313 


53.     SUPPLEMENTARY     NOTES     ON    THE     ANATOMY  p.z.s.1882, 
OF    THE    CHINESE    WATER-DEER    (HYDROPOTES      P'636' 
INERMIS)* 

Ay  adult  male  of  this  curious  Deer  having  lately  passed  through  my 
hands,  it  may  be  advisable  to  record  my  notes  on  certain  of  its  soft 
parts,  on  the  condition  of  which  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  laid  considerable 
stress  in  the  classification  of  the  Ruminants,  but  some  of  which  were,  I 
believe,  unknown  to  him,  the  specimen  of  Hydropotes  described  by  him  t 
having  been  a  young  (in  fact  still-born)  example  of  the  opposite  sex. 

As  regards  the  male  organs  of  generation,  the  rjlans  penis  is  an 
elongated  tapering  compressed  cone,  with  the  urethral  opening  sub- 
terminal,  thus  closely  resembling  those  of  Capreolus,  Cervulus,  and 
Elapliodus.  There  are  no  traces  of  Cowper's  glands,  as  is  also  the  case 
in  the  first  and  last  of  the  three  genera  just  named.  In  these  respects, 
then,  Hydropotes  resembles  most  closely  Capreolus  and  Elaphodus,  and 
differs  from  the  Rusine  Deer,  with  which,  according  to  the  views  of  Sir 
Victor  Brooke  at  one  timet,  in  part  indorsed  by  Garrod  §,  it  was  sup- 
posed to  have  perhaps  its  closest  relations.  The  large  "  rtisiform " 
Spigelian  liver-lobe,  which  was  found  by  the  last-named  anatomist  in  the 
young  of  Hydropotes,  and  the  presence  of  which  he  adduced  as  supporting 
those  views,  is,  however,  quite  absent  in  the  liver  of  the  present  speci- 
)nen.  There  is  a  similarly  situated  "  spurious  cystic  fossa,"  containing, 
however,  no  gall-bladder,  only  a  minute  almost  atrophied  cord,  of 
apparently  vascular  nature.  The  caudate  lobe  is  well  developed. 

In  the  rumen  of  the  stomach  the  villi,  where  best  developed,  are  pretty 
uniformly  filiform,  slightly  flattened,  but  not  clavate.     The  reticulum-   P.  Z.  S.  1882; 
cells  are  rather  shallow.     The  psalterium  has,  as  I  count,  nine  primary      P-  638< 
laminae,  and  is  quadruplicate. 

The  length  of  the  intestines  in  the  present  specimen  (the  body  of 
which  had  a  total  length  of  33  inches,  including  the  three-inch-long  tail) 
was  29  feet  2  inches,  21  feet  7  inches  being  small  intestine,  the  remainder 
(7  feet  7  inches)  colon  and  rectum.  The  relative  lengths,  therefore,  of 
these  parts  were  not  very  different  from  those  that  obtained  in  the 
younger  individual  already  described.  The  caecum  was  three  inches  long. 
There  were  2J  coils  in  the  colic  spiral ;  and  at  the  junction  of  the  ileum 
and  ca3cum  is  a  distinct  glandular  patch,  like  a  largish  "  Peyer's  patch," 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  636-638.    Read  Nov.  14,  1882. 
t  Cf.  P.Z.  S.  1877,  p.  789,  and  Coll.  Papers,  pp.  422-425. 
J  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  p.  525.  §  Coll.  Pap.  p.  425. 


314 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 


P.Z.S.  1882, 
p.  637. 


Fig.  1. 


Upper  surface  of  brain  of  Chinese  Water-Deer. 


Fig.  2. 


ssa 
P     sid 

Side  riew  of  brain  of  Chinese  Water-Deer. 


THE  CHINESE  WATER-DEER.  315 

though  not  having  the  complex  structure  of  the  ileo-csecal  gland  met 
with  in  Moschus,  Cervus,  Camelopardalis,  &c. 

The  only  figure  hitherto  extant  (that  given  by  Prof.  Grarrod  in  his 
paper  already  quoted)  of  the  brain  of  Hydropotes  having  been  taken  from 
a  very  young  specimen,  it  may  be  worth  while  to  give  figures  of  the 
superior  and  lateral  aspects  of  that  removed  from  this  adult  specimen, 
which  will  be  useful  for  comparison  with  Garrod's  earlier  one.  as  well  as 
with  those  given  by  that  author  and  Prof.  Flower  of  the  brain  in  Ela- 
pliodus,  Moschus,  and  Pudua,  and  with  the  series  of  semidiagrammatic 
sketches  illustrating  Dr.  Krueg's  valuable  paper  on  the  cerebral  convolu- 
tions of  the  Ungulata  generally*,  whose  nomenclature  on  the  subject  I 
have  also  adopted. 

In  its  cerebral  organization  Hydropotes  approaches  the  genus  Capreolus 
more  nearly  than  any  other  Cervine  form  known  to  me,  the  similarity 
of  the  two  being  obvious  on  comparison  of  the  figures  now  exhibited 
(see  p.  314)  with  those  of  Leuret  and  Gratiolet  t  and  of  Krueg  £  of  the 
Roe.  From  Elapliodus  and  Pudua  these  two  forms  differ  in  the  entire 
disappearance  (save  very  slightly  anteriorly)  of  the  calloso-marginal 
("  splenial ")  sulcus  from  the  superior  aspect  of  the  hemispheres,  owing 
to  the  greater  "  pronation  "  of  their  brain  generally. 

Sir  Victor  Brooke  has  been  led,  from  a  consideration  of  other  points  §, 
to  associate  Hydropotes  and  Capreolus  with  Alces,  as  a  group  per  se,  with 
affinities  in  some  points  in  the  direction  of  the  Old- World  (Plesio- 
metacarpal),  in  others  in  that  of  the  New- World  (Idiometacarpal)  forms. 
It  appears  to  me  that  the  additional  evidence  in  this  paper,  especially 
that  derived  from  the  resemblance  of  the  generative  organs,  is  strongly 
in  favour  of  this  association,  so  far,  at  least,  as  Hydropotes  and  Capreolus 
are  concerned.  The  general  similarity  in  fades  of  Capreolus  to  Hydro- 
potes has  often  struck  me,  and  has  even,  I  believe,  led  others  into  the 
error  of  mistaking  one  for  the  other  ! 

That  Hydropotes  is  in  no  way  intimately  related  to  MoscJius  was  already 
amply  demonstrated ;  and  the  latter  form  also  differs,  as  we  now  know, 
in  the  conformation  of  its  glans  penis  and  in  the  possession  of  Cowper's 
glands. 

*  Zeitschr.  f .  \vissenschaftl.  Zool.  xxxi.  pp.  297-344.  Cf.  also  Garrod,  Coll.  Papery 
pp.  512-517. 

t  Anat.  Syst.  Nerveux,  Atlas,  pi.  x.  {  L.  c.  pi.  xxi. 

§  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  p.  889. 


316         ON  THE  EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  AND 


2252'  54>  NOTES  ON  THE  EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  AND 
ANATOMY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIAN  SEA-LION 
(OTARIA  GILLESPII}* 

(Plates  IX.-XI.) 

Or  late  years  numerous  specimens  of  the  Calif  ornian  Sea-lion  (Otaria 
yillespii)-^  have  been  brought  alive  to  Europe  and  exhibited  in  the  Zoo- 
logical Gardens  and  Aquaria  of  England  and  the  Continent.  A  pair,  the 
male  of  which  has  lately  died,  lived  long  at  the  Brighton  Aquarium,  and 
on  two  occasions  bred,  one  of  the  cubs  being  now  a  fine  adolescent  male. 
Another  pair  were  received  in  the  year  1877  at  the  Southport  Aquarium. 
Of  these  the  female  was  killed  accidentally  some  fifteen  months  ago,  as 
already  noticed  in  the  Society's  '  Proceedings  '  (1879,  p.  460).  Unfor- 
tunately no  further  use  seems  to  have  been  made  of  her  body,  though 
the  skull  was  exhibited  at  one  of  the  Society's  meetings,  and  determined 
by  Prof.  Flower  as  belonging  to  this  species  (1.  c.  p.  551).  The  male 
did  not  long  survive  his  partner,  but,  gradually  pining  away,  died  last 
spring.  Mr.  C.  L.  Jackson,  the  Superintendent  of  the  Aquarium,  having 
forwarded  this  animal  after  its  death  to  Prof.  Flower,  our  President, 
being  at  that  time  much  occupied  with  other  duties,  was  kind  enough  to 
hand  it  over  to  me  for  examination  and  dissection. 

Till  within  a  few  weeks  ago  our  knowledge  of  the  Californian  Sea-lion 
was  extremely  limited,  all  that  was  known  about  it  being  contained  in 
Mr.  J.  A.  Allen's  account  of  the  species  in  his  article  on  the  "  Eared 
Seals  "  (Bull.  Mus.  Comp.  Zool.  ii.  pp.  69-73,  1870-71).  At  that  time 
his  only  materials,  as  regards  the  present  animal,  were  two  skulls  and  a 
skeleton  ;  and  for  his  description  of  the  skin  he  had  to  depend  upon 
Schlegel's  (i.  e.  Temminck's)  account  of  Otaria  stelleri  in  the  *  Fauna 
Japonica,'  which  at  that  time,  following  Dr.  Peters's  identification,  he 
regarded  as  being  in  reality  0.  gillespii. 

*  Trans.  Zool.  Soc.  vol.  xi.  part  vii.  pp.  225-231,  Pis.  XLYIII.-L.  (1882).  Read 
April  5,  1881. 

t  Mr.  J.  A.  Allen,  in  the  second  of  his  valuable  memoirs  mentioned  below,  uses  the 
name  Zalopkns  californianus  for  the  present  species.  I  am  not  yet  prepared  to  split 
up  the,  in  many  ways,  very  natural  genus  Otaria  into  several  genera,  founded,  as  these 
are,  almost  entirely  upon  cranial  characters.  As  regards  the  genus  Zalophus,  it  may 
be  noted  that  Mr.  O.  Thomas  has  lately  noticed  a  skull  of  Otaria  jubata  with  the  same 
number  of  molars  as  are  supposed  to  characterize  that  genus  (P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  4). 

As  regards  the  specific  name,  the  Otaria  californiana  of  Lesson  was  based,  as  Mr. 
Allen  states,  on  a  drawing  published  by  Choris  in  1822,  which  is  called  by  Mr.  Allen 
himself  "a  rather  poor  figure,"  and  has  hitherto  been  referred  to  0.  stelleri.  As 
there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  the  species  intended  by  MacBain's  name  gillespii,  and  as 
that  name,  too,  has  hitherto  been  used  by  nearly  all  writers  on  the  subject,  I  think  it 
will  be  better  to  retain  it. 


ANATOMY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIAN  SEA-LION.  317 

Since  the  subject  of  the  present  paper  passed  through  my  hands  Mr.  T.Z.S.  1882, 
Allen's  elaborate  '  History  of  North-American  Pinnipeds '  (Washington,  "'  p* 
1880)  has  been  published,  and  our  knowledge  of  Otaria  yillespii  much 
increased  thereby,  Mr.  Allen  having  been  able  to  examine  many  skins  and 
skeletons  of  the  species,  as  well  as  to  give  full  details  of  its  habits  in  a 
state  of  nature.  A  good  figure,  however,  of  this  species  still  remains  a 
desideratum.  The  drawings  accompanying  this  paper  having  been  made 
from  the  fresh  animal  by  Mr.  Smit  (under  my  own  supervision),  their 
publication  will,  by  filling  up  this  blank,  tend  to  still  further  complete 
our  knowledge  of  this  animal.  The  detailed  measurements  and  descrip- 
tion of  the  adult  male  examined  will  also  still  further  supplement 
Mr.  Allen's  account,  whilst  the  notes  on  the  anatomy  of  the  soft  parts, 
hitherto  unknown  in  this  species,  will  perhaps  also  be  acceptable,  as  con- 
firming, or  adding  to,  our  knowledge  of  these  parts  as  described  in  Dr. 
Murie's  elaborate  and  exhaustive  treatise  on  Otaria  jubata*. 

The  animal  examined  by  me  was  a  male,  perhaps  adult,  but  by  no 
means  aged,  as  may  be  seen  from  the  condition  of  its  teeth  and  skull, 
now  preserved  in  the  College  of  Surgeons.  The  Brighton  animal,  already 
alluded  to,  was  probably  somewhat  older,  as  I  am  informed  by  Prof.  Flower. 

The  following  measurements  were  taken,  by  means  of  calipers,  on  the 
unskinned  animal : — 

inches. 

Greatest  length,  from  nose  to  end  of  hind  limbs 92*0 

Length  from  nose  to  tip  of  tail 81'5 

From  nose  to  prominence  in  shoulder-joint 23*5 

Length  of  head,  to  end  of  the  sagittal  crest 4     .  10*5 

Length  of  tail,  from  naked  skin  at  base 4-4 

Tip  „     from  anus 5*4 

Length  of  pectoral  limb,  from  shoulder-joint 30*0 

Breadth  „  „      at  axilla 6'25 

Length  of  pelvic  limb,  from  the  anterior  extremity  of  ilium .     .     .  27'0 

Breadth  of  pelvic  limb,  at  base 3*5 

Greatest  breadth  of  pelvic  limb,  when  the  fin  is  expanded    .     .     .     7-6 

Distance  between  anus  and  preputial  orifice 8'5 

Length  of  ear 1-75 

„  eye 1-15 

Distance  between  eye  and  ear 3-25 

„  ,,        nose  and  eye 4*75 

„       from  chin  to  angle  of  mouth 3-85 

Depth  of  muffle 1-25 

Breadth  of  ditto 1-25 


*  "  Researches  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Pinnipedia.     Descriptive  Anatomy  of  the 
Sea-lion  (Of aria  jubata);'  Trans.  Zool.  Soo.  vii.  pp.  527-596;  viii.  pp.  501-582. 


318  ON  THE  EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  AND 

T.  Z.  S.  1882,  There  are  four  mammae,  abdominal  in  position.  The  posterior  pair, 
situated  about  2  inches  from  the  middle  line,  are  5'75  inches  in  front  of 
the  opening  for  the  penis  ;  the  anterior  ones,  which  lie  about  3  inches 
from  the  middle,  are  10-25  inches  in  front  of  these. 

There  is  no  true  scrotum;  but  a  bare  patch  of  dark,  rugose  skin 
surrounds  the  anus  for  about  4  inches  each  way.  This  did  not  in  the 
least  hang  down ;  neither  did  the  testes  project  into  it  at  all,  though 
possibly  at  certain  times  of  the  year  they  may  descend  into  this  sort  of 
rudimentary  scrotum,  or  the  descent  may  even  be  regulated  by  the  con- 
dition of  the  animal. 

No  such  distinct,  Balce.noptera-likQ  pectoral  plaits  of  skin  as  those 
figured  by  Dr.  Murie  in  Otaria  jubata  (I.  c.  pi.  Ixix.  fig.  7)  could  be  made 
out  here.  There  are  a  few  indistinct  lines  of  folding  in  the  region  of  each 
axilla  ;  but  their  presence  seems  due  to  the  "  lie  "  of  the  hairs,  and  not 
to  any  real  growing  or  elevation  of  the  skin,  their  situation  probably 
depending  on  the  position  of  the  body. 

No  underfur  could  anywhere  be  found.  The  skin  itself,  where  hair- 
covered,  is  pale  flesh-coloured. 

The  following  description  of  the  pelage  was  taken  from  the  animal  as 
it  lay,  after  having  been  thoroughly  dried  for  a  day  or  two. 

The  general  tint  is  dark  umber-brown,  darkest  and  blackest  on  the 
neck,  brownest  on  the  back,  and  lightest  on  the  chest.  The  muzzle  is 
lighter  brown.  On  the  chest  and  pectoral  limbs  the  coat  is  very  glossy  ; 
on  the  pelvic  limbs  it  is  less  so.  The  hairs  of  the  head  and  neck  are 
chiefly  deep  black-brown,  tipped  with  pale  brown ;  mingled  with  these 
are  numerous  white  ones,  which  are  most  numerous  on  the  sides  of  the 
head,  and  on  the  sort  of  crest  along  the  top  of  the  head,  the  hairs  here 
being  rather  longer  than  elsewhere.  The  space  round  the  eyelids  is 
slightly  reddish  ;  and  there  is  a  pale  spot  above  the  eyes.  Between  the 
eyes  the  hairs  are  shorter,  and  of  a  reddish-brown  colour.  The  eyebrows 
are  represented  by  three,  or,  on  the  right  side,  two  small  curved  hairs  of 
pale  colour,  slightly  marked  with  darker ;  the  median  hair  is  much  the 
longest.  Bound  the  nose  the  hairs  are  brown  and  dirty  white.  The 
sides  of  the  face  below  and  above  the  lips,  as  well  as  the  chin,  are  pale 
rufous-brown;  but  the  margins  of  the  lips  themselves  are  everywhere 
dark.  In  the  region  whence  the  whiskers  arise  the  cheeks  are  mottled 
with  dark  brown  and  dirty  white  hairs.  The  whiskers  are  about  thirty- 
five  in  number  on  each  side,  arranged  pretty  regularly  in  six  horizontal 
rows.  The  uppermost  row  of  these  contains  only  three  whiskers,  all 
small  and  short ;  but  below  and  posteriorly  they  increase  in  size  and 
number.  The  longest  row  has  about  seven  whiskers.  The  greater  part 
of  the  whiskers  are  white,  including  all  the  longer  ones ;  but  some  three 
or  four  on  each  side  are  blackish. 

The   ears    are   covered    with    shorter,   dirty    white    and   grey   hairs. 


ANATOMY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIAN  SEA-LION.  319 

Behind  the  shoulders,  along  the  back  and  upper  parts,  the  tips  of  the 

hairs  get  lighter  brown ;  and  mixed  with  them  are  numerous  entirely   T.  Z.  S.  1882, 

pale-brown  ones  ;  so  that  in  these  regions  the  general  colour  of  the  coat 

becomes  much  lighter,  inclining  to  a  mottled  yellowish-brown  tint. 

The  sides  of  the  neck  are  darker  in  colour  than  any  other  part  of  the 
body,  the  hairs  here  being  very  deep  black-brown,  with  very  few  pale  ones 
intermixed.  These  latter  hairs  increase  in  number  towards  the  head, 
whilst  posteriorly  the  hairs  get  shorter,  paler,  and  more  tipped  with 
yellow,  so  that  the  dark  colour  of  the  neck  passes  gradually  into  the 
greyer  tint  of  the  head  and  the  browner  hue  of  the  back. 

On  the  flanks,  belly,  and  lips  the  yellowish -brown  hairs  and  tips 
disappear,  and  the  general  colour  in  consequence  becomes  a  dark  rich 
brown,  with  a  vinous  tinge  in  some  lights,  particularly  observable  on  the 
anterior  parts  of  the  pectoral  limbs.  The  tail  is  rich  brown  in  colour. 
On  the  chest  and  between  the  pectoral  limbs  the  hairs  become  much 
shorter  and  yellowish-grey  in  colour ;  but  both  the  shortness  of  the  hair 
and  the  colour  are,  I  believe,  accidental,  caused  by  the  wearing-away  of 
the  hairs  here  by  the  animal's  position  when  in  repose. 

The  pectoral  fins  (PL  XI.  fig.  1)  are  above  covered  with  closely 
appressed,  short  hairs,  which  are  black  for  the  greater  part  of  their  length. 
There  are  no  light-tipped  hairs  at  all  on  the  "fin"  below  the  humerus. 
The  thickened  convex  radial  margin,  from  halfway  down  the  first 
metacarpal  for  a  breadth  of  about  an  inch,  as  well  as  the  ulnar  side  from 
two  inches  above  the  last  nail,  are  naked  ;  the  line  of  hairs  runs  along 
some  little  way  proximad  of  the  nails,  leaving  the  rest  of  the  "  fin  "  naked. 
Below,  the  flippers  are  quite  naked  from  a  transverse  line  extending 
across  a  little  proximad  of  the  carpal  joint ;  the  bare  skin  is  marked  by 
numerous,  subparallel,  wrinkle-like  lines. 

On  the  hind  limbs  (PI.  XI.  fig.  2)  the  hairs  extend  above  along  the 
ridges  of  bone  nearly  to  the  nails ;  the  margins  for  some  way,  as  well  as 
the  skin  between  and  below  the  nails,  are  naked.  Beneath  they  are 
naked  from  nearly  the  base  of  the  free  part. 

The  accompanying  Plate  (IX.)  represents  to  the  right  the  male 
specimen  from  the  Southport  Aquarium,  from  a  drawing  by  Mr.  Smit, 
taken  from  the  animal  when  thoroughly  dried.  The  attitude  and  position, 
however,  are  from  a  sketch  made  by  him  of  the  adult  specimen  of  the 
same  species  at  the  Brighton  Aquarium,  taken  a  few  weeks  before  its 
death.  The  figure  to  the  left  represents  the  female  specimen  at  Brighton, 
and  is  also  taken  from  life  ;  it  represents  the  animal,  however,  when  wet. 
The  smaller  size  and  different  coloration  of  this  sex  are  well  shown  in  it, 
as  well  as  the  difference  in  the  contour  of  its  head,  due  to  the  non- 
development  of  the  great  sagittal  crest,  which  is  such  a  conspicuous 
feature  of  the  male.  The  small  distant  figure  in  the  same  Plate  repre- 
sents the  male  animal  with  its  coat  wet.  On  the  second  Plate  (PI.  X.) 


320         ON  THE  EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  AND 

the  head  of   the  male  Southport   specimen  is  represented  of   half  the 
natural  size*. 

As  regards  the  visceral  anatomy,  it,  as  might  have  been  expected, 
conforms  closely  to  that  of  Otaria  jubata,  with  some  few  minor  differences. 
I  did  not  examine  the  brain,  which  is  now  mounted  in  the  College  of 
Surgeons'  Museum. 

T.  Z.  S.  1882,  The  tongue  is  bifid  at  the  apex.  There  are  only  three  large,  pitted, 
xi.  p.  229.  circumvallate  papillae,  arranged  in  the  usual  reversed  Y  ;  the  radix  linguae 
behind  these  is  covered  with  many  free  papillae  or  processes.  The 
stomach  is  much  like  that  of  Otaria  jubata,  as  depicted  by  Murie  (I.  c. 
pi.  Ixxxi.  fig.  65),  but  is  less  globular  and  more  elongated.  Internally  the 
mucous  membrane  is  soft,  and  raised  up  into  numerous  well-defined 
rounded  rugae,  which  are  very  irregular  in  disposition,  curving  about  in 
all  directions.  In  the  pyloric  part  these  folds  quite  disappear.  When 
undistended,  the  greatest  transverse  length  of  the  stomach  is  16-5  inches, 
and  its  depth,  opposite  the  pylorus,  8-75  inches.  Along  the  greater 
curvature  it  is  29  inches.  The  pyloric  part,  which  is  bent  back  towards 
the  cardiac  part,  is  4' 5  inches  long,  measured  from  the  angle  it  makes 
with  the  rest  of  the  organ.  At  the  pylorus  the  stomach  is  about  2  inches 
across.  All  these  dimensions,  except  the  extreme  length,  are  a  little 
smaller  than  Dr.  Murie's  corresponding  figures  (I.  c.  pp.  560,  561). 

The  small  intestine  is  quite  without  rugae  of  any  kind,  but  is  covered 
with  very  minute  villi.  The  large  intestine  has  only  a  few  slight  longi- 
tudinal rugae,  but  is  otherwise  smooth.  The  caecum  is, — as  in  Otaria 
jubata,  a  short,  simple,  conical  prominence,  projecting  backwards  for  |  inch. 
The  length  of  the  small  intestines  is  106  feet  11  inches ;  of  the  large,  6 
feet  7  inches.  In  the  Otaria  jubata  dissected  by  Murie  the  total  length 
of  the  intestines  was  only  65  feet  2  inches. 

The  great  size  of  the  vena  cava  and  hepatic  vein  causes  the  compara- 
tively small  liver-lobes  to  be,  as  it  were,  developed  round  them.  All  the 
six  lobes  of  the  typical  mammalian  liver  can  be  clearly  made  out,  they 
being  much  separated  from  each  other  by  the  great  development  of  all 
the  chief  fissures.  Thus  the  umbilical  fissure  extends  for  at  least  three 
fourths  of  the  depth  of  the  liver  ;  and  the  cystic  fissure  is  nearly  as  well 
developed,  almost  completely  dividing  the  right  central  lobe  into  two. 
The  lateral  lobes  are  not  united  by  any  hepatic  tissue  at  all  to  the  central 
lobes,  but  are  simply  connected  to  them  by  means  of  the  great  vessels 
and  connective  tissue.  The  right  lateral,  the  two  parts  of  the  right 
central,  and  the  left  central  lobe  are  all  comparatively  long  and  narrow, 
the  last  particularly  so ;  the  left  lateral,  on  the  other  hand,  is  of  an 
irregularly  square  shape.  The  caudate  and  Spigelian  lobes  are  small 
compared  with  the  others,  and  are  very  freely  attached.  Both  are  of 
irregular  shape,  the  caudate  being  somewhat  forked  externally ;  they 

*   [The  Plate  as  here  given  is  one-fourth  of  the  original.] 


ANATOMY  OF  THE  CALIFORNIAN  SEA-LION.  321 

are  nearly,  though  not  quite,  united  by  a  very  thin  bridge  of  hepatic 
tissue  developed  between  them  over  the  broad  vena  cava.  The  round 
and  suspensory  ligaments  are  well  developed.  The  gall-bladder  is 
elongated,  and  appears  on  the  superior  aspect  of  the  liver.  As  compared 
with  Dr.  Murie's  figure  (1.  c.  pi.  Ixxxii.  fig.  72)  of  the  liver  in  Otaria 
jubata,  that  of  the  present  species  differs  chiefly  in  the  more  regular 
outlines  of  its  lobes,  and  the  much  smaller  development  of  additional 
sulci  on  its  inferior  aspect,  in  these  respects  more  resembling  the 
liver  of  ordinary  Mammalia,  and  presenting  less  approximation  to  the 
greatly  complicated  liver  of  the  Seals. 

The  pancreas  is  compact,  and  of  a  creamy-red  colour.  From  its  T-  ?• s- 
extremity  it  measures  9'75  inches  to  its  "head,"  and  11-75  inches  to  its 
"  tail."  The  duct,  as  far  as  could  be  ascertained,  opened  into  the  ductus 
choledochus  as  the  latter  perforated,  in  a  very  oblique  direction,  the  wall 
of  the  small  intestine. 

As  regards  the  vascular  system,  the  aorta  gives  off  the  great  vessels 
in  a  way  different  from  that  described  and  figured  by  Murie  in  Otaria 
jubata.  In  the  latter  species  the  aorta  gives  rise  successively  to  a  right 
innominate,  a  left  carotid,  and  a  left  subclavian,  as  in  Man  and  many 
other  animals.  In  Otaria  gillespii  an  innominate  gives  off  both  left  and 
right  carotids  close  together,  continuing  on  as  the  right  subclavian,  which 
then  gives  off  two  smaller  trunks,  which  are  apparently  the  right  internal 
mammary  and  vertebral  arteries  ;  the  left  subclavian  arises  independently 
from  the  aortic  arch,  just  beyond  the  origin  of  the  innominate,  and  also 
gives  off,  not  far  from  its  origin,  two  corresponding  branches.  The 
ductus  arteriosus  is  conspicuous. 

The  trachea  is  very  wide,  measuring  about  2|  inches  transversely,  and 
is  somewhat  dilated  at  the  bronchial  bifurcation,  being  here  about  3 
inches  across.  From  the  right  main  bronchus,  4  inches  below  its  origin, 
is  given  off  an  extra  third  bronchus  to  the  uppermost  lobe  of  the  lung 
on  that  side.  Each  lung  is  divided  into  three  distinct  lobes,  of  which 
the  lowermost  of  each  side  is  the  biggest,  whilst  the  middle  ones  are  the 
smallest.  The  left  upper  lobe  is  deeply  divided  anteriorly.  There  is  a 
distinct  azygos  lobe  in  addition,  of  subtriangular  shape.  The  epiglottis 
hardly  exists  as  a  free  organ ;  it  has  tumid  margins,  and  a  median  sulcus. 
The  arytenoid  and  thyroid  cartilages  are  much  produced  superiorly  *. 

The  spleen  is  flattened  and  elongated,  with  one  end  slightly  broader 
than  the  other.  It  measures  13|  inches  in  length,  and  3  inches  across. 
The  thyroid  glands  are  the  size  of  Brazil  nuts,  and  are  quite  separate 
from  each  other. 

*  Not  having  been  able  to  dissect  the  larynx,  which  is  now  mounted  in  the  College 
of  Surgeons,  I  am  unable  to  describe  its  internal  structure.  There  are,  however,  small 
laryngeal  pouches,  connected  with  the  lateral  ventricles,  and  opening  in  the  same 
position  as  those  described  by  Murie  in  0.  jubata  (I.  c.  pl.lxxx.  fig.  59). 

Y 


322  ON  THE  CALIFORNIAN  SEA-LION. 

The  kidneys  are  compound,  and  are  composed  of  about  forty  quite 
distinct  papillae,  in  each  of  which  the  cortical  and  medullary  parts  are  as 
distinct  as  in  Murie's  beautiful  figure  of  the  same  organs  in  Otaria  jubata 
(I.  c.  pi.  Ixxxi.  fig.  70). 

The  male  generative  organs  have  been  preserved  as  a  preparation  in 
the  College  of  Surgeons;  so  I  have  not  been  able  to  examine  them 
thoroughly.  The  testes,  as  already  stated,  did  not  lie  in  any  distinct 
pedunculated  scrotum,  but  were  situated  in  the  groin,  close  to  the  naked 
skin  round  the  anus.  There  is  apparently  a  small  prostate,  like  that  in 
0.  jubata  (I.  c.  pi.  Ixxxii.  fig.  73) ;  but  both  vesiculce  seminales  and 
Cowper's  glands  are  absent.  The  penis  (PI.  XI.  fig.  3)  has  a  large  os, 
which  is  bifurcated  at  the  apex.  This  bone  in  the  glans  is  only  covered 
by  a  thin  coating  of  pale  mucous  membrane,  which  is  continued  also  onto 
the  prepuce.  The  length  of  the  glans,  from  the  reflected  prepuce  to  the 
T.  Z.  S.  1882,  apex,  is  2*8  inches  ;  the  notch  between  the  superior  and  inferior  ends  of 
ad.  p.  231.  t^  bifurcated  os  is  slightly  filled  up  by  the  coating  of  mucous  membrane, 
the  urethra  opening  just  behind  the  lower  end  of  the  os,  on  the  inferior 
aspect  of  the  glans.  About  an  inch  from  the  apex  of  the  penis  the 
mucous  membrane  is  developed  into  a  sort  of  reflected  corona  of  loose 
skin ;  if  this  is  expanded  it  forms  on  each  side  a  sort  of  triangular  flap, 
attached  dorsally  and  ventrally  to  the  median  lines  of  the  penis  (vide 
fig.  3  a,  PL  XI.).  This  description  differs  in  several  particulars  from  that 
given  by  Dr.  Murie ;  but  his  specimen  had  sustained  a  fracture  of  the 
penis,  and  consequent  damage  to  the  glans,  so  that  the  decrepancies  of 
the  two  may  be  due  to  accidental  causes. 

Until  examples  of  other  species  and  more  specimens  of  these  animals 
have  been  dissected,  it  will  be  impossible  to  say  how  much  taxonomic 
importance  ought  to  be  attached  to  certain  differences  between  Otaria 
jubata  and  0.  gillespii,  indicated  in  the  present  communication ;  but  at 
present  the  anatomical  evidence  seems  to  be  in  favour  of  retaining  the  two 
forms  under  a  common  generic  title,  as  is  here  done. 

DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PLATES. 
PLATE  IX. 

Fig.  1.   c?  Otaria  gillespii,  from  the  specimen  lately  in  the  Southport  Aquarium 

(coat  dry). 

2.    $  Otaria  gillespii,  from  the  specimen  formerly  living  hi  the  Brighton  Aquarium 
(coat  wet). 

PLATE  X. 
Head  of  <$  Otaria  gillespii  ;  £  natural  size. 

PLATE  XI. 
Fig.  1.  Pectoral  fin  of  0.  gillespii'.  £  natural  size. 

2.  Pelvic  fin  of  0.  gillespii :  %  natural  size. 

3.  Glans  penis  of  0.  gillespii :  about  natural  size. 
3  a.  The  same,  viewed  from  the  front. 


0 

o 

K] 


I: 


I" 


Pl.ll. 


TRANS.  ZooL.Soc.Voi,.XI.H.50 . 


1Sm'U'U 


ANATOMY  OF  OTARFA  GILLESPII 


P1.II. 


T-BAH8.ZOOL.SOC.VOL.XIJ1.50. 


Kj.2. 


J.Stna  iitli 


ANATOMY  OF  OTARIA  GILLESPII 


Hanhaurb  imp  . 


OX  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TOUCANS  AND  BAEBETS.   323 


55.  NOTE  ON  THE  GALL-BLADDER,  AND  SOME  OTHER  *  z.  a  1882, 
POINTS  IN  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TOUCANS  AND 
BARBETS  (CAPITONID^)* 

THE  statement  has  been  made,  and  copied  t,  that  a  gall-bladder  is 
absent  in  the  Toucans.  The  latest  writer  on  the  visceral  anatomy  of 
birds,  Dr.  Hans  Gadow  J,  describing  the  gall-bladder  of  the  "  Coccy- 
gomorphae,"  says  : — "  RhampTiastus  compensirt  das  Fehlen  der  Blase 
durch  einen  sehr  langen  (9  cm.)  und  weiten  Ductus  Choledochus " 
(1.  c.  p.  70). 

On  dissecting,  therefore,  some  months  ago  a  fresh  specimen  of 
Pteroglosms  wiedi,  I  was  considerably  surprised  to  find  a  peculiarly  long 
and  tubular  gall-bladder,  which  lay  superficially,  covering  the  other 
abdominal  viscera  and  extending  far  down  in  the  abdominal  cavity,  its 
fundus  nearly  reaching  the  cloacal  region  of  the  intestine. 

My  attention  having  been  thus  called  to  the  point,  I  have  since, 
whenever  opportunity  has  offered,  always  looked  for  this  viscus,  and 
have  now  ascertained  its  presence  in  specimens  of  Wiamphastos  carinatus, 
vitellinus,  and  dicolorus,  Pteroglossus  wiedi  (3),  Selenidera  maculirostris, 
and  AulacorTiamphus  prasinus.  The  annexed  drawing  (fig.,  p.  324)  will 
show  its  general  form  and  relations,  as  seen  in  a  fresh  specimen  of 
Khamphastos  dicolorus.  In  the  specimen  figured  the  total  length  of  the 
gall-bladder  was  not  less  than  4-15  inches.  The  cystic  duct  originated 
•85  inch  from  the  liver,  and  was  1/7  inch  long.  In  other  cases  the  duct 
arises  much  nearer  the  portal  fissure.  Its  presence,  therefore,  in  all 
Toucans  is  nearly  certain  §. 

It  is  also  present,  of  exactly  the  same  general  form,  and  with  the  same 
relations,  in  all  the  Capitoninse  I  have  examined  as  regards  this  point, 
namely  Meyalcema  virens  (a  fresh  specimen),  M.  franklin*,  and  Xaniholcema 
rosea.  Its  presence  in  Indicator  in  a  similar  form  is  almost  certain,  from 


*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  94-96.    Bead  Jan.  3, 1882. 

t  Owen,  Anat.  Vert.  ii.  p.  177 ;  Macalister,  Morph.  Vert.  p.  194 ;  Crisp,  P.  Z.  S. 
1862,  p.  137. 

J  "  Versuch  ein.  vergleich.  Anatomie  des  Verdauungssystemes  d.  Vogel,"  Jen.  Zeitsehr. 
xiii.  n.  F.  vi. 

§  It  is  but  due  to  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  to  say  that  he  also  had  noted  this  peculiar 
gall-bladder,  aptly  characterized  by  him  as  "  intestiniform,"  in  several  Toucans  dissected 
by  hitn,  including  R.  cuvieri  and  carinatus  and  P.  wiedi.  It  is  also,  I  find,  correctly 
described  by  Meckel  ('  Traite1  general,'  &c.,  Paris,  1838,  t.  viii.  p.  289),  as  follows  :— 
"  La  conformation  de  la  ve'sicule  est  extremement  curieuse  chez  le toucan  (Ramphastos). 
Elle  y  est  d'une  longueur  si  enorme,  qu'elle  occupe  la  cavite"  abdominale  toute  entiere : 
elle  est  tres  retrecie,  et  ressemble  plutot  a  un  caecum  qua  une  vesicule."  I  made  my 
first  observations  unaware  of  either  of  the  above  facts. 

Y2 


324  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

the  intimate  relationship  of  that  genus  to  the  Barbets  and  Toucans. 
Unfortunately  I  can  give  no  exact  information  on  this  point,  the  only 
specimen  I  have  of  an  Indicator  having  been  eviscerated. 

The  only  other  family  of  birds  in  which,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  the 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,   gall-bladder  assumes  this  peculiar  vermiform  shape,  and  lies  freely  in  the 

P-  95<          abdominal  cavity,  is  that  of  the  Picidae.     Nitzsch  *  describes  the  liver  of 

the    "Woodpeckers   (of  which  he  examined    Gecinus  viridis  and  canus, 

Dryocopus  major,  medius,  and  minor,  and  Picus  martius)  as  being  "  immer 

mit  ausgezeichnet  langer   darmformiger  G-allblase ;"  and  I   can   quite 

confirm  this  description  as  being  applicable  to  the  last-named  species. 


Liver,  stomach,  duodenum,  &c.,  of  Rhamphastos  dicolorus,  from  in  front,  showing  the 

peculiar  intestiniform  gall-bladder  (g.  b). 

St,  stomach ;  d,  duodenum  ;  p,  pancreas ;  r.  h.  d,  I.  h.  d.,  right  and  left  hepatic  ducts ; 

c.  d,  cystic  duct. 

Garrod  also  correctly  noted,  in  his  MSS.,  the  "  long  intestiniform  gall- 
bladder "  of  Gecinus.  The  similarity,  therefore,  in  this  respect  of  the 
Capitonidae  f  to  the  Picidae  strengthens  the  many  arguments  for  the 

*  In  Naumann's  Orn.  Deutschlands,  v.  p.  252. 

t  I  use  this  term,  with  Garrod  (Coll.  Papers,  p.  464),  to  include  the  Toucans  and 
Indicator,  as  well  as  the  true  Barbets. 


THE  TOUCANS  AND  BARBETS.  325 

intimate  relationship  of  these  two  groups.  And  I  may  take  this  oppor- 
tunity to  point  out  some  further  peculiarities  which  these  birds  have  in 
common  with  each  other.  These  are  : — 

(1)  The  great  extent  of  the  deltoid  muscle,  which  extends  down  the 

entire  length,  or  very  nearly  so,  of  the  humerus,  and  is  inserted  by  a  P- z-  S.  1882, 
tendinous  slip  into  a  small  tubercle  on  the  external  surface  of  that  bone, 
close  to  the  elbow,  and  just  above  the  tubercle  for  the  tendon  of  origin 
of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior  muscle.  This  is  common  to 
the  Picidae,  Indicator,  and  the  Toucans  and  Barbets.  As  long  ago  noticed 
by  Nitzsch  *,  this  peculiarly  long  deltoid  also  occurs  in  the  Passeres  ;  but 
its  similar  condition  in  the  Capitonidae  has  not,  I  think,  before  been 
observed.  But,  as  showing  that  the  similarity  in  this  respect  of  the 
Passeres  to  the  Picidae  and  their  allies  is  not  necessarily  a  mark  of 
relationship,  I  may  add  that  in  some  other  birds,  as,  e.  g.,  Carpophaga, 
Ptilopus,  and  Cariama,  the  deltoid  is  nearly  the  same  in  size  and  shape, 
extending  down  to  very  near  the  elbow. 

(2)  The  presence  of  a  distinct  ossicle,  of  the  nature  of  a  sesamoid,  the 
so-called  "  scapula  accessorial  which  is  developed  in  the  scapulo-humeral 
ligament  of  the  shoulder-joint,  and  plays  over  the  posterior  angle  of  the 
humerus-head.     From  it  arise  some  of  the  fibres  of  the  deltoid. 

Nitzsch,  with  his  usual  accuracy  t,  had  also  noticed  the  existence  in  the 
Picidae  of  this  bone,  which,  as  is  well  known,  occurs  also  in  the  Passeres  ; 
but  the  relationships  of  the  bone  in  the  last  are  not  the  same  as  they  are 
in  the  Picidae,  Indicator  and  other  Pici  I  have  examined. 

In  the  Passeres  the  bone  in  question  becomes  connected  with  the 
tendon  of  the  pectoralis  secundus  muscle  as  this  courses  over  the  head  of 
the  humerus  towards  its  insertion,  sending  round  it  a  special  thin 
tendinous  loop,  in  which  the  tendon  of  that  muscle  plays.  Hence,  in 
the  undisturbed  position  of  these  parts,  the  pectoralis  tendon  is  seen  to 
be  somewhat  L- shaped,  the  angle  of  the  L  being  at  the  place  where  it  is 
connected  by  this  fibrous  loop  to  the  sesamoid  bone,  and  so  dragged 
backwards  out  of  a  direct  course. 

In  the  Pici  I  have  been  able  to  find  no  such  connection  between  the 
scapula  accessoria  and  the  pectoralis  secundus  tendon,  which  remains 
quite  free  from  it  throughout  its  course. 

The  additional  points  of  resemblance  detailed  in  the  present  communi- 
cation render  the  near  relationship  of  the  Picidae  to  the  Capitonidae  even 
more  certain  than  before.  Nitzsch,  from  pterylographical  grounds,  and 
Kessler  J,  from  osteological  ones,  long  ago  pointed  out  this  connection, 


*  Zeitschr.  f.  ges.  Naturwiss.  1862,  xix.  p.  400. 
t  Tom.  supra  cit.  p.  399. 
{  Bull.  Soc.  Imp.  Nat.  Moscou,  xvii.  pp.  332-334,  340. 


326  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

which  was  afterwards  remarkably  confirmed  by  Garrod's  observations  on 
their  myology  and  visceral  anatomy. 

The  fact  that  there  should  be  important  cranial  differences  between 
the  two  groups  (and  even  amongst  the  members  of  one  of  these)  only 
shows  that  the  cranial  structure  of  a  bird  may  be  profoundly  changed, 
in  accordance  with  its  conditions  of  existence,  whilst  in  the  rest  of 
its  organs  no  change  whatever  is  effected ;  and  such  a  fact  must  of 
itself  tell  heavily  against  the  view  that  the  structure  of  the  skull  in 
birds  is  of  itself  alone  a  certain,  or  even  sufficient,  index  to  their  sys- 
tematic classification. 


P*Z2081882'  56'  ON  SOME  POINTS  IN  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE 
INDIAN  DARTER  (PLOTUS  MELANOGASTER),  AND 
ON  THE  MECHANISM  OF  THE  NECK  IN  THE 
DARTERS  (PLOTUS),  IN  CONNEXION  WITH  THEIR 
HABITS.* 

IT  is  to  the  late  Prof.  Garrod  that  we  are  indebted  for  our  knowledge 
of  the  great  differences  in  the  anatomy  of  the  digestive  organs  of  the 
Americant  (Plotus  anhinga)  and  African  J  (P.  levaillanti)  Darters. 
The  existence  of  such  differences  in  birds  apparently  so  nearly  allied 
made  it  very  desirable  to  obtain  a  knowledge  of  these  parts  in  the  other 
species  of  the  genus  Plotus. 

On   April   8th   last,   the   Society    obtained,   by  exchange   from   the 
Zoological  Gardens  of  Calcutta,  the  first  specimen  of  the  Indian  Darter 
P.  Z  S.  1882,   (Plotus  melanogaster)  that  it  has  acquired.     The  specimen,  a  male,  lived 
p.  209.          in  excellent  health  till  December  21st  last,  when  it  died  suddenly,  its 
death  apparently  having  been  caused  by  some  sudden  shock  produced 
by  too  rapid  feeding,  as  a  dozen  small  fishes,  just  swallowed,  were  found 
in  its  stomach.     No  disease  whatever  could  be  found.     It  is  this  speci- 
men that  forms  the  subject  of  the  present  communication. 

As  regards  its  stomach,  Plotus  melanogaster  closely  approaches  P. 
levaillanti,  the  proventriculus  being  in  the  form  of  two  quite  separate 
patches,  and  the  pyloric  lobe  being  provided  with  a  similar  hair-covered 
conical  and  retractile  "  plug."  In  P.  anhinga,  it  will  be  remembered, 
the  proventricular  glands  are  collected  together  into  a  special  diverti- 
culum  of  the  stomach,  whilst  the  pyloric  lobe,  though  hairy  internally, 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  208-212.    Eead  Feb.  7,  1882. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1876,  pp.  335-345  ;  Scient.  Papers,  pp.  334-346,  pis.  xviii.-xx. 

|  L.  c.  1878,  pp.  679-681 ;  t.  c.  pp.  346-349. 


THE  INDIAN  DARTER.  327 

has  no  such  plug.  In  P.  melanogaster  the  two  gland-patches  have  the 
form  of  watch-pockets,  which  nearly,  though  not  quite,  unite  with  each 
other  superiorly.  They  measure  1*1  inch  transversely  and  *8  inch  from 
above  downwards,  being  thus  a  little  larger  than  the  similarly  shaped 
and  situated  ones  of  P.  levaillanti  *.  There  is  no  trace  of  the  elevated 
"  U-shaped  ridge  "  situated  on  the  anterior  wall  of  the  stomach  between 
the  two  patches,  described  and  figured  by  Prof.  Garrod  in  the  last- 
named  species.  The  gland-patches  are  covered,  as  is  the  rest  of  the 
interior  of  the  stomach,  by  the  usual  yellow  wrinkled  "epithelium." 
This  ceases  abruptly  above  at  the  level  of  the  upper  margins  of  the 
glandular  areas,  where  it  meets  the  smooth  and  pink  mucous  membrane 
of  the  oesophagus.  Along  this  line  of  junction,  the  epithelial  coat  is 
thicker  and  jagged,  an  appearance  probably  due  to  several  thicknesses  of 
this  coat  having  been  "  moulted  "  (as  we  know  happens  in  the  American 
species)  and  not  come  clean  away  t. 

The  second,  or  pyloric,  stomach  is  quite  as  distinct  in  Plotus  mela- 
nogaster as  it  is  in  the  two  other  species  of  the  genus  dissected.     Like 
these,  too,  its  pyloric  half  is  covered  internally  with  the  peculiar  hairy 
mat  already  described  in  these  birds  :  the  cardiac  part,  on  the  other 
hand,  is  covered  by  a  yellow  "  epithelium  "  continuous  with  that  of  the 
rest  of  the  stomach.     The  hairy  covering  forms  a  complete  ring,  thickest 
and  best  developed  inferiorly — on   the   surface  corresponding  to  the 
"greater  curvature  "of  the  Mammalian  stomach — and  quite  surround- 
ing the  equally  hairy  pyloric  plug.     This  "  plug  "  is  not  a  free  process  : 
it  is  rather  a  well-defined  ridge,  nearly  cylindrical  in  section,  attached 
superiorly  to  the  wall  of  the  stomach,  but  ending  freely  below.     It, 
particularly  towards  its  termination,  is   thickly  covered  with  hairs  of  a 
similar  character  to  those  in  the  rest  of  the  hairy  region.     When  fully 
retracted,  it  completely  fills  up  the  centre  of  the  hairy  ring  already 
described,  the  communication  of  the  cavities  of  the  stomach  and  duode- 
num being  reduced  to  a  narrow  aperture  situated  below  the  plug,  and 
only  capable  of  allowing  the  passage  of  a  bristle. 

It  is  not  unusual  in  birds  to  find  a  small  irregular  .nipple-like  pro-  **•  ^  &  1882, 
jection  guarding  the  entrance  to  the  pylorus ;  and  it  is,  I  am  inclined  to       P> 
believe,  a  greatly  developed  condition  of  this  structure  that  forms  the 
hairy  "  plug"  of  the  Old- World  Darters. 

In  the  rest  of  its  anatomy  Plotus  melanogaster  resembles  in  nearly 
every  respect  P.  anhinga  and  P.  levaillanti.  As  in  the  latter,  there  are 
two  caeca,  '2  inch  long,  whilst  in  most  specimens  of  P.  anhinga  one  only 

*  In  the  prYentricular  glands  being  limited  to  distinct  areas,  which  do  not  unite 
to  form  a  zone,  Plotus  levaillanti  and  P.  melanogaster  resemble  the  genus  Phalacro- 
corax. 

t  Cf.  Bartlett,  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  247. 


328  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF 

has  been  observed  *.  As  in  P.  anhinga,  the  large  intestine  is  peculiarly 
long,  measuring  5'5  inches ;  the  small  intestine  has  a  length  of 
30  inches.  The  bursa  fabricii,  I  may  add,  in  the  present  specimen 
(a  c? )  had  the  ordinary  relations  of  that  organ  to  the  cloaca,  opening 
into  that  chamber  by  a  small  pore.  There  is  only  one  carotid  artery, 
the  left,  as  in  the  two  other  species  of  Plotus,  the  genus  Pelecanus,  and 
Sula  leucogastra  and  S.  piscator,  though  not  in  S.  bassana,  or  the  other 
Steganopodes.  The  patella  is  only  grooved,  and  not  perforated,  by  the 
ambiens  muscle. 

The  structure  of  the  neck  in  P.  melanogaster  is  almost  identical  with 
that  of  P.  anhinga,  as  described  and  figured  by  Garrod.  "Donitz's 
bridge,"  situated,  as  in  the  other  species,  on  the  9th  cervical  vertebra,  is 
well-ossified  in  the  present  specimen,  as  it  is  also  in  P.  levaillanti  and 
P.  novce-hollandice,  though  not  in  P.  anhinga. 

In  addition  to  this,  the  similarly-situated  fibrous  bands — formed  by  a 
specialized  part  of  the  general  cervical  aponeurosis — on  the  llth  cervical 
vertebra,  which  are  correctly  figured  and  described  (in  the  explanation 
to  the  plate)  by  Garrod  t  in  P.  anhinga,  are  also  ossified,  each  in  its 
median  portion  being  converted,  over  a  small  area  about  the  size  of  a 
hemp-seed,  into  bone.  Through  the  canal  thus  formed  on  each  side,  the 
longus  colli  posterior,  as  well  as  the  general  mass  of  posterior  neck- 
muscles,  passes.  On  examination  of  P.  levaillanti,  I  find  these  bands 
also  ossified  in  that  species ;  in  P.  anhinga,  as  already  correctly  stated 
by  Garrod,  they  remain  fibrous.  There  is  no  such  ossification  of  the 
cervical  portion  of  the  longus  colli  posterior  tendon  in  this  species,  as  was 
observed  by  Garrod  in  P.  anhinga;  and  in  this  respect  again  the 
African  and  Indian  species  agree,  and  differ  from  their  American 
relative. 

Prof.  Garrod,  in  the  first  of  his  papers  already  referred  to,  has  fully 
and  accurately  described  the  peculiar  osteological  and  myological  charac- 
ters of  the  neck  of  the  Darter.  But,  probably  from  never  having  ob- 
served these  birds  when  feeding,  he  has  not  pointed  out  the  connexion 
between  this  peculiar  neck,  with  its  naturally  persistent  "  kink,"  of  the 
Darters  and  their  mode  of  life. 

The  Darters  feed  entirely,  so  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  observe,  under 

water.     Swimming  with  its  wings  half  expanded,  though  locomotion  is 

effected  entirely  by  the  feet,  the  bird  pursues  his  prey  (small  fishes)  with 

P  Z  S  1882,  a  peculiar  "  darting"  or  jerky  action  of  the  head  and  neck,  which  may 

p.  211.          be  compared  to  that  of  a  man  poising  a  spear  or  harpoon  before  throwing 


*  In  a  specimen  of  Plotus  anhinga  that  has  passed  through  my  hands  since  this 
paper  was  read  there  was,  in  addition  to  a  single  caecum  of  the  ordinary  size,  a  much 
more  rudimentary  one  developed  on  the  other  side  of  the  intestine. 

t  L.  c.  pi.  xviii.  fig.  2  a. 


THE  INDIAN  DARTER. 


329 


it.  Arrived  within  striking-distance,  the  Darter  suddenly  transfixes,  in 
fact  bayonets,  the  fish  on  the  tip  of  its  beak  with  marvellous  dexterity, 
and  then  immediately  comes  to  the  surface,  where  the  fish  is  shaken  off 
the  beak  by  jerking  of  the  head  and  neck  (repeated  till  successful), 
thrown  upwards,  and  swallowed,  usually  head  first. 

A  study  of  the  neck  in  the  recently  dead  bird  leaves  little  doubt  as  to 


Fig.  1. 


B' 


B 


Fig-.  2. 


a 


Diagram  to  show  the  mechanism  of  the  "  kink  "  of  the  neck  in  the  Darters. 

a,  head  and  anterior  moiety  of  neck  (1st  to  7th  cervical  vertebrae)  ;  p,  posteriorjmoiety 
of  neck  (from  the  9th  cervical  vertebra  to  thorax) ;  8,  8th  cervical  vertebra ;  D, 
"Donitz's  bridge,"  on  the  9th  cervical ;  /,  the  two  flexor  muscles  (vide  text) ;  e,  the 
extensor  muscle  (the  longus  colli  anterior}.  In  fig.  1  the  flexor  muscles  are  sup- 
posed to  be  acting,  bending  back  the  anterior  part  of  the  neck  on  the  8th  cervical ; 
in  fig.  2  the  extensor  muscle  has  opened  out  the  anterior  genu  formed  by  the  8th 
cervical,  thereby  protruding  the  apex  of  the  beak  (marked  B  in  fig.  1)  to  B'. 

the  mechanism  by  which  this  peculiar  impaling  of  the  prey  is  effected. 
The  8th  cervical  vertebra  is  articulated,  as  has  already  been  described, 
with  the  7th  in  such  a  way  that  the  two  cannot  naturally  be  got  to  lie 
in  the  same  line,  but  form  an  angle,  open  forwards,  of  about  145°,  when 
the  two  bones  are  stretched  as  far  as  is  possible  in  that  direction. 
Behind,  its  articulation  with  the  9th  cervical  is  such  as  to  permit  it  to  be 
bent  back  at  an  angle  a  little  greater  than  90°  with  that  vertebra,  beyond 
which  extent,  however,  no  further  flexion  is  possible.  The  8th  vertebra 
is  thus  so  articulated  with  the  7th  anteriorly  and  the  9th  posteriorly  as 
to  allow  it,  when  the  neck  is  flexed,  to  be  nearly  at  right  angles  to  the 
rest  of  the  neck,  the  two  portions  of  which,  though  parallel,  are  then  at 


P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  212. 


330      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  INDIAN  DAETER. 

different  horizons,  something  like  the  two  bars  of  a  parallel  ruler  (vide 
diagram,  fig.  1,  p.  329).  When  the  neck  is  bent  in  this  Z-shaped  form, 
any  opening  out  of  the  anterior  angular  bend  by  the  action  of  the 
anterior  neck-muscles  causes  the  anterior  moiety  of  the  neck  to  suddenly 
shoot  out,  thus  causing  a  corresponding  protrusion  of  the  head  and  beak 
(diagram,  fig.  2).  By  the  flexion  of  the  6th  on  the  7th,  and  of  the  9th 
on  the  10th,  cervical  vertebrae,  the  curve  of  the  neck  is  increased — the 
articulations  of  the  8th  vertebra  still  forming  the  double  hinge  round 
which  motion  takes  place — and  the  impaling  action  correspondingly  aug- 
mented. This  protrusion,  though  only  for  a  short  distance,  is  so  violent 
as  to  effectually  "  strike  "  the  fish  which  the  bird  is  pursuing. 

The  bending-back  of  the  neck  is  effected,  partly  by  the  action  of  the 
longus  colli  posterior,  partly  by  a  special  pair  of  closely  approximated 
muscles,  situated  anteriorly  along  the  middle  line  of  the  neck,  which 
rise  close  together  from  the  haemapophysial  spine  of  the  llth  cervical 
vertebra,  near  its  anterior  articular  end,  and  are  inserted  into  the  sides 
of  the  anterior  half  of  the  6th  cervical. 

The  opening-out,  on  the  other  hand,  of  the  genu  formed  by  the  7th 
and  8th  cervicals — by  which,  as  already  described,  the  impaling  action  is 
produced — is  caused  by  the  contraction  of  the  thoracically  very  powerful 
longus  colli  anterior.  The  main  tendon  of  this  is  inserted  on  the  long, 
backwardly-directed  haemapophysis  of  the  8th  cervical,  playing  round 
the  doubly-grooved  surface  of  the  inferior  arch  formed  by  the  haemapo- 
physes  of  the  9th  cervical,  to  which  vertebra,  as  well  as  to  the  10th,  it 
gives  off  much  smaller  tendinous  slips. 

It  is  obvious  that  considerable  advantage  is  gained  by  the  action  in 
question,  the  rapid  protrusion  of  the  narrow  neck  and  head  over  a  small 
space  by  this  mechanism  necessitating  a  less  amount  of  exertion  than 
would  a  similar  movement  of  the  whole  bird  over  the  same  space,  and 
being  equally  efficacious  in  striking  the  prey.  The  whole  mechanism, 
it  may  be  observed,  exists  in  a  less  developed  form  in  the  neck  of  the 
Herons,  Cormorants,  &c. ;  and  it  requires  but  a  slight  modification  of 
the  arrangement  of  these  parts  in  those  birds — none  of  which,  so  far 
as  I  know,  impale  their  prey  like  the  Darters — to  bring  about  the  perfect 
adaptation  of  these  structures  to  a  newly  acquired  mode  of  feeding. 


ON  THE  PTERYLOS1S  OF  MESITES.  331 


57.  DESCRIPTION  OF  THE   PTERYLOSIS  OF  MESITES,  P.z.s.1882, 
WITH   REMARKS   ON  THE  POSITION  OF  THAT     P'267' 

GENUS* 

WHEN  making  some  observations  on  the  pterylographical  and  other 
peculiarities  of  Eupetes  macrocercus  f,  I  expressed  regret  at  not  having 
been  able  to  obtain  any  specimen  of  Mesites,  which  in  external  appearance 
somewhat  approaches  Eupetes  macrocercus -,  to  study  its  pterylosis  also. 

Since  then,  having  obtained  through  Herr  Q-.  Schneider,  of  Basel,  a 
skin  of  Mesites  variegatus,  I  have  been  able,  from  an  examination  of  it, 
to  complete  our  knowledge  of  this  most  peculiar  form  as  regards  the 
distribution  of  its  feathers.  All  that  was  previously  known  of  this  part 
of  the  structure  of  Mesites  was  the  existence  in  that  bird  of  five  pairs  of 
powder-down  patches  :£,  M.  A.  Milne-Edwards  in  his  paper  on  it  § 
having  confined  his  observations  to  its  osseous  and  internal  structure  f|. 
Those  interested  in  the  various  opinions  which  have  been  held  by  natu- 
ralists as  to  the  exact  systematic  position  of  Mesites,  I  will  refer  to 
M.  Milne-Edwards's  paper  just  quoted,  only  adding  Mr.  E.  Bartlett's 
suggestion  "  that  the  genus  Mesites  should  be  arranged  in  the  Natural  P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
System  next  to  Eurypyga  and  its  near  ally  Ehinochetus."  P-  268- 

The  nostrils  of  Mesites  are  long,  linear  concave-upward  slits,  extending 
for  more  than  half  the  length  of  the  beak,  and  covered  above  by  a  well- 
marked  membranous  valvular  operculum,  being  in  this  respect  very 
unlike  the  ordinary  form  of  nostril  in  the  Rails. 

The  tarsi  have  about  10  or  11  distinct  transverse  scutella  anteriorly, 
best  developed  internally,  and  there  nearly  meeting,  along  the  lateral 
surface,  a  similar  but  somewhat  more  numerous  series  of  smaller  scutella, 
which  are  developed  along  the  posterior  aspect  of  the  leg,  but  become 
obsolete  about  \  inch  above  the  metatarso-phalangeal  joint.  Externally 
the  two  series  of  scutella  are  separated  by  a  distinct  space  covered  by 
smooth,  non-scutellated  skin.  This  tarsal  scutellation  extends  upwards 
above  the  "  knee  "  for  about  \  inch,  for  which  extent  therefore  the  tibia 
is  bare  of  feathers. 

The  digits  are  all  free  from  their  bases ;  the  hallux  is  considerably  the 
smallest  of  them  ^[. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  267-271.    Read  Feb.  21,  1882. 

t  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  838. 

\   Vide  E.  Bartlett,  P.  Z.  S.  1877,  p.  292. 

§  Ann.  Sci.  Nat.  (6)  Zool.  vii.  1878,  art  6. 

||  An  imperfect  skull,  extracted  from  the  present  skin,  shows  that  the  palate  is 
schizognathous,  the  recurved  maxillo-palatines  being  free  in  the  middle  line,  and  the 
vomer  small  and  pointed—  points  not  evident  in  Milne-Edwards's  figure,  his  specimen, 
I  believe,  being  somewhat  imperfect. 

^[  By  soaking  out  the  plantar  tendons,  I  have  been  enabled  to  ascertain  that  there  is  a 
good  vinculum  between  the  flexores  longus  hallucis  and  profundus  digit orum,  the  tendons 


332  ON  THE  TTERYLOSIS  OF  MESITES. 

The  number  of  remiges  cannot  be  counted  with  certainty ;  but  there 
are  certainly  10  primaries  ;  the  wing  is  much  rounded. 

There  are  16  rectrices,  a  very  non-passerine  character  * ;  and  both  the 
upper  and  under  tail-coverts  are  very  long,  with  the  last  feathers  rectri- 
ciform  and  extending  along  the  tail  for  quite  three  fourths  of  its  length 
both  above  and  below. 

There  is  apparently  no  claw  on  the  pollex  ;  and  the  contour-feathers 
have  no  aftershaft — in  both  these  respects  differing  from  the  Ballidse. 
The  tail  in  my  specimen  has  unfortunately  been  so  cut  that  I  have  been 
unable  to  ascertain  for  certain  whether  the  oil-gland  is  present  or  not. 
I  can  find  no  tuft,  however ;  and  as  we  know  that  the  gland,  though 
present,  is  nude  both  in  Rhinochetus  and  Eurypyya,  such  is  probably  its 
condition  in  Mesites  too  f. 

The  continuous  head-feathering  extends  about  halfway  down  the  neck, 
and  then  gives  off  the  dorsal  and  ventral  tracts  of  each  side,  which  are 
separated  by  well-marked  spaces,  of  which  the  dorsal  one  is  considerably 
the  biggest.  The  feathering  of  the  lower  part  of  the  neck  is  thus  quadri- 
serial,  separated  by  as  many  apteria.  In  the  lower  part  of  the  neck  the 
two  dorsal  tracts,  which  are  narrow  but  strongly  feathered,  are  widely  sepa- 
rated, and  somewhat  divergent,  including  between  them  the  anterior  pair 
of  dorsal  powder-down  patches,  but  converge  again  in  the  interscapular 
region.  Here  they  suddenly  become  much  feebler,  and  are  then  continued 
on  as  the  much  more  weakly-feathered  posterior  part  of  the  dorsal  tract, 
P.  Z.  S.  1882,  this  being  of  a  furcate  form,  with  the  united  part  about  1  inch  long,  and 
p.  269.  inclosing  a  fairly  broad  median  space.  The  limbs  of  this  posterior  fork 
are  strongly  dilated  in  the  middle  part  of  their  extent,  being  there  6  to 
7  feathers  broad,  and  united  externally  by  scattered  feathers  with  the 
very  broad  and  long  lumbar  tracts,  which  are  arranged  in  about  six  rows 
of  not  closely-placed  feathers,  the  posterior  row  of  these  being  consider- 
ably the  stronger. 

The  humeral  tracts  are  not  very  broad  or  strong,  and  are  quite  distinct, 
anteriorly,  from  the  inferior  tract. 

This  last,  which  (as  already  described)  commences  on  each  side  about 
halfway  down  the  neck,  springing  at  once  independently  from  the  con- 
tinuous feathering  of  the  anterior  cervical  region,  ceases  altogether  at 
the  commencement  of  the  pectoral  region  (extending  as  far  as  the  most 


of  which  are  ossified  near  the  bottom  of  the  leg.  In  all  ordinary  Passeres,  it  will  be 
remembered,  this  vinculum  is  quite  absent. 

*  According  to  Nitzsch,  however,  this  is  the  number  met  with  in  the  male  of  Menura 
superba. 

t  In  answer  to  an  inquiry  on  this  subject,  M.  A.  Milne-Edwards  has  been  kind 
enough  to  inform  me  that  his  spirit-specimen  of  Mesites  is  also  unfortunately  damaged 
at  the  root  of  the  tail,  but  that  on  an  examination  of  a  skin  he  finds  apparently  an 
oil-gland  present  with  no  tuft. 


ON  THE  PTERYLOSIS  OF  MESITES.  333 

anterior  of  the  ventral  powder-down  patches  to  be  presently  described). 
It  recommences,  however,  a  little  lower  down  as  a  very  narrow  tract, 
composed  at  first  of  only  single  feathers,  but  subsequently  becoming 
stronger  and  broader  (though  even  here  only  two  feathers  broad),  in  which 
condition  it  runs  on,  as  the  main  inferior  tract,  to  terminate  near  the  vent. 

Strange  to  say,  what  must  be  considered  the  equivalent  of  the  outer 
pectoral  branch  of  ordinary  birds  is  here  quite  free  throughout  from  the 
main  stem,  with  which  it  is  not  even  united  anteriorly,  where  it  is  sepa- 
rated by  the  already-mentioned  powder-down  patch,  whilst  posteriorly 
it  runs  parallel  to,  but  quite  free  from,  the  main  stem. 

The  powder-down  patches  of  Mesites  resemble  those  of  the  Ardeidse, 
of  Leptosoma,  and  Podargus  in  their  compactness,  as  well  as  in  the  de- 
finiteness  of  their  areas,  as  opposed  to  the  more  scattered  and  diffused 
forms  they  present  in  Rhinochetus,  Eurypyga,  Crypturus,  and  other  birds. 
But  in  their  exact  distribution  they  differ  materially  from  any  of  these. 

As  already  described  by  Mr.  E.  Bartlett,  there  are  five  pairs*  of 
powder-patches  in  Mesites.  Of  these  two  pairs  are  dorsal,  two  ventral, 
and  one  lateral  in  position.  All  have  the  form  of  well-defined  more  or 
less  oval  areas,  covered  by  a  dense  mat  of  closely  aggregated  long  powder- 
down  plumes. 

The  most  anterior  pair  is  placed  close  to  the  median  line,  the  patches 
being  only  slightly  separated  from  each  other,  at  the  commencement 
(apparently)  of  the  interscapular  region  and  inclosed  between  the  two 
dorsal  tracts,  a  little  before  these  pass  into  their  weaker  posterior  fork. 

The  second  dorsal  patch  is  situated  on  the  rump,  close  to  and  just  out- 
side the  terminal  part  of  the  dorsal  tract,  between  that  and  the  posterior 
termination  of  the  lumbar  tracts  of  each  side. 

The  third  patch  is  inferior  in  position,  lying  just  at  the  commencement  of  P.  Z.  S.  1882 
the  pectoral  region,  between  the  two  halves  of  the  inferior  tract  internally      P1    ' 
and  the  anterior  extremity  of  their  separated  pectoral  branch  externally. 

The  fourth  patch  is  longer  and  narrower  than  its  fellows,  lying  on  the 
ventral  region  just  outside  the  middle  part  of  the  inferior  tract. 

The  fifth  (lateral)  patch  lies  more  or  less  transversely,  in  the  neigh- 
bourhood of  the  axilla,  between  the  posterior  ends  of  the  outer  pectoral 
and  humeral  tracts. 

No  Ardeine  bird  has  any  such  lateral  pair  of  patches ;  and  only  Can- 
croma  has  the  anterior  dorsal  pair.  These  moreover  lie  outside,  and  not 
inside,  the  dorsal  tracts  in  that  bird.  On  the  other  hand,  the  concen- 

*  In  the  Ardeidae  the  number  varies  from  one  pair  (Balceniceps)  to  four  pairs  (Can- 
croma).  Three  is  the  most  ordinary  number.  The  presence  of  a  single  caecum  in 
Balceniceps  (as  fortunately  demonstrated  by  a  preparation  mounted  in  the  Museum  of 
the  Eoyal  College  of  Surgeons),  together  with  these  powder-down  patches,  renders  its 
Ardeine  nature  nearly  certain,  as  already  suggested  by  Mr.  A.  D.  Bartlett  (P.  Z.  S. 
1861,  p.  131). 


334  ON  THE  PTERYLOSIS  OF  MESITES. 

trated  patches  of  Mesites  may  easily  be  derived  from  the  more  diffused 
arrangement  found  in  Rhinocketus  *  and  Eurypyga. 

A  full  account  of  the  pterylosis  of  Rhinochetus  is  still  a  desideratum, 
Dr.  Murie  having  unfortunately  omitted  any  account  of  the  syste- 
matically more-important  contour-feather  tracts  in  his  account  of  the 
"  dermal  structures  "  of  the  Kagu  (L  c.). 

I  have  at  present  insufficient  material  to  describe  these  thoroughly, 
though  an  examination  of  two  imperfectly-feathered  specimens  in  spirit 
demonstrates  considerable  agreement  between  the  Kagu  and  Mesites.  Of 
Eurypyga  we  likewise  have  but  imperfect  information,  due  to  Nitzsch  f, 
and  not  to  my  mind  very  satisfactory,  judging  from  the  material  before  me. 

In  Rhinochetus,  as  in  Mesites,  the  neck-feathering  is  quadriserial,  though 
the  median  dorsal  space  is  much  narrower  below  and  the  lateral  neck- 
spaces  very  broad  ;  the  two  dorsal  tracts  terminate  close  together  about 
the  level  of  the  anterior  end  of  the  scapulae,  and  are  quite  separate  from 
the  posterior  portion,  which  is  only  forked  to  a  slight  extent  anteriorly, 
and  widely  dilated  mesially.  These  differences  seem  to  be  due  mainly  to 
the  greater  development  of  the  dorsal  powder-down  tracts  of  Rhinochetus, 
these  covering  most  of  the  dorsal  aspect  of  the  trunk,  except  a  narrow 
median  space  along  the  backbone  and  a  reversed  heart-shaped  area  on  the 
pelvis,  to  which  spaces  therefore  the  contour-feathers  are  nearly  confined. 

Below,  as  in  Mesites,  the  inferior  tract  of  each  side  is  nearly  or  quite 
broken  up  into  two  by  the  interruption  of  a  patch  of  powder-down 
feathers ;  and  the  pectoral  branch  is  likewise  quite  separated  from  the 
main  tract,  as  in  no  other  bird  known  to  me  except  Mesites,  powder-downs 
also  intervening  between  the  two.  The  humeral  tract  is  quite  free  from 
the  inferior  one.  On  the  other  hand,  in  the  number  of  its  rectrices  (16), 
and  the  absence  of  an  aftershaft  to  the  feathers,  Mesites  differs  from 
Eurypyga  and  Rhinochetus,  both  of  which  have  12  rectrices  i  and  an 
aftershaft.  The  number  of  primaries  in  all  is  10. 

Mesites,  Rhinochetus,  and  Eurypyga  agree  together,  but  differ  from  the 
P.Z.S.  1882,  Rallidae,  in  having  well-developed  and  strong  rectrices,  in  the  possession 
p.  271.         Qf  powder-down  patches,  in  the  oil-gland  being  nude  (?  Mesites),  and  in 
the  interruption  of  the  dorsal  tract  in  the  neighbourhood  of  the  scapulsD. 
Pterylographically,  therefore,  there  is  no  special  reason  to  unite  these 
forms  with  the  Rails.     Judging  from  M.  Milne-Ed  wards 's  account  and 
figures  of  the  osteology  of  Mesites,  numerous  differences  between  these 
two  forms  also  exist  in  the  osseous  parts  of  their  structure.     In  parti- 
cular, the  fact  of  Mesites  being  schizorhinal  is  a  strong  point  in  view  of 
its  relationship  being,  along  with  Rhinochetus  and  its  allies,  to  the  Plu- 


*  Cf.  Murie,  Trans.  Z.  S.  vii.  pi.  56.  figs.  1-3. 

t  '  Pterylography,'  Eay  Soc.  ed.  p.  129,  pi.  viii.  fig.  15. 

J  Rhinochetus  has  not  10,  as  erroneously  stated  by  Murie,  loc.  cit.  p.  468. 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF  SELEUCIDES.  335 

vialine  group,  where  I  have  already  *  placed  it.  In  spite  of  M.  Milne- 
Ed  vvards's  remarks  t,  I  see  no  reason  for  doubting  the  value  of  the 
schizorhinal  character  of  the  nasal  bones  as  a  mark  of  the  genetic  affinities 
of  birds,  especially  when,  as  in  the  present  case,  other  facts  point  in  the 
same  direction. 

I  should  be  inclined  therefore  to  consider  (1)  that  Mesites,  Eurypyga, 
and  Rliinoclietus  have  all  sprung  from  some  common  ancestor,  which  must 
have  been  a  generalized  Pluvialine  form  provided  with  powder-down 
tracts  ;  (2)  that  of  the  forms  which  this  common  stock  gave  rise  to,  all 
have  become  extinct  save  the  three  in  question,  which,  having  become 
isolated  in  three  widely  separated  localities,  have  each  acquired  certain 
special  characters  not  found  in  the  others ;  (3)  that,  judging  at  least 
from  the  pterylosis,  the  Malagash  Mesites  is  perhaps  more  nearly  related 
to  the  New-Caledonian  Rhinochetus  than  to  the  Neotropical  Eurypyga. 


58.  NOTE   ON  A  PECULIARITY  IN  THE  TRACHEA  OF  P.Z.S.1882, 
THE  TWELVE-WIRED  BIRD-OF-PARADISE  (SELEU-      P* m 
CIDES  NIGRA)4 

THE  death  (from  conjestion  of  the  lungs,  with  resulting  haemorrhage, 
and  thickening  of  the  walls  of  the  intrathoracic  air-cells)  on  Feb.  22nd 
last  of  the  male  Seleucides  nigra,  purchased  by  the  Society  on  March  19, 
1881  §,  has  given  me  the  opportunity  of  observing  a  peculiarity  in  the 
construction  of  its  trachea  of  a  nature  unlike  any  thing  of  the  kind  yet 
known  to  me.  The  windpipe,  for  the  greater  part  of  its  course,  has  the 
normal  avian  structure,  the  tracheal  rings,  which  are  ossified  and,  as 
usual,  notched  both  before  and  behind,  being  of  the  ordinary  form,  and 
separated  by  but  narrow  intervals  from  each  other.  For  a  space, 
however,  of  about  1  inch  above  the  largely  developed  short  pair  of 


*  Ibis,  1881,  p.  4,  and  P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  644. 

t  The  greater  or  lesser  size  of  the  beak  will  not  account  for  the  schizorhinal  or 
holorhinal  character  of  the  nares,  as  suggested  by  M.  Milne-Edwards.  Else  why  should 
the  big-billed  Platalea,  Ibises,  Didunculus,  Laridag,  Alcidae,  be  all  schizorhinal,  whilst 
the  slender-billed  Eails,  Colymbidae,  and  such  Tubinares  as  Puffinus  and  Procellaria, 
to  say  nothing  of  such  forms  as  the  Meropidae,  Dendrocolaptidae,  and  Nectariniidae, 
are  all  equally  holorhinal  ?  Nor  can  I  admit  with  M.  Milne-Edwards  that  the  Ptero- 
clidae  are  related  to  the  Gallinse,  or  the  Ibididse  to  Tantalus,  there  being  plenty  of 
collateral  evidence  to  prove  the  reverse.  Hence  any  argument  based  on  such  assumed 
affinities  also  fails. 

|  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  333-335.     Kead  Mar.  21,  1882. 

§  See  P.  Z.S.  1881,  p.  450. 


336 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF  SELEUCIDES. 


intrinsic  muscles,  the  interval  comprising  8  tracheal  rings,  it  becomes 
peculiarly  modified,  the  tube  itself  becoming  slightly  dilated  and 
flattened  antero-posteriorly,  whilst  the  tracheal  rings  become  broader, 
and  ossified  along  the  middle  of  their  depth,  the  borders  only  remaining 


P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  334. 


Lower  portion  of  trachea  of  Seleucides  nigra  $ ,  from  before.     Twice  the 
natural  size. 

4,  5,6,  7,  8,  9,  10,  11.  Fourth,  fifth,  &c.  (from  bottom)  tracheal  rings,  "peculiarly 
modified.  III.  Third  bronchial  semiring,  s.t,  sterno-trachealis  muscle,  cut 
short. 


P.Z.  S.  1882,  cartilaginous.     This  ossified  part  of  each  ring  is  slightly  concave,  so 

p.  333.         that  when  seen  laterally  the  cartilaginous  margins  project  slightly  from 

it,  the  whole  ring  being  thus  like  a  fluted  table-napkin  ring,  when  seen 

in  section.     The  intervals  between  these  peculiar  rings  are  very  much 


ON  THE  TRACHEA  OP  SELEUC1DES.          337 

deeper  than  those  above,  and  occupied  by  delicate  membrane  only,  so 
that  all  this  part  of  the  trachea  is  highly  elastic. 

The  sterno-tracheales  are  inserted  just  below  the  lowest  of  these 
peculiar  rings,  which  is  the  last  but  three  of  those  composing  the  trachea 
— the  next  two,  which  are  very  narrow,  and  the  last,  which  is  broad  and 
bears  the  pessulus,  being  concealed  from  view  by  the  largely  developed 
syringeal  muscles,  of  which  there  are  four  pairs,  all,  except  the  small 
anterior  long  muscle,  being  inserted  on  the  ends  of  the  very  strong 
third  bronchial  semirings.  The  lateral  tracheal  muscles  are  weak, 
extending,  however,  nearly  to  the  thoracic  end  of  the  tube. 

Nothing  like  the  modification  of  the  trachea  here  described  obtains  in 
any  other  allied  form  of  Paradise-bird  that  I  have  been  able  to  examine 
(including  Paradisea  papuana  and  rubra,  Ptilorhis  dlberti,  Phonygama 
gouldij  Manucodia  atra,  Ptilorhynchus  violaceus  and  smitfii) ;  nor  do  I 
know  any  structure  in  other  birds  quite  comparable  with  that  now 
described,  which  is  probably  correlated  with  the  very  loud  harsh  note  of 
these  birds  *. 

In  all  other  respects  Seleucides  is,  as  might  have  been  expected,  a 
typical  oscinine  Passerine. 

I  may  take  this  opportunity  of  remarking  that  the  various  published   p.  z.  S.  1882, 
figures  of  Seleucides  nigra  do  not  give  a  very  accurate  idea  of  the  bird,  as       P-  ^34- 
they  fail  to  represent  the  peculiar  way  in  which  the  leg-feathering  ceases 
altogether  some  way  above  the  "  knee,"  leaving  the  large  and  muscular 
legs  bare  for  about  an  inch  or  so  above  that  joint. 

The  eyes  are  brilliant  red ;  the  legs,  including  the  bare  skin  above  the 
"knees,"  pale  red,  the  claws  greyish.     The  mucous  membrane  of  the 
mouth  and  superior  surface  of  the  tongue  is  bright  emerald-green,  a  P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
narrow  line  of  this  appearing  at  the  angle  of  the  mouth  when  the  jaws       P* 
are  closed.     When  the  beak  is  open,  the  beautiful  green  of  the  mouth 
and  tongue  is  very  conspicuous,  and,  contrasting  with  the  bright  red  eye 
and   dark  velvety  plumage  of  the  head,  adds  greatly  to  the  general 
appearance  of  the  bird. 

It  would  be  interesting  to  know  whether  the  females  of  Seleucides  also 
have  their  mouth  thus  coloured,  or  whether  it  is  a  peculiarity  of  the 
male,  developed  as  a  sexual  ornament  f . 

*  Mr.  Wallace,  speaking  of  this  species,  says  (Malay  Archipelago,  ii.  p.  254, 
London,  1869) : — "  It  has  a  loud  shrill  cry,  to  be  heard  a  long  way,  consisting  of  cah, 
cah,  repeated  five  or  six  times  in  a  descending  scale ;  and  at  the  last  note  it  generally 


t  P.S.  (April  7). — A  young  male  Rifle-bird  (Ptilorhis  paradisea)  now  living  in  the 
Society's  Gardens  has,  it  is  interesting  to  observe,  its  mouth  and  tongue  similarly 
brightly  coloured,  though  of  a  lemon-yellow  colour  instead  of  green. 


338  ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF 


P.Z.S.  1882,  59.  ON  THE  CONVOLUTED  TRACHEA  OF  TWO  SPECIES 
OP  MANUCODE  (MANUCODIA  ATRA  AND  PHONY- 
GAMA  GOULDI);  WITH  REMARKS  ON  SIMILAR 
STRUCTURES  IN  OTHER  BIRDS.* 

THE  subcutaneous  convolution  on  the  pectoral  muscles  of  the  trachea  in 
the  Manucodes  of  the  genera  (or  subgenera)  Manucodia  and  Phony gama, 
originally  described  and  figured  by  Lesson  in  Phonygama  keraudreni  so 
long  ago  as  1826 1,  has  lately  excited  considerable  attention,  Prof. 
Pavesi  $  having  shown  that  a  similar  structure,  though  less  developed, 
exists  in  Manucodia  chalybeata,  and  Dr.  Meyer  §  having  demonstrated 
the  same  for  its  representative  form  M.  jobiensis.  From  their  figures 
and  observations  it  is  clear : — 

1.  That  the  trachea  of  Phonygama  "  Jceraudreni  "  \\  may  be  convoluted 
in  both  sexes,  that  of  the  males  being  most  complicated,  consisting,  when 
best  developed,  of  a  complete  spiral  of  several  coils,  whilst  in  younger 
males,  and  females,  it  is  reduced  to  a  simple  loop  with  a  bend  to  the 
right. 

Intermediate  forms  of  all  kinds  are  to  be  found,  as  shown  by  Pavesi's 
interesting  series  of  figures. 

2.  That   in  Manucodia  chalybeata  and  M.  jobiensis  the  adult  males 
possess  a  trachea  provided  with  a  simple  loop,  extending  about  two 
thirds  down  the  surface  of  the  pectoral  muscles.     This  is  apparently 
absent  in  the  females  and  young  males. 

The  specimen,  a  male,  of  Manucodia  atra,  purchased  by  the  Society 
on  March  19,  1881  ^[,  having  died  on  March  llth  inst.,  I  have  now  been 
enabled  to  examine  the  condition  of  the  trachea  in  this  species  also. 
As  will  be  seen  from  the  drawing  I  exhibit  (figure,  p.  339),  representing 
it  in  situ,  it  too  is  convoluted,  but  to  a  much  smaller  extent,  only 
forming  a  short  loop  lying  on  the-  interclavicular  air-cell,  between  the 
rami  of  the  furcula,  much  as  in  many  specimens  of  the  genus  Crax. 
This  quite  confirms  D'Albertis's  description  given  by  Count  Salvadori  **. 
In  the  female  the  trachea  will  probably  be  found  to  be  quite  simple. 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  347-353.     Eead  April  4,  1882. 

t  Voyage  de  la  '  Ooquille,'  Atlas,  pi.  xiii.  fig.  2. 

\  Ann.  Mus.  Geneva,  vi.  pp.  313-324,  pi.  x.,  and  ix.  pp.  66-77- 

§  Abbildungen  Yogel-Skeleten,  pi.  vii.  a,  p.  5. 

||  All  but  one  of  Pavesi's  specimens  (fig.  6  of  his  second  paper)  are,  it  is  to  be 
observed,  really  P.  gouldi,  having  been  obtained  at  Cape  York 'by  D'Albertis. 

^[  On  its  arrival  it  was  supposed  to  belong  to  the  species  M.  viridis  (seu  chalybeata}, 
and  was  noticed  as  such  (P.  Z.  S.  1881,  p.  450). 

**  "  Non  pare  che  questa  specie  possegga  vere  circonvoluzioni  externe  della  trachea, 
ma,  secondo  le  osservazioni  del  D'Albertis,  i  maschi  adulti  avrebbero  soltanto  un'  ansa 
piegata  ad  S  nella  fossetta  della  forchetta." — Ornitologia  della  Pupuasia  e  delle 
Moluccke,  ii.  p.  509. 


MANUCODIA  ATRA  AND  OTHER  BIRDS. 


339 


p.  348. 


Of  Phonygama  gouldi,  the  Australian  representative  of  P.  keraudreni, 
I  have  been  enabled  to  examine  three  detached  tracheae,  as  well  as  three 
entire  birds  collected  at  Cape  York  by  H.M.S.  4  Challenger,'  and  kindly  P.Z.S.^1882, 
intrusted  to  me  by  the  late  Sir  Wyville  Thomson.  The  first  three  are 
those  already  mentioned  by  Mr.  Tegetmeier  in  his  appendix  to  the 
*  Natural  History  of  the  Cranes '  *.  All  are  convoluted,  though  that  of 
the  female  specimen  is  least  so,  and  those  of  the  two  males  vary  slightly  in 
the  amount  of  convolution.  They  very  closely  resemble  that  oiP.keraudreni 
figured  on  p.  68,  fig.  2,  in  the  second  of  Prof.  Pavesi's  papers  already  quoted, 
but  have  eight  instead  of  nine  folds,  counting  along  a  transverse  line 
drawn  through  the  centre  of  the  coil.  Of  the  three  '  Challenger '  birds,  one 
a  female  t,  has  a  trachea  with  a  single  curved  loop,  like  Pavesi's  fig.  8, 


Trachea  of  Manucodia  atra. 

whilst  in  the  two  others  the  trachea  is  quite  straight,  with  no  trace  of  a 
curve.  One  of  these  is  a  male,  probably  young,  whilst  the  other  is  an  aduU 
female,  as  shown  by  the  oviduct  containing  an  egg  nearly  ready  to  be  laid. 

It  is  clear  therefore  that  in  this  species,  too,  the  female  may  some- 
times have  no  tracheal  loop  at  all. 

As  regards  the  habits  of  P.  gouldi,  I  reproduce  here  some  extracts 
from  the  notes  accompanying  the  receipt  of  the  first  three  tracheae 

*    London,  1881,  pp.  87,88. 

t  One  of  the  specimens  referred  to  in  Mr.  Murray's  notes,  cf.  '  Voyage  of  H.M.S. 
Challenger,'  Report  on  the  Birds,  p.  87. 

z2 


340  ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF 

sent — I  believe,  by  Dr.  G-eorge  Bennett  of  Sydney — the  substance  o£ 
which  Mr.  Tegetmeier  has  already  published  (from  the  original  MS.  in 
my  possession)  in  his  work  on  Cranes  : — 

P.  Z.  S,  1882,  "  Having  recently  purchased  a  pair  of  those  elegant  birds,  the 
Manucodia  gouldi,  which  had  been  shot  at  Cape  York  by  Mr.  J.  A. 
Thorpe  (now  taxidermist  to  the  Sydney  Museum),  he  directed  my 
attention  to  the  peculiar  formation  of  the  trachea  in  them,  some  of 
which  he  has  preserved  in  a  dry  state  and  presented  to  me ;  of  these  I 
have  sent  you  three,  one  from  a  female  and  two  from  males.  That  of 
the  female  is  much  smaller  in  size  than  those  of  the  males  ;  and  even  in 
the  males  the  convolutions  assume  different  forms.  This  formation  of 
the  vocal  organs  enables  the  male  bird  to  utter  a  very  loud  and  deep 
guttural  sound,  indeed  more  powerful  and  sonorous  than  any  one  would 
suppose  so  small  a  bird  could  be  capable  of  producing.  Mr.  Thorpe 
states  to  me  that  it  was  a  long  time  before  he  could  believe  that  so 
powerful  a  sound  emanated  from  this  bird.  No  information  could  be 
obtained  respecting  the  note  of  the  female,  as  only  that  of  the  male  was 
heard.  These  birds  were  found  about  the  same  locality  as  the  two  fine 
species  of  Rifle-birds  obtained  also  at  Cape  York — Ptilorhis  alberti  and 
P.  victorice. 

"Mr.  Thorpe  gave  me  some  information  respecting  the  habits  of 
these  birds  as  follows  : — '  During  a  residence  of  seventeen  months  at 
Cape  York  in  1867  and  1868  I  shot  several  of  the  Manucodia  gouldi, 
and  took  particular  notice  of  their  habits.  They  frequent  the  dense 
palm-forests,  and  are  usually  seen  high  up  in  the  trees  ;  they  utter  a 
very  deep  and  loud,  guttural  note,  rather  prolonged,  and  unlike  that  of 
any  other  bird  with  which  I  am  familiar.  Their  movements  are  par- 
ticularly active  and  graceful  ;  on  approaching  them  they  evince  more 
curiosity  than  timidity,  looking  down  at  the  slightest  noise,  and  apparently 
more  anxious  to  obtain  a  full  view  of  the  intruder  than  for  their  own 
safety.  They  are  almost  invariably  in  pairs  ;  and  both  birds  can 
generally  be  secured.' " 

I  may  remark  that,  in  all  the  specimens  of  the  convoluted  trachea  in 
Manucodia  and  Phonygama  I  have  seen,  the  descending  limb  of  the  loop 
in  the  natural  position  of  the  bird  is  to  the  left,  the  ascending  to  the 
right.  The  same  peculiarity  is  observable  in  all  the  figures  yet  published, 
excepting  the  original  one  of  Lesson,  and  in  one  of  those  of  Pavesi  (I.  c. 
ix.  p.  64,  fig.  4).  The  reversal,  in  the  first  figure,  is  obviously  due  to 
the  trachea  being  represented  from  the  dorsal,  instead  of  the  ventral 
aspect,  it  being  represented  as  quite  separated  from  the  body :  Pavesi's 
figure,  representing  the  parts  in  situ,  does  not  admit  of  this  explanation, 
if  correctly  drawn. 

As  regards  the  two  forms  Phonygama  and  Manucodia,  which  Mr. 
Sharpe  adopts  as  genera  in  the  '  Catalogue  of  Birds/ vol.  iii.  pp.  180,  182, 


MANUCODIA  ATRA  AND  OTHER  BIRDS.  341 

it  is  interesting  to  observe  that  the  validity  of  the  separation  is 
confirmed  by  what  we  now  know  of  the  tracheal  conformation  of  the 
two  groups  in  question. 

Phonygama   (as   represented   by   P.  Tceraudreni  and  gouldi)  has  the 
trachea  (at  least  usually)  convoluted  in  both  sexes,  that  of  the  adult  male 
being  spirally  convoluted  several  times,  whilst  that  of  the  female  forms 
a  single  curve  with  a  loop  to  the  right.      Manucodia  (in  M.  chalybeata, 
jobiensis,  and  atra),  on  the  other  hand,  has  the  trachea  convoluted  in  the 
male  only,  the  convolution  being  in  the  form  of  a  simple  loop,  extending,   p.  z.  S.  1882, 
in  the   first  two  species,   onto  the   pectoral  muscles,  but  confined  in      P-  35°- 
M.  atra  to  the  interclavicular  area. 

As  regards  the  occurrence  of  convoluted  tracheae  in  the  class  Aves 
generally,  it  may  be  useful  to  give  as  complete  a  list  as  is  in  my  power  of 
all  the  hitherto  recorded  instances.  Pavesi  has  already  (I.  c.  vi.  pp.  317, 
318)  given  such  a  list,  compiled  from  various  authors ;  but  the  opportu- 
nities for  observation  of  my  predecessor  and  myself  have  enabled  me  to 
give,  as  will  be  seen  below,  a  much  fuller  and  more  complete  one.  I 
have  endeavoured  to  state  exactly  in  what  species  this  convolution  has 
been  observed,  or  has  been  found  to  be  absent,  as  well  as  to  state  pre- 
cisely the  sexes  of  the  individuals  presenting  the  peculiarities.  Unless 
otherwise  stated,  the  observation  has  been  made  by  Prof.  Garrod  or 
myself. 

A.  The  convolutions  of  the  trachea  are  superficial,  lying  beneath  the 
skin,  extending  often  more  or  less  onto  the  pectoral,  or  even 
abdominal,  muscles. 

OSCINES. 

Phonygama  Tceraudreni.      3  [Lesson,  Pavesi,  Meyer].     [Probably  $ 

also.] 
gouldi.      <$ :  present,  much  less  developed  (sometimes  absent) 

in  $. 
Manucodia  chalybeata.      <f  [Pavesi,  Meyer]. 

jobiensis.     tf  .     [Condition  in  $  not  known.] 

atra.      <$ .     [Condition  in  $  not  known.] 

At  present  it  has  been  found  in  the  males  only  of  these  three  species, 
and,  as  already  indicated,  is,  from  Beccari's  observations  on  M.  chaly- 
beata, probably  absent  altogether  in  the  females. 

Farn.  ANATID.E. 

In  the  males  of  Anseranas  melanoleuca  the  trachea  forms  a  very 
extensive  double  loop,  extending  to  quite  the  end  of  the  pectoral  muscles. 
The  female  has  simply  a  slight  bend  in  the  neck. 


342  ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF 

Fam.  SCOLOPACED^I. 

The  females  only  of  Ehynchcea  australis  [according  to  Gould]  have  a 
convoluted  trachea,  forming  several  folds  on  the  pectoral  muscles,  and 
extending  onto  the  abdomen.  In  the  males  it  is  simple  *. 

In  R.  capensis,  as  Mr.  "Wood-Mason  has  lately  shown  (P.  Z.  S.  1878, 
pp.  745-751,  pi.  xlvii.),  the  mature  females  only  have  a  slightly  extra- 
thoracic  loop,  the  trachea  of  the  younger  females  and  of  the  males  being 
quite  simple. 

P.Z.  S.  1882,  Fam.  CRACID2E. 

p.  351.  jn   ^9  ma]eg  Of  the  genera  Crax,  Pauods,  Mitua,  and   Ortalis  the 

trachea  forms  a  loop  of  variable  extent,  often  extending,  particularly  in 
the  last  three  genera,  to  the  end  of  the  carina  stemi,  and  then  turning 
up  a  little  way  on  the  left  side  before  it  returns.  In  other  cases  it 
extends  only  about  as  far  as  the  anterior  end  of  the  carina.  In  the 
females  this  loop  is  altogether  absent,  or  at  most  the  trachea  presents  a 
slight  curve  in  the  neck. 

Species  examined. 
Crax  globicera.    3 ,  $  . 

alector.    $ ,  2  • 

sclateri.    tf ,   $  . 

daubentoni.    3 ,  $  . 

alberti.    <$ ,  $  . 

carunculata.    <$ ,  $  . 

[The  females  only  of   C.  globulosa  and  C.  incommoda  have  yet  been 
examined.     The  trachea  is  simple.] 
Pauxis  galeata.    <$  ,  $  . 
Mitua  tuberosa.    c? ,  $  . 

tomentosa.    3 ,  $  . 

Ortalis  albiventris.    J  ,  $  . 

garrula.    tf.     [The   $  according  to  Humboldt  t  has  the  trachea 

simple.] 

motmot.     c?«      [The   female   has   a   simple  trachea   according  to 

Latham,  who  describes  this  species  J  under  the  name  of  Phasianus 
parrakaJ] 

In  Penelope  jacucaca  the  trachea  is  convoluted  in  both  sexes  ;  and  the 
same  is  the  case  in  the  male  of  P.  pileata,  the  condition  of  the  female 
being  unknown. 

[In  Penelope  cristata  and  P.  purpurascens  the  male  has  no  loop  ;  and 
the  same  is  the  case  in  Pipile  cumanensis  and  P.jacutinga.  Only  females 

*  Two  specimens  showing  different  degrees  of  development  of  this  structure  may  be 
Been  mounted  in  the  Hunterian  Museum  (Preps.  1156,  D  &  E). 

t  Humboldt  and  Bonpland,  '  Eecueil  d'observations  de  Zoologie,'  &c.  p.  5.  Paris, 
1811. 

\  Linn.  TranB.  iv.  p.  100  &c. 


MANUCODIA  ATRA  AND  OTHER  BIRDS.  343 

of  Pipile  cujubi  and  Notliocrax  urumutum  have  yet  been  examined  :  these 
had  simple  tracheae  ;  and  the  same  is  the  case  in  both  sexes  of  Aburria 
carunculata.~\ 

B.  The  trachea  has  a  considerable  superficial  loop  in  the  cervical 
region,  anterior  to  the  thoracic  muscles. 


Fam. 
Tetrao  urogallus.     The  male  only,  apparently. 

C.  The  trachea  has  a  loop  entering  into,  and  enclosed  by,  a  bony  cavity 
formed  by  the  clavicular  symphysis. 

Fam.  NUMIDID^E. 

The  Guinea-fowls  of  the  genus   Guttera,  as  seen  in   both   sexes  of  -P-  Z.  S.  1882, 
Guttera  cristata  and  G.  pucherani.      The  same  conformation  occurs  in       ^' 
G.  eduardi  ;  but  the  sex  of  my  specimen  is  not,  unfortunately,  recorded. 

[In  Numida  proper  (N.  meleagris,  ptilorliyncha,  and  mitrata  have  been 
examined),  as  well  as  in  Acryllium  vulturinum,  the  trachea  is  quite 
simple  in  both  sexes.] 

D.  The  trachea  has  several  intraihomcic  convolutions. 

Fam.  CICOKTIDJE. 

Tantalus  ibis,  in  the  male  (cf.  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  286). 

[The  condition  of  the  female  is  unknown.] 

[In  both  sexes  of  T.  loculator,  as  well  as  in  the  females  of  T.  leuco- 
cephalus  (the  other  sex  not  yet  having  been  dissected)  the  trachea  is 
unconvoluted.] 

Fam.  LBIDID^J. 

Platalea  leucorrodia.      <$  .     (  $  ,  Mtzsch.) 

[In  Ajaja  rosea  the  trachea  is  known  to  be  simple  in  both  sexes,  though 
the  bronchi  are  peculiarly  long.  Cf.  Garrod,  1.  c.  p.  288.] 

E.  The  trachea  is  convoluted,  the  convolution  impinging  on,  or 
entering,  the  carina  sterni. 

Fam.  CYGiaDJs. 

In  the  Swans  of  the  Cyynus  ferus  group,  the  trachea,  as  has  long  been 
known,  has  a  number  of  intrasternal  convolutions,  which  may  extend  to 
near  the  end  of  the  bone. 


344     ON  THE  TRACHEA  OF  MANUCODIA  ATEA,  ETC. 

This  is  well  known  to  occur  in  both  sexes  of  Cygnus  ferus  :  it  is 
likewise  the  case  in  both  males  and  females  of  C.  buccinator,  C.  ameri- 
canus  (according  to  Macgillivray,  Sharpless,  &c.),  and  C.  bewicki 
(Tarrell). 

[In  Cygnus  olor,  C.  immutabilis  (Macgillivray),  C.  nigricollis,  and 
C.  coscoroba  the  trachea  is  quite  simple  in  both  sexes.] 

According  to  Tarrell,  in  Cygnus  atratus  there  is  a  slight  downwardly- 
directed  loop  of  the  trachea  in  the  interclavicular  region. 

Earn.  G-ETJID^E. 

The  genus  G-rus,  as  a  rule  in  both  sexes,  possesses  a  convoluted 
trachea,  which  usually  enters  the  carina  sterni,  which  it  may  excavate  to 
its  posterior  extremity.  The  amount  of  convolution  varies  much  in 
different  specimens  of  the  same  species. 

Species  examined. 

Grus  cinerea.    c?»  ?•     (Tarrell,  &c.) 

-  antigone.    d  (Tegetmeier).      $  . 

-  americana.    $  (cf.  Roberts,  Am.  Nat.  1880). 

-  carunculata.    tf  ,  $  . 

-  leucogeranos.    tf  ,  $  . 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,  As  regards  these  two  species,  it  appears  from  Prof.  G-arrod's  MS.  notes 
p.  353.  that  the  male  of  G.  leucogeranos  has  a  convoluted  trachea,  only  slightly 
folded  in  the  carina  sterni,  extending  in  it  for  less  than  half  its  extent  *  ; 
whilst  in  the  female  "  there  was  formed  a  genu  of  small  size,  that  does 
not  enter  the  carina  sterni"  The  female  of  G.  carunculata  examined 
had  a  trachea  as  well  convoluted  as  the  most  developed  forms  of  G.  ameri- 
whilst in  the  male  the  condition  was  as  in  the  female  of  G.  leuco- 


geranos. 

Grus  australasiana.    <$  [?  $  ]. 

-  canadensis.    $  . 

In  Tetrapterycc  paradisea,  according  to  Tarrell  and  Tegetmeier,  as  well 
as  in  Anthropoides  virgo  according  to  Parsons  and  Tarrell,  the  trachea  is 
convoluted,  but  does  not  enter  the  carina  sterni,  being  contained  in  a 
special  groove  developed  along  the  anterior  margin  of  that  bone. 

[In  both  species  of  Balearica  the  trachea  is  known  to  be  quite  simple  ; 
and  the  same  is  probably  true  in  Aramus  scolopaceus.'] 


*  The  observations  of  Mr.  A.  O.  Hume  (cf.  Tegetmeier's '  Cranes,'  p.  39,  &c.)  do  not, 
therefore,  always  hold  good  for  this  species. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES.          345 


60.  ON    SOME    POINTS   IN    THE    ANATOMY   OF    THE  RZ- 
TODIES  (TODIDJE),  AND  ON   THE  AFFINITIES  OF 
THAT  GROUP.* 

ONE  of  the  few  important  forms  of  birds  that  the  late  Prof.  Garrod 
had  not  an  opportunity,  at  some  time  or  other,  of  dissecting  was  the 
genus  Todus,  the  sole  representative  of  the  family  Todidae.  I  was 
therefore  much  gratified  at  being  able  to  examine,  some  months  ago,  a 
spirit-specimen  of  Todus  viridis,  which  was  placed  at  my  disposal  for 
dissection  by  Prof.  Newton  with  his  accustomed  liberality ;  but  I  hesitated 
to  publish  my  notes  without  having  further  material  to  confirm  my 
observations.  An  opportunity  of  doing  this  has  lately  been  afforded  to 
me  by  the  kindness  of  Prof.  Baird  and  the  authorities  of  the  Smithsonian 
Institution  in  Washington,  who  forwarded  to  me,  with  other  valuable  p-  Z.  S.  1882, 
specimens,  four  examples  in  spirit  of  the  Tody  of  San  Domingo  (Todus 
dominicensis).  It  is  on  the  examination  of  these  two  species  that  the 
following  paper  is  based. 

Dr.  Murie  has  given  us,  in  his  article  on  Todus^r,  an  exhaustive 
account  of  the  opinions  held  by  previous  writers  as  to  the  position  of  the 
Todies,  as  well  as  a  valuable  description  of  their  osteology,  and  reference 
to  what  was  known  of  their  visceral  anatomy.  To  this  paper  I  therefore 
refer  any  reader  interested  in  the  literary  history  of  the  group  in  question. 
Since  its  publication  Sundevall,  Garrod,  and  Sclater  have  all  treated  of 
the  classification  of  birds. 

The  Swedish  ornithologist*,  relying  as  usual  solely  upon  external 
characters,  was  misled  into  placing  Todus  amongst  the  Passeres,  in  the 
close  vicinity  of  the  Tyrannidae  and  Pipridae,  though  in  the  same  year 
Mr.  Sclater  pointed  out  §  the  impropriety  of  such  a  position. 

Garrod  at  first  ||  made  the  Todinse  with  doubt  a  subfamily  of  the 
Coraciidee,  the  Momotinae  forming  another;  but  subsequently,  on  dis- 
covering that  the  Momotidae  lacked  colic  caeca  %  removed  the  latter 
altogether  from  the  group  of  Passeriformes,  and,  adopting  the  opinion 
of  Murie,  Sclater,  and  others  as  to  the  close  affinities  of  Todus  to  the 
Motmots,  included  the  Todidae  with  them,  the  two  "almost  certainly 
forming  a  single  family."  Mr.  Sclater,  in  his  lately  published  opinions  on 
the  classification  of  birds**,  maintains  his  earlier  view,  the  Todidae  being 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  442-450.    Read  May  16,  1882. 

t  "  On  the  skeleton  of  Todus,  with  remarks  as  to  its  allies,"  P.  Z.  S.  1872,  pp.  664- 
680,  pi.  Iv.  |  '  Tentamen,'  p.  60 :  Stockholm,  1872. 

§  Ibis,  1872,  p.  179.  ||   Coll.  Papers,  p.  216. 

^[  L.  c.  p.  427.    The  contrary  had  been  asserted  by  Blyth  and  Murie. 
**  Ibis,  1880,  p.  401. 


346  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 

placed  nearest  the  Momotidse.  My  better  opportunities  for  observation 
do  not  allow  me  to  fall  in  with  the  opinion  of  the  last  two  distinguished 
naturalists.  Reserving  for  the  present  comparison,  I  append  my  notes 
on  the  dissection  of  the  two  species  of  Todus  I  have  examined. 

The  tongue  is  elongated,  about  '75  inch  long,  flat  and  thin,  nearly 
parallel-sided,  though  slightly  tapering  apically,  and  of  horny  consistence 
for  most  of  its  length.  The  root  of  the  tongue,  which  is  more  fleshy, 
has  some  small  spines  developed  along  its  base  and  for  a  short  distance 
along  the  lateral  margins.  These  margins  anterior  to  this  are  frayed- 
out  or  ciliated,  the  direction  of  the  laminae  so  produced  being  backwards  ; 
the  tip  itself  is  quite  entire.  There  is  no  crop ;  the  proventriculus  is, 
as  usual,  zonary ;  and  the  stomach  (containing  insects  and  seeds  in  the 
specimen  examined)  is  a  fairly  muscular  gizzard,  lined  by  hard  epithelium. 
The  right  lobe  of  the  liver  is  much  larger  than  the  left.  The  intestines 
are  remarkably  short,  their  total  length  not  exceeding  3j  inches.  The 
caeca  are  well-developed*,  and  large  for  the  size  of  the  bird,  measuring 
about  one-third  of  an  inch.  Their  shape  is  that  constantly  met  with  in 
all  the  non-Passerine  Anomalogonatous  birds  possessing  ca3ca— narrowed 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,  towards  their  insertion,  and  dilated  apically.     There  are  two  carotid 
D  444 

arteries. 

In  the  leg,  the  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles  are  absent, 
as  are  the  gluteus  quintus  and  primus.  The  femoro-caudal,  semitendi- 
nosus,  and  accessory  sernitendinosus  are  all  well  developed.  The  myo- 
logical  formula  is  thus  —  A.  XT.  The  obturator  internus  is  triangular. 
The  deep  plantar  flexor  tendons  of  the  toes  blend  about  three  quarters 
down  the  leg,  the  slip  to  the  hallux  being  given  off  from  the  inner  of  the 
two  tendons  a  little  before  it  joins  the  other  one. 

The  pectoralis  secundus  extends  nearly  to  the  end  of  the  sternum. 
There  is  no  third  pectoral,  nor  biceps  slip  to  the  patagium.  The  expansor 
secundariorum  muscle,  on  the  other  hand,  is  well  developed,  the  long 
thin  tendon  ceasing  on  the  axillary  margin  of  the  teres  muscle  in  a  way 
hitherto  only  known  in  some  of  the  G-allinaceae  f.  I  find,  however,  that 
exactly  the  same  condition  occurs  in  Momotus  (lessoni)0  and  Hylomanes 
(gularis),  in  some  of  the  Alcedinidse  (e.  g.  Tanysiptera,  Syma,  and 
Cittura),  as  also  in  Steatornis.  The  presence  of  this  muscle  at  all  in 
these  groups  of  birds  was,  I  may  remark,  hitherto  unknown  +.  The 

*  They  are  erroneously  stated  by  Duvernoy  (Anat.  Comp.  Cuv.  iv.  [2]  p.  284)  to  be 
absent. 

t  Cf.  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  324. 

J  Besides  the  Coraciidse,  the  existence  in  which  of  this  muscle  was  pointed  out  by 
Garrod  (Coll.  Papers,  p.  324),  it  exists  also  of  the  same  "  ciconiiform  "  shape  in  the 
Meropidae,  Leptosoma  (P.  Z.S.  1880,  p.  470),  and,  as  already  noted  in  MS.  by  Garrod, 
in  the  Galbulidae.  It  is  absent  in  all  (?  Bucconidse)  the  other  families  of  Anoma- 
logonatce. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 


347 


tensor  patagii  brevis  at  its  termination  has  an  arrangement  almost  identical 
with  that  of  the  Momotidse*,  only  differing  from  it  in  the  absence  of  the 
thin  slip  of  fascia  which  is  continued,  in  them,  from  the  recurrent 
"  passeriniform  "  tendon  to  the  fascia  covering  the  ulnar  side  of  the  fore- 
arm. The  deltoid  has  no  special  tendinous  slip  of  origin  from  the  scapula. 

Fig.  1. 


A  B 

Syrinx  of  Todus  :  A,  from  before  ;  B,  from  behind. 

The  triceps  is  Y-shaped  at  its  scapular  origin,  and  receives  no  tendinous 
slip  from  the  humerus. 

The  construction  of  the  syrinx  may  be  best  understood  from  an 
inspection  of  the  accompanying  figures  (fig.  1),  representing  the  anterior 
(A)  and  posterior  (B)  views  of  that  of  Todus  dominicensis.  The  trachea 
terminates  below  in  an  ossified  bony  box,  formed  of  three  or  four  modified 
rings  (probably  bronchial)  fused  together,  as  is  very  evident  in  the 
posterior  view  :  as  may  also  be  seen  there,  the  two  preceding  tracheal 
rings  are  coossified  with  this  box  in  the  middle  line  posteriorly,  though 
in  front  they  are  quite  free  from  it.  The  box  is  deeply  notched  in  front, 
a  narrow  pessular  bar  running  backwards  from  the  apex  of  the  notch, 
forming  a  three-way  piece.  The  bronchial  semirings  succeeding  the  box 
have  the  normal  character.  The  lateral  muscle  of  the  trachea  continues 
downwards  to  terminate  just  on  the  upper  limits  of  this  syringeal  box. 
The  syrinx  of  Todus  viridis  is  constructed  on  exactly  the  same  plan. 

Comparing  these  figures  with  those  of  Momotus  lessoni  given  by  Grarrod  t, 
it  will  be  seen  that  Todus  differs  from  Momotus  in  its  syringeal  box  being 
deeply  notched  anteriorly,  and  much  more  perfect  posteriorly,  the  two 
parts  being  united  by  a  pessular  bar  unrepresented  in  Momotus.  In  fact 
it  resembles  that  of  the  Alcedinidae  or  Galbulidae  rather  than  that  of  the 


*  Cf.  Garrod,  loc.  cit.  p.  359. 


t  L.  c.  p.  428. 


348  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 

Momotidae.  The  chief  difference  from  the  former  is  that  in  the  Alcedi- 
nidae  the  intrinsic  muscle,  often  very  broad,  passes  down  over  the  syrin- 
geal  box  to  be  inserted  on  one  or  more  of  the  movable  bronchial  semirings, 
instead  of  ceasing  before  doing  so,  as  in  Todus.  In  Galbula  there  is  a 
bony  box  nearly  similar  to  that  of  Todus,  but  with  its  sides  more  strongly 
concave  below,  and  produced  downwards  anteriorly  into  strongly  pro- 
jecting points ;  the  lateral  muscle  only  passes  on  to  the  lower  margin  of 
the  box,  thus  stopping  short,  as  in  Todus  and  Momotus,  of  the  movable 
bronchial  semirings. 

.  As  regards  the  pterylosis,  there  is  a  strange  oversight  on  the  part  of 
Nitzsch  *  and  Murie  t  as  to  the  condition  of  the  oil-gland,  both  these 
observers  stating  it  to  be  nude.  In  fact  it  is,  in  all  the  four  species  of 
the  genus,  provided  with  a  very  well  developed,  and  even  long,  tuft  of 
plumes,  therein  completely  differing  from  that  of  the  Momotidae,  in  which 
the  tuft  is  either  altogether  absent  or  quite  rudimentary  J.  In  both  T. 
viridis  and  T.  dominicensis  I  count  twenty  remiges,  ten  being  secondaries  ; 
Nitzsch  and  Murie  give  nine,  having  apparently  failed  to  observe  the 
most  proximal,  smallest  one.  Nitzsch's  figure  of  the  pterylosis  in  Todus, 
having  nearly  certainly  been  constructed  from  an  examination  of  the 
skins  only,  is  not  quite  accurate — it  making  the  outer  pectoral  branch  to 
the  inferior  tract  too  markedly  divergent,  and  not  showing  the  weaker 
lines  of  contour-feathers  that  run  from  its  apex  to  the  hypopterum. 
The  connexion  between  the  dilated  part  of  the  main  pectoral  tract  as  it 
passes  on  to  the  breast  and  the  patagial  feathering  is  also  made  unduly 
important  in  his  figure,  this  connexion  in  reality  consisting  only  of  some 
P.  Z.  S.  1882,  slight,  scattered,  irregularly-placed  contour-feathers  lying  outside  the 
p.  446.  main  tract  on  the  surface  of  the  breast,  between  that  tract  and  the 
patagial  one. 

Concerning  the  external  characters  of  Todus,  I  may  remark  that  the 
structure  of  the  foot,  when  carefully  compared  with  that  of  the  Momotidae, 
presents  considerable  differences.  In  the  first  place,  the  long  tarso- 
metatarse,  instead  of  being  covered  by  distinct  transverse  scutes  anteriorly, 
and  by  two  or  more  series  of  smaller  scutella  behind,  is  "  ocreate,"  being 
invested  anteriorly  by  a  single  long  scute,  without  any  traces  of  division ; 
this  spreads  round  both  external  and  internal  aspects  of  the  leg,  leaving 
behind  a  narrow  margin  of  naked  skin,  with  some  indication  of  scutella- 
tion.  The  feet  (fig.  2)  are  much  more  syndactylous  than  they  are  in  the 
Momotidae.  The  second  digit  is  united  to  the  third  beyond  the  first 
phalanx  of  each,  and  the  third  to  the  fourth  beyond  the  second  joint  of 
the  third.  In  Momotus  and  its  allies  (vide  fig.  3)  the  union  between  the 
second  and  third  digits  only  extends  for  about  the  basal  half  of  their  first 


*  '  Pterylography,'  Ray  Soc.  ed.  p.  88. 
|  Cf.  G-arrod,  1.  c.  p.  427. 


t  L.  c.  p.  679. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 


349 


phalanges,  and  that  of  the  third  and  fourth  for  about  half  the  second 
phalanx  of  the  former.  The  feet  of  Todus  resemble  rather  those  of  the 
Kingfishers,  though  the  syndactylism  has  advanced  further  than  in  these 
birds.  The  position  of  the  hallux  is  quite  normal,  it  being  directed 


Fig.  2. 


Fig.  3. 


Foot  of  Todus  dominicensis. 


Foot  of  Momotus  lessoni. 


p.  447. 


altogether  backwards,  not  largely  inwards,  as  imagined  by  Dr.  Murie. 
The  nostrils  have  a  well-defined  circular  aperture ;  they  lie,  unconcealed 
by  the  frontal  plumes,  close  to  the  culmen.  Behind  them,  and  extending 
back  as  far  as  the  gape,  is  a  well-developed  series  of  rictal  vibrissae, 
directed  downwards  and  forwards.  Another  smaller  patch  of  similar 
vibrissae,  but  directed  upwards,  springs,  as  in  Steatornis,  from  the  inter- 
ramal  skin  of  the  lower  jaw  just  behind  the  mandibular  symphysis. 

Dr.  Murie  has  so  elaborately  described  the  osteology  of  Todus  viridis 
that  I  have  not  much  to  add  to  his  account. 

In  the  two  skeletons  of  that  species  which  I  possess  the  manubrium  P.  Z.  S.J882, 
sterni  is  distinctly  bifurcated,  therein  departing  from  the  Momotidae  and 
reminding  one  of  the  Passeres,  and  of  Merops,  Harpactes,  &c. 

Careful  examination  of  the  skull  of  that  species,  as  well  as  of  one  of 
Todus  dominicensis,  has  shown  me  that  the  lower  edge  of  the  nasal 
septum  is,  for  its  entire  extent,  free  from  the  inner  edges  of  the  maxillo- 
palatine  plates,  a  narrow  fissure  existing  on  each  side  between  it  and 
them,  along  which  it  is  possible,  with  care,  to  pass  the  blade  of  a  fine 
scalpel.  In  the  Motmots  (of  which  I  have  examined  skulls  of  the  genera 
Momotus,  Barypliihengus,  and  Hylomanes)  the  maxillo-palatines,  though 
apposed  to  each  other  in  the  middle  line,  do  not  actually  ankylose  for 
the  greater  part  of  their  length ;  so  that  if  the  skull  be  cut  across  trans- 
versely behind  the  line  of  union,  and  the  maxillo-palatines  with  their 
connected  bones  separated  from  the  rest  of  the  skull,  the  two  lateral 


350  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 

halves  of  the  separated  portion  fall  asunder  naturally,  there  being  no 
union  either  between  the  maxillo-palatines  themselves  (for  the  greater 
part  of  their  extent)  or  between  them  and  the  nasal  septum,  which  here 
does  not  appear  at  all  in  the  roof  of  the  mouth  in  this  region.  In  the 
Todies,  though  the  septum  thus  appears,  the  maxillo-palatines  are  free 
altogether  both  from  it  and  from  one  another,  apparently  for  their  whole 
extent  *.  If  this  is  so,  the  Todies  are  not  "  Desmognatlice"  and,  inasmuch 
as  they  lack  the  vomer  altogether,  cannot  be  included  in  any  other  of 
Prof.  Huxley's  primary  groups  of  Carinatae  at  all ! 

The  vertebrae  number  35,  exclusive  of  the  pygostyle,  as  already 
correctly  stated  by  Murie.  Of  these  I  reckon  15  as  cervical,  5  dorsal, 
8  sacral,  and  7  caudal  t. 

The  close  relationship  of  the  Todidae  to  the  Momotidae  having  been  so 
often  urged  by  some  of  our  best  naturalists,  it  will  be  desirable  to  point 
out  succinctly  some  of  the  important  points  of  difference  between  them. 

The  Todidae,  then,  differ  from  the  Momotidae, 

(1)  In  the  non-union  of  the  maxillo-palatines,  these  being  attached  in 
the  Motmots  by  harmonic  suture. 

(2)  In  the  lower  margin  of  the  nasal  septum  appearing  in  the  roof  of 
the  mouth  between  the  free  edges  of  the  maxillo-palatines.      In  the 
Motmots  the  nasal  septum — which  ankyloses  with  the  maxillo-palatines 
anteriorly — does  not  appear  in  the  palate. 

(3)  In  the  complete  absence  of  a  vomer,  always  represented  in  the 
Momotidae  by  a  small,  but  distinct,  ossicle. 

(4)  In  possessing  a  well-developed  lacrymal,  quite  absent  (or  early 
ankylosed  with  the  f rentals)  in  the  Motmots. 

P.  Z.  S.  1882,        (5)  In  the  very  slight  development  of  the  ascending  plates  of  the 
p.  448.          palatines,  well  represented  in  the  other  group. 

(6)  In  the  small  amount  of  ossification  in  the  interorbital  septum, 
this,  in  the  Motmots,  being  nearly  entirely  osseous. 

(7)  In  the  shape  of  the  sternum,  this  having  four  distinct  and  deep 
notches  (the   outer  pair  being  far  the  larger)  never  converted   into 
foramina,  and  separated  by  delicate  xiphoid  processes.     In  the  Motmots 
the  inner  pair  at  least  (Hylomanes),  but  usually  both  (Momotus,  Bary- 
phtlunyus,  Eumomotd)  are  converted  into  smallish  foramina. 

*  It  is  impossible  to  state  for  certain  how  far  anteriorly  the  maxillse  extend,  from 
a  study  of  the  adult  skull  only  ;  but  in  Todus  the  osseous  roof  of  the  mouth  is  incom- 
plete as  far  forwards  as  the  anterior  end  of  the  unusually  large  nares,  so  that  probably 
it  is  only  by  the  union  of  the  dentary  plates  of  the  prsemaxillae  that  it  is  completely 
ossified  here. 

t  Defining  as  "  dorsal"  all  those,  whether  ankylosed  to  the  sacrum  or  not,  that  bear 
ribs  united  directly  or  indirectly  with  the  sternum.  Those  that  precede,  whether  or 
not  bearing  ribs,  are  "  cervical ;  "  those  that  follow,  and  are  aukylosed  together,  are 
"  sacral,"  the  remainder  being  "  caudal." 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES.          351 

(8)  In  the  tendency  to  bifurcation  of  the  manubrium  sterni. 

(9)  In  possessing  8  sacral  and  7  caudal  vertebrae,  as  opposed  to  11 
and  6  in  the  Momotidae  *. 

(10)  In  the  oil-gland  having  a  large  tuft  of  plumes  on  its  apex,  this 
being  quite  or  almost  altogether  absent  in  the  Momotidaa. 

(11)  In  the  better  development  of  the  rictal  and  inandibular  vibrissae. 

(12)  In  the  ocreate  tarsus,  which  is  very  long,  whereas  in  the  Momo- 
tidaa  it  is  transversely  scutellated  and  short. 

(13)  In  the  much  greater  syndactylism  of  the  toes. 

(14)  In  the  less  development  of  the  outer  pectoral  branch  of  the 
inferior  tract,  which,  in  Momotus  at  least,  is  given  off  much  nearer  the 
anterior  margin  of  the  breast,  and  diverges  much  more  than  in  Todus. 

(15)  In  the  shape  of  the  tongue  in  the  Motmots,  apically  frayed-out 
and  brush-like,  and  with  the  lacerations  of  the  margin  directed  forwards, 
not  backwards. 

(16)  In  the  possession  of  large  and  well-developed  intestinal  caeca, 
these  being  completely  absent  in  all  the  Motmots. 

(17)  In  the  triangular  shape  of  the  obturator  internus,  this  in  the 
Motmots  being  oval. 

(18)  In  the  conformation  of  the  syrinx. 

Of  special  points  of  resemblance  between  Todies  and  Motmots  I  am 
unaware  of  any  that  can  be  considered  characteristic  of  these  two 
families  as  a  group,  the  points  in  which  they  do  approach  each  other 
being  equally  met  with,  in  other  allied  birds.  Thus  the  simple  dorsal 
tract  of  Todus  and  Momotus  reappears  in  Alcedo,  as  do  the  crenulated 
beak-margins  in  Merops"^.  Neither  is  the  termination  of  the  expansor 
secundariorum  muscle  on  the  teres  peculiar  to  the  two  groups  in  question, 
as  it  is  found,  as  already  observed,  in  some  Kingfishers,  as  well  as  in 
Steatornis. 

The  resemblance  between  the  termination  of  the  tensor  patagii  tendons 
in  the  two  families  is  perhaps  the  best-marked  feature  of  special  resem-  P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
blance ;  but,  as  already  pointed  out,  though  the  arrangement  is  similar,       p'  449' 
it  is  not  identical,  whilst,  on  the  other  hand,  that  characterizing  the 
Todies  could  easily  be  produced  by  a  slight  modification  of  that  found  in 
some  of  the  other  groups  of  Anomalogonatae. 

In  the  face,  then,  of  the  many  important  differences  that  exist  in  all 

*  In  all  the  Momotidse  I  have  examined  (including  the  genera  Momotus,  Bary- 
phthengus,  and  Hylomanes)  this  is  the  number  of  these  vertebrae,  the  total  being  37,  except 
Baryphthengus,  which  has  only  36,  by  the  reduction  of  its  dorsal  vertebras  to  4  (0.  15, 
D.  4,  S.  11,  Cd.  6=36).  Dr.  Murie,  after  stating  the  number  of  the  vertebras  in  the 
Motmots  to  be  36,  37,  or  38,  curiously  enough  gives  the  number  characteristic  of  Todus 
(35)  as  one  of  the  characters  of  his  group  "  Serratirostres,"  in  which  he  includes  the 
Motmots  (Ibis,  1872,  p.  410) ! 

t  As  already  pointed  out  by  Murie,  Ibis,  1872,  p.  398. 


352  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES. 

parts  of  the  structure  of  the  two  forms,  and  in  the  absence  of  any 
special  features  common  to  them,  I  cannot  agree  to  the  proposition 
that  the  Todies  are  more  closely  related  to  the  Motmots  than  to  any 
other  group. 

In  the  possession  of  caeca  and  in  the  conformation  of  their  pectoral 
tract  the  Todies  agree  with  all  Garrod's  "  Passeriformes,"  with  one  of 
the  families  of  which  indeed,  the  Galbulidse,  one  of  the  most  acute 
ornithologists  that  has  ever  lived,  the  late  Mr.  Blyth,  associated  them  as 
a  special  group,  "  Angulirostres  "  *.  On  the  other  hand,  in  possessing  a 
well-  developed  tuft  to  the  oil-gland,  the  Todies  differ  altogether  from 
the  Passeriform  series  of  Anomalogonatse.  Detailed  comparison  of  the 
structure  of  the  Todies  with  that  of  the  other  families  of  this  great 
group  is  unnecessary,  none  of  them  possessing  features  indicating  such 
affinities  to  the  former  as  to  render  probable  any  particular  genetic 
connexion  of  the  two. 

As  Dr.  Murie  has  already  remarked,  "  Todus  is  inconsistent  in  several 
respects  "  t,  a  truth  made  more  obvious  by  the  facts  above  recorded.  In 
the  possession  of  caeca  combined  with  the  tuft  to  the  oil-gland,  Todus 
presents  an  exception  to  Garrod's  definition  of  his  group  Anornalogonatse  J, 
though  it  agrees  with  all  of  them  in  the  absence  of  both  the  ambiens  and 
accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles.  Nevertheless  it  is  certain,  from  its 
characters  generally,  that  Todus  is  an  Anomalogonatous  bird,  though  its 
isolation  from  any  other  of  the  families  of  that  group  seems  to  me  to 
preclude  its  insertion  in  the  Piciformes,  Passeriformes,  or  Cypseliformes 
of  Garrod  §.  It  is  impossible,  I  think,  to  say  that  Todus  is  more  clearly 
related  to  any  of  the  Piciformes  than  it  is  to  the  Passeriformes  ;  and  to 
include  it  the  definitions  of  either  of  those  groups  wrould  have  to  be 
altered.  I  propose,  therefore,  to  create  a  group  of  equivalent  value  to 
those  just  named,  which  may  be  called  "  Todiformes,"  and  of  which 
Todus  is  the  sole  living  representative. 

Next,  as  to  the  meaning  of  these  facts.  I  think  few  ornithologists 
who  have  carefully  considered  the  question  can  doubt  that  the  "  Ano- 
malogonatae  "  of  Garrod  are  a  natural  group  of  birds  ||,  i.e.  one  descended 
from  a  common  ancestor.  On  this  view  this  ancestor  must  have  pos- 
sessed the  sum  of  the  characters  —  supposing,  unless  there  is  reason  for 
the  contrary,  that  the  latter  have  not  been  ^-developed,  and  excluding 
those  that  may  reasonably  be  supposed  to  be  adaptive,  or  more  recently 


*   Charlesworth's  Mag.  Nat.  Hist.  ii.  1838,  p.  361. 
t  P.  Z.S.  1872,  p.  678. 
J  P.  Z.  S.  1874,  p.  118  ;  Coll.  Papers,  p.  216. 
§  L.  c.  p.  222. 

II  It  is  nearly  certain  that  the  Ouculidae  and  Musophagid«e,  as  also  the  Psittacidte, 
are  in  no  way  related  to  the  other  so-called  Picarise. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TODIES.  353 

acquired — exhibited  by  its  existing  descendants.  As  most  of  the 
Anomalogonatae  possess  either  well-developed  caeca,  or  a  tufted  oil-gland, 
whilst  all  lack  the  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles,  it  may 
be  presumed  with  some  certainty  that  the  ancestor  of  the  group  generally 
possessed  both  well-developed  caeca  and  a  tuft  to  the  oil-gland — the 
first  having  disappeared  in  the  Piciforrnes,  the  latter  in  the  Passeriformes, 
and  both  in  the  highly  specialized  Cypseliformes :  at  the  same  time  it 
was  destitute  of  both  ambiens  and  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscles. 
The  existence  of  Todus  therefore  exactly  substantiates  what  might  have 
justly  been  inferred  a  priori  on  purely  theoretical  grounds ;  whilst  its 
insular  habitat,  the  small  number  of  species,  and  their  diminutive  size 
are  exactly  what  might  have  been  expected  of  a  very  ancient  and 
synthetic  form,  which  has  been  unable  to  hold  its  own,  on  the  larger 
areas,  with  more  lately  developed  and  highly  specialized  forms.  On  the 
other  hand,  it  is  not  to  be  expected,  on  the  doctrine  of  descent,  that  any 
living  form,  however  synthetic,  should  be  exactly  intermediate  between 
any  other  two  living  groups,  because  it  is  nearly  certain  to  have  been 
modified  in  some  points  pari  passu  with  those  forms  to  which  it  (or, 
rather,  its  ancestors  more  or  less  remote)  gave  origin.  There  are 
structures  in  other  families  of  the  Anomalogonatae — as,  e.  g.,  the  biceps- 
slip  of  the  Caprimulgidae,  the  glutens  quintus  of  the  Coliidse,  the  vomer 
and  the  glutens  primus  of  several — which  are  not  represented  at  all  in 
Todus.  These  may,  of  course,  have  been  independently  reacquired ; 
inasmuch  as,  however,  they  are  all  structures  met  with  in  the  Homalo- 
gonatous  birds — from  some  form  of  which  I  cannot  doubt  that  the 
Anomalogonatae  are  descended — it  is  more  probable  that  they  have  been 
inherited  directly  from  a  common  ancestor  which  possessed  these  along 
with  the  other  structural  characters  of  the  Anomalogonatae.  That  one 
or  more  of  such  structures  should  have  disappeared  in  Todus,  though 
present  in  the  hypothetical  common  ancestor,  is  in  no  way  surprising. 
I  submit,  in  conclusion,  therefore, 

(1)  That  Todus  is  a  much  isolated  form,  with  affinities  to  both  the 
Passeriformes  and  Piciformes  of  Garrod. 

(2)  That  it  cannot  be  substantiated  that  Todus  is  clearly  allied  to  any 
particular  living  form  of  these. 

(3)  That  this  view  may  be  most  correctly  expressed  by  making  a  group 
Todiformes,  equivalent  to  Passed-,  Pici-,  and  Cypseliformes,  for  the  sole 
reception  of  the  genus  Todus. 

(4)  That   in   all   probability   Todus,  though   in  some  respects  much 
modified  and  specialized,  represents  more  nearly  than  any  other  existing 
form  the  common  stock  from  which  all  the  living  groups  of  Anomalo- 
gonatous  birds  have  been  derived. 


354  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  AN  AUSTRALIAN  DUCK. 


.p.  z.  s.1882,       61.  NOTE  ON  SOME  POINTS  IN  THE  ANATOMY  OF 
P.  455.  AN  AUSTRALIAN  DUCK  (BIZIURA  LOBATA}* 

Two  male  specimens  of  Biziura  lobata,  the  first  the  Society  has  received, 
were  purchased  of  a  dealer  in  February  last ;  both  were  in  very  weak 
condition  when  received,  and,  unfortunately  not  recovering,  did  not  long 
survive.  The  trachea  of  this  bird  being,  so  far  as  I  know,  unknown,  I 
take  this  opportunity  of  describing  it,  as  well  as  of  adding  some  notes 
on  other  points  of  its  structure. 

The  trachea  is  of  nearly  uniform  calibre  throughout,  with  no  dilatation 
anywhere  in  its  course;  below  it  is  perhaps  a  little  narrowed  as  it 
approaches  the  bronchi,  but  in  no  degree  laterally  compressed,  as  it  is, 
e.  </.,  in  such  genera  as  Anser  or  Cereopsis.  There  is  no  syringeal  bulla 
formed  at  its  thoracic  end,  there  being  merely,  as  will  be  seen  from  the 
annexed  drawing  (fig.  1),  a  simple  ossified  box,  notched  in  front  and 

Fig.  1. 


Lower  part  of  the  trachea  of  Biziura  lobata. 

behind,  and  with  a  narrow  pessular  bar  below.  This  is  formed  by  the 
few  last  tracheal  and  early  bronchial  rings  co-ossified  together,  though 
not  equally  so  on  each  side,  or  before  and  behind.  The  four  or  five 
preceding  tracheal  rings  differ  from  those  higher  up  the  tube  in  being 
narrower  and  of  more  uniform  breadth  throughout,  not  being  notched 
and  incompletely  ossified  in  the  middle  line,  both  before  and  behind,  as 
these  are.  The  bronchi  are  quite  normal  in  structure,  being  non-dilated, 
and  with  partly  ossified  semirings  of  the  ordinary  form. 

In  the  non-development  of  a  bulla,  whether  osseous  or  partly  mem- 
branous, and  in  the  perfectly  simple  character  of  its  trachea,  Biziura 
differs  from  all  the  forms  of  ordinary  Ducks  known  to  me,  all  the  genera 

*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  455-458.     Eead  May  16,  1882. 


ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  AN  AUSTRALIAN  DUCK. 


355 


of  these  that  have  been  as  yet  examined  exhibiting,  in  the  male  sex, 
either  one  or  other  of  (or,  more  rarely,  both)  these  peculiarities.  The 
condition  of  the  male  Biziura  is  nearly  identical  with  that  found  in  the 
females  of  other  Ducks.  Very  probably  it  may  be  that  characteristic  of 
all  the  Erismaturinae,  of  which,  however,  only  Erismatura  rubida  has,  so 
far  as  I  know,  been  examined  as  regards  this  point.  In  that  species 

Fig.  2. 


P.  Z.  S.  1882, 
p.  456. 


Mouth  of  Biziura  lobata. 

the  syrinx,  judging  from  Macgillivray's  description  *,  is  quite  similar  to 
that  of  Biziura,  there  being  no  tympanum  whatever,  but  simply  a  long 
box  formed  of  several  rings  united. 

The  examination  of  these  two  specimens  has  revealed  a  feature  in 
them  very  unexpected  in  Ducks,  and  only  comparable  with  that  found  in 


*  Audubon,  Orn.  Biography,  iv.  p.  331. 


2*2 


356      ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  AN  AUSTRALIAN  DUCK. 

certain  Bustards.  This  is  the  possession  of  a  small,  but  distinct,  subgular 
P.  Z.  S.  1882,  pouch,  formed,  as  in  the  males  of  Otis  tarda,  by  the  duplicature  of  the 
p.  4o7.  frcenum  linguce  *.  On  opening  the  mouth,  the  tongue  being  forced  up 
against  the  roof  of  the  mouth  as  is  depicted  in  fig.  2,  there  is  seen  at  its 
base,  some  way  behind  the  level  of  the  basihyal,  a  small  circular  aperture, 
about  the  size  of  a  pea,  lying  between  the  two  folds  of  the  fr&num,  the 
left  of  which  is  much  stronger  and  better  developed  than  the  right. 
This  aperture  is  the  mouth  of  a  small  pouch,  almost  large  enough  to 
receive  the  end  of  the  little  finger,  which  extends  backwards  for  some 
little  distance  to  the  base  of  the  tongue,  its  breadth  being  nearly  as  great 
as  that  of  that  organ.  This  pouch  is  lined  by  mucous  membrane  of 
similar  character  to  that  found  over  the  adjacent  parts  of  the  mouth ;  its 
anterior  limit  extends  forwards  as  far  as  the  posterior  end  of  the  curious 
wattle  attached  to  the  lower  jaw  ;  but  there  is  no  connexion  between  the 
two,  the  wattle  being  merely  formed  by  a  fold  of  the.  integuments,  with 
no  cavity  contained  in  it. 

The  observations  hitherto  made  on  the  habits  of  Biziura  in  its  native 
state  fail  to  throw  any  light  on  the  use  or  raison  d'etre  of  this  curious 
structure,  though,  judging  from  analogy,  it  is  nearly  certain  that  it  is  in 
some  way  connected  with  display  during  sexual  excitement,  and  therefore 
confined,  as  we  know  the  wattle  is,  to  the  male  sex.  The  first  specimen 
I  examined  had,  I  may  remark,  the  pouch  less  developed  than  in  the 
second  one,  probably  an  older  bird.  It  is  not  improbable  that  further 
observations  may  show  that,  in  thoroughly  adult  and  breeding  birds,  this 
pouch  acquires  much  greater  dimensions  than  was  the  case  in  these  two 
specimens. 

As  regards  other  points,  Biziura  is  in  most  of  its  features  thoroughly 
Anatine.  The  tongue  is  quite  duck-like,  though  very  broad.  There  is 
a  well-developed  penis  of  the  peculiar  type  found  in  other  Anatiaaj. 
The  number  of  remiges  is  28,  of  which  ten  are,  as  usual,  primaries.  The 
pollex  bears  a  small  claw.  There  are  24  rectrices,  a  number  not  exceeded 
in  any  of  the  Anseres,  though  found  in  certain  Swans.  All  are  peculiarly 
stiff  and  curved,  with  flat  lamellar  rhachises.  The  caeca  are  long,  measuring 
6*75  and  7*75  inches  respectively  in  the  two  specimens.  The  ambieus 
muscle  is  large,  and  peculiar  in  that  its  tendon  perforates  the  large-sized 
triangular  patella,  just  as  it  does  in  Phalacrocorax  and  the  extinct  Hes- 
perornis. 

The  carina  sterni  is  shallow,  as  might  have  been  expected  in  a  bird 
with  such  weak  powers  of  flight  as  Biziura  has.  There  is  a  minor 
myological  peculiarity  in  the  hind  limb  of  Biziura,  such  as  I  have  not  yet 
observed  in  other  Anserine  birds.  In  all  these  the  flexor  longus  Jiallucis 


*  Murio,  P.  Z.  S.  1869,  p.  140;  and  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  245. 


ON  THE  GENUS  ORTHONYX.  357 

and  fltxor  profundus  diyitorum  blend  together  towards  the  lower  part  of 
the  tarso-metatarse,  a  comparatively  very  insignificant   tendinous  slip 
being  given  off  from  the  tendon  of  the  first-named  muscle  to  the  hallux 
before  it  blends  with  the  other  *.     In  Biziura  the  two  tendons  com- 
pletely blend,  but  the  small  tendinous  slip,  given  off,  as  usual,  before  they 
unite,  does  not  go  to  the  liallux  as  it  normally  does,  but  continues  down 
to  the  bottom  of  the  bone,  and  is  there  lost  on  one  of  the  annular  masses 
of  fibro-cartilage  surrounding  the  other  flexor  tendons.     The  flexor  brevis   p.z.  S.  1882, 
hallucis,  which  is  present,  though  small,  is  thus  the  only  functional  flexor       P-  468- 
of  that  digit. 


62.  CONTRIBUTIONS     TO     THE    ANATOMY    OF     PAS-  p.z. s.  1882, 
SERINE    BIRDS.— PART    V.f     ON   THE   STRUCTURE       P- 644 
OF  THE  GENUS  ORTHONYX. } 

THE  position  in  the  series  of  Passeres  of  the  genus  Orihonyx  has  for 
many  years  been  a  moot  point  with  ornithologists,  Johannes  Miiller 
having  long  ago  §  surmised  that  these  birds  might  be  tracheophonns,  and 
so  connected  with  the  Neotropical  DendrocolapticUe.  Some  recent  writers 
(e.  g.  G.  R.  Gray,  Bonaparte,  and  Salvador!)  have  placed  them  in,  or  in 
the  neighbourhood  of,  the  Menuridse ;  Sundevall,  on  the  other  hand  |J, 
assigns  them  a  position  amongst  his  Cichlomorpha3  Brevipennes. 

Up  to  the  present  time  the  formation  of  their  soft  parts,  and  particu- 
larly of  the  syrinx,  has  remained  unknown — a  deficiency  in  our  knowledge 
I  am  now  able  to  supply  by  my  dissection  of  both  the  Australian  and 
New-Zealand  forms.  For  my  specimens  of  the  former  (Orthonyx  spini- 
cauda)  I  am  indebted  to  the  kindness  of  Mr.  E.  P.  Ramsay,  of  the 
Australian  Museum  ;  for  a  pair  of  the  latter  (0.  ochrocephafa)  to  that  of 
my  friend  Prof.  Jeffery  Parker,  of  the  University  of  Otago. 

Both  forms  are  typical  Singing-birds  ("  Osciues  Normales  "),  with  a 
well-developed  Oscinine  syrinx  with  its  normal  complement  of  four  pairs 
of  muscles.  Of  these  the  short  anterior  muscle  ruus  to  the  anterior  end 
of  the  third  bronchial  semiring  alone  in  0.  spinicaiida ;  whilst  in 
0.  oclirocepliala  this  ring  receives  its  muscular  supply  from  a  fasciculus 
of  the  long  anterior  muscle.  They  thus  differ  essentially  from  Menura, 

*  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  pp.  203  and  293. 
t  For  Part  IV.  see  above  p.  217. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  544-546.     Read  June  6,  1882. 
§  In  1848.     Vide  '  Vocal  Organs  of  Passeres,'  Garrod's  edition,  p.  36. 
I   'Tentaraen,'  pp.  9  &  11. 


358  OX  THE  GENUS  ORTHONYX. 

with  which  they  have  been  associated,  that  bird  having  but  three  pairs  of 
muscles,  peculiarly  arranged  *. 

In  this,  as  in  all  other  points  examined — with  one  exception  in  the 
case  of  Orthonyx  spinicauda — these  birds  quite  resemble  the  normal 
Passeres,  as  they  do  in  having  the  bilaminate  tarsus  and  reduced  "first" 
(tenth)  primary  nearly  always  associated  with  the  normal  Acromyodian 
syrinx.  Orihonyx  spinicauda,  however,  has  a  peculiarity  quite  unknown 
to  me  in  any  other  bird,  inasmuch  as  its  carotid  artery,  the  left  alone  of 
these  vessels  (as  in  all  Passeres)  being  developed,  is  not  contained  any- 
where in  the  sub  vertebral  canal,  but  runs  up  superficially  in  company 
with  the  left  vagus  nerve  to  near  the  head,  where  it  bifurcates  in  the  usual 
manner.  This  is  just  the  same  arrangement  as  that  which  occurs  in 
many  of  the  Parrots — all  those  in  fact  included  in  Grarrod's  "  Psitta- 
cidaB"t, — save  that  in  them  the  right  carotid  artery  as  well  is  present, 
running  as  usual  in  the  hypapophysial  canal. 

P.  Z.  8.  1882,       In  Orthonyx  ochrocephala  the  left  carotid  retains  its  normal  situation, 
p.  545.          though  the  point  of  entrance  into  the  canal  is  somewhat  higher  up  than 
is  usual  in  other  Passeres. 

Examination  of  my  spirit-specimens  of  these  two  birds  has  convinced 
me  that  the  two  forms  are  not  really  congeneric,  the  New-Zealand  bird 
(0.  ochrocephala}  differing  from  the  Australian  in  its  more  slender  bill, 
less  development  of  the  nasal  operculum,  less  spiny  tail,  and  more  slender 
claws.  The  coloration  of  the  two  forms  is  quite  unlike  ;  whilst  internally 
the  skull  and  syrinx  exhibit  differences,  slight  in  amount,  but  greater 
than  those  usually  found  in  birds  of  the  same  genus.  Under  these  cir- 
cumstances it  seems  that  Clitonyx  of  Eeichenbach  $  will  be  the  correct 
generic  term  for  the  New-Zealand  birds,  as  Lesson's  name  Mohoua, 
though  of  prior  application  §,  is  not  only  barbarous  but,  what  is  more 
important,  liable  to  be  confounded  with  Mohoa,  also  a  genus  of  Passeres 
from  the  Pacific  Subregion. 

In  the  present  unsatisfactory  condition  of  the  systematic  grouping  of 
the  Oscinine  Passeres,  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  point  out  clearly  any 
definite  position  either  for  Orthonyx  or  Clitonyx,  though  both  forms 
might,  I  apprehend,  be  safely  placed  in  Mr.  Sharpe's  somewhat  vaguely- 
defined  "  Timeliida?." 

The  determination  of  the  not-intimate  relation  of  Orthonyx  to  Clitonyx 
is  a  point  of  some  importance,  from  its  bearing  on  the  question  of  the 
general  relationships  of  the  fauna  of  New  Zealand  to  that  of  Australia, 


*  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  pp.  362-364. 
t  Coll.  Papers,  p.  255. 
J  Handb.  Spec.  Ornitb.  p.  167  (1851). 
§  Hist.  Natur.  Oiseaux,  iii.  p.  139  (1837). 


ON  THE  RUDIMENTARY  HALLUX  OF  BIRDS.       359 

Orthonyx  having  been  sometimes  mentioned  as  one  of  the  few  peculiar 
Australian  genera  of  birds  also  represented  in  the  satellite  island  *. 

I  may  take  this  opportunity  of  stating  that  I  have,  in  the  course  of 
the  last  few  months,  been  enabled  to  examine  examples  of  several  genera 
of  Passeres  the  condition  of  the  syrinx  in  which  has  not  before,  I  believe, 
been  recorded.  These  include,  of  Old- World  forms,  Rimator,  Ptencedus, 
Sphenura,  Sphenostoma,  Climacteris,  Creadion,  Miro,  Certhiparus,  Petraeca, 
Entomyza,  Pomarea^PhcEornis^Falcunculus,  Nesocichla,  Nesospiza,  Cracticus; 
and  of  American  forms,  Chamcea,  Dulus,  Phainopepla,  Ptilogonys.  In  all 
these  genera  the  syrinx  is  perfectly  Oscinine,  as  indeed  was  to  be  expected 
from  the  external  structure  of  the  birds.  Johannes  Miiller  at  first  placed 
Ptiloyonys  amongst  the  Tyrannidae  t,  misled  by  the  slightly  aberrant 
structure  of  its  tarsus,  but  on  subsequently  examining  the  nearly  allied 
Myiadestes,  and  ascertaining  its  Osciniiie  nature,  concluded  that  Ptiloyonys 
too  would,  on  examination,  be  found  to  have  the  muscular  organs  of 
voiced,  a  surmise  the  correctness  of  which  is  now  demonstrated. 
Pttrceca  has  been  stated  by  Prof.  Parker  §  to  be  a  "  Tracheophone  "  p.  z.  S.  1882, 
(i.  e.  Mesomyodian),  having  "  the  muscles  of  lower  larynx  quite  indistinct."  P-  546- 
In  three  specimens,  however,  of  that  genus  examined  by  me  I  find  a 
perfectly  Oscinine  syrinx  with  its  muscles  as  well  developed  as  in  other 
birds  of  the  same  size.  Whether  the  statement  made  by  that  author  to 
the  same  effect  about  Sittella  is  accurate  still  remains  to  be  seen. 


63.  ON  THE  RUDIMENTARY  HALLUX  OF  BIRDS  ||. 

ME.  W.  A.  FORBES  exhibited  preparations  showing  the  rudimentary 
hallux  of  several  birds  commonly  described  as  three-toed,  and  made  the 
following  remarks  : — 

"  Whilst  engaged  in  working  out  my  *  Report  on  the  Anatomy  of  the 
Petrels '  for  the  '  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  Challenger,'  I  happened  to  come 
across  Dr.  Kidder's  note  H"  on  the  existence  of  a  rudimentary  external 
hallux  in  Phoebetria  fuliginosa,  a  bird  hitherto  supposed,  like  other 
Albatrosses,  to  lack  the  hind  toe  altogether.  Finding,  on  an  examination 
of  my  specimen,  his  remarks  correct,  I  proceeded  to  examine  examples 

*  Wallace,  '  Geogr.  Distribution  of  Animals,'  i.  p.  451 ;  but  see  also  « Island  Life,' 
p.  453,  footnote. 

t  Vocal  Organs  of  Passeres,  Garrod's  ed.  p.  41. 
J  i.e.  p.  61. 
§  Trans.  Z.  S.  ix.  p.  336. 
U  Proc.  Zool.  Soe.  1882,  pp.  548,  549. 
4  Bull.  U.S.  Nat.  Mus.  i.  p.  22. 


360  ON  THE  GENERA  XENICUS  AND  ACANTHIS1TTA. 

of  three  other  species  of  Albatrosses  that  I  had  in  the  flesh,  namely 
Diomedea  exulans,  D.  brachyura,  and  Thalassiarche  culminata.  In  all  of 
these  I  discovered  a  hallux  present,  though  in  a  most  rudimentary 
condition,  consisting  of  a  single  small  nodule  of  bone,  which  lies  altogether 
underneath  the  skin,  in  the  fibrous  subcutaneous  tissues,  and  only  appears 
externally  as  a  minute  pimple-like  elevation,  with  no  claw.  In  Phcebetria 
there  is  a  minute  claw  visible  externally,  whilst  internally  tivo  small  bony 
nodules  are  discernible,  representing  undoubtedly  the  metatarsal  element 
and  the  hallux,  which,  as  in  all  other  Tubinares,  is  reduced  to  a  single 
phalanx.  It  is  difficult  at  present  to  say  whether  the  single  nodule  of 
the  other  Albatrosses  represents  these  two  elements  fused  together,  or 
only  one  of  them  :  in  the  latter  case  it  is  probably  the  phalanx  itself  that 
is  wanting  *. 

"  The  discovery  of  the  rudimentary  hallux  in  the  Diomedeinae  has  led 
.  to  finding  a  similar  one  in  some  other  birds  usually  considered  to  be 
three-toed,  namely  the  Woodpeckers  of  the  genera  Pico'ides  and  Tiya. 
In  these  the  hallux  consists  of  its  normal  number  of  phalanges,  of 
minute  size,  as  is  also  the  metatarsal.  The  '  great  toe '  thus  formed 
lies  completely  under  the  skin,  and  is  only  discernible  on  reflecting  the 
integuments  carefully,  when  the  chain  of  minute  ossicles,  connected  to 
each  other  and  to  the  tarso-metatarse  by  fibrous  tissue,  appears. 

"  These  facts  render  it  not  improbable  that  a  similarly  reduced  hallux 
P  Z.  S.  1882,  may  really  exist  in  many  birds  commonly  described  as  three-toed.     On 
the  other  hand,  I  have  been  quite  unable  to  detect  even  a  trace  of  it  in 
some  such  birds,  as  e.  g.  Rhea,  Tetrax,  and  Pelecano'ides. 


P.Z.S.  1882,  64.  CONTRIBUTIONS    TO     THE    ANATOMY    OF    PAS- 

P.5C9.  SERINE    BIRDS.— PART     VI. f     ON    XENICUS   AND 

ACANTHISITTA    AS    TYPES    OF    A   NEW  FAMILY 

(XENICIDJS)  OF  MESOMYODIAN  PASSERES  FROM 

NEW  ZEALAND.J 

A  FEW  months  ago  I  received,  through  the  kindness  of  my  friend  Prof. 
Jeffery  Parker,  of  the  University  of  Otago,  New  Zealand,  a  small  col- 
lection of  birds  in  spirit  from  that  country,  which  included  most  of  the 
peculiar  forms  of  Passeres  found  there.  Amongst  them  were  single 
specimens  of  Xenicus  longipes  and  Acanthisitta  chloris,  the  examination 
of  which  has  proved  to  be  of  especial  interest. 

*  Cf.  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  '  Challenger : '   Report  on  the  Anatomy  of  the  Petrels, 
pp.  13,  14. 

t  For  Part  V.  see  above,  p.  357. 

\  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1882,  pp.  569-571.     Bead  June  20,  1882. 


ON  THE  GENERA  XENICUS  AND  ACANTHISITTA.  361 

The  genus  Xenicus  was  founded  by  the  late  Mr.  G.  It.  Gray  *  for  the 
reception  of  the  Motadlla  lonyipes  of  Gmelin  t,  Lafresnaye  having  some 
twenty  years  previously  established  Acanthisitta  for  Span-man's  Sitta 
chloris  +. 

Subsequent  ornithological  •  writers  have  pretty  unanimously  assigned 
both  these  forms  to  the  "  Certhiidae  "  or  their  immediate  neighbourhood, 
in  company  with  Sitta,  Sittella^  and  their  allies.  The  peculiar  structure 
of  the  tarsus  in  Xenicus  first  induced  me  to  examine  these  birds  more 
closely,  with  the  unexpected  result  that  I  find  that  the  two  genera  in 
question  are  true  Mesomyodian  forms,  and  therefore  in  no  intimate 
degree  related  to  such  Oscines  as  those  just  mentioned. 

The  subjoined  drawings  of  the  syrinx  of  Xenicus — with  which  in  all 
points  Acanthisitta  appears  to  agree  in  every  essential  respect — will 
show  that  it  has  none  of  the  complex  nature  of  that  organ  in  the  Oscines, 
the  thin  lateral  tracheal  muscle  terminating  on  the  upper  edge  of  a 
somewhat  osseous  box  formed  by  the  consolidation  of  the  last  few 
tracheal  rings,  and  there  being  no  other  intrinsic  syringeal  muscle  !*•  Z.  S.  1882, 
whatsoever.  The  box  has  a  well-developed  an tero -posterior  pessular  p< 
piece.  The  bronchial  rings  are  throughout  of  quite  simple  form,  and 
are  separated  by  but  narrow  intervals.  None  are  modified  in  form  to 
serve  for  the  insertion  of  a  vocal  muscle,  as  the  latter  terminates  higher 
up,  as  already  described,  on  the  tracheal  box,  and  therefore  quite  out  of 
the  region  of  the  bronchi. 

The  lateral  position  of  the  single  syringeal  muscle  is  that  characteristic 
of  all  the  Mesomyodian  Passeres,  though  in  most  of  these  it  terminates 
on  one  of  the  bronchial  rings,  and  not,  as  in  the  birds  under  consideration, 
oil  the  sides  of  the  trachea.  This  may  easily  be  seen  by  comparing  the 


Syrinx  of  Xenicus  longipes,  much  enlarged. 

A.  From  in  front.  B.  From  behind. 

m.  Lateral  tracheal  muscle. 

accompanying  figures   of  Xeniciis   with  the  beautiful   series   given   by 

*  Ibis,  1862,  p.  218.  t  Rev.  Mag.  Zool.  1842,  Ois.  pi.  ixvi. 

Mus.  Carls,  fasc.  2,  no.  33. 


362  ON  THE  GEXEKA  XENICUS  AND  ACANTHISITTA. 

Johannes  Muller  of  the  syrinx  of  many  of  the  Neotropical  Mesomyodi  *, 
with  those  of  G-arrod  of  Pitta  t,  or  my  own  of  Eurylcemus,  Cijmbirhynchus^ 
and  Philepitta  §.  In  fact  it  resembles  rather  that  of  Todus,  as  lately  descri- 
bed and  figured  by  myself  ||.  Externally  the  non-oscinine  nature  of  Xenicus 
and  Acanihisitta  is  at  once  proclaimed  by  the  structure  of  their  wings,  which 
have  a  "  first  "If  (tenth)  primary  nearly  as  long  as  the  preceding  one, 
and  by  the  non-bilaminate  tarsus.  The  latter  is  covered  almost  completely 
by  a  single  large  scute,  with  only  some  very  obsolete  traces  of  transverse 
division  below,  whilst  behind  its  edges  are  contiguous  for  the  greater 
length  of  the  tarsus,  leaving  only  small  areas  at  each  end  of  that  bone, 
which  are  covered  by  very  small  scutella  of  irregular  form.  The  digits 
are  slender  and  compressed,  the  foot  being  slightly  syndactyle  by  the 
union  of  the  fourth  toe  to  the  third  for  the  greater  part  of  its  two  most 
basal  joints.  The  tail  is  short  and  weak ;  and  there  are  only  ten 
rectrices  in  each  of  my  specimens.  As  there  is  no  evidence  of  a  pair 
P.  Z.  S.  1882,  more  having  been  present,  this  number  of  tail-feathers  must  be  considered 
to  be  that  normal  in  the  present  family,  twelve  being  that  universal,  with 
a  few  isolated  exceptions,  in  all  other  Passeres. 

In  all  other  points,  Xenicus  and  Acanthisitta  conform  to  the  general 
Passerine  type.  There  is  no  trace  of  a  plantar  vinculum.  The  tensor 
patagii  brevis  has  the  peculiar  arrangement  characterizing  the  Passeres, 
only  slightly  masked  by  the  muscular  fibres  somewhat  concealing  the 
two  superimposed  tendons,  as  is  frequently  the  case  in  the  short-and- 
rounded-winged  forms  of  the  group.  The  glutens  primus  is  well-developed. 
The  tongue  is  lanceolate  and  horny,  with  its  apex  somewhat  frayed  out 
and  its  base  spiny.  The  main  artery  of  the  leg  is  the  sciatic.  The 
sternum  has  a  single  pair  of  posterior  notches  and  a  bifid  manubrium. 
In  the  skull  the  nostrils  are  holorhinal,  the  vomer  broad  and  deeply 
emarginate  anteriorly,  the  maxillo-palatines  slender  and  recurved. 

As  regards  the  affinities  of  the  Xenicidfe,  the  "  haploophone  "  form  of 
their  syrinx,  combined  with  the  complete  loss  of  a  vinculum,  shows  that 
it  is  only  with  the  PipridaB  (including  the  Cotingidse),  Tyrannidse, 
Pittidae,  and  Philepittidae  that  they  can  be  compared.  From  all  of  these 
they  differ  markedly,  however,  in  the  number  of  rectrices,  the  ocreate 
tarsus,  and  the  nature  of  the  syrinx,  the  latter  never  having  the  form  of 
a  complete  bony  box,  and  never  lacking  a  bronchial  "  intrinsic  "  muscle 
in  any  of  the  families  just  enumerated.  The  Pittidse  they  approach 
somewhat  in  their  general  fades,  short  tail,  and  long  tarsus,  though  the 
tarsal  scutellation  is  different  in  the  two  forms. 

*  Vocal  Organs  of  Passeres :  Oarrod's  ed.,  Oxford,  1878. 
t  Coll.  Papers,  pi.  xxvi. 

|  Antea,  pp.  140,  141,  142.  §  Antea,  p.  146.  j|  Antea,  p.  347. 

^[  Sundevall  is  in  error  in  assigning  to  these  birds  only  nine  remiges  (Tentainen, 
p.  47). 


ON  THE  '  CHALLENGER'  PETRELS.  363 

The  Pittidae  are  also,  it  is  interestiug  to  note,  the  only  other  family 
of  Mesomyodian  Passeres  that  enters  the  Australian  region,  though  they 
have  not  extended  their  range  to  New  Zealand.  I  know  at  present  of 
no  other  Australian  Passerines  that  can  be  considered  allied  to  the 
Xenicidae  ;  nor  are  there  apparently  any  other  forms  than  the  two  here 
described  present  in  New  Zealand  itself,  Certhiparus  and  Miro  both  being, 
as  well  as  Clitonyx  *,  Oscines  of  the  normal  type. 


65.  REPORT  ON  THE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  PETRELS  Zool.  Chall. 
(TUBINARES)  COLLECTED  DURING  THE  VOYAGE  pt^p.  T 
OF  H.M.S.  'CHALLENGER.'f 

(Plates  XII.-XXIV.) 

I.  INTRODUCTORY. 

MATERIALS  for  the  knowledge  of  the  structure  of  the  soft  parts  of  the 
class  Aves,  when  the  members  of  that  group  indigenous  to  a  country 
have  been  examined,  are  for  the  most  part  only  to  be  obtained  through  the 
medium  of  zoological  gardens,  by  the  inhabitants  of  these,  on  their 
decease,  coming  into  the  hands  of  some  person  competent  to  examine 
them.  In  spite  of  the  increased  facilities  of  communication  of  the 
present  day,  and  the  greater  experience  of  those  in  charge  of  living  zoo- 
logical collections,  there  still  remain  many  groups  of  birds  which  as  yet 
it  has  been  found  impossible  to  obtain  or  keep  in  a  living  state.  Such 
birds  in  consequence  can  only  be  adequately  studied  from  spirit-speci- 
mens, and  these  also  it  is  frequently  very  difficult  to  obtain,  especially  if 
the  species  wanted  are  of  large  size,  or  inhabit  little-explored  and 
inaccessible  countries. 

*   Fide  antea,  p.  358. 

t  Report  on  the  Scientific  Results  of  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  '  Challenger'  during  the 
Years  1873-76  under  the  command  of  Captain  George  S.  Nares,  R.N.,  F.R.S.,  and 
Captain  Frank  Tourle  Thomson,  R.N.  Prepared  under  the  superintendence  of  the 
late  Sir  C.  WYVILLE  THOMSON,  Knt.,  F.R.S.,  &c.,  Regius  Professor  of  Natural  History 
in  the  University  of  Edinburgh,  Director  of  the  Civilian  Scientific  Staff  on  Board,  and 
now  of  JOHN  MURRAY,  F.R.S.E.,  one  of  the  Naturalists  of  the  Expedition.  Zoology  : 
vol.  iv.  pt.  xi.  pp.  1-64,  Pis.  I.-VII.  (1882). 

[NOTE.-- After  the  lamented  death  of  Professor  A.  H.  Garrod,  Mr.  W.  A.  Forbes 
was  induced  to  undertake  the  Anatomical  examination  of  the  Petrels  collected  during 
the  cruise  of  the  '  Challenger.'  The  result  of  Mr.  Forbes's  labours  is  given  in  the 
present  Report.  This  contribution  will  be  found  a  most  valuable  addition  to  the 
literature  on  this  remarkable  order  of  pelagic  birds. 

The  paper  was  received  on  the  6th  May,  1882.— JOHN  MURRAY.] 


364         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

The  group  of  PETRELS  is  one  that  has  till  the  present  been  hardly  at  all 
examined  anatomically,  as  but  few  species  inhabit  the  European  seas,  and 
even  these,  on  account  of  their  peculiar  habits,  are  rarely  to  be  obtained  in 
the  flesh,  either  in  a  living  or  dead  state.  The  majority  of  the  group, 
inhabiting  the  little- visited  oceans  and  islands  of  the  Southern  Hemi- 
sphere, have  been  known  simply  from  skins  or  skeletons,  the  great  size  of 
many  of  them  rendering  bringing  their  bodies  home  in  spirit  impracticable 
to  any  ordinary  collector.  Nor  have  we  as  yet  succeeded  in  obtaining  or 
keeping  any  in  a  living  state,  except  on  one  or  two  rare  occasions. 

When  therefore  H.M.S.  *  Challenger  '  was  starting  on  her  voyage  of 
Zool  Chall.  circumnavigation  it  seemed  that  an  excellent  opportunity  would  be 
Exp.  vol.  iv.  afforded  for  obtaining  material  to  fill  up  the  blank  that  thus  existed  in 
pt.  «•  p.  .  our  knowje(jge  of  the  Petrels.  At  the  suggestion  of  my  lamented  prede- 
cessor Prof.  A.  H.  Garrod,  at  that  time  Prosector  to  the  Zoological 
Society,  the  naturalist  staff  was  requested  to  pay  special  attention  to 
forming  a  collection  of  these  oceanic  birds  in  spirit,  so  as  to  be  available  for 
anatomical  examination.  The  result  was  a  very  considerable  collection 
indeed  of  the  birds  in  question,  all  excellently  preserved,  and  including 
nearly  all  the  most  important  and  interesting  of  the  known  genera. 
These  were  handed  over,  when  the  collections  were  being  broken  up  for 
working  out,  to  Professor  Garrod  for  examination.  Unfortunately  he 
had  hardly  commenced  to  work  seriously  on  them  before  he  was  struck 
down  by  the  lingering  illness  which  eventually  proved  fatal  to  him. 
During  that  time,  whenever  well  enough  to  do  so,  he  continued  to  work 
away  at  his  favourite  subject,  and  many  of  his  drawings  made  then, 
chiefly  relating  to  the  conformation  of  the  syrinx  in  these  birds,  are  now 
before  me.  An  unfinished  MS.  paper  of  his  written  about  that  time, 
treating  on  the  anatomy  of  the  Diving  Petrel  (Pelecano'ides) — a  form  the 
Procellarian  affinities  of  which  were  then  doubtful — was  sufficiently  com- 
plete and  important  to  justify,  in  the  writer's  opinion,  its  publication  in 
the  reprint  of  Professor  Garrod's  papers  which  has  since  been  edited  by 
him. 

Succeeding  to  Professor  Garrod's  position  at  the  Zoological  Gardens 
early  in  1880,  I  applied  immediately  to  the  late  Professor  Sir  Wyville 
Thomson  to  be  allowed  to  retain  so  much  of  the  material  collected  by  the 
*  Challenger '  as  was  likely  to  prove  of  service  to  me  in  my  researches 
on  the  anatomy  of  birds,  and  I  especially  asked  to  be  allowed  to  retain 
the  collection  of  Petrels,  with  the  object  of  drawing  up  a  report  thereon 
for  the  present  series  of  papers.  I  must  take  this  opportunity  to  record 
my  best  thanks  to  Sir  Wyville  Thomson  for  the  very  ready  way  in  which 
he  acceded  to  both  my  requests.  Having  commenced  work  on  the  speci- 
mens of  Petrels  collected  by  the '  Challenger '  it  seemed  desirable  to  make 
my  report  on  the  structure  of  that  group  as  perfect  and  complete  as 
possible,  and  during  the  past  two  years  I  have  therefore  taken  every 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER/ 
List  of  Material  Examined, 


365 


Name  of  Bird. 

Number  of 
Specimens. 

Remarks. 

OCEANITIDJ3. 

Oceanites  oceanicus 

3 

One  from  the  Smithsonian  Institution 

Garrodia  nereis    .       

4 

One   from   the   Godeffrov   Museum   in 

Pelagodroma  marina   

1 

Hamburg.     The  other  three  old  speci- 
mens from  the  Museum  of  the  Royal 
College  of  Surgeons. 

Fre^etta  grallaria  

2 

One  a  skinned  trunk. 

melanogastra   

2 

From  the  Godeffroy  Museum. 

PROCELLARIIDiE. 

Halocyptena  microsoma  
Procellaria  pelagica  . 

1 
3 

(I  must  thank  Mr.  Salvin  for  his  kind- 
ness in  allowing   me   to   dissect   his 
spirit-specimen  of  this  extremely  rare 
bird,  previously  only  known  from  the 
type   specimen   in    the   Smithsonian 
Institution.) 
Prosector's  stores 

Cymochorea  leucorrhoa  ..  . 

5 

Two,  one  a  chick  from  the  Smithsonian 

1 

Institution.     Three  from  Prosector's 
stores. 
O.  Salvin,  Esq. 

macgillivrayi 

1 

Received  from  Canon  Tristram  (skinned 

CEstrelata  mollis  ... 

1 

trunk  only). 
An  old  specimen  from  the  College  of 

lessoni           .    .. 

1 

Surgeons. 

sp.  inc  

1 

8 

All  young  (two  from  the  Transit  Expe- 

Majaqueus sequinoctialis  

3 

dition). 
One  young. 

Pufimus  obscurus  . 

4 

brevicauda 

3 

Pagodroma  nivea  .  . 

1 

Daption  capensis  

2 

One  from  the  Zoological  Society's  Gar- 

Aeipetes  *  antarcticus 

2 

Thalassoeca  glacialoide3   
Fulmarus  glacialis    

1 

2 

Zoolo^ical  Society's  Gardens 

Ossifraga  gigantea    . 

2 

One  a  nestling  from  the  Transit  Ext>e 

Prion  vittatus  .. 

1 

dition. 

banks!  

2 

One  from  Celebes  (O  Salvin  ESQ  ")  one 

desolatus  

4 

from  the  College  of  Surgeons. 
One  a  chick 

Pelecanoides  urinatrix  

7 

Two  young. 

Diomedea  brachyura    

2 

exulans 

2 

Thalassiarche  culminata  
Pbcebetria  fuliginosa   

1 
1 

A  nestling 

In  all  thirty-one  species,  represented  by  seventy-four  specimens  and  belonging  to 
twenty-two  different  genera.  Besides  the  above,  which  only  represent  entire  birds, 
there  were  a  number  of  separate  heads,  which  have  been  cleaned,  and  will  be  found 
enumerated  below  in  the  list  of  osteological  material  in  this  group  examined  by  me. 


Zool.  Ohall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  3. 


*  For  the  characters  of  this  new  genus  vide  infrh,  p.  426. 


366  ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

Zool.     Ohall.   opportunity  of  acquiring  specimens  of  them  fit  for  dissection.     By  these 
pt.  xi.  p.  2.    means  I  have  been  enabled  to  examine  several  species  and  genera  of  these 
birds  not  represented  in  the  '  Challenger '  collection,  though  that  collec- 
tion has  formed  the  groundwork  of  my  investigations. 

I  herewith  give  a  complete  list  (p.  365)  of  those  species  that  I  have  been 
enabled  to  examine  in  the  flesh.  All  not  otherwise  indicated  were  collected 
by  H.M.S.  *  Challenger.'  And  I  must  take  this  opportunity  io  thank  my 
friend  Mr.  Osbert  Salvin,  E.R.S.,  who  reported  on  the  collection  of 
Tubinares  made  in  skins  during  the  voyage*,  for  his  kind  assistance  in 
naming  the  spirit-specimens  under  my  charge,  as  well  as  for  much  subse- 
quent assistance  in  points  of  nomenclature,  and  for  valuable  material 
that  would  not  have  otherwise  been  available. 

Zool.     Chall.  II.  PREVIOUS  LITERATURE  ON  THE  ANATOMY  AND 

Exp.  vol.  iiv.  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  TUBINARES. 

pt.  xi.  p.  4. 

I  propose  under  this  head  to  briefly  notice  the  more  important  papers 
or  memoirs  that  have  appeared  dealing  with  the  structure  and  classifica- 
tion of  these  birds.  Titles  of  several  less  important  ones  not  mentioned 
here  may  be  found  duly  recorded  in  the  third  instalment  of  Dr.  Coues's 
'Ornithological  Biography 'f,  ProcellariidaB,  pp.  1021-1033. 

1826.  One  of  the  very  earliest  contributions  to  the  anatomy  of  the 
Petrels  we  owe  to  the  voyage  of  circumnavigation  made  by  the  '  Coquille.' 
G-arnot,  in  the  account  of  that  expedition  J,  gives  some  brief  anatomical 
notices  chiefly  relating  to  the  digestive  organs  of  several  Tubinares.  The 
species  dissected  are,  unfortunately,  not  referred  to  by  scientific  names, 
but  they  appear  to  be  Phoebetria  fuliginosa,  Thalassoeca  cjlacialoides,  a 
Prion,  Fregetta  melanogastra,  and  Pelecandides  urinatrix,  as  well  as  another 
species  I  cannot  determine  ("  Petrel  de  la  Mer  Pacifique  "). 

In  1827  L'Herminier  §  described  the  general  character  of  the  sternum 
of  the  Tubinares,  which  formed  his  twenty-eighth  family  of  birds,  and 
proposed  to  divide  the  group  up,  on  sternal  characters,  into  three  sections 
— (1)  the  smaller  Petrels  (Procellaria,  Cymochorea,  &c.)  with  the  posterior 
margin  of  the  sternum  more  or  less  entire ;  (2)  the  Albatrosses,  with 
the  sternum  with  two  large  and  shallow  excavations  posteriorly;  and 
(3)  the  Petrels  proper,  with  four  posterior  sternal  excavations.  As  regards 
the  general  position  of  the  group,  he  remarks : — "  Ces  oiseaux  .  .  .  par  la 

*  Zoology  of  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  '  Challenger,'  vol.  ii.  part  viii.  pp.  140-149 
(Report  on  the  Birds :  XI.  On  the  Procellariidae  collected  during  the  Expedition). 
Also  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1878,  pp.  735-740. 

t  Bull.  U.  S.  Geol.  Surv.  vol.  v.  No.  4  (Washington,  1880). 

J  Voyage  autour  de  la  Monde,  Zool.  torn.  i. :  Eecherches  anatoiniques  relatives  a 
divers  oiseaux  marins,  pp.  603-612. 

§  Recherches  sur  1'appareil  sternal  des  Oiseaux,  pp.  79-81,  vol.  iv.  (Paris,  1827). 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER/         367 

forme  de  Tappareil  sternal,  sont  intermediates  aux  mouettes  et  aux 
pelicans."  On  plate  iv.  of  the  plates  illustrating  his  memoir,  two  figures 
of  the  sternum  of  a  Puffinus  are  given. 

1838-39.  W.  Macgillivray,  in  Audubon's  «  Ornithological  Biography '  *, 
describes  and  figures  the  alimentary  canal  and  trachea  of  two  species  of 
Petrels,  namely,  Oceanites  oceanicus  (vol.  v.  pp.  645-646)  and  of  Procel- 
laria  pelagica  (vol.  iv.  pp.  313-315). 

In  the  second  part  of  the  same  author's  *  Manual  of  British  Orni- 
thology 't  are  given  a  few  notes  on  the  visceral  anatomy  of  the  British 
species  of  the  group. 

In  the  same  year  J.  E.  Brandt,  in  his  '  Beitrage  zur  Naturgeschichte 
der  Vogel'i,  called  attention  to  the  existence  of  a  peculiar  ossicle,  con- 
nected with  the  lachrymal  and  palatine  bones,  and  hence  called  "  ossiculum 
lacrymo-palatinum,"  which  he  had  discovered  in  many  of  the  Tubinares 
and  also  in  Fregata  aquila. 

1840.  It  is  to  Nitzsch,  perhaps  the  most  acute  and  original  ornitho- 
logist that  ever  lived,  that  we  are  indebted  for  nearly  our  whole  existing   Zool.     Chall. 
knowledge  of  the  important  subject  of  the  pterylosis  of  birds.     In  his         tX*xi       fT 
classical,  though  posthumous, '  Pterylographie,'  the  Nasutse  seu  Tubinares 
form  the  second  group  of  his  order  Natatores,  and  the  pterylosis  of  the 
group  is  described  at  some  length.     Further  details  of  Nitzsch's  observa- 
tions are  recorded  below  (ira/ra,  pp.  377-380)  in  the  space  devoted  to  the 
consideration  of  the  pterylographical  characters  of  these  birds.     So  far 
as  I  am  aware  nothing  else  was  contributed  by  Nitzsch  to  our  knowledge 
of  this  group. 

In  the  same  year  as  that  in  which  the  'Pterylographie 'appeared,  Rudolph 
Wagner,  a  disciple  of  Nitzsch's,  contributed  to  the  tenth  volume  of 
Naumann's  '  Vogel  Deutschlands '  §  some  remarks  on  the  anatomical  struc- 
ture of  three  genera  of  Tubinares  included  in  that  work,  namely,  Procel- 
laria,  Fulmarus,  and  Puffinus.  These  consisted  of  short  notes  on  the 
skeleton  and  the  thoracic  and  abdominal  viscera,  and,  as  far  as  they  go, 
are  accurate  enough.  The  general  similarit}7"  in  structure  of  the  members 
of  this  group  examined,  as  well  as  of  Diomedea,  is  noted,  as  well  as  many 
points  of  resemblance  to  the  Laridae,  and  particularly  Lestris. 

In  the  year  1844  MM.  Hombron  and  Jacquinot  communicated  to  the 
Academy  of  Sciences  in  Paris  a  paper  entitled  "  Remarques  sur  quelques 
points  de  Panatomie  et  de  la  physiologie  des  Procellaridees,  et  essai  d'une 
nouvelle  classification  de  ces  oiseaux."  An  abstract,  by  the  authors,  is 

*  Edinburgh,  1839. 
t  London,  1842,  pp.  258-264. 

\  Beitrage  zur  Kenntniss  der  Naturgeschichte  der  Vogel  (St.  Petersburg,  1839), 
pp.  4-9. 

§  Loc.  tit.  pp.  555-556,  587-588,  614-617. 


368  ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

published  in  the '  Com  ptes  Kendus '  for  that  year  *.  The  material  for  their 
paper  was  obtained,  I  may  remark,  during  the  expedition  of  the  French 
ships  '  Astrolabe  '  and  '  Zelee,'  commonly  known  as  the  'Voyage  au  Pole 
Sud.'  Basing  their  classification  on  the  form  and  structure  of  the  beak, 
palate,  and  tongue,  they  divide  up  the  group  as  follows  : — 

1.  Borders  of  mandibles  excavated  by  a  longitudinal  furrow  dividing 
them  into  inner  and  outer  cutting  surfaces.     Tongue  small,  one-third 
the  length  of  beak,  sagittate,  posteriorly  and  laterally  denticulate. 

Three  genera — Diomedea ;  Puffinus,  subdivided  into  Puffinus  proper 
(anglorum,obscurus,fuliginosus^,  &c.)  frndPriofinus  (cinereus,  cequinoctialis, 
arcticus  ?) ;  and  Thalassidroma  (pelagica,  leachii  [=  leucorrhoa'],  oceanica, 
fregetta  \_=grattaria~],  marina). 

2.  Edges  of  upper  mandible  with  transverse  lamellae.     Tongue  as  long 
as  the  beak,  large  and  thick,  only  free  at  the  apex. 

One  genus,  Prion,  divided  into  five  subgenera — Prion  5.5.,  Daption, 
Falmarus,  Ossifraga,  and  Priocella  (for  Priocella  garnoti=  TTialassoeca 
glacialoides  of  this  paper). 

3.  Mandibles  simple,   with   no    double    cutting-edges    or   transverse 
lamellae,  but  with  two  slight,  elongated  "  teeth  "  ;  palate  smooth  or  nearly 
so;  tongue  of  intermediate  length. 

One  genus,  Procettaria,  separated  into  two  groups,  one  with  the  beak 
quite  short  (nivea,  desolata,  brevirostris),  the  other  with  it  long  (antarctica, 
lessoni,  hcesitata,  Forst.  [?=Adamastor  cinereus^). 

Zool.      Chall.       These  points  are  illustrated  in  the  atlas  to  the  *  Voyage  au  Pole  Sud  ' 
pt.  xi.  p.  6.     (pl-  xxxii-)>  the  classification  adopted  being  explained  in  the  text  (vol.  iii. 
pp.  143-152)  published  some  years  later. 

The  genus  Pelecanoides  is  expressly  excluded  from  the  Petrels  by  these 
authors,  according  to  whom  it  is  closely  allied  to  the  Little  Auk  (Alle 
nigricans)  of  our  northern  seas. 

1849.  Gray  and  Mitchell,  in  the  *  Genera  of  Birds '  f,  make  the  Procel- 
lariidae  the  fourth  family  of  their  Anseres.  They  are  subdivided  into  the 
Diomedeinae  (of  one  genus)  and  the  Procellariinae,  of  which  latter  five 
genera  are  recognized  (Prion,  Pelecano'ides,  Procellaria,  Thalassidroma, 
and  Puffinus).  The  most  characteristic  generic  characters  of  these  are 
figured  on  plate  178. 

1857.  Bonaparte  in  his  '  Conspectus '  $  gives  a  list  of  the  then  known 
genera  and  species  of  the  Procellariidae,  which  he  divides  into  three  sub- 
families, Diomedeinse  (Diomedea),  Procellariinae,  and  Halodrominae.  The 
Procellariinse  again  are  divided  into  five  smaller  groups,  designated  by 
letters  as  follows  : — 

*  Loc.  cit.  torn,  xviii.  pp.  353-358. 

t  Loc.  cit.  iii.  pp.  646-650. 

\  Conspectus  generum  avium,  torn.  ii.  pp.  184-206. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  <  CHALLENGER.'  369 

A.  Fulmareae — 

Ossifraga,  Fulmarus,  Adamastor,  Daption. 

B.  (Estrelatese— 

(Estrelata,  Cookilaria,  Pterodroma,  Thalassceca,  Pagodroma. 

C.  PrioneaB — 

Priori,  Halobcena. 

D.  Procellarieae — 

"*  Unguibus  compressis" ;  Bulweria,  Oceanodroma,  Thalassidroma, 

Procellaria. 
u  **  Unguibus  depressis";  Fregetta,  Pelagodroma,  Oceanites. 

E.  Puffineae— 

Majaqueus,  Thiellus,  Nectris,  Puffinus. 

1866.  In  this  year  Dr.  Elliott  Coues  completed  his  Critical  Review  of 
the  family  Proeellariidas  commenced  in  1864  *. 

This  is  the  most  complete  account  yet  published  of  the  synonymy  and 
distribution  of  the  species  of  this  group,  which  is  divided  into  24  genera, 
containing  92  species  (17  of  these  being  doubtful).  Following  Bonaparte, 
the  same  three  subfamilies  are  adopted,  the  Procellariinae,  as  before, 
being  subdivided  into  five  groups. 

The  genera  composing  these  are  as  follows  : — 
Section  Procellariese — 

Oceanodroma,  Cymochorea,  Halocyptena  (gen.  nov.),  Procellaria, 

Oceanites,  Freyetta,  Pelagodroma. 
Section  PuffineaB — 

Majaqueus,  Adamastor,  Thiellus,  Nectris,  Piiffinus.  Exp.  vol.  ir. 

Section  (Estrelateze—  Pfc-  xi-  P-  7- 

(Estrelata,  Pagodroma,  Daption. 
Section  Prioneae — 

ffalobcena,  Pseudoprion,  Prion. 
Section  Fulmareae — 

Fulmarus,  Thalassceca,  Ossifraga. 

Although  the  names  of  these  five  sections  are  the  same  as  Bonaparte's, 
yet  the  genera  included  in  them  are,  it  will  be  seen,  different,  the  arrange- 
ment in  many  respects  being  more  natural. 

1867.  Eyton  in  his  '  Osteologia  Avium '  f  describes  briefly  some  of  the 
more  salient  features  of  the  osteology  of   Ossifraga  gigantea,  Diomedea 
exulans  and  fuliyinosa,  Puffinus  major  (and  another  undetermined  species), 
and  Thalassidroma  oceanica(=e?  Oceanites).    The  skeletons  of  the  Ossifraga, 
Diomedea  exulans,  and  Thalassidroma  are  figured,  with  details  of  some  of 
the  bones. 


*  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Philad.  1864,  pp.  72-91  (part  1),  and  pp.  116-144  (part  2) ; 
loc.  cit.  1866,  pp.  25-33  (part  3),  pp.  134-197  (parts  4  and  5). 
t  London,  1867,  pp.  221-225. 


370        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

The  same  year  witnessed  the  publication  of  M.  Alphonse  Milne- 
Edwards's  great  work  on  fossil  birds  *.  Pages  301-341  of  the  first  volume 
are  devoted  to  the  consideration  of  the  osteology  of  the  living  Longipennes, 
composed  of  the  Gulls  (Laridae)  and  Petrels  (Procellariidse).  The  Petrels 
are  considered  to  be,  as  regards  their  osteological  characters,  allied  most 
closely  to  the  Gulls,  with  some  resemblances  to  the  Steganopodes.  "  Par 
quelques-uns  de  leurs  caracteres,  les  Procellarides  se  lient  aux  Totipalmes. 
Ainsi  on  ne  peut  se  refuser  a  reconnaitre  une  grande  ressemblance  entre 
la  constitution  de  la  cbarpeute  osseuse  des  -Fregates,  des  Phaetons,  c'est- 
a-dire  des  Totipalmes  grand  voiliers,  et  celle  des  Petrels  ou  des  Puffins. 
Cette  analogic  a  d'ailleurs  ete  parfaitement  saisie  par  L'Herininier,  qui 
cependant  n'avait  etudie  que  la  conformation  de  1'appareil  sternal "  (loc. 
eit.  pp.  302,  303). 

A  complete  skeleton  of  Prion  vittatus  is  figured  on  plate  1.  fig.  1,  with 
numerous  details  of  the  bones  of  Puffinus  cinereus — skull  (pi.  xlix.  fig.  12), 
leg-bones  (pi.  li.),  pelvis  and  humerus  (pi.  lii.),  sternum  and  scapular  arch 
(pi.  liii.). 

Hydrornis  natator  (pp.  362-365,  pi.  Ivii.  figs.  18-22),  from  the  Miocene 
deposits  of  Langy,  is  perhaps  allied  to  the  Shearwaters  (Puffinus),  but 
the  remains  found  (a  tarso-metatarsus,  and  a  femur  of  doubtful  owner- 
ship) do  not  suffice  to  decide  the  point  certainly. 

Professor  Huxley  t  places  the  Petrels  with  the  Gulls,  Divers,  and  Auks 

Zool.      Chnll.  in  the  group  Cecomorphae  of  his  Schizognathous  series.     Eespecting  their 

Exp.  vol.  iv.  paiate  we  rea(j — «  The  Procellariidae  differ  from  the  families  which  have 

just  been  enumerated  (Gulls,  Divers,  Grebes,  Auks,  and  Penguins)  in  the 

great  expansion  of  the  maxillo-palatines,  which  become  thick  and  spongy, 

and  so  closely  approach  the  middle  line  that,  in  the  Albatrosses,  only  a 

very  narrow  cleft  is  left  on  each  side  of  the  vomer.     The  front  part  of  the 

vomer  itself  is  much  more  strongly  bent  downwards  than  in  the  Gulls  ; 

and  the  ascending  process  of  the  palatine  bone  is  greatly  produced,  and 

becomes  anchylosed  with  the  vomer.     Procellaria  gigas  [i.  e.  Ossifraga] 

holds  a  sort  of  intermediate  place  between  the  Gulls  and  the  Albatrosses, 

the  maxillo-palatines  being  less  swollen,  and  the  clefts  between  them  and 

the  vomer  far  larger  than  in  Diomedea.     In  this  species  again  the  basi- 

pterygoid  processes  are  present,  though  I  have  not  been  able  to  observe 

them  in  other  Procellariidse "  (loc.  cit.  pp.  430,  431).     [As  regards  this 

last  sentence,  as  will  be  seen  below,  such  basipterygoid  processes  are  the 

rule  and  not  the  exception  in  this  group.]     In  illustration  of  these 

remarks,  views  of  the   palate  of  "  Procellaria "  yiyantea  and  Diomedea 

exulam  are  given. 


*  Recherches  anatomiques  et  paleontologiques  pour  servir  a  1'histoire  des  oiseaux 
fossiles  de  la  France  (Paris,  1867-1868). 

t  "  On  the  Classification  of  Birds,"  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1867,  pp.  415-472. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  'CHALLENGER/  371 

Of  the  Cecomorphae,  "  the  Procellariidse  are  aberrant  forms,  inclining 
towards  the  Cormorants  and  Pelicans  amongst  the  Desmognathae  "  (loc. 
cit.  p.  458). 

1 871.  Gr.  E.  Gray,  in  the l  Hand-list  of  Birds  '  *,  places  the  Procellariidae 
between  the  Uriidae  and  the  Laridaa  in  his  order  Anseres.     They  are 
divided  into  three  subfamilies,  corresponding  to  those  already  adopted 
by  Bonaparte  and  Cones. 

J.  Eeinhardt,  in  the  same  year,  in  his  paper  on  the  "  Os  crochu,"  or 
uncinate  bone,  in  the  skull  of  birds  t,  records  its  presence  in  nearly  all  the 
genera  of  this  family  that  he  has  examined.  In  a  note  on  p.  339  he 
corrects  Professor  Huxley's  statement  as  to  the  usual  absence  of  basi- 
pterygoid  facets  in  the  Petrels,  such  being  only  absent  in  the  Albatrosses 
and  Procellariinae  ("  Stormsvalerne  "),  present  in  all  the  rest. 

1872.  Carl  T.  Sundevalli  makes  the  Tubinares  the  fourth  cohort  of 
his  order  Natatores.     He  adopts  the  same  three  subfamilies  as  Bonaparte, 
Coues,  and  Gray. 

1873.  Eeinhardt  describes  §  and  figures  two  peculiar  ossicles,  of  the 
nature  of  sesamoids,  developed  at  the  elbow-joint  of  these  birds  in  the 
tendon  of  origin  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  lonyior.     The  existence 
of  such  an  ossicle  in  the  genus  Puffinus  had  already  been  described  by 
Meckel  ||,  and  Eeinhardt  finds  two  similar  ones  developed  in  the  Alba- 
trosses, as   well  as  in  the  genera   (Estrelata,  Puffinus,  Majaqueus,  and 
Adamastor  of  the  Procellariinae.     In   (Estrelata  fuliyinosa  and  bulweri, 

Diomedea  chlororhyncha,  and  Phoebetria  fuliginosa,  he  states  that  the  Zool.  Chall. 
smaller  of  these  ossicles  is  wanting,  though  the  larger  is  still  developed.  Exp.  vol.  iv. 
In  a  table  he  proposes  the  annexed  classification  of  the  Procellariinae. 

I.  Wing-ossicles  present.     Twelve  rectrices. 

a.  Puffineae — 

(Estrelata,  Puffinus,  Majaqueus,  Adamastor. 
II.  Wing-ossicles  absent. 

First  primary  longest. 

More  than  twelve  rectrices. 

b.  Pulmareae — 

Ossifraga,  Fulmarus,  Daption. 


*  Loc.  cit.  vol.  iii.  p.  102. 

t  "Om  en  hidtil  ukjendt  Knogle  i  Hovedskallen  hos  Turakoerne  (Musophagides, 
Sundev.)  med  nogle  Beinaerkninger  om  de  lignende  Knogler  hos  andre  Fuglefamilier," 
Videnskab.  Medd.  Naturh.  For.  Kjobenhavri,  1871,  pp.  326-341,  pi.  vii. 

\  Method!  naturalis  avium  disponendarum  tentamen,  Stockholm,  1872,  pp.  140-143. 

§  "  Ora  Vingens  anatomiske  Bygning  hos  Storm  fugle- Familien  (Procellaridte  s. 
Tubinares),"  /.  c.  1873,  pp.  123-138 ;  also  Gervais's  Journal  de  Zoologie,  vol.  iii. 
pp.  139-144  (1874). 

|  Trait6  general,  &c.,  vol.  iii.  p.  144  (Paris,  1829). 

2x2 


372         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

Twelve  rectrices. 

Margin  of  beak  without  lamellae. 
Pagodroma. 

Beak  with  lamellae. 
e.  Prionese — 

Halobcena,  Prion. 
Second  primary  longest, 
d.  Proeellarieae — 

Procellaria,  Oceanites. 

A.  H.  Garrod,  in  the  same  year,  shows*  that  the  Petrels  being 
"  holorhinal "  must  be  separated  from  the  "  schizorhinal "  Laridse  and 
their  allies.  He  further  proposes  t  to  divide  the  Petrels  or  Nasutae  into 
two  groups,  the  "  Storm-Petre]s,"  with  a  formula  AB.XT  and  no  caeca, 
and  the  "  Fulmaridae,"  with  formula  AB.X  and  two  short  cseca.  Buliueria 
alone  has  a  formula  A.X,  and  is  therefore  quite  different  from  the  Storm- 
Petrels.  In  both  groups  the  great  pectoral  muscle  is  double,  as  in  many 
of  the  "  Ciconiif  ormes,"  and  there  are  two  carotids  +.  The  Nasutae  form 
the  second  cohort  of  his  "  Anseriform.es,"  consisting  of  them  and  of  the 
Anseree,  which  latter  include  the  Anatidae,  Spheniscidae,  Colynibidae,  and 
Podicipitidae. 

1876.  P.  Pavesi,  in  his  "Studi  anatomici  sopra  alcuni  uccelli"§,  has 
given  a  few  details  on  the  visceral  anatomy  of  Diomedea  exulans,  especi- 
ally as  regards  the  form  of  the  stomach  and  the  presence  of  spines  on 
the  laryngeal  eminence,  continuous  laterally  with  a  zone  of  similar 
papillae  developed  round  the  commencing  oesophagus. 

Zool.  Chall.  1879.  Dr.  Hans  Gadow,  in  his  paper  on  the  digestive  organs  of 
pt.xi.  p.  10.  bu'dsl),  describes  the  alimentary  viscera  of  the  Tubinares,  apparently 
based  upon  an  examination  of  the  four  genera  Puffinus,  Fulmarus, 
Procellaria,  and  Diomedea.  The  arrangement  of  the  intestinal  folds  is 
"  orthocoelic,"  the  intestine  being  disposed  in  eight  folds  lying  close  to 
and  parallel  with  each  other.  In  their  orthoccelic  character  the  Tubinares 


*  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1873,  p.  37;  Collected  Papers,  p.  128. 

t  Loc.  cit.  pp.  641  642;  1874,  p.  122;  Collected  Papers,  pp.  204  and  220,  221. 
The  passage  on  pp.  641,  642,  describing  the  muscles  of  the  Petrels,  is  unfortunately 
misprinted  in  the  original  paper.  It  is  given  in  a  corrected  form,  as  altered  by  the 
writer,  in  the  reprint  of  Professor  Garrod's  papers,  p.  204.  The  two  birds  called  in 
•Garrod's  text  Procellaria pelagica  (?)  and  Procellaria  fregata  (?),  the  "Storm-Petrels" 
on  which  his  observations  were  based,  were  probably  in  reality  Oceanites  oceanicus  and 
Oarrodia  nereis  (cf.  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  p.  736). 

\  Loc.  cit.  1873,  p.  470 ;  Collected  Papers,  p.  175. 

f  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  vol.  ix.  pp.  66-82. 

||  "Versuch  einer  vergleichenden  Anatomic  des  Verdauungssystems  der  Vo'gel,"  Jon. 
Zeitschr.  f.  Naturw.  Bel.  xiii.  (n.  F.  vi.)  pp.  92-171,  339-403,  pis.  iv.-ix.,  xvi. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         373 

agree  with  the  Steganopodes  and  Erodii,  differing  from  the  "  cyclocoelic  " 
Pelargi,  Eaptatores,  and  Laridse. 

1881.  In  a  posthumous   paper*,  published  in   the  "In  Memoriam" 
volume  of  his  works,  the   late   Professor  A.  H.  Garrod  describes  the 
anatomy  of  the  Diving  Petrel  (Ptlecanoides  urinatrix),  based  upon  an 
examination  of  specimens   collected  during   the  '  Challenger's '  voyage. 
Pelecandides  has  no  ambiens  muscle,  in  which  respect  it  differs  from  all 
the  other   true  Petrels,  and   resembles   Bulweria  alone  of   them  in  its 
formula  A.X.     The  main  vein  of  the  leg,  the  femoral  vein,  is  superficial 
to,  instead  of  deep   of,   the   tendon   of   the  femoro-caudal   muscle,  a 
peculiarity  hitherto  only  observed   in   the   genus   Dacelo   amongst   the 
Kingfishers.     "The  Procellariidaa  may  be  divided  into  the  Storm-Petrels 
or  Thalassidrominae,  and  the  true   Petrels  or  (Estrelatinae,  the  former 
differing  from   the   latter  in  possessing   the  accessory  Bemi-tendinosus 
muscle."      These  two   groups   therefore   correspond  to   those   already 
distinguished  by  Garrod  in  his  former   paper  as  the  "Storm-Petrels" 
and  the  Fulmaridse. 

As  regards  the  systematic  position  of  the  Petrels  it  is  said—"  I  may 
mention  that  since  writing  my  paper  '  On  Certain  Muscles  of  Birds,  and 
their  value  in  classification,'  I  have  changed  my  views  as  to  the  affinities 
of  the  Procellariidae.  In  that  communication  I  place  the  family  amongst 
the  Anseriformes ;  now  it  is  evident  to  me  that  it  is  with  the  Ciconii- 
forrnes  that  they  are  most  intimately  related.  E/eason  for  my  change  of 
opinion  will  be  found  in  what  here  follows."  Unfortunately  the  paper 
was  never  completed,  and  the  reasons  mentioned  not  stated  in 
consequence. 

In  a  paper  read  before  the  Zoological  Society  on  June  18th  of  the 
same  yearf  I  proposed  to  make  the  so-called  Procellaria  nereis  of  Gould, 
the  Procellaria  fregata  of  Professor  Garrod's  earlier  papers,  the  type  of 
a  genus  to  be  called  Garrodia,  it  being  not  a  true  Petrel  at  all,  but  one  of 
the  allied  group  without  caeca  and  with  a  formula  AB.XT,  the  Thalassi- 
drominaB  of  Garrod,  which  includes  besides  the  genera  Oceanites,  Fregetfa, 
and  Pelayodroma,  the  family  so  formed  constituting  my  Oceanitidse. 

1882.  Lastly,  in  the  concluding  part  of  the  Atlas  to  the  great  work 

on  Madagascar  J,  MM.  Grandidier  and  A.  Milne-Edwards  have  given  Zool.  Chall. 
figures  of  the  skeletons  and  separate  bones  of  Priori  vittatus,  Puffinus  Exp.  vol.  iv. 
chlororhynclius,  and  Thalassidroma  oceanica. 


*  85.  " Notes  on  the  Anatomy  of  Pelecanoides  (Puffinurid)  urinatrix"  loc.  cit. 
pp.  521,  522. 

t  Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1881,  pp.  735,  736. 

\  Histoire  physique,  naturelle  et  politique  de  Madagascar,  publie'e  par  Alfred 
Grandidier,  xv, ;  Histoire  naturelle  des  oiseaux,  x.  iv.,  Atlas  iii.  (Paris,  1881),  plates 
293,  294,  297,  298,  299,  300. 


374         ON  THE  PETKELS  COLLECTED  DUE1NG 

III.    COMPABATIVE  ANATOMY  OF  THE  TuBINABES. 

My  object  in  working  out  the  present  report  has  been,  not  to  produce 
a  detailed  description  of  the  structure  of  any  particular  Petrel,  but  to 
describe  the  most  important  deviations  from  the  ordinary  avian  type 
met  with  in  this  group,  and  to  compare  the  members  of  it  with  each 
other,  and  with  other  groups  of  birds,  in  those  points  of  their  structure 
in  which  experience  has  shown  birds  to  differ  from  each  other. 

Some  of  the  modifications  here  described  are  of  great  physiological  and 
morphological  interest,  whilst  the  numerous  differences  in  points  of 
detail  displayed  in  the  different  sections  and  genera  of  the  Tubinares 
lead  one  to  expect  that  the  future  study  of  systematic  ornithology  will 
be  not  a  little  elucidated  by  the  labours  of  the  anatomist,  wherever  he, 
as  in  the  present  case,  has  material  at  his  command  sufficient  for 
something  like  an  adequate  study  of  a  natural  group  on  the  basis  of 
structural  differences  more  important  than  those  that  can  be  discerned 
from  the  superficial  inspection  of  an  ordinary  skin. 

In  the  present  section  the  external  characters,  pterylosis,  and  visceral 
anatomy  are  first  described ;  these  are  succeeded  by  an  account  of  the 
myology,  to  which  follows  a  description  of  the  tracheal  structures,  and 
of  certain  other  points  in  the  anatomy  of  the  soft  parts.  An  account  of 
the  osteology  concludes  the  whole. 

1.  External  Characters  and  Pterylosis. 

There  are  some  points  in  the  external  characters  of  the  Tubinares  that 
may  be  noticed  here,  because  in  ordinary  skins  they  can  only  be  made  out 
with  difficulty,  owing  to  changes  and  distortion  in  the  process  of  drying*. 

The  order  Tubiuares  derives  its  name  from  the  character,  prevalent 
throughout  the  group,  of  the  external  nares,  which  are  prolonged  into  a 
more  or  less  lengthy  cylindrical  tube,  lying  usually  on  the  dorsal  surface 
of  the  beak,  and  opening  by  one  or  two  apertures  (cf.  figs.  1,  31,  and  32, 
infra,  pp.  375  and  432).  The  exact  disposition  and  degree  of  development 
of  these  tubes  vary  in  the  different  members  of  the  group. 

In  the  Oceanitidae,  and  the  smaller  species  of  Procellariidae  (belonging 

to  the  genera  Procellaria,  Cymochorea,  and  Halocyptena,},  the  nasal  tubes 

quite  coalesce,  lying  on  the  dorsal  surface  of  the  beak  for  about  its  basal 

Zool.     Chall.   half ;  the  tube  so  formed  rises  rather  abruptly  from  the  forehead,  and  is 

Exp.  vol.  iv.   truncated  anteriorly,  the  single  aperture  so  formed  looking  upwards  and 

forward  (vide  PI.  XII.  figs.  1-3,  PI.  XIII.  figs.  1-3).     In  the  Oceanitidse 

(e.  g.  PI.  XIII.  fig.  5)  the  aperture  viewed  from  in  front  is  nearly  circular, 

and  with  scarcely  any  appearance  of  a  median  septum.   In  the  Procellarian 

*  I  need  not  do  more  here  than  refer  to  the  peculiar  bill  of  the  Tubinares, — the 
peculiarity  arising  from  the  subdivision,  into  more  or  less  distinct  plates,  of  the 
corneous  covering  of  the  mandibles, — as  it  is  sufficiently  described  in  systematic  works 
on  ornithology. 


THE  VOYAGE  OP  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  375 

genera,  on  the  other  hand  (fig.  6),  the  aperture  is  more  oval  and  distinctly 
double,  owing  to  the  median  septum  (formed  by  the  coalesced  inner  walls 
of  the  narial  tubes)  being  much  less  deeply,  in  a  lateral  view,  excavated 
anteriorly,  and  so  appearing  to  a  greater  extent  superficially.  The  other 
Procellariinae  repeat  this  form  of  nostril,  though  the  septum  becomes 
much  thicker,  so  that  the  nostrils  open  in  them  by  two  perfectly  distinct 
apertures  (vide  fig.  4,  where  the  nostrils  of  Bulweria  are  shown).  They 
might  thus  be  said  to  be  **  platyrrhine,"  in  opposition  to  the  "  catarrhine" 
Oceanitidae  and  other  genera  already  mentioned.  It  is  in  Bulweria  and 
Majaqueus,  perhaps,  that  the  nasal  septum  is  broadest  and  most  super- 
ficial ;  in  Prion  it  is  well  developed;  in  the  remaining  genera  it  is  less 
near  the  external  opening,  but  always  quite  evident.  In  the  genus 
Puffinus  the  septum  is  also  broad,  but  the  narial  tubes  are  so  obliquely 
truncated  that  they  hardly  rise  above  the  lateral  outline  of  the  beak ; 
their  openings  are  ovals,  with  their  longer  axis  vertical  or  (Paffinus 
obscurus)  oblique  inwards. 

In  Pelecano'ides  the  nasal  tubes  are  short  and  swollen  externally ;  the 
septum  is  distinct,  but  not  broad ;  and  the  apertures,  which  are  sinuated 
ovals  directed  antero-posteriorly,  look  almost  vertically  upwards,  their 
lateral  outline  being  nearly  parallel  with  the  axis  of  the  upper  jaw. 

In  the  Diomedeinae  the  nasal  tubes  are  quite  separate  from  each  other, 
lying  just  at  the  lower  margin  of  the  "culminicorn."  They  are  usually 
described  as  tubes  with  a  distinct  circular  complete  aperture ;  but,  on 
looking  at  this  carefully,  there  may  be  seen  (vide  fig.  1)  in  front  and 


Fig.  1. 


Base  of  Beak  of  Diomcdea  exulans,  to  show  the  form  and  position  of  the  nostril. 

below  this  tubular  opening  a  deep  cavity  leading  bac-kwards  and  con- 
tinuous behind,  over  the  edge  of  the  apparent  outer  boundary  of  the 
aperture,  with  the  general  cavity  of  the  tube,  an  infolding  of  the  outer 
wall  of  the  latter  forming  the  apparent  outer  wall  of  the  tubular 
aperture. 


376         ON  THE  PETKELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

The  nasal  tubes  of  the  Petrels  are  formed,  it  may  be  observed,  by  the 
elongation  of  the  cartilaginous  walls  of  the  nasal  capsules.  The  upper 
and  lower  turbinal  cartilages  are  well  developed ;  the  alina&al  turbinal 
cartilage,  on  the  other  hand,  is  represented  only  by  a  slight  ingrowth  from 
the  internal  nasal  wall.  Such,  at  least,  is  the  condition  of  these  parts  in 
Majaqueus,  the  only  form  I  have  examined  as  regards  these  structures. 

The  legs  are  always  bare  of  feathers  for  some  little  distance  above  the 
tarsal  joint,  the  metatarsal  scutellation  extending  upwards  over  the  joint 
some  little  way,  but  disappearing  where  the  leg  is  covered  by  the 
feathers,  and  there  replaced  by  simple  skin. 

Zool.  Chall.  The  scutellation  of  the  tarsi  presents  different  characters  in  the 
t*Tu  13  Procellariidse  and  Oceaniticlao  respectively.  In  the  former,  in  all  the 
forms,  the  legs,  which  are  often  much  compressed  below  the  lower  limit 
of  feathering,  are  covered  pretty  uniformly  by  small  scutella  of  hexagonal 
shape  (vide  PL  XIII.  fig.  2,  a).  In  the  Oceanitidae,  on  the  other  hand, 
though  the  back  and  more  or  less  of  the  lateral  aspects  of  the  leg  are  so 
covered,  the  front  of  the  leg  is  either,  as  in  the  genera  Oceanites  (PL  XII. 
fig.  1,  a)  and  Fregetta  (PI.  XIII.  fig.  1,  a),  "  ocreate,*'  being  covered  for 
nearly  all  its  length  by  a  single  long  scute,  or,  as  in  Garrodia  and 
Pelagodroma  (PL  XII.  figs.  2,  a ;  3,  a),  has  a  series  of  strong,  well-marked, 
obliquely  transverse  scutella,  extending  on  to  the  external  and  internal 
faces  of  the  leg  for  some  distance. 

The  hallux  in  the  Tubinares  is  always  extremely  small,  and  in  the 
genus  Pelecandides  quite  absent.  When  present  it  consists  only  of  a 
single  joint  (vide  infra,  p.  425,  and  PL  XXII.  fig.  6),  which,  even  when  best 
developed,  is  very  small  and  covered  by  a  short,  nearly  straight,  spur-like 
claw,  which  projects  externally,  some  little  way  above  the  level  of  the 
other  digits,  and,  being  very  small,  may  easily  be  passed  over.  In  the 
Oceanitidae  this  nail  is  extremely  minute,  considerably  more  so  than  in 

Fig.  2. 
I  c  d 

* 


Rudimentary  Hallux  of  the  Albatrosses :  of  the  natural  size,  except  a. 

a.  PJuxbetriafuliginosa,  showing  the  two  ossicles,  connected  together  by  fibrous  tissue,  the 

distal  one  being  covered  by  a  minute  claw,  which  appears  outside  the  skin 
(represented  in  section). 

b.  Viomedea  exufans.        c.  Diomedva  brachyura.        d.   Thalassiarche  culminata. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  4  CHALLENGER.'  377 

the  Procellariidae  of  similar  size,  but  is  always  present  *  and  very  straight 
and  spur-like.  In  most  of  the  Procellariidae  it  is  larger  and  more  curved : 
it  is  best  developed  proportionately,  perhaps,  in  Pagodroma. 

In  the  Albatrosses  the  hind  toe  is  so  minute  that  these  birds  are 
usually  described  as  being  three-toed,  but  this  is  not  really  quite  correct. 
In  Phcebetria  the  hallux  externally  only  just  appears,  being  represented 
merely  by  a  slight  pimple-like  elevation,  with  a  very  minute  claw. 
On  dissecting  away  the  skin,  the  pimple  is  seen  to  be  connected  with 
two  minute  bony  nodules,  the  basal  one,  which  represents  the  metatarsal, 
more  globular,  the  apical  one  more  pointed  and  covered  by  the  minute 
claw.  They  are  only  connected  by  connective  and  fibrous  tissue  to  the 
tarso-metatarsus  t,  and  are  separated  from,  each  other  by  a  considerable 
interspace,  the  whole  having  a  total  extent  of  only  3  mm.  (vide  fig.  2,  a). 

In  Thalassiarche  (culminata)  and  Diomedea  (brachyura  and  exulans^thia 
hallux  is  still  more  rudimentary,  and  there  is  not  a  trace  of  a  nail  outside. 
Still,  on  careful  inspection,  there  is  a  slight  elevation  visible  on  the  area  Zool.  Chall 
usually  occupied  by  the  hallux,  and  on  dissecting  away  the  skin  a  single  t^^p  14 
minute  ossicle,  of  triangular  shape,  is  to  be  found  attached  to  the  tarso- 
metatarsus  and  surrounding  structures  by  fibrous  tissue.  This  single 
bone  probably  represents  the  metatarsal  element.  In  Diomedea  eoculans 
it  has  a  length  of  0'2  inch  (5  mm.) ;  in  the  other  two  species,  particularly 
in  ThalassiarcTie,  it  is  much  smaller,  not  exceeding  here  2  mm.  in  length 
(vide  figs.  b-d).  I  have  been  unable  to  find  it  at  all  in  Pelecano'ides,  even 
in  quite  young  birds. 

The  anterior  three  toes  are  well  developed,  and  are  completely  webbed, 
the  web,  however,  not  extending  to  the  hallux.  The  claws  are  well 
developed;  in  the  Procellariidaa  they  are  always  more  or  less  curved, 
compressed,  and  sharp-pointed  (vide  PL  XIII.  fig.  2,  b,  Procellaria  pelagica), 
whilst  in  the  OceanitidsB  they  become  lamellar,  depressed,  and  flattened, 
a  shape  that  attains  its  maximum  in  the  genus  Fregetta  (vide  figs.  1-4,  6). 
Hence  an  inspection  of  the  legs  alone  of  a  Petrel  will  show,  by  the 
character  of  the  tar  sal  scutellation  and  the  form  of  the  claws,  whether  it 
is  one  of  the  Oceanitidae  or  of  the  Procellariidae. 

Pterylosis. — The  pterylosis  of  this  group  seems  to  be,  on  the  whole, 
very  uniform  throughout,  both  in  the  form  of  the  tracts  and  the  structure 
of  the  feathers. 

The  number  of  rectrices  and  remiges  is  not  absolutely  constant 
however,  and  there  are  also  some  slight  differences  in  the  form  of  the 
dorsal  and  lumbar  tracts. 

*  Mr.  Dresser  erroneously  describes  it  as  wanting  in  Oceanites  (Birds  of  Europe, 
vol.  viii.  p.  503). 

t  The  existence  of  the  rudimentary  hallux  in  Pkoebetria  fuliginosa  was  first,  I  believe, 
pointed  out  by  Dr.  Kidder  in  his  account  of  the  birds  of  Kerguelen's  Land,  Bull.  IT.  S.  - 
Nat.  Mus.  vol.  i.  p.  22. 


378          ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

As  regards  the  number  of  rectrices  in  the  Tubinares,  twelve  is  the 
ordinary  number  in  both  families,  and  this  is  never  reduced  *,  and  only 
in  a  few  instances  exceeded.  Fulmarus  and  Daption  have  fourteen  tail- 
feathers,  as  already  pointed  out  by  Mtzsch,  and  the  same  is  the  case  in 
Thalassceca  ;  Ossifraga  has  as  many  as  sixteen.  Aeipetes  antarcticus  (in 
both  the  specimens  examined  by  me)  has,  on  the  other  hand,  unlike 
Thalassceca,  the  normal  number  of  twelve. 

The  number  of  primary  remiges  is  always  ten,  but  that  of  the 
secondaries  varies.  The  number  of  these  in  the  Oceanitidse  is  always  ten  ; 
in  the  ProcellariidaD  it  is  never,  even  in  the  smal]est  forms  (Pelecano'ides, 
Cymochorea,  Halocyptena,  Procellaria\  less  than  thirteen.  Bulweria  has 
twenty,  which  is  about  the  average  number  throughout  the  group, 
increasing,  however,  in  the  larger  forms  to  twenty-nine  (Ossifraga, 
Thalassiarche),  thirty  (Diomedea  brachyura),  and  even,  in  the  largest  of 
all,  Diomedea  exulans,  to  thirty-seven  f.  The  pollex  never  has  the  claw 
so  often  present  in  birds  on  that  digit. 

As  regards  the  distribution  of  the  tracts  of  contour-feathers,  I  may 
quote  Nitzsch's  general  description  (Pterylography,  Ray  Soc.  ed.  pp. 
143,  144)  :  —  "  In  this  family  the  tract-formation  of  Lestris  is  elevated 
into  the  type  of  a  group,  undergoing  scarcely  any  change  in  the  form  of 
the  inferior  tract,  but  showing  some  little  modification  in  the  dorsal 
Zool.  ChalL  tract.  We  find,  therefore,  on  the  head  a  uniformly  dense  plumage,  from 


Bzp.Yol.iY,  which  the  two  principal  tracts  issue.  The  latter  are  separated  from  each 
other  by  the  two  lateral  neck-spaces,  which  extend  high  up,  nearly  to 
the  head.  The  inferior  tract  is  divided  near  the  head,  becomes  of 
considerable  breadth  whilst  still  on  the  neck,  and  passes  in  this  condition 
on  to  the  breast,  the  surface  of  which  is  covered  by  each  band  in  a  rather 
broad,  parallel-sided  form,  emitting  no  branch  as  far  as  the  margin  of  the 
musculus  pectoraUs  major.  Here  it  is  divided  by  a  space  startiDg  f  rorn  the 
knee-covert  in  such  a  manner  that  a  short  continuation  of  the  tract, 
which  is  to  be  regarded  as  an  outer  branch,  passes  near  the  knee  into 
the  lateral  space  of  the  trunk,  runs  on  over  the  thigh,  and  soon  afterwards 
terminates.  The  other,  inner  branch,  which  represents  the  main  band? 
then  proceeds  on  the  belly,  turns  in  a  somewhat  arcuated  form  outwards, 
dilates  considerably  in  the  middle  of  the  bow,  and  terminates  near  the 
anus.  .  .  .  The  dorsal  tract  is  at  first  broad,  becomes  narrower  towards 
the  middle  of  the  neck,  then  expands  at  the  shoulder,  and  divides  at 
that  point,  or  from  the  middle  of  the  scapula,  into  two  limbs.  In  most 
of  the  Tubinares  these  limbs  pass  uninterruptedly  into  the  posterior  half 


*  Mtzsch  (Pterylogr.  Ray  Soc.  ed.  p.  141)  thought  that  the  smaller  species  of 
Petrels  had  but  ten  tail-feathers,  but  such  is  not  in  reality  the  case. 

t  Nitzsch  even  describes  the  species  as  having  as  many  as  forty  secondaries.  The 
total  alar  expanse  of  the  specimen  I  counted  this  number  in  was  9  feet  7*  inches. 


THE  VOYAGE  OP  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  379 

of  the  dorsal  tract ;  and  this  circumstance  forms  their  family  character 
as  distinguished  from  the  Longipennes.  In  the  present  group  the 
posterior  half  of  the  dorsal  tract  encloses  a  longitudinal  space  as  far  as  the 
caudal  pit,  dilates  a  little  outwardly  on  the  pelvis,  and  thus  usually  becomes 
united  with  the  very  oblique  lumbar  tracts,  and  grows  rather  strong  in 
the  simple  uropygial  band,  also  covering  the  base  of  the  oil-gland." 

Nitzsch  had  no  opportunity  of  examining  the  pterylosis  of  Pelecanoides, 
nor  any  of  the  Oceanitidse.  His  remarks  were  based  on  examination  of 
Fulmarus  glacialis,  Daption  capensis,  Ossifraga  gigantea,  Procellaria 
pdayica,  Halobcena  ccerulea,  Puffinus  obscurus,  and  Diomedea  evulans 
and  chlororhyncha.  Nitzsch  points  out  certain  peculiarities  in  the  latter 
genus,  the  most  important  of  these  being  the  division  of  the  dorsal 
tract  into  two  quite  separate  parts — an  anterior  stronger  part,  ending  in 
an  interscapular  fork,  and  a  posterior,  weaker,  dilated  part.  The  lumbar 
tracts  he  describes  as  weak  and  uniserial.  I  find  this  division  of  the 
dorsal  tract  to  hold  good  in  Diomedea  exulans  and  brachyura,  as  well  as 
in  Thalassiarche  culminata,  though  the  break  is  not  very  obvious,  and 
chiefly  marked  by  the  difference  in  strength  of  the  feathers.  In  a 
nestling  of  Phcebetria,  however,  there  is  no  such  break  apparent ;  though 
the  dorsal  tract  anteriorly  is  stronger,  it  passes  behind  into  the  posterior 
part,  and  the  same  condition,  as  is  pointed  out  by  Nitzsch,  obtains  in 
Ossifraga.  The  lumbar  tracts  also  can  hardly  be  strictly  described  as 
uniserial,  as  they  tend  to  coalesce,  by  rows  of  interposed  contour-feathers, 
with  the  external  borders  of  the  dorsal  tract,  no  very  obvious  demarcation 
separating  the  two. 

Pelecano'ides  and  the  Oceanitidse  quite  conform  to  the  general  type  of 
the  group,  and  indeed  the  only  at  all  obvious  difference  in  this,  beyond 
those   already  mentioned,  lies  in  the   greater   or   less   amount   of   the 
connection  between  the  lumbar  and  dorsal  tracts,  this  being  almost  nil 
in    Cymochorea  and  Procellaria,  and  considerable  in  the   larger   forms,   Zo0^      Chall. 
Majaqueus,  Puffinus,  &c.     The  knee-gap  may   become   so   deep   as   to       pt.  xi.  p.  16. 
completely  divide  the  inferior  tract  into  two  parts  below  (e.g.  Pelayodroma, 
Prion,  and,  according  to  Nitzsch,  Halobcena)  *. 

The  hypopterum  is  usually  well-developed,  with  long  feathers,  and 
the  humeral  tracts  are  very  strong  and  broad. 

The  contour-feathers  always  have  an  after-shaft,  though  in  the 
Diomedeinse  it  is  extremely  small,  most  so  in  Ditfmedea  exulans,  where  it 

*  Nitzsch  lays  some  stress  on  the  angle,  whether  acute  or  obtuse,  made  by  the  lumbar 
tracts  at  their  junction  with  the  dorsal;  but  the  difference  in  the  direction  of  the  two 
parts  is  not,  as  seen  in  entire  birds,  so  obvious  as  would  be  judged  from  Nitzsch's 
figures  (loc.  cit.  pi.  x.  figs.  2,  3),  which  were  probably  made  up  from  the  examination 
of  skins  only.  The  lumbar  tracts,  where  the  connecting  rows  of  feathers  are  best 
developed,  seem  always  to  run  outwards  and  backwards  from  the  dorsal  tracts,  as 
shown  in  his  figure  of  Puffinus  obscurus. 


380         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

is  reduced  to  a  short  tuft,  about  half  an  inch  long,  of  five  or  six  nearly- 
simple,  straight  plumes.  In  the  smaller  Albatrosses  it  is  larger,  and  in 
the  rest  of  the  group,  including  Pelecanoides,  it  is  of  good  size. 

All  the  forms  have  their  spaces  as  well  as  tracts  covered  by  down- 
feathers,  which  may  become  very  long  and  close-set,  especially  in 
Pagodroma. 

The  oil-gland  is  always  large,  globular,  with  its  surface  covered  above 
at  the  base — which  is  also  partly  covered  by  the  termination  of  the 
uropygial  band  of  the  dorsal  tract — by  scattered  semi-plumes,  and  with  a 
tubular  mamilla,  provided  with  a  good  tuft  of  down-feathers.  The  tuft 
and  gland  are  never  absent.  In  the  Oceanitidse  and  smaller  forms 
(Cymochorea,  &c.)  the  tuft  of  feathers  simply  encircles  the  apex  of  the 
gland,  but  in  the  larger  ones  it  sends  a  median  prolongation  across  it  as  well, 
so  as  to  divide  the  surface  of  the  mamilla  into  two  lateral  parts,  separated 
from  each  other  by  the  median  row  of  feathers,  and  each  with  its  opening 
or  openings.  The  number  of  these  varies  in  the  different  forms  of  the 
group,  as  already  indicated  by  Nitzsch  (loc.  cit.  p.  144).  Diomedea  exulans 
has  about  half  a  dozen  small  ones  in  each  half,  arranged  in  a  crescent. 
Diomedea  brachyura  and  Thalassiarclie  have  numerous  small  apertures 
opening  into  a  single  large  circular  common  opening.  The  Fulmars, 
except  Aeipetes,  have  several  apertures  in  each  half,  as  have  Daption 
and  Pagodroma,  Ossifraga  having  as  many  as  five.  Majaqueush&s  four  ; 
(Estrelata  three.  Aeipetes,  Pelecanoides,  Bulweria,  and  the  smaller 
Procellariidee,  as  well  as  the  Oceanitidae,  have  apparently  only  two  pores, 
one  in  each  half  of  the  gland. 

The  very  young  birds,  I  may  remark,  are,  in  all  the  species  I  have  seen, 
covered  with  a  thick  coating  of  fluffy  grey  down,  which  is  pushed  off  as 
usual  at  the  ends  of  the  contour-feathers  when  the  latter  appear.  There 
are  apparently  no  intermediate  changes  of  plumage,  the  first  plumage  of 
the  young  bird  being  similar  to  that  of  the  adult  *,  a  condition  of  things 
very  unlike  that  in  the  Gulls  (Laridse),  with  which  the  Tubinares  have  so 
often  been  associated.  Besides  the  long  down  on  the  tracts  corresponding 
to  the  future  tracts  of  contour-feathers,  the  young  birds  have  a  shorter 
downy  covering  distributed  pretty  uniformly,  as  in  the  adults,  over  the 
intervening  spaces,  and  between  the  feathers  of  the  tracts. 

Zool.      Chall.  2.  Alimentary  Canal  and  its  Appendages. 

pt.  xi.  p.  17.  The  Tubinares  as  a  group  agree  very  closely  together  in  the  form  of 
stomach  and  intestines  possessed  by  them,  which  have  peculiarities  not 
occurring  in  any  other  groups  of  birds,  and  it  is  only  in  the  variations  in 
form  and  structure  of  the  tongue,  in  the  nature  of  the  armature  of  the 

*  Diomedea  exulans  may  be  an  exception. 


THE  VOYAGE  OP  THE  '  CHALLENGER/        381 

mucous  membrane  of  the  mouth,  and  in  the  presence  or  absence  of 
CEeca  that  the  various  forms  differ  in  any  important  degree  from  each 
other. 

The  mucous  membrane  of  the  palate  usually  presents,  in  the  Tubinares, 
several  series  of  longitudinal  rows  of  pointed,  retroverted  papillae,  which 
no  doubt  serve  in  the  capture  and  retention  of  the  prey  by  these  birds. 
The  most  ordinary  arrangement  of  these  may  be  understood  from 
Plate  XIV.  fig.  3,  where  the  palate  of  (Estrelata  lessoni  is  represented. 

The  palate  is  cleft  for  about  half  its  length  by  a  narrow  median  fissure, 
fringed  on  each  side  by  a  row  of  small  spines,  which  dilates  behind  into 
the  opening  of  the  posterior  nares,  which  is  similarly  fringed.  Behind 
this,  separated  by  a  small  interval,  is  the  linear  median  aperture  of  the 
Eustachian  tubes.  Prom  the  anterior  extremity  of  the  median  fissure 
runs  forwards,  to  near  the  end  of  the  beak,  a  sharp  median  ridge,  with 
four  or  five  strong,  conical  spines  developed  on  it  posteriorly.  This 
ridge  is  separated  by  a  deep  groove  on  each  side  from  the  margins  of  the 
beak.  Along  a  line  corresponding  to  that  of  the  palatine  bones,  and 
extending  for  an  extent  equal  to  that^  of  the  median  fissure,  there  is 
developed  on  each  side  a  second  longitudinal  row  of  retroverted  and 
pointed  spines,  much  longer  and  stronger  than  the  more  median  series. 
In  front  of  the  posterior-narial  aperture  there  runs  between  the  two 
longitudinal  series  an  oblique  series  of  smaller  spines,  whilst  behind 
the  Eustachian  aperture  is  a  second  transverse  series,  concave  anteriorly. 

In  all  the  species  of  the  genera  (Estrelata,  Bulweria,  and  Majaqueus 
examined  by  me  the  same  condition  obtains,  the  larger  species,  however, 
as  that  figured,  frequently  developing  one  or  two  rows  of  smaller  spines 
lying  parallel  to  the  external  longitudinal  row,  one  outside,  and  the  other 
between  it  and  the  median  fissure.  Puffinus  is  similar,  but  the  anterior 
median  keel  is  smooth,  and  almost  without  spines,  and  the  palate  to  the 
sides  of  the  Eustachian  aperture  becomes  covered  with  small  spines. 

In  Cymochorea  and  Procellarla,  as  in  Halocyptena,  the  palate  is  much 
as  in  (Estrelata,  but  with  all  the  spines  smaller  and  feebler,  particularly 
those  on  the  palatal  ridge.  In  the  first  genus  at  least  the  prenarial 
ridge  is  nearly  smooth,  and  between  the  palatine  row  of  spines — only 
developed  posteriorly— and  the  median  a  stronger  row  is  developed,  so 
that  there  are  here  altogether  three  pairs  of  longitudinal  spines  above. 

In  the  Oceanitidse  the  palate  is  much  the  same,  but  the  palatine  row 
becomes  very  weak  and  nearly  obsolete,  whilst  the  intermediate  row  is 
the  strongest,  considerably,  of  all.     The  prenarial  ridge  may  be  slightly  Zool.      Chall. 
toothed  or  nearly  smooth :  it  always  ends,  however,  at  the  commencement      Exp.  vol.  iv. 
of  the  median  fissure,  in  a  slightly  raised  prominence,  divided  into  two 
lateral  parts,  in  a  way  not  seen  amongst  the  Procellariidge.      (Vide 
PI.  XIV.  fig.  6,  giving  an  enlarged  view  of  the  palate  of  Oceanites 
oceanicus.} 


382        ON  THE  PETEELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

Pagodroma  resembles  QSstrelata,  but  all  the  spines  have  become  much 
smaller  and  weaker,  and  this  is  still  more  the  case  in  Daption,  where  they 
have  almost  entirely  disappeared  save  round  the  posterior  nares.  The 
line  of  the  interior  margins  of  the  premaxillae  and  of  the  palatines  is 
marked  by  a  distinct  raised  ridge,  and  the  edges  of  the  upper  mandible, 
from  the  angle  of  the  mouth  as  far  forwards  as  the  dertrum,  are  marked 
by  a  series  of  slight,  closely-set,  raised  ridges,  oblique  forwards  and 
outwards.  It  is  by  a  great  development  of  these  that  the  peculiar  fringed 
bill  of  the  genus  Prion,  reminding  one  of  that  of  a  duck,  is  produced.  In 
Prion  (PI.  XIV.  fig.  5,  Prion  banJcsi)  the  palate  is  almost  smooth  through- 
out, with  the  exception  of  a  distinct  prenarial  ridge,  and  some  indications 
of  the  palatine  series  of  spines  posteriorly  (not  represented  in  the  figure) : 
the  median  fissure  and  narial  opening  are  however,  as  usual,  bounded  by 
small  spines.  From  a  point  corresponding  to  the  angle  of  the  niouth 
forwards  to  a  little  behind  where  the  dertrum  forms  the  cutting-edge  of 
the  bill,  the  margins  of  the  mouth  are  bounded  by  a  well-developed  fringe 
of  closely-set  lamellae,  reminding  one  much  of  the  plates  of  a  whale's 
baleen.  These  lamellae  are  developed  from  the  mucous  membrane  of  the 
mouth,  and  are  probably  entirely  epidermic  in  origin ;  in  the  cleaned 
skull  there  is  no  trace  of  their  presence  (vide  PL  XXII.  fig.  4).  They  are 
best  developed  a  little  way  in  front  of  their  posterior  termination  of  the 
fringe ;  here  the  lamellae  are  nearly  vertical  thin  plates,  set  on  at  right 
angles  to  the  axis  of  the  beak,  but  curved  both  forwards  and  outwards. 
Anteriorly  they  become  more  oblique  forwards,  and  much  shorter. 
Outside  of  them  the  cutting-edge  of  the  beak  is  produced  downwards  for 
a  little  way,  so  that  a  groove  is  formed  between  the  beak  and  the 
pectinated  fringe. 

When  the  lower  bill  is  in  position,  the  more  posterior  and  strongest 
of  the  lamellae  completely  occupy  the  slight  space  left  between  the 
cutting-edge  of  the  two  jaws,  lying  with  their  free  ends  curved  outwards 
in  a  slight  groove  outside  the  lower  mandible  formed  by  the  reflection 
from  it  of  the  feather-covered  skin.  Anteriorly  this  groove  disappears, 
and  the  fringe  simply  lies  against  the  outer  surface — which  is  quite 
smooth,  and  not,  like  that  of  the  duck  or  flamingo,  correspondingly 
grooved  for  the  reception  of  the  lamellae  of  the  fringe — of  the  lower  jaw, 
which  in  front  it  does  not  even  reach.  In  the  larger-billed  Prion 
vittatus  these  lamellae  are  even  more  developed,  whilst  in  the  smaller- 
billed  Prion  desolatus  they  are  less  so:  Prion  banlcsi  is  so  completely 
intermediate  in  this  respect  that  I  see  no  reason  for  the  adoption  of 

Zool.      Chall.   Dr.  Coues's  genus  Pseudoprion* '.     The  only  other  Petrel  in  which  the 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  19.   - 

*  Proc.  Ac.  Nat.  Sci.  Phil,  1866,  p.  164,  where  that  writer  has  also  described  the 
structure  of  these  fringes  at  length. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         383 

beak  is  fringed  in  a  way  similar  to  that  here  described  is  Halobwna 
ccerulea,  of  which,  however,  as  yet  I  have  been  unable  to  examine  more 
than  skins. 

The  existence  of  a  peculiar  fringe  of  lamellae  along  the  margin  of  the 
mouth  has  often  been  insisted  on  as  an  argument  for  placing  Phoenicopterus 
amongst  the  Lamellirostres  ;  but  the  development  of,  at  least,  a  very 
similar  arrangement  in  Priori  and  Halobcena,  birds  of  a  very  different 
group  again,  ought  to  show  that  an  adaptive  contrivance  of  this  kind 
may  be,  apparently,  independently  developed  without  great  difficulty,  and 
yet  with  many  features  of  common  resemblance,  in  different  birds 
without  necessitating  any  immediate  genetic  connection  between  its 
possessors. 

In  Falmarus  (PI.  XIY.  fig.  4)  a  rudimentary  fringe  of  the  upper 
mandible  is  present,  a  little  more  developed  than  in  Daption ;  in  other 
respects  it  conforms  to  the  type  of  GEstrelata,  the  spines,  however,  being 
very  small  and  rudimentary.  Ossifraga  is  similar  in  all  essential  points, 
but  the  palate  is  longer,  and,  at  least  in  young  birds,  more  spinulose.  In 
Aeipetes  and  Thalassoeca  the  pectination  of  the  mandible  can  only  just  be 
traced;  the  palate  is  much  longer  and  narrower  in  shape  than  in 
Fulmarus,  the  spines  smaller,  and  the  palatine  ridges  better  marked. 

In  Pelecanoides  (PL  XIV.  fig.  2)  the  palate  is  quite  smooth  throughout, 
with  no  ridges  or  spines,  except  on  the  area  round  the  posterior  nares, 
which  is  pretty  uniformly  covered  with  sharp  elongated  spines  of  fair  size. 
In  the  Diomedeinse  the  palate  is  comparatively  smooth.  There  is  a 
long  prenarial  ridge,  only  with  slight  indications  of  spines  at  its  most 
posterior  part.  The  spines  bounding  the  narial  and  Eustachian  apertures 
are  well-marked,  those  on  the  palate  small  and  best  developed  towards 
the  posterior  end  of  the  prominent  palatine  ridges.  Between  the  latter 
and  the  median  fissure  are  developed,  especially  in  Diomedea  exulans, 
additional  spines  of  small  size,  as  well  as  a  short  row  outside  their  most 
posterior  part.  Outside  the  tongue,  between  it  and  the  inner  margin  of 
the  jaws,  the  mucous  membrane  of  the  floor  of  the  mouth  has  on  each 
side  a  well-developed  series  of  stronger  spines. 

The  tongue,  as  may  be  seen  by  a  glance  at  Plate  XV.,  where  the  chief 
variations  of  its  form  are  represented,  is  by  no  means  constant  in  shape 
in  the  Tubinares. 

In  the  Oceanitidae  (vide  PI.  XV.  fig.  1,  Oceanites),  and  the  genera 
Cymochorea  (fig.  5),  Procellaria,  and  Halocyptena  of  the  Procellariidae,  the 
tongue  is  of  triangular  shape,  fairly  fleshy  basally,  but  tapering  and 
becoming  thinner  anteriorly,  its  extremity  being  pointed  and  more  or  less 
membranous,  so  as  to  easily  be  destroyed  by  rough  usage.  Its  posterior 
margin,  or  base,  is  somewhat  concave,  and  fringed  by  a  row  of  small 
retroverted  pointed  papillaB.  This  is  the  form  of  tongue  found,  more  or 
less  modified,  through  the  entire  group. 


384         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

In  (Estrelata  (PI.  XV.  fig.  12)*,  Majaqueus,  Bulweria,  and  Puffinus 

Zool.      Chall.   obscurus  the  tongue  becomes  more  fleshy,  and  slightly  grooved  above, 

ptTxi.  p.  20."  especially  anteriorly.     The  sides,  moreover,  are  edged  by  a  series  of  large 

triangular  backwardly  directed  papillae,  extending  forwards  for  about  the 

back  half  of  the  length  of  the  tongue,  but  in  Puffinus  to  nearly  its  apex. 

In  Puffinus  brevicauda  (fig.  14)  there  are,  in  addition,  four  longitudinal 

fairly  regular  rows  of  such  papillae  developed  on  its  dorsal  surface,  those 

nearest  the  middle  line  being  the  biggest. 

In  the  species  of  the  genus  Diomedea  (fig.  3)  the  tongue  is  also 
similarly  covered  above,  pretty  uniformly,  with  spines,  best  developed  on 
the  dorsum  a  little  behind  the  apex  of  the  organ,  but  is  much  shorter  in 
form,  being  of  an  elongated  cordate  shape.  In  Phcebetria  (fig.  4),  on  the 
other  hand,  the  tongue  is  much  more  pointed  and  elongated,  being  free 
for  about  its  apical  two  thirds,  and  with  the  dorsal  surface  glabrous,  the 
spines  being  confined  to  its  basal  margin.  In  a  nestling  of  this  species 
the  tongue  has  much  the  same  shape,  but  is  covered  for  the  greater  part 
of  its  extent  above  by  spines,  as  in  Diomedea :  these  must  therefore 
disappear  as  the  bird  reaches  maturity.  In  Thalassiarche  the  tongue  is 
somewhat  intermediate  in  shape,  though  most  resembling  that  of  Phcebetria. 
Pagodroma  (fig.  8)  has  a  very  elongated,  tapering  tongue,  with  its  base 
and  lateral  margins  for  about  their  posterior  quarter  spinulose.  The 
tongue  of  Daption  (fig.  7)  is  much  broader  and  more  fleshy ;  the  spines 
are  small,  and  almost  confined  to  its  base,  with  only  a  few  very  obsolete 
ones  towards  the  posterior  angles  laterally.  It  is  only  free  for  a  little 
more  than  a  quarter  of  its  length.  Prion  (fig.  10)  is  similar,  but  the 
tongue  is  more  fleshy,  and  the  spines  are  smaller  and  quite  confined  to 
the  base  ;  the  apex  is  also  only  free  for  a  very  small  extent.  In  Prion 
vittatus  the  tongue  becomes  extremely  large  and  fleshy,  occupying  the 
whole  of  the  wide  space  between  the  raini  of  the  mandible.  Aeipetes 
antarcticus  (fig.  6)  has  a  tongue  very  like  that  of  Pagodroma,  but  of 
course  larger  and  less  elongate :  that  of  Thalassoeca  glacialoides  is  very 
similar,  but  longer  a  little  than  that  of  Aeipetes.  In  all  these  forms  the 
tip  is  blunt  or  emarginate,  with  a  slight  dorsal  groove  apically.  Fulmarus 
has  a  more  fleshy  tongue  of  the  same  type,  with  a  distinctly  emarginate 
end,  and  a  more  evident  groove,  extending  for  two  fifths  of  its  length. 


*  I  have  figured  (fig.  13)  on  Plate  XY.  a  tongue  of  different  form  from  any  other 
known  to  me  as  occurring  in  the  group  of  Petrels.  It  has  been  labelled  "  (Estrelata 
brevirostris,"  but  does  not  agree  with  the  other  species  of  that  genus  (lessoni  and  mollis) 
examined  by  me  nor  with  any  of  my  young  specimens  of  the  so-called  (Estrelata 
brevirostris,  these  resembling  rather  the  species  just  named.  This  tongue  is  remarkable 
for  having  no  spines  laterally,  those  of  the  base  being  well  developed,  and  for  its 
narrow  and  deeply  grooved  form  and  slightly  emargiuate  tip.  In  spite  of  its  label,  it 
belongs,  I  strongly  suspect,  to  some  species  of  the  Laridic. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER.'      385 

In  Ossifraya  gigantea  (fig.  9)  the  tongue  is  very  elongated, — three 
inches  long, — and  narrow  proportionally.  Its  apex  is  slightly  emarginate, 
and  there  is  a  deep  groove  for  about  two  fifths  of  its  length,  and 
traceable  further  back  to  the  base  of  the  tongue.  The  base  has  a  fringe 
of  pointed  spines,  which  are  continued,  of  smaller  size,  along  the  lateral 
margin  for  some  way,  there  being  some  very  much  smaller  spines 
developed  inside  them  on  the  borders  of  the  tongue  for  about  an  inch, 
though  not  reaching  the  posterior  angles  of  the  organ  by  half  that 
extent. 

In  Pelecandides  (fig.  2)  the  tongue  is  fleshy,  and  fairly  parallel-sided,     ^° '   Tol&iy' 
tapering  apically.     It  is  but  little  free,  and  occupies  most  of  the  inter-     pt.  3d.  p.  21. 
space  between  the  mandibular  rami.     Its  base  is  notched,  and  provided 
with  some  largish  spines,  which  continue  forwards  for  about  the  basal 
half,  or  more,  of  the  lateral  margins.     On  the  dorsal  surface  there  is 
always  a  peculiar  lanceolate  mark,  apparently  due  to  a  difference  in  the 
nature  of  the  mucous  membrane  covering  the  tongue  over  this  area. 

The  oesophagus — which  in  the  Albatrosses,  as  already  described  by 
Pavesi,  may  be  surrounded  at  its  commencement  with  a  zone  of  spines, 
continuous  below  with  the  spines  covering  the  laryngeal  eminence — is 
always  capacious  and  distensile,  but  possesses  no  crop.  Inferiorly,  in 
the  thorax,  it  passes  without  any  marked  constriction  or  other  difference 
into  an  enormous  proventriculus,  which  is  a  thin- walled  bag,  reaching 
down  nearly  to  the  posterior  extremity  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  which  it 
largely  occupies,  lying  to  the  left  side  of  the  stomach  proper  and  the 
mass  of  the  intestines.  This  great  proveutricular  bag  is  twisted  back  on 
itself  apically,  and  then,  becoming'  slightly  narrower,  passes  by  a  small 
aperture  into  the  stomach  proper  or  gizzard.  This  aperture  is  therefore 
to  the  right  of,  and  anterior  to,  the  great  "  f undus,'"  which  lies  freely  in 
the  posterior  part  of  the  abdominal  cavity,  covering  there  the  terminal 
portion  of  the  intestine  and  cloaca.  Internally,  the  proventricular 
glands  are  seen  to  cover  pretty  uniformly  the  whole  surface  of  the 
mucous  membrane,  with  the  exception  of  a  more  or  less  narrow  zone 
which  lies  between  this  glandular  part  and  the  stomach  proper,  corre- 
sponding pretty  nearly  to  the  narrower,  ascending  part  of  the  bag  as  seen 
from  outside  (vide  PI.  XIY.  fig.  1  and  PL  XV.  fig.  15).  The  extent  of 
this  very  deep  "  zonarv  "  proventriculus  (pr.)  is  always  very  considerable 
in  the  Petrels,  being  of  course,  cwteris  paribus,  larger  in  the  larger  than 
in  the  smaller  species.  In  Majaqueus  its  ex'ent  is  4*0  indies;  in  Pele- 
canoides,  1/85  inches  ;  in  Fregetta  grallaria,  1*2  inches. 

The  stomach  proper  (</.)  is  always  small  and  more  or  less  globular, 
with  fairly  muscular  walls  and  provided  with  the  usual  central  tendinous 
sheets,  so  that  it  may  fairly  be  called  a  gizzard.  Its  situation  is  peculiar, 
lying  always  above  and  to  the  right  of  the  proventricular  fuudus,  and 
with  its  pyloric  part  so  flexed  on  itself  that  it  looks  backwards  instead 

2c 


386  OJST  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DUEING 

of  forwards  as  in  all  ordinary  birds  (vide  PL  XIV.  fig.  1  and  PL  XV. 
fig.  15),  in  this  respect  somewhat  resembling  the  stomach  of  Struthio. 
In  Struthio,  however,  the  pyloric  aperture  is  on  the  deep  (dorsal)  side  of 
the  stomach,  nearly  in  the  middle  line,  and  so  concealed  when  the  viscera 
are  viewed  from  the  abdominal  aspect.  In  the  Tutinares  the  pyloric 
aperture,  on  the  other  hand,  is  quite  superficial,  lying  at  the  inferior 
(posterior)  end  of  the  gizzard  in  the  angle  formed  by  the  two  parts  of 
the  bent  proveutriculus. 

The  gizzard,  which  is  nearly  always  found  full  of  the  horny  beaks  of 
Cephalopoda,  is  lined  internally  by  an  "  epithelium/'  which  is  usually 
dark  in  colour,  and  frequently  of  almost  corneous  texture,  with  a  more 
or  less  corrugated  or  wrinkled  free  surface  (vide  PL  XV.  fig.  16,  where 
Zool.  Chall.  the  epithelial  lining  of  the  everted  gizzard  of  Fulmarus  ylacialis  is 
ptX1xiV01 22  represented  *).  In  the  Oceanitidse  and  Diomedeinae  this  epithelium,  is 
softer  ;  its  character  in  other  Petrels  is  but  an  exaggeration  or  reproduc- 
tion of  that  existing  in  some  other  birds,  particularly  that  occurring  in 
such  Storks  as  Xenorhynchus. 

The  displacement  of  the  pyloric  orifice  of  the  gizzard  to  the  left 
necessitates  a  corresponding  change  in  the  commencing  duodenum,  so 
that  this  at  first  ascends  in  an  upward  curve  towards  the  right  before  it 
returns  to  form  the  backwardly-directed  loop,  characteristic  of  Aves  and 
Mammalia,  round  the  pancreas  (PL  XIV.  fig.  !,.£>•)• 

This  peculiar  upward  curve  of  the  commencing  duodenum,  the 
singularly  small  inverted  stomach,  and  enormously  deep  proventriculus 
are  all  peculiar,  so  far  as  I  am  aware,  to  the  group  of  Tubinares,  though 
universal  amongst  them,  and  no  other  bird  yet  examined  has,  so  far  as  I 
know,  a  similar  disposition  of  these  viscera  f . 

The  intestinal  caeca  are  entirely  absent  in  all  the  Oceanitidse,  but  are, 
with  one  exception,  present,  though  of  small  size,  in  the  Procellariidse. 
They  are  always  short  and  globular,  and  closely  connected  to  the  intes- 
tine, so  as  to  appear  as  mere  nipple-like  projections  from  it.  Plate  XIV. 

*  The  figure  of  Cams  and  Otto  (Tabulae,  Anat.  Comp.  Illustr.  part  4,  t.  vi.  figs.  15, 
16)  of  the  epithelium  of  the  gizzard  of  Fulmarus  glacialis  does  not  at  all  faithfully 
represent  what  I  have  seen  in  two  (quite  fresh)  specimens  of  that  bird,  nor  have  I  ever 
in  other  Petrels  seen  epithelium  of  such  a  corneous  and  paveinent-like  nature  as  that 
figured  by  them.  I  have,  therefore,  had  one  of  my  specimens  carefully  drawn  of  the 
natural  size.  In  this  place  it  will  be  well  to  recall  the  still  more  highly  developed 
gastric  epithelium  of  some  of  the  Fruit-Pigeons  (Phcenorhina  goliath  and  Carpophaga 
latrans)  described  by  Verreaux  and  Des  Murs,  Viallanea  and  Garrod  (vide  Report  on  the 
Birds  collected  during  the  Voyage  of  H.M.S.  Challenger,  in  the  years  1873-76,  Zool. 
Chall.  Exp.  pt.  viii.  pp.  152-154). 

t  The  description  of  these  parts  in  the  Little  Auk  (Alca  alle)  given  by  Professor 
Owen  (Anat.  Vert.  vol.  ii.  p.  163),  and  originally  due  to  Home  (Lect.  Comp.  Anatomy, 
i.  pp.  283,  284,  1814),  does  not  all  apply  to  that  bird  (cf.  the  figure  and  description 
given  by  Macgillivray  in  Audubon's  '  Ornithological  Biography,'  iv.  pp.  306-309),  and 
probably  refers  to  Borne  member  of  the  Tubinares. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 


387 


fig.  7  represents  those  of  Majaqueus  slightly  enlarged.  They  are  usually 
situated  quite  close  to  the  cloaca,  the  large  intestine  in  nearly  all  the 
Tubinares  being  quite  short ;  the  length  of  the  caeca  themselves  rarely 
exceeds  '25  inch,  except  in  the  very  largest  species  (vide  table  below). 
In  five  specimens  (one  a  nestling)  of  Cymochorea  leucorrhoa  that  I  have 
examined,  I  find  only  a  solitary  caecum,  lateral  in  position,  developed, 
owing  apparently  to  the  abortion  of  its  fellow.  As  Mr.  Swinhoe  in  his 
description  of  Cymochorea  monorhis  *  also  records  the  caecum  as  single, 
it  is  probable  that  the  existence  of  such  a  single  caacum  is  a  character  of 
the  genus  Cymochorea.  It  is  not  unusual,  I  may  observe,  in  a  group  of 
birds  in  which  the  caeca  are  of  small  size,  and  probably  of  no  physiological 
importance,  to  find  specimens  or  species  with  the  normal  number  of  caeca 
reduced  by  one.  I  may  give  as  instances  Mergus  albellus  (cf.  Hunter, 
Observ.  vol.  ii.  p.  325 ;  and  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  220)  amongst  the 
Anseres,  and  Plotus  anhinga  (Garrod,  1.  c.  p.  345)  amongst  the  Stegano- 
podes,  not  to  mention  all  the  Ardeidse  amongst  the  Herodiones.  In 
Halocyptena,  in  the  only  specimen  yet  examined,  I  could  find  no  trace 
of  any  caeca  at  all,  so  that  the  tendency  to  their  disappearance  already 
observable  in  Cymochorea  seems  here  to  have  progressed  further  still. 
The  intestines  are  not  capacious,  but  the  commencing  duodenum  may  be 
slightly  dilated. 

The  following  are  intestinal  measurements  : — 


Small 
Intestine. 

Large 
Intestine. 

C#ca. 

Total  length 
of  Intestine. 

10-0 

8-5 

13-0 

8-0 

Pelagodroma  marina      .     ... 

122 

Procellaria  pelagica  

8-0 

1-0 

•075 

Cymochorea  leucorrhoa  
Prion  desolatus     

9-9 
19-5 

•6 

•1 

• 

banksi   

17-0 

•25 

•2 

Daption  capensis 

33-0 

1-4 

(?} 

Thalassceca  glacialoides   
Aeipetes  antarcticus 

48-25 
50-2 

1-4 
1*2 

•2(> 
•3 

Ossifraga  gigantea    

94-0 

20 

•5 

Fulmarus  glacialis    

53-5 

1-5 

•25 

Puffinus  obscurus  

170 

•5 

•2 

—  —  anglorum 

23-0 

1*0 

brcvicauda 

240 

1-25 

•25 

Majaqueus  aequinoctialis  
CEstrelata  lessoni  

54-4 
42-0 

1-75 

•25 
•25 

• 

Bulweria  columbina             .. 

•25 

12-0 

Pelecanoides  urinatrix  (a)  ... 
urinatrix  (b}  

1H25 
15-0 

1-5 

•2 
•2 

Diomedea  exulans    .  .  . 

121-4 

4-0 

•8 

brachyura    

89-0 

2-0 

•3 

" 

Zool.  Ohall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xL  p.  23. 


*  Ibis,  1867,  p.  387.     I  have  examined  the  type  of  this  species,  which  is  now  in 
Mr.  Seebohm's  collection,  and  find  it  to  be  a  true  Cymochorea. 

2o2 


388         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

The  liver  is  usually  about  equilobed,  the  lobes  not  being  large,  and 
rather  triangular  in  shape.  In  the  Albatrosses,  however,  the  right  lobe 
becomes  elongated  and  distinctly  bigger.  The  gall-bladder,  developed  on 
the  right  hepatic  duct,  is  always  present  so  far  as  my  observations 
extend.  The  hepatic  ducts  (PL  XIV.  fig.  1,  rji.d.,  l.h.d.)  open  close 
together  into  the  ascending  arm  of  the  duodenal  loop,  close  to  the 
pancreatic  ones,  of  which  there  are  usually  two  or  three  in  Majaqueus. 
In  the  specimen  of  Tkalassceca  glacialoides  dissected  the  left  hepatic  duct 
divided,  soon  after  leaving  the  liver,  into  two  branches,  each  of  which 
opened  separately  into  the  duodenum,  so  that  altogether  this  received 
three  ducts  from  the  liver.  The  vitelline  rudiment  is  not  to  be  found  in 
the  adult  birds.  The  bursa  fabricii,  in  young  birds  at  least,  is  a  well- 
developed  large  sac,  with  thick  glandular  walls,  and  a  small  opening  into 
the  cloaca.  The  spleen  is  circular,  or  nearly  so. 

3.  Myology. 

The  myology  of  the  Tubinares  presents  many  features  of  interest,  as 

will  be  seen  from  the  following  description.     The  species  of  the  group, 

Zool.    Chall.   broadly  speaking,  resemble  each  other  very  much  in  the  details  of  their 

Exp.vol.iv.   muscular  structure,  though  in  the  fore  limb  the  structure  of  the  biceps 

and  the  termination  of  the  tensor  patagii  tendons,  and  in  the  hind  limb 

the  presence  or  absence  of  the  ambiens  and  the  accessories  to  the  femoro- 

caudal  and  semi-tendinosus,  present  characters  available  for  taxonomie 

purposes. 

Anterior  Extremity. 

Pectoralis  primus. — This  muscle  is  always  largely  developed  in  the 
Tubinares,  as  might  have  been  expected  from  their  great  powers  of  flight. 
It  is  peculiar  in  that  it  is  always  easily  divisible  into  two  quite  separate 
layers  superimposed  on  each  other,  besides  which  it  gives  off  thin  fan- 
like  cutaneous  branches.  A  similar  disposition  of  the  pectoralis  primus 
in  two  distinct  layers  is  very  characteristic  of  many  of  the  Ciconiiform 
birds  of  Garrod,  occurring  in  all  the  Storks  and  CathartidsB,  and  in 
Phaethon,  Freyata,  Plotus,  Sula,  and  Pelecanus  amongst  the  Steganopodes. 
A  tendency  to  a  similar  condition,  though  the  two  layers  are  only 
separable  with  difficulty,  may  be  seen  in  the  Ardeidse,  Falconidae,  and 
Scopus. 

The  superficial  layer  of  the  pectoralis  primus  arises  (vide  PI.  XVI.  figs.  1 
and  2,  p.  la)  from  the  posterior  and  lateral  margins  of  the  body  of  the 
sternum,  from  the  margin  of  the  sternal  carina,  and  from  the  inferior 
border  and  external  surface  of  the  clavicles.  In  the  latter  position  it  is 
divisible  into  two  layers,  one  arising  from  the  extreme  margin,  the  other 
And  deeper  from  the  surface,  of  those  bones.  The  common  insertion  into 
the  large  humeral  crest  is  very  tendinous  behind,  more  fleshy  anteriorly, 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER.'         389 

these  two  parts  being  somewhat  divided  by  the  thick  tendon  of  the  deep 
layer  of  the  muscle  (vide  PL  XVI.  fig.  I,  p.  la). 

The  deep  layer  of  the  pectoralis  primus  arises  chiefly  from  the  body 
and  keel  of  the  sternum  outside  the  origin  of  the  pectoralis  secundus — 
from  which  it  is  separated  by  a  strong  fascia — from  the  tip  of  the 
f  urcula,  and  from  the  fascia  over  the  second  pectoral,  especially  anteriorly, 
where  a  large  air-space  separates  these  two  muscles  in  the  interval 
between  the  furcula  and  coracoid  (PL  XVI.  figs.  1  and  2,  p.  16).  Its 
tendon  is  thin  anteriorly,  strong  and  cylindrical  posteriorly,  and  is 
inserted,  as  already  described,  between  the  two  parts  of  the  tendon  of 
the  superficial  layer  which  arches  over  it. 

The  muscle  is  perforated  a  little  anteriorly  to  its  posterior  border,  and  in 
front  of  the  strong  tendinous  band  dividing  it,  by  a  group  of  vessels  and 
nerves  destined  for  the  supply  of  the  muscles  and  skin  incumbent  on  it. 
The  most  posterior  of  its  fibres  do  not  apparently  join  the  main  tendon 
of  insertion,  but  are  lost  in  the  loose  fibrous  tissue  occupying  the  axillary 
region. 

There  is  a  large  cutaneous  branch  given  off  by  the  superficial  layer 
close  to  its  insertion,  which  runs  back  over  the  humerus,  and  is  distributed 
as  a  fan-shaped  expansion  to  the  outer  branch  of  the  pectoral  tract. 
Another  cutaneous  branch  comes  off  from  the  anterior  end  of  the  muscle   Zool.    Chall. 
on  the  breast  close  to  the  sympliysis  furculce,  and  goes  to  the  skin  of  the     Exp.  vol.  iv. 
lower  and  anterior  aspect  of  the  neck. 

Pectoralis  secundus. — This  muscle  is  also  well  developed,  but  though 
broad  is  usually  short,  extending  for  not  more  than  one  third,  one  half, 
or  sometimes  two  thirds  the  length  of  the  sternum.  In  Pelecano'ides, 
however,  it  is  much  longer,  extending  to  nearly  the  end  of  that  bone,  and 
in  Procellaria,  Garrodia,  Fregetta,  and  Pelagodroma  its  extent  is  nearly  as 
large,  in  which  cases  it  extends  beyond  the  posterior  margin  of  the  deep 
layer  of  the  first  pectoral. 

It  arises  from  the  antero-superior  part  of  the  carina  sterni,  and  from 
the  body  of  the  bone  external  to  that,  from  the  greater  part  of  the 
coraco-furcular  membrane  below  the  pectoralis  tertius,  from  the  symphysis 
furculce,  and  from  a  greater  or  less  extent  of  the  antero-inferior  border 
of  the  coracoid  bone.  Its  insertion  is  by  the  usual  tendon  on  the 
superior  aspect  of  the  humerus,  behind  the  much  smaller  tendon  of  the 
third  pectoral. 

In  the  Albatrosses  the  pectoralis  secundus  is  unusually  short,  and 
broken  up  into  four  quite  separate  parts,  which  unite  before  passing  the 
shoulder-pulley.  This  arrangement  is  clearly  shown  in  fig.  2  of  Plate 
XVI.,  representing  the  muscle  in  Diomedea  brachyura.  In  the  other 
Petrels,  the  muscle  is  much  more  homogeneous,  and  only  separable  by 
dissection  into  its  various  component  parts. 

Pectorali*  tertius. — This  muscle  (PL  XVI.  fig.  2,  p.  3)  is  always  well 


390  ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

developed  in  the  Tubinares,  in  the  form  of  a  broad,  thin  band,  more  or 
less  parallel  with  the  coracoid,  occupying  the  superior  half  of  the  broad 
space  between  that  bone  and  the  furcula,  its  fibres  arising  chiefly  from 
the  strong  membrane  between  these  bones,  sometimes  with  additions 
from  the  anterior  margin  of  the  coracoid,  or  from  the  body  of  the  sternum 
close  to  the  middle  line. 

Tensor  patagii  brevis  and  longus. — These  muscles  have  always  a  common, 
rather  thin  and  flat  fleshy  belly,  arising  from  the  extreme  upper  end  of 
the  clavicle,  and  receiving,  in  addition,  special  small  slips  from  the  sur- 
face of  the  great  pectoral.  From  this  fleshy  belly  spring  two  tendons, 
of  which  one  always  forms  the  marginal  patagial  tendon,  and  must 
therefore  be  considered  as  the  tensor  patagii  lonyus.  Both  the  tendons 
are  connected,  close  to  their  origin,  by  fibrous  slips  to  the  humeral  crest, 
from  which  indeed  they  might  be  said  to  arise,  receiving  then  the  main 
muscular  belly.  The  connection  of  the  marginal  tendon  with  the 
humerus  is  always  provided  with  a  small  tract  of  strong  elastic  tissue 
(vide  PL  XVIII.  fig.  3,  t.p.V.),  and  another  such  tract  of  longer  extent 
is  found  on  its  course  opposite  the  bend  of  the  elbow  (PL  XIX.  fig.  4 
and  PL  XVIII.  fig.  3). 

In  other  respects  the  development  and  distribution  of  these  tendons 
differs  much  in  different  groups  of  genera,  and  their  arrangement  will 
therefore  be  here  considered  seriatim. 

It  is  in  the  Oceanitidse  that  the  disposition  of  the  tendon  of  the  tensor 

patagii  brevis  (t.p.b.)  is  simplest,  it  here,  in  all  the  four  genera,  passing 

Zool.    Chall.   straight  downwards  as  a  thin  band,  parallel  to  the  humerus,  to  be  lost  on 

Exp.  vol.  iv.  ^Q  £ascia  C0vering  the  outer  side  of  the  forearm.     In  Procettaria,  Cymo- 

chorea,  Halocyptena,  and  Pelecano'ides  (vide  PL  XIX.  fig.  2)  it  is  nearly 

equally  simple,  but  as  it  passes  over  the  superficial  belly  of  the  extensor 

metacarpi  radialis  longior  (e.m.}  it  gives  off  to  it  a  small  tendinous  slip, 

which  lies  on  the  wristward  side  of  the  main  tendon. 

In  the  genus  Prion  (PL  XIX.  fig.  1)  the  condition  of  things  is  slightly 
more  complicated.  The  superficial  belly  of  the  extensor  m.r.l.  (e.m.)  is 
quite  tendinous  throughout,  with  no  fleshy  fibres  at  all;  where  the 
tensor  patagii  brevis  (t.p.b.)  crosses  it  the  two  tendons  are  firmly  fused 
together,  and  there  is  also  a  well-developed  wristward  slip  sent  off  from 
the  main  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  to  meet  the  extensor  tendon  beyond 
this  junction.  The  main  tensor  tendon  where  it  crosses  the  extensor 
muscle  is  quite  free  from  it  in  most  cases,  though  occasionally  a  few 
fleshy  fibres  may  arise  from  its  anterior  margin  to  join  the  deeper  belly 
of  the  extensor  m.r.l.  (e.m.}.  In  a  specimen  of  Prion  banJcsi  the  wrist- 
ward  slip  goes  mainly  to  the  deep  belly  of  the  extensor,  sending  off  a 
thin  band  to  the  more  superficial  one.  Erom  the  point  of  junction  of 
the  wristward  slip  with  the  extensor  tendon,  a  thin  fan-shaped  tendinous 
fascia  is  sometimes  sent  off  to  the  patagium  generally. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER.         391 

In  (Estrelata  brevirostris  (PI.  XIX.  fig.  3)  the  condition  of  things  is 
similar,  but  the  patagial  fan  is  more  strongly  developed,  and  the 
tendinous  superficial  part  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  is  split,  proximad  of 
the  extensor  patagii,  one  part  arising  superficially  to,  the  other  (e.m.*) 
deep  of,  the  prominent  supracondylar  humeral  process. 

In  the  genus  (Estrelata  proper — as  represented  by  (Estrelata  lessoni 
(PI.  XVIII.  fg.  1),  (Estrelata  mollis,  and  an  undetermined  species — the 
arrangement  differs  considerably  from  that  observed  in  (Estrelata  brevi- 
rostris  t.  The  tensor  patagii  brevis  tendon,  which  is  more  or  less  fused 
above  with  the  marginal  tensor  patagii  longus  tendon  (t.p.l.),  develops  at 
its  junction  with  the  superficial  tendon  of  origin  of  the  extensor  (e.m.') — 
this  being,  as  in  (Estrelata  brevirostris,  double — a  small,  elongated  ossicle 
(a)  from  which  arise  not  only  tendinous  fibres — some  of  which  form  a 
patagial  fan,  whilst  others  join  the  marginal  tendon  directly — but  also  a 
number  of  muscular  fibres  which  form  the  belly  of  the  superficial  part  of 
the  extensor.  The  tensor  patagii  brevis  continues  on  in  the  usual  manner 
to  the  ulnar  fascia.  No  bony  nodule,  it  is  to  be  observed,  is  found  in  the  Zool.  Chall. 

tendon  of  the  superficial  part  of  the  extensor  where  it  arises  from  the     Exp.  vol.  iv. 
.  pt.  xi.  p.  27. 

humerus. 

In  Majaqueus  (PI.  XVIII.  fig.  3),  Bvilweria,  and  Puffinus  the  tensor 
patagii  brevis  (t.p.b.)  tendon  is  not  fused  with  the  much  broader  and 
stronger  tensor  patagii  longus,  but  is  a  distinct,  very  slight,  slip,  lying 
between  this  and  the  humerus. 

At  the  elbow  it  joins  the  superficial  ossicle  (a),  developed  at  the 
junction  of  the  tensor  patagii  with  the  extensor  tendons.  In  Puffinus 
(brevicauda  and  obscurus)  this  thin  tensor  patagii  brevis  is  split  below  into 
two  slips,  one  joining  the  deeper  of  the  twin  tendons  of  origin  of  the 
superficial  extensor,  whilst  the  other  is  inserted  on  the  supracondylar 
process.  The  ossicle  is  larger  than  the  corresponding  one  of  (Estreltita, 
and  of  somewhat  smaller  form  ;  from  it  spring  both  tendinous  fibres  for 
the  patagial  tendon,  and  fleshy  fibres  for  the  superficial  belly  of  the 

t  The  condition  above  described  as  obtaining  in  (Esfrelata  brevirostris  was  exactly 
the  same  in  all  the  specimens,  eight  in  number,  dissected.  Unfortunately  all  these 
were  young  birds,  though  the  largest  must  nearly  have  attained  its  mature  plumage, 
and  was  probably  able  to  fly.  In  other  young  birds  in  the  group  that  I  have  examined 
the  disposition  of  these  elbow  tendons  is  always  exactly  the  same  as  in  the  adults,  and 
even  when  these  last  develop  ossicles  here,  such  ossicles  can  be  found,  in  a  cartilaginous 
condition,  in  quite  young  birds.  I  have  no  reason  therefore  to  suppose  that  the  differences 
described  here  as  existing  between  (Estrelata  brevirostris  and  the  other  species  of  that 
genus  are  due  to  any  difference  in  age. 

[P. S.— Since  the  above  was  written,  Mr.  R.  Ridgway  has  been  kind  enough  to 
examine,  at  my  suggestion,  the  skins  of  this  species  in  the  Smithsonian  Institution, 
and  finds,  as  he  informs  me,  no  difference  in  the  development  of  the  ossicle  between 
this  and  the  other  species  of  the  genus.  The  question,  therefore,  requires  further 
material  to  elucidate  it.] 


392         OX  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

extensor  (e.m.) ;  from  it  also,  or  from  the  fibres  of  the  last  muscle,  passes 
off  a  thin  tendinous  fasciculus  (f.)  to  the  ulnar  fascia.  Proxirnad  of  this 
larger  ossicle  is  a  smaller,  more  circular,  one  (a1),  which  is  developed  in 
the  more  supsrficial  of  the  twin  tendons  already  described  a  little  beyond 
its  origin,  where  it  plays  over  the  supracondylar  process.  This  second 
ossicle  is  very  small  in  Bulweria. 

In  the  genera  Pagodroma,  Daption,  Fulmarus,  Thalassceca,  Aeipetes, 
and  Ossifraga,  no  bony  nodules  are  developed,  but  the  arrangement  of 
these  tendons  at  the  elbow  becomes  very  complicated.  Their  arrangement 
in  Ossifraga,  with  which  the  others  are  almost  identical,  is  represented 
in  Plate  XVIII.  fig.  2. 

The  tensor  patagii  longus  (t.p.l.}  tendon  divides  near  the  elbow  into 
two  parts,  one  continuing  as  the  marginal  patagial  tendon,  provided 
with  the  usual  cushion  of  elastic  tissue  opposite  the  bend  of  the 
arm,  the  other  receiving  the  much  thinner  tensor  patagii  brevis  (t.p.b.}. 
The  united  tendon  so  formed  becomes  somewhat  diffused  distally,  and 
more  or  less  fused  with  the  superficial  tendon  of  origin  of  the  extensor 
melacarpi  radialis  longior  (e.m.\  from  which  it  is  continued  onwards  to 
the  ulnar  fascia  by  two  well-defined  bands.  Between  the  most  wrist- 
ward  of  these  and  the  marginal  tendon  of  the  patagi urn  there  is  developed 
a  narrow  vinculum. 

In  addition  to  this  the  main  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii,  which  has  a 
clear,  well-defined  edge  on  its  humeral  side,  where  it  crosses  the  extensor 
muscle,  sends  a  small  special  slip  of  tendon  (t.p  .)  to  the  deeper  of  the 
two  bellies  of  that  muscle. 

In  the  Diornedeinse  the  arrangement  (PI.  XIX.  fig.  4)  more  resembles 
that  of  the  Puffinese,  as  here  also  two  ossicles  are  developed  with  nearly 
the  same  relationships  to  their  surroundings  as  in  that  group.  The  tensor 
patagii  brevis  (t.p.b.)is  separate  from  the  tensor  patagii  longus  (t.p.l.)  till 
near  the  elbow,  the  marginal  tendon  of  the  latter  muscle  having  received, 
a  little  before,  the  very  long  and  thin  tendinous  biceps  slip  (6.5.). 

The  relations  of  the  ossicles  are  very  nearly  as  in  Majaqueus  (vide  the 
^ool.  Chall.  figures),  but  the  tendinous  band  to  the  ulnar  fascia — which  represents 
Exp.  Tol.^iv.  the  morphological  termination  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis — arises  in 
the  Albatrosses  nearer  the  middle  of  the  fibrous  tissue  lying  between 
the  two  ossicles.  As  in  the  (Estrelateae  and  Puffineae,  the  tendon 
of  origin  of  the  superficial  part  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  (e.m.)  is  double, 
and  in  the  figure  an  arrow  is  introduced  between  them  to  show  this 
double  nature.  The  proximal  and  smaller  of  these  two  ossicles  is  de- 
veloped, as  before,  in  the  more  superficial  of  these  twin  tendons.  The 
larger  of  the  two  ossicles  is  somewhat  different  in  shape  in  the  Alba- 
trosses and  Petrels,  being  more  hammer-shaped  in  the  latter  group  *. 

*  Cf.  also  the  figures  of  these  ossicles  given  by  Eeinhardt  (*.  c.,  p.  128). 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  393 

The  presence  of  these  peculiar  wing-ossicles  is  thus  confined  to  the 
Diomedeinae,  and  to  the  genera  Majaqueus,  Puffinus,  Bulweria,  and  (Estre- 
lata  (in  which  last  there  is  only  one),  and,  according  to  Reinhardt  (5.  c., 
p.  133),  Adamastor,  of  the  Procellariinae.  In  the  genus  Freyata  there  is 
a  similar  small  bony  nodule  developed  at  the  point  where,  as  in  the 
Petrels,  the  inner  part  of  the  tensor  patayii  lonyus  tendon  meets  the 
tendon  of  the  superficial  belly  of  the  extensor  metacarpi,  and  from  it 
radiate  out  tendinous  fibres  to  the  patagial  margin.  1  have  observed 
similar  ossicles,  developed  at  points  of  intermittent  straining,  in  several 
other  birds,  as  Larus  aryentatus  and  ylaucus,  Fratercula  arctica,  and 
Merops. 

These  bones  must  be  considered  to  be  of  the  nature  of  sesamoids, 
which,  as  is  well  known,  are  often  developed  in  the  tendons  of  muscles 
at  the  points  of  greatest  strain.  Their  occurrence  therefore  in  different 
groups  of  birds  is  by  no  means  a  proof  of  any  genetic  connection  be- 
tween such. 

Biceps — This  muscle,  in  all  Tubinares,  is  remarkable  for  its  excessive 
reduction,  the  muscular  bellies  being  small  and  short,  and  the  tendon 
of  insertion  excessively  narrow  and  thin  (vide  PI.  XIX.  figs.  1,  2,  and 
PI.  XVII.  fig.  1,6). 

It  is  best  developed  perhaps  in  the  Diomedeinae,  where  as  usual  it 
arises  by  two  heads,  a  coracoid  and  humeral  (vide  PL  XVII.  fig.  3,o.,  Ji.\ 
both,  however,  being  largely  tendinous,  and  soon  uniting.  From  the 
coracoid  head  is  given  off  a  very  narrow  slip,  chiefly  tendinous,  with  a 
few  fleshy  fibres  only,  which  runs  down  in  the  patagium,  and  joins  the 
margin  of  the  patagium  formed  by  the  tensor  patayii  lonyus  close  to  the 
elbow  (PL  XVII.  fig.  3,  and  PL  XIX.  fig.  4,  &.«.). 

In  the  Oceanitidas  the  biceps  muscle  is  very  slender.  It  has  the  two 
usual  heads  of  origin,  the  tendons  of  these  being  often  closelv  uni'ed 
together  by  fibrous  tissue,  and  ending  in  a  small  short,  common  belly. 
This  apparently  gives  off  no  "  biceps-slip  "  at  all  *. 

In  nearly  all  the  other  Procellariidae,  including  Pelecanoides,  the  biceps   Zool.    Chall. 
becomes  modified  in  a  peculiarly  interesting  way.     The  coracoid  head     Exp.vol.  iv. 
alone   forms    the  muscle  proper,  whilst   the   humeral  head,    becoming 
detached  from  the  coracoid  head,  goes  entirely  to  the  tensor  patayii  lonyus 
tendon,  which  it  joins  as  a  short,  cylindrical  tendon  close  to  the  shoulder 
(PL  XVII.  fig.  1,  h.).    It  is,  therefore,  functionally  a  "  biceps-slip,"  though 
it  differs  from  the  ordinary  "  biceps-slip  "  found  in  so  many  birds  t,  in 

*  The  dissection  of  these  parts  in  this  group  of  birds  is  attended  with  considerable 
difficulty,  partly  owing  to  the  smallness  of  the  various  parts  involved,  partly  to  the 
great  accumulations  of  fat  round  the  tissues,  making  the  true  nature  of  these  very 
difficult  to  determine  in  spirit-specimens.  It  would  be  very  des-'rable  to  dissect  out 
these  parts  in  fresh  specimens. 

t   Of.  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  324. 


394        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

that  it  arises  independently  from  the  humerus,  and  is  not  a  part  of  the 
true  biceps  muscle,  although  it  is  supplied  by  the  same  nerve  as  that 
which  goes  to  the  coracoid  head.  In  Diomedea,  it  is  to  be  observed,  the 
"  biceps-slip  "  is  derived  from  the  coracoid  head  alone,  whereas  in  the 
other  Procellariidae  this  slip  represents  the  shorter  or  humeral  head  of 
the  normal  muscle. 

Only  occasionally  have  I  seen  (e.  g.  in  specimens  of  Procdlaria  pelagica, 
Cymochorea  leucorrTioa,  (Estrelata  lessoni,  and  Prion  banksi)  a  very  small 
tendinous  slip  derived  from  this  humeral  head,  which  may  be  either  con- 
tinued downwards  with  the  nerves  and  vessels  to  the  elbow,  where  it  is 
apparently  lost  in  the  general  fascia,  or  joins  the  tendon  of  the  true 
"  biceps  "  (Procellaria,  Cymochorea). 

Supposing  this  latter  to  represent  a  more  primitive  condition,  now 
nearly  or  quite  lost  in  most  of  the  species,  the  biceps  muscle  must  origi- 
nally have  been  two-headed,  with  a  patagial  slip  derived  from  its  humeral 
head.  This  slip  gradually  increased  at  the  expense  of  the  other  tendon 
of  the  humeral  head,  till  eventually  the  latter  disappeared  altogether,  the 
biceps  proper  (i.  e.  that  flexing  the  forearm)  being  then  reduced  to  its 
coracoidal  moiety. 

Expansor  secundariorum. — This  peculiar  muscle  *  is  wanting  altogether 
in  the  Procellariidse.  It  occurs,  however,  in  the  Oceanitidae,  though  in  a 
form  different  from  any  previously  observed,  being  attached  to  (or  de- 
rived from)  thoracically  the  surface  of  the  pectoralis  major  muscle  (vide 
PI.  XVII.  fig.  2). 

Its  small  belly  is  attached  to  the  few  last  secondary  remiges  ($.)  at 
the  elbow,  and  the  thin  tendon  (e.s.)  runs  parallel  to,  but  behind,  the 
humerus,  to  the  axilla,  where  it  is  joined  by  a  similar  but  shorter  tendon, 
which  is  derived  from  the  most  posterior  feathers  of  the  humeral  tract, 
the  so-called  "  scapularies "  ($c.).  The  common  tendon  then  runs 
forwards,  being  superficial  to  the  extensor  and  flexor  muscles  and  the 
nerves  and  vessels  of  the  forearm  (v.n.\  to  be  attached  to  the  surface  of 
the  first  pectoral  (p.  1)  close  to  its  insertion  into  the  humerus.  In  no 
other  instance,  so  far  as  I  know,  does  the  expansor  secundariorum  become 
thoracically  attached  to  the  pectoralis  primus,  though  it  may  be  so  to  the 
teres,  coraco-brachialis  longus,  or  coraco-brachialis  brevis  muscles.  Nor 
have  I  yet  met  with  any  other  bird  in  which  the  tendon  of  this  muscle 
is  connected  to  the  scapularies,  which  here  it  serves  to  expand  as  well  as 
the  secondaries. 

The  attachment  of  this  muscle  to   the  pectoralis  suggests  that   the 

expansor  secundariorum  may  origin  ally  have  been  formed  from  a  cutaneous 

Zool.   Chall.   branch  of  the  former  similar  to  others  of  the  same  function  derived  from 

Exp.  *<*•**•   it,  which  are  still  broad  thin  expansions  of  muscular  fibres.     In  other 

*  7Z.irf.pp.  323,  324. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         395 

birds  this  lias  either  completely  disappeared,  or  has  developed  thoracically 
new  attachments  to  other  muscles  or  to  bone. 

As  regards  the  other  muscles  of  the  anterior  extremity,  the  deltoid 
is  always  remarkable  for  its  shortness,  extending  but  a  very  small  distance 
down  the  arm  (vide  PI.  XVIII.  fig.  3,  d.),  frequently  allowing  the  anterior 
belly  of  the  latissimus  dorsi  (l.d.)  to  appear  superficially  below  it.  Only 
in  Phoebetria  fuliginosa  (a  nestling  specimen)  have  I  found  the  special 
tendinous  slip  of  origin  from  the  scapula  which  is  found  in  so  many 
birds. 

The  triceps  has  a  well-marked  tendinous  attachment  to  the  humerus 
superficial  to  the  insertion  of  the  latissimus  dorsi.  Its  muscular  belly 
arises  from  the  scapula  by  fleshy  fibres,  and  is  comparatively  short,  its 
tendon,  on  the  other  hand,  being  long,  and  not  joining  the  tendon  of  the 
biceps  till  over  the  elbow. 

The  latissimus  dorsi  is  in  two  bellies,  as  in  birds  usually ;  of  these  the 
posterior  is  much  the  largest,  the  anterior  being  comparatively  small  and 
narrow. 

Posterior  Extremity. 

The  glutens  primus  is  nearly  always  very  small,  scarcely  or  not  at  all 
covering  the  biceps  cruris  (vide  PI.  XX.  fig.  1).  It  is  larger  in  the 
Oceanitidae,  especially  in  Oceanites  (t.  c.,  fig.  3,  gl.  1)  and  Garrodia,  where 
it  does  cover  the  biceps  to  some  little  extent  anteriorly. 

The  yluteus  quintus  appears  to  be  absent,  or  not  differentiated  off  from 
the  posterior  fibres  of  the  preceding,  in  all  the  Tubinares,  except  the 
Diomedeinae,  where  it  can  be  distinctly  defined. 

The  ambiens  is  present  and  usually  well-developed  in  all  the  Tubinares, 
except  the  genera  Fregetta  of  the  Oceanitidse,  and  Pelecano'ides  amongst 
the  Procellariidse,  in  which  it  is  quite  absent. 

In  Pelagodroma,  Oceanites,  and  Garrodia  its  fleshy  belly  is  of  fair  size, 
but  the  tendon  I  have  been  unable  to  trace  across  the  knee,  it  apparently 
terminating  on  the  cnemial  process  of  the  tibia.  In  the  other  genera 
this  tendon  crosses  the  knee  as  usual,  passing  in  front  of  the  patella, 
when  that  is  ossified,  between  the  great  cnemial  process  of  the  tibia  and 
the  end  of  the  femur,  and  ends  as  usual  in  the  leg. 

The  femoro-caudal  is  always  present  in  the  form  of  a  usually  not 
broad  ribbon,  inserted  about  halfway  along  the  femur  (PI.  XX.  figs.  2-4, 
f.c.).  It  does  not  pass  through,  as  it  does  in  some  of  the  Ciconiiform 
birds,  a  sort  of  pulley  formed  by  the  posterior  angle  of  the  pelvic  bones. 

The  accessory  femoro-caudal  (PL  XX.  figs.  2,3,  a. f.c.)  is  always  present 
and  well-developed,  except  in  the  genera  Bulweria  and  Pelecano'ides  (i.e., 
fig.  4),  where  it  is  quite  absent.     It  is  fairly  broad  and  ribbon-shaped,   Zool.    ChaU. 
overlapping   the   semi-membranosus    in   the    Oceanitidffi   at   its    origin,     ExP-  voLir. 
and  inserted  into  the  femur  together  with  the  femora-caudal.     In  the.    ptxl<P-31- 
genera  Fregetta,  Puffinus,  and  Majaqueus  it  is  decidedlv  small. 


396        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

The  semi-tendinosus  (t.  c.,  figs.  1-3,  s.t.)  muscle  is  always  present  and 
strong.  It  arises  from  the  iliac  bone  round  its  most  posterior  angle,  and 
has  no  connection  at  all  with  the  caudal  vertebrae.  Anteriorly  it  slightly 
overlaps  the  biceps. 

Excepting  in  the  Oceanitidae,  it  has  no  accessory  head,  so  that  all 
its  fibres  are  inserted  by  a  thin,  broad  tendon,  quite  distinct  from  that  of 
the  semi-membranosus,  on  to  the  tibia.  In  the  Oceanitidse,  in  all  the 
species  and  genera,  there  is  a  strong  and  broad  accessory  head,  arising 
from  the  femur,  as  usual,  and  joining  the  main  belly  of  the  muscle  by  an 
oblique  tendinous  raphe  (vide  PI.  XX.  fig.  3,  a.s.t.}. 

The  semi-membranosus  (t.  c.,  fig.  1-3,  s.m.)  is  always  very  large,  of 
broad,  flat,  ribbon  shape,  not  so  parallel  with  the  semi-tcndinosus  nor  so 
covered  by  it,  as  usual,  its  direction  being  more  oblique  than  is  that  of 
the  other  muscle,  and  thus  more  parallel  to  that  of  the  adductors.  It 
arises  from  the  posterior  margin  of  the  ilium,  ischium,  and  pubis,  from  a 
little  above  the  ischial  prominence  to  within  a  small  distance  of  the  end 
of  the  pubis.  Its  insertion  is  by  a  thin,  broad  tendon,  anterior  to,  and 
separate  from,  that  of  the  semi-tendinosus. 

Of  the  other  muscles  in  the  hind  limb  the  biceps  always  passes  through 
a  tendinous  loop  on  its  way  to  its  insertion,  as  is  nearly  always  the  case 
with  birds. 

The  obturator  eocternus  is  never  large,  and  is  inserted  near  the  femur 
head.  The  obturator  internus  is  of  peculiar  shape,  nearly  oval,  but  with 
a  slight  indication  of  becoming  triangular.  The  deep  flexors  of  the  toes 
and  of  the  hallux  blend,  usually  about  halfway  down  the  leg,  and  their 
tendons  may  become  ossified.  Even  when  a  hallux  is  present  it  receives 
no  tendon  at  all  from  these  muscles. 

4.   Other  Anatomical  Features. 

There  are  always  two  carotid  arteries  situated  in  the  hypapophysial 
canal.  There  are  also  two  jugular  veins,  the  right  of  which  is  frequently 
the  largest. 

The  main  artery  of  the  leg  is  always  the  sciatic  one,  accompanying  as 
it  does  the  sciatic  nerve. 

In  the  genus  Pelecanoides,  as  has  already  been  described  by  Grarrod 
(c/.  antea,  p.  373),  the  femoral  vein,  instead  of  being,  as  usual  in  birds, 
deep  of  the  femoro-caudal  muscle, — from  the  external  border  of  which 
it  then  seems,  in  the  ordinary  course  of  dissection  for  the  thigh-muscles, 
to  emerge  (PL  XX.  fig.  2, /.v.), — is  superficial  to  it,  appearing  at  the 
external  edge  of  the  obturator  externus,  and  then  crossing  the  femoro- 
caudal  superficially  as  represented  in  PI.  XX.  fig.  4,  f.v. 

Zool     Chall.        In  the  Procellariidse,  except  Pelecano'ides,  the  two  most  anterior  air- 

Exp.  vol.  iv.   Cella,  which  lie  between  the  rami  of  the  furcula  at  the  entrance  to  the 

thorax,  are  not,  as  is  usually  the  case  in  birds,  fused  together  to  form  an 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         397 

interelavicular  air-cell,  but — at  least  in  all  the  species  in  which  I  have  ex- 
amined into  this  point — remain  partially  distinct,  being  separated  for  th  j 
greater  part  of  their  length  by  a  median  septum  formed  by  the  coalescence 
of  their  internal  walls — and  double  in  consequence — but  imperfect 
behind  in  the  middle  line,  so  that  there  is  here  a  free  communication 
between  the  two  cells  over  the  trachea.  In  the  Oceanitidse  and  Peleca- 
noides  the  ordinary  structure  prevails  *. 

There  are  always  large  supra- orbital  glands,  which  occupy  depressions 
excavated  for  them  in  the  top  of  the  skull  (vide  PI.  XXII.  fig.  3),  and  open 
by  a  small  duct  into  the  nasal  cavities.  Similar  glands  occur  in  many 
birds,  notably  the  Penguins,  Colymbidae,  Auks,  Gulls,  and  many  others  t. 

As  in  all  other  Ciconiiforoi  birds,  there  is  no  true  penis  developed. 

5.  Trachea  and  Vocal  Organs. 

The  trachea  in  all  Tubinares  is  a  straight,  simple  tube,  never  convoluted 
in  any  way,  and  with  the  normal  structure  of  this  organ  in  birds.  In 
some  of  the  genera — Fulmarus,  Thalassceca,  Aeipetes,  and  Ossifraga — it 
is  divided,  as  will  be  described  in  detail  further  on,  to  a  greater  or  less 
extent  by  a  median  longitudinal  septum,  as  in  the  Penguins  alone  of 
other  birds  so  far  as  I  know.  The  trachea  has  the  ordinary  long  lateral 
muscle  on  each  side,  as  well  as  a  pair  of  well-developed  sterno-tracheales, 
these  arising  from  the  costal  processes  of  the  sternum,  as  in  so  very 
many  birds. 

The  constitution  of  the  syrinx,  or  lower  larynx,  differs  very  considerably 
in  the  different  genera  and  groups  of  the  Tubinares  as  regards  the  number 
and  modifications  of  form  of  the  various  tracheal  or  bronchial  rings  that 
enter  into  its  composition.  When,  as  e.g.  in  the  Gallinae,  the  syrinx 
has  no  intrinsic  muscles,  the  only  guides  for  determination  of  the  exact 
rings  forming  the  syrinx  are  the  variations  in  form  of  the  rings  them- 
selves, according  as  to  whether  they  are  tracheal  or  bronchial,  and  the 
facts  elucidated  by  a  comparative  study  of  these  parts  in  a  series  of 
genera.  Such  a  study  of  the  syrinx  in  the  Tubinares  has  made  it  evident 
to  me  that  in  this  group  at  least  the  attachment  of  the  intrinsic  syringeal 
muse-les  (of  which  of  course  there  are  only  a  pair)  to  a  particular  bronchial 
semi  ring  is  constant,  thereby  affording  a  landmark  by  which  the  con- 
tiguous rings  on  both  sides  can  at  once  be  assigned  to  their  proper  posi- 
tion. The  semi-ring  that  bears  the  muscle  in  the  Tubinares  is  the  fifth, 
the  four  bronchial  rings  (or  semi-rings)  above  it,  as  well  as  a  less  or 

*  In  one  of  the  three  specimens  of  Oceanites  examined,  there  appeared  to  be  a  division 
of  the  interclavicular  air-cell  into  two,  as  in  the  Procellariidse. 

t  Cf.  Nitzsch's  article,  "  Ueber  die  Nasendruse  der  Vo'gel,"  Meckel's  Archiv,  1820, 
pp.  234-269. 


398 


ON  THE  PETEELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zool.    Cball.  greater  number  of  the  last  tracheal  rings,  forming  together  the  framework 
pS.™.  33!  °f  tne  lower  larynx.     In  most  cases  the  last  tracheal  ring  bears  a  well- 
marked  antero-posterior  pessular  bar. 

It  is  in  the  genus  Pdecanoides  (figs.  3,  4)  that  the  typical  construction 
of  the  syrinx  of  the  Tubinares  is  seen  in  its  simplest  form ;  it  will, 
therefore,  be  described  first  on  the  present  occasion. 

Fig.  3. 


Syrinx  of  Pelecano'ides  urinatrix,  from  before.* 
Fig.  4. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

The  last  tracheal  ring  is  complete  in  front,  and  not  modified  in  shape  ; 
posteriorly  it  is  produced  downwards  into  a  well -developed  pessulus,  so 
forming  a  complete  three-way  piece.  The  first  bronchial  semi-rings  are 


*  This  and  the  succeeding  figures  of  the  syrinx  of  the  Tubinares  have  been  drawn 
as  nearly  as  possible  of  one  uniform  size,  irrespective  of  that  of  the  originals,  and  are 
also  slightly  diagrammatic.  The  bronchial  rings  are  numbered  from  1-5  ;  the  tracheal 
are  marked  0,  00,  000,  &c.,  in  the  reverse  direction. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 


399 


united  in  front,  where  they  are  produced  triangularly  downwards ;  behind, 
their  inturned  ends  do  not  unite  either  with  each  other  or  with  the 
pessulus,  or  with  the  second  semi-rings.  These  last,  as  well  as  the 

Fig.  5. 


Syrinx  of  Garrodia  nereis,  from  before. 
a.  The  last  tracheal  ring,  from  below,  to  show  the  pessular  bar. 


Fig.  6. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

third,  fourth,  and  fifth,  on  which  is  inserted  the  muscle,  are  all  similar 
in  shape,  and  separate  from  each  other  ;  they  are  closely  approximated 
in  front,  gradually  getting  shorter  posteriorly. 

Garrodia,  which  may  be  considered  typical  of  the  Oceanitidae,  is  ante- 
riorly (fig.  5)  almost  the  same  as  Pelecanoules,  but  the  first,  second,  and 
third  bronchial  rings  are  complete  (fig.  6).  The  last  tracheal  ring  bears 
a  complete  pessulus  (5,  a). 

A  very  similar  type  of  syrinx  prevails  in  the  other  Oceanitidae,  and  is  Zool.  Chall. 
also  that  found  in  the  genera  Procellaria  (figs.  7,  8),  Cymochorea  (figs.  9, 
10),  and  Halocyptena.  In  all  these  the  first  few  bronchial  rings  closely 
resemble  in  character  tracheal  rings,  being  nearly  straight,  closely 
apposed  to  each  other,  and  more  or  less  ossified.  Anteriorly  they  may 
be  united  with  one  or  more  of  the  preceding  tracheal  rings,  and  very 
frequently  the  first  two  or  three  are  quite  complete  here  in  the  middle 


400 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


line.  There  is  always  a  well-developed  and  complete  pessular  bar, 
supported  behind  by  the  last  tracheal  ring.  "With  this  bar,  one  or  more 
(sometimes  three  or  four)  of  the  bronchial  rings  may  fuse  by  their  coalesced 

Fig.  7. 


Syrinx  of  Procellaria  pelngica,  from  before. 


Fig.  8. 


Zool. 


Chall. 
V 


The  same,  from  behind. 

ends  posteriorly,  forming  a  broad  three-way  piece  ;  or  these  rings  may  be 
complete  rings  closely  apposed,  though  apparently  notancbylosed,  to  each 
other  in  the  pessular  bar.  Different  specimens  vary  slightly  in  the  exact 
number  and  disposition  of  these  bronchial  rings,  and  sometimes  are  not 
exactly  similar  on  the  two  sides. 

In  Prion  vittatm  (figs.  11  &  12,  p.  402),  the  first  bronchial  ring  is  either 
small  or  fused  with  the  second,  which  is  anteriorly  entire  :  this  is  not  the 
c  ase  with  the  three  succeeding  ones.  The  last  three  tracheal,  and  first  two  — 
or  on  one  side  three  —  bronchial  rings  form  a  pessular  box,  continuous 
a  nteriorly  with  the  inturued  anterior  ends  of  the  third  semi-rings.  The 
fourth  pair  takes  no  share  in  the  formation  of  the  box.  In  Prion  deso- 
latus  there  is  only  one  complete  bronchial  ring,  which  may  be  the  first, 
or  the  first  and  second  united  ;  the  others  are  incomplete,  inturned  ante- 
3d  riorly  ,  and  not  co-ossified  to  form  a  box.  There  is  a  good  pessulus 
borne  by  the  last  tracheal. 

In  Pagodroma  (figs.  13&  14,  p.  403)  the  four  first  bronchial  semi-rings  are 
ossified  and  firmly  united  into  n  bony  box  behind  ;  anteriorly,  however, 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  'CHALLENGER.' 


401 


the  first  and  fourth  bronchial  rings  are  free,  whilst  on  one  side  the 
second  and  third  are  quite  fused  both  before  and  behind.  The  last 
tracheal  ring  is  free  throughout. 

Fig.  9. 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  34. 


Syrinx  of  Cymochorea  leucorrkoa,  from  before. 
Fig.  10 


The  same,  from  behind. 

Daption  much  resembles  Payodroma,  there  being  a  bony  box,  formed  Ibid,  p.  35. 
however  by  the  fusion  of  the  first  three  bronchials  with  the  last  tracheal 
ring.     In   neither   of   these   genera   is   there   any  trace  of   a  tracheal 
septum . 

It  is  by  a  further  development  of  the  syrinx  of  Pagodroma  that  the 
peculiar  one  of  the  Fulmars  is  formed. 

In  Thalassceca  ylacialoides  (figs.  15, 16,  p.  404)  the  last  two  tracheal  rings 
are  ossified  andfused  together  anteriorly,  amedian  descending  process  being 
developed  which  lies  between  the  similarly  ossified  and  fused  first  three  Ibid.  p.  36. 
bronchial  rings.  The  fourth  pair  of  rings  is  also  ossified,  but  free  from 
those  that  precede  it,  at  least  anteriorly.  Posteriorly  the  first  four  bron- 
chial and  last  four  tracheal  rings  are  firmly  co-ossified  into  a  large 
pessular  box,  whilst  ossification  in  the  median  line  (both  before  and 
behind)  of  a  number  of  the  cartilaginous  tracheal  rings  above  this  forms 
the  line  of  attachment  for  the  median  septum  which  divides  the  tracheal 
tube  for  an  extent  of  about  1-25  inch. 

2D 


402 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zool.  CbalJ. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt,  xi.  p.  35. 


In  Fulmarus  glacialis  the  syrinx  is  very  similar ;  the  four  bronchial 
rings  are  anteriorly  ossified,  as  are  many  of  the  tracheal  rings  in  their 
median  area.  The  tracheal  septum  is  still  more  developed  than  in 
Thalassoeca,  extending  for  about  the  lower  two  fifths  of  the  trachea— a 
distance  of  nearly  2|  inches. 

Fig.  11. 


Syrinx  of  Prion  vittatus,  from  before, 
Fig,  12. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

Ibid.  p.  36.  The  extraordinary  syrinx  of  Ossifraga  is  a  still  further  modification  of 

this  tyre  (figs.  17, 18^19,  pp.  405, 406).  Anumber  of  the  last  tracheal  rings 
(nine  on  one  side,  ten  on  the  other,  in  the  specimen — a  young  one — figured) 
become  completely  ossified,  as  are  the  first  four  or  five  bronchial  rings, 
of  which  only  the  first  two  are  complete.  The  inferior  part  of  the 
trachea  is  divided  inferiorly  for  a  short  way  into  two  quite  complete  and 
separate  tubes  ;  the  posterior  ends  of  the  lowest  tracheal  rings  being  so 
much  incurved  that  each  actually,  inferiorly,  forms  two  complete  rings, 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER. 


403 


those  of  opposite  sides  being  quite  separate,  whilst  above,  by  the  gradual 
diminution  of  their  opposed  interior  halves,  they  become,  when  viewed 

Fig.  13. 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vcl.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  35. 


Syrinx  of  Pagodroma  nivea,  from  before. 
Fig.  14. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

from  outside,  simple  rings  of  the  normal  tracheal  type.  On  section,  jbid  36 
however,  it  is  seen  that  their  ends  are  still  incurved  to  form  a  tracheal 
septum  like  that  of  Fulmarus  and  Thalassceca.  This  completely  divides 
the  trachea  into  two  tubes  for  a  space  of  about  3|  inches,  terminating 
above  by  a  free  semi-lunar  border,  concave  upwards  (fig.  19,  c,  cZ,  p.  406). 
In  fig.  19  three  sections  are  given  of  the  inferior  portion  of  the  trachea 
made  along  the  lines  a,  6,  c,  in  fig.  17  (p.  405),  to  show  how  the  two 
tracheal  tubes,  separate  below,  gradually  unite  above. 

2D2 


404 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zool.  Chall.        Aeipetes  antarcticus  (figs.  20,  21,  p.  407),  commonly  placed  in  the  genus 
Exp.  vol.  iv.    Thalassceca  with  Thalassceca  glacialoides,  completely  differs  in  the  struc- 
ture of  its  syrinx  from  the  last  three  species  described,  and  is  more  like 
Prion.     The  two  first  pairs  of  bronchial  rings  are  complete  anteriorly, 
Ibid  p  38.        the  second  being  ossified,  for  a  small  extent  only,  in  the  middle  line. 
The  lowest  tracheal  ring  is  quite  simple  anteriorly,  and  posteriorly  it 
sends  forwards  a  pessuliform  process,  anchylosed  in  front  with  the  second 


Ibid.  p.  36. 


Fig.  15. 


Syrinx  of  Thalassceca  glxcialoides,  from  before. 
Fig.  16. 


Ibid.  p.  38. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

bronchial  rings.  Two  pairs  of  the  bronchial  semi-rings  (3,  4)  are  ossified 
at  their  posterior  extremities,  but  not  fused  in  any  way.  The  penultimate 
tracheal  and  preceding  rings  are,  as  in  Fulmarus  &c.,  ossified  posteriorly 
in  their  median  (narrowest)  portion  only  to  bear  the  tnicheal  septum. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER/ 


405 


This,  however,  is  not  (vide  fig.  18,  a)  a  complete  septum,  but  is  incom- 
plete, the  incurved  posterior  ends  of  the  rings  not  reaching  the  anterior 
wall  of  the  trachea  by  some  little  way.  Its  vertical  extent  is  small, 
ceasing  about  *85  inch  above  the  bronchi. 

Fig,  17. 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  37. 


Syrinx  of  Ossifraga  gigantea,  from  before. 


Fig.  18. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

The  peculiar  genus  Bulweria  is,  perhaps,  as  far  as  regards  tracheal  Ibid.  p.  38. 
structure,  nearer  the  small  Storm-Petrels  (Procellaria  and  Cymochorea) 
than  any  other  group,  judging  at  least  from  my  examination  of  the 


406 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


syrinx  of  Bulweria  macgillivrayi.  In  this  specimen  *  the  rings  are 
asymmetrical — there  being  only  three,  instead  of  four,  bronchial  rings 
between  the  pessular  ring  and  that  which  bears  the  muscle  on  the  left 
side,  apparently  owing  to  the  suppression  of  the  second  bronchial  ring,  as 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  37. 


Fig.  19. 


CD 
00 

oo 


a,  b,  c,  sections  of  syrinx  and  trachea  of  Ossifraga  along  the  lines  a,  b,  c,  of  fig.  17,  to 
show  the  double  nature  of  the  tracheal  tube  below,  and  its  complete  division  by  a 
median  septum  above  ;  d,  trachea  opened  from  the  side,  to  show  the  median 
septum,  dividing  it  into  two  parallel  tubes,  through  the  left  of  which  a  pointer 
is  passed,  below,  and  terminating  above  by  a  free  margin. 

Ibid.  p.  38.  may  be  seen  in  the  figures  (figs.  22,  23,  p.  408) — and  irregularly  developed, 
tending  thus  to  hide  the  typical  form.  The  last  three  tracheal  rings  are, 
anteriorly,  more  or  less  united,  there  being  a  pessular  bar  developed  on 
the  inferior  margin  of  the  last  ring.  Posteriorly,  the  antepenultimate 
of  these  is  quite  free  and  complete  ;  the  next  is  incomplete  posteriorly, 
whilst  the  last  is  complete  on  the  right  side,  but  anchyloses  on  the  left 
with  the  first  bronchial  laterally.  The  third  bronchial  rings  on  each 
side  are  complete,  thus  encircling  the  bronchi.  The  fourth  is  free  and 
incomplete. 

Puffinus  (as  represented  by  Puffinus  brevicauda)  presents  a  simple  form 


*  Some  of  the  peculiarities  here  described  may  be  due  to  its  being  a  youngish  bird. 
I  have,  unfortunately,  as  yet  been  unable  to  examine  the  syrinx  of  Bulweria  columbina, 
which  might  throw  some  additional  light  on  the  subject  of  the  affinities  of  this 
genus. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 


407 


of  syrinx  (figs.  24,  25,  p.  409),  the  two  first  bronchial  rings  being  complete 
anteriorly,  the  succeeding  two  being  only  semi-rings.  The  two  last 
tracheal  are  united  with  the  two  first  bronchial  behind,  sending  off  a 

Fig.  20. 


Zool.  Ohall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  39. 


Syrinx  of  Aeipetes  antarcticus,  from  before. 
Fig.  21. 


The  same,  from  behind.     The  smaller  figure  represents  a  section  of  the  trachea,  to 
show  the  imperfect  septum  dividing  it. 

pessular  process,  which  anteriorly,  as  usual,  is  continuous  with  the  third   Ibid.  p.  38. 
semi-rings.    In  younger  birds  (fig.  26,  p.  409)  the  various  rings  concerned 
remain  more  distinct,  the  pessular  bar,  it  is  pretty  clear,  being  largely 
formed  by  the  third  semi-rings  anteriorly,  their  backward  prolongation   Ibid.  p.  39. 
fusing  behind  with  cartilaginous  elements  developed  in  connection  with 


408 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zoo}.  Cfcall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  38. 


Ibid.  p.  39. 


Hid.  p.  40. 


the  posterior  ends  of  the  second  semi-rings,  and  all  ultimately  fusing  into 
the  pessularbox  of  the  adult.     In  Puffinus  obscurus  there  is  a  complete 

Fig.  22. 


Syrinx  of  Bulweria  macgillivrayi,  from  before. 
Fig.  23. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

pessular  bar,  formed  by  the  third  bronchial  rings.  There  is  no  pessular 
box,  the  bronchial  rings  being  all  free  from  each  other. 

In  (Estrelata  lessoni  (figs.  27,  28,  p.  410)  the  syrinx  becomes  much  more 
specialized  and  ossified.  The  fifth  bronchial  rings  are  strong  and  curved, 
and  to  these  are  attached,  by  fan-shaped  insertions  of  tendon,  the  vocal 
muscles.  The  five  preceding  rings  (which  must  therefore  be  the  last 
tracheal  and  first  four  bronchial)  are  narrow,  closely  united,  and  ossified 
over  a  rhomboidal  space  in  the  middle  line  anteriorly.  Behind  there  is 
a  pessular  box  formed  by  these  rings,  and  the  four  preceding  tracheal  ones 
in  addition,  the  first  two  of  these  having  a  median  patch  of  ossification. 
There  is  a  well-developed  and  ossified  pessular  bar. 

(Estrelata  mollis  is  quite  similar,  except  that  the  box  is  composed  of 
one  ring  less.* 

*  I  regret  not  having  as  yet  been  able  to  examine  any  adult  bird  of  (Estrelata  brevi- 
rosfris,  all  my  specimens  being  young  and  consequently  with  the  tracheal  rings  un- 
ossified  and  generally  distinct.  There  is  a  box  formed  by  the  fusion  behind  of  at 
least  three  of  the  bronchial  rings  with  the  last,  or  two  last,  tracheal  ones.  The  second, 
third,  and  fourth  bronchial  rings  are  united  together  anteriorly,  the  third  rings  joining 
the  pessular  bar. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 

Fig.  24. 


409 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  39. 


Syrinx  of  Pujfinus  brevicauda,  from  before. 
Fig.  25. 


The  same,  from  behind. 
Fig.  26. 


The  same,  from  a  younger  bird,  in  which  the  bronchial  and  tracheal 
rings  have  not  yet  coalesced. 


410 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zool.   Chall.       In  Diomedea  brachyura  and  exulans  the  calibre  of  the  trachea  dimi- 

EtXPxiV01 40*  n*snes   Vei7  considerably  below  the  place  of  insertion  of  the  sterno- 

tracheales.     The  syrinx  (figs.  29,  30)  is  strong  and  well  ossified.     The 

fifth  bronchial  semi-rings,  on  which  end  the  fanned-out  tendinous  inser- 


Ibid.  p.  39. 


Ibid.  p.  40. 


Fig.  27. 


Syrinx  of  CEstrelafa  lessoni,  from  before. 
Fig.  28. 


The  same,  from  behind. 

tions  of  the  intrinsic  muscles,  are  strong  and  much  arched.  The  four 
preceding  bronchial  rings,  as  well  as  the  last  tracheal,  are  ossified  ante- 
riorly and  posteriorly,  and  (with  the  exception  in  Diomedea  exulans  of 
the  fourth  bronchial)  co-ossified  anteriorly  into  a  strong  box,  with  which 
the  penultimate  tracheal  ring  is  also  connected  in  the  middle  line. 
Behind,  the  last  two  tracheal  and  first  bronchial  rings  are  co-ossified, 
forming  a  broadly  triangular  pessular  bar  or  box,  whilst  one  or  more  (5) 
of  the  preceding  tracheal  rings  have  patches  of  ossification  mesially.  In 
Thalassiarche  culminata  (of  which  I  have  only  examined  one)  all  the  five 


THK  VOYAGE  OP  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 


411 


bronchial  rings,  including  the  muscular  one,  are  firmly  co-ossified 
together,  and  free  from  the  rest.  There  is  no  complete  pessulus,  the 
bony  box  formed  by  the  rings  terminating  posteriorly  in  a  straight  and 

Fig.  29. 


Syrinx  of  Dlomedea  exulans,  from  before. 
About  natural  size. 


Fig.  30. 


The  same,  from  behind. 
About  natural  size. 


free  margin,  which  a  cuneate  bar,  formed  by  the  inturned  anterior  ends 
of  the  fourth  bronchial  rings,  does  not  reach.  The  syrinx  of  Phcebetria 
as  yet  I  only  know  from  a  young  specimen,  in  which  the  bronchial  rings 


412        ON  THE  PETEELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

below  the  first  are  incomplete  anteriorly,  whilst  behind  there  is  a  box 
formed  by  the  last  two  tracheal  and  first  four  bronchial  rings. 

Majaqueus  is  very  like  Diomedea  in  its  syrinx,  the  penultimate  tracheal 

ring,  however,  being  ossified  anteriorly,  as  well  as  its  five  successors, 

Zool.  Chall.     which  remain  free  in  front.     The   second  bronchial  ring   is   the   last 

pt^i^  4!    en^er^ng  iQ*°  the  composition  of  the  triangular  pessular  box  behind,  the 

third  and  fourth  rings  remaining  free. 

In  Diomedea  brachyura  and  some  of  the  allied  species,  the  bronchi 
seem  to  be,  according  to  the  late  Mr.  Swinhoe's  notes,  long  and  con- 
voluted, in  a  way  reminding  one  of  that  which  occurs  in  Ciconia  nigra. 
I  have  not  observed  such  convolutions  in  any  Albatross  or  other  Petrel 
dissected  by  myself.  I  herewith  append  the  descriptions  given  by 
Swinhoe  of  this  peculiarity. 

Diomedea  brachyura. — "  In  the  male  of  this  Albatross  the  bronchi 
on  leaving  the  trachea  bulge  considerably  as  they  run  horizontally,  then 
contract,  and  bend  forwards  and  downwards,  and  lastly,  turning  sharp 
round,  rise  upwards  and  bulge  again  before  entering  the  lungs  "  (Swin- 
hoe, Ibis,  1863,  p.  431). 

"  A  female  Diomedea  bracliyura  had  the  swollen  and  convoluted  trachea 
which  I  thought  before  was  peculiar  to  the  male  "  (1.  c.  1867,  p.  227). 

Diomedea  nigripes. — "  In  this  species  the  trachea  of  the  female  is 
simple,  but  that  of  the  male  is  terminated  by  large,  swollen,  convoluted 
bronchi.  In  a  male  specimen,  procured  in  May,  the  bronchi  ran  down  right 
and  left,  almost  straight  for  about  ly7^  inches,  then  took  a  bend  forward 
for  a  short  space,  and  narrowed,  and  lastly  bending  inwards  and  upwards, 
bulged  largely  and  entered  the  lungs  "  (1.  c.  1863,  p.  432). 

In  five  adult  males  of  Diomedea  deroyata  examined,  all  had  contorted 
bronchi.  These  "  bulge  and  go  downwards  and  sidewards,  then  bend 
under  the  ribs  on  each  side  into  a  large  globe,  pressing  between  itself 
and  the  ribs  as  each  enters  the  lung  at  the  back  "  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc. 
1873,  p.  785). 

6.   Osteology. 

M.  Alphonse  Milne-Edwards  having  described  at  length,  with  figures, 
the  osteology  of  the  Tubinares  in  his  classical  work  on  fossil  birds  (vide 
supra,  p.  370),  whilst  other  points  of  their  osseous  structure  have  been 
elucidated  by  Brandt,  Huxley,  Reinhardt,  and  others,  as  already  men- 
tioned in  the  introductory  part,  there  is  not  the  same  necessity  for 
dwelling  here  on  this  part  of  the  organization  of  the  Petrels  as  was  the 
case  when  describing  the  softer  and  more  perishable  parts.  Moreover, 
no  amount  of  detailed  description  of  bones,  however  elaborate  or  well 
illustrated,  can  serve  the  purpose  of  scientific  research  so  well  as  actual 
specimens,  which  can  in  most  cases  be  comparatively  easily  obtained  for, 
and  permanently  preserved  in,  museums. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         413 

My  study  of  the  osteology  of  the  Tubinares  has  been  chiefly  based  on 
the  material  enumerated  in  the  subjoined  list. 

List  of  Osteological  Material  examined.  Zo.^x 


pt.xi.p.42. 


Oceanites  oceanicus     ...........................  Skeleton. 

Fregetta  melanogastra    .....................  "...          Do. 

Garrodia  nereis  .................................  Bones  of  trunk  and  of  limbs. 

Pelagodroma  marina  ...........................  Limb-bones. 

PKOCELLARIID^:. 

Cymochorea  leucorrhoa  ........................  Skeleton. 

Procellaria  pelagica   ...........................          Do. 

Bulweria  columbina    ...........................  Limb-bones. 

(Estrelata  "grisea  "     ...........  ..............  Skeleton.      "I  „ 

-  sp.  inc.  (also  named  griseus)  ............          Do.          ]  W0 

-  lessoni  .......................................  Two  skulls. 

Majaqueus  aquinoctialis    .....................  Skeleton. 

Puffinus  anglorum  ..............................          Do. 

-  obscurus  ....................................          Do. 

-  brevicauda  .................................          Do.         (incomplete). 

Adamastor  cinereus  ..............................  Skeleton. 

Daption  capensis  .................................  Skeleton  (Ey  ton  Coll.  )  and  skull. 

Aeipetes  antarcticus    ...........................          Do.     and  two  skulls. 

Thalassceca  glacialoides  ........................          Do. 

Fulmar  us  glacialis  ..............  ...............          Do  . 

Ossifraga  gigantea  ..............................          Do.      and  skull. 

Prion  desolatus   .................................          Do.      and  three  skulls. 

-  vittatus   ....................................  Skull. 

Pelecano'ides  urinatrix     ....................  ....  Skeleton  and  sternum. 

Diomedea  exulans    ..........................  '.  .  .  Skeleton  and  skull. 

-  brachyura  .................................          Do. 

Thalassiarche  melanophrys    ..................          Do.         (Eyton  Coll.). 

-  culminoita  .................................  Skull. 

Pkcebttria  fuliginosa  ...........................  Two  skulls. 

The  skull  (vide  PL  XXL  figs.  4,  5,  PL  XXII.  figs.  1-4).—  The  rostrum 
is  long,  and  strongly  hooded  apically.  It  has  no  distinct  hinge  with  the 
cranium  proper,  but  the  cranio-facial  notch  is  large,  and  the  nasal  and 
premaxillary  bones  at  their  junction  with  the  frontals  so  thin  as  to  permit 
of  a  considerable  amount  of  vertical  movement  of  the  beak. 

The  nares  are  large  and  "  holorhinal,"  their  posterior  boundaries 
being  concave,  and  not  extending,  by  some  way,  as  far  back  as  the 
posterior  ends  of  the  nasal  processes  of  the  premaxillae.  In  the  Diome- 
deinse  the  nostrils  are  widely  separated,  and  distinctly  lateral  in  position  ; 
in  the  other  forms  they  are  closely  approximated,  and  near  the  culmen. 
The  nasal  septum  is  but  little  ossified,  most  so  in  the  Diomedeinae. 
There  may  be  a  couple  of  small  ossifications  in  the  floor  of  the  nasal 


414  ON  THE  PETEELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

capsules  near  their  anterior  extremity,  continuous  anteriorly  with  the 
premaxillae,  united  together  in  the  median  line,  and  externally  abutting 
on  the  outer  and  lower  wall  of  the  nostril. 

Zool.  Ohall.       The  skull  above  the  orbits  is  always  deeply  excavated  for  the  fossae  in 
pt^xJp.  43!    which  lie  the  nasal  ("  supra-orbital ")  glands.     In  the  Albatrosses  there 
is  a  strong  raised  external  border  to  the  fossa   posteriorly,  prolonged 
from  the  post-orbital  processes,  whilst   externally  this  floor,  here  per- 
forated by  numerous  apertures,  is  deeply  excavated. 

The  post-orbital  processes  are  large  and  strong.  The  temporal  fossae 
are  well-developed,  nearly  meeting  across  the  middle  line  in  most, 
though  in  the  Albatrosses  separated  by  a  considerable  interval.  The 
occipital  plane  is  inclined  downwards  and  forwards,  but  in  the  Alba- 
trosses is  nearly  vertical.  In  these  birds  the  digastric  fossae  are 
continuous,  meeting  each  other  in  the  middle  line,  whilst  in  the  other 
Tubinares  they  are  separated  to  a  greater  or  less  extent  by  the  wide, 
smooth,  convex  cerebellar  eminence. 

As  might  be  expected,  all  these  fossae  and  their  bounding  ridges  are 
much  better  developed  in  the  large  Albatrosses  and  Petrels  (Ossifraga, 
Majaqueus,  &c.)  than  in  the  small  Procellariidse  and  Oceanitidse,  in  which 
the  skull  is  comparatively  smooth,  of  much  thinner  texture,  and  with  the 
cerebellar  eminence  occupying  a  much  greater  extent  comparatively. 
The  interorbital  septum  is  well  ossified  in  the  larger  species,  most  so  in 
Diomtdea  exulans,  whilst  in  the  smaller  ones  it  is  very  extensively 
fenestrated. 

The  lachrymal  bone  is  always  well  developed,  but  varies  in  form  in  the 
.  •  different  groups.  In  the  Oceanitidae  and  the  small  Petrels  of  the  Pro- 
cellaria- group  it  is  T-shaped  in  form,  the  long  arm  of  the  T  being  hori- 
zontal, extending  forwards  from  the  body  of  the  bone  (which  is  nearly 
vertical)  to  articulate  with  the  external  descending  process  of  the  nasal 
bone,  just  behind  the  level  of  the  end  of  the  nostril.  Between  it  and  the 
rest  of  the  skull  lies  a  considerable  oval  fenestra,  occupied  by  membrane 
in  the  recent  state.  The  ascending  process  articulates  with  the  frontal, 
forming  a  well-marked,  backwardly-directed,  antorbital  process,  whilst 
the  descending  process  descends  downwards  towards  the  jugal  arch,  to 
which  it  may  be  united  by  ligament  articulating  internally  with  the  con- 
siderable antorbital  plate  of  the  ethmoid  ("  ectethmoid,"  Parker). 

In  Pelecandides,  Puffinus,  Adamastor,  and  Majaqueus  it  has  the  same 
relations,  but  is  more  triangular  in  form,  and  closely  abuts  on  the 
cranium  superiorly,  the  fenestra  being  reduced  thus  to  a  chink.  In  the 
Albatrosses  it  also  remains  separate  from  the  skull,  and  the  anterior 
limb  is  but  little  developed  as  compared  with  the  vertical  part,  which  is 
swollen,  excavated  by  air-cells,  and  forms  above  a  strong  antorbital 
process.  It  loses  its  connection  with  the  ethmoid.  In  the  remaining 
genera  the  lachrymal  does  not  exist  as  a  free  bone,  being  firmly  anchy- 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER/         415 

losed  to  the  frontal  above  and  the  ethmoid  anteriorly  (PI.  XXII.  figs.  1,  3). 
It  is  hollow,  with  one  large,  and  several  small  external  apertures. 

In  connection  with  the  descending  limb  of  the  lachrymal  bone  there  is 
often  developed  a  peculiar  ossicle,  named  by  Brandt  (cf.  supra,  p.  367) 
who  was  the  first  to  describe  its  existence  in  Diomedea  brachyura  and 
Puffinus  major,  the  "  ossiculum  lacrymo-palatinum,"  from  its  connection 
with  those  two  bones. 

Its  nature  and  relations  in  the  group  have  subsequently  been  more  Zool.  Ohall.] 
extensively  investigated  by  Eeinhardt  (vide  supra,  p.  371),  who  calls  it  the  Etxl^vol'44' 
"  os  crochu." 

When  best  developed,  as  in  the  Albatrosses,  the  "ossiculum  lacrymo- 
palatinum  "  is  a  small  styliform  ossicle  of  nearly  cylindrical  (as  in 
Thalassiarche  culminata,  PI.  XXI.  fig.  7)  or  somewhat  lamellar  (Phcebetria 
fuliginosa,  PI.  XXI.  fig.  8)  shape,  attached  above  by  an  articulation  to  the 
inner  face  of  the  descending  limb  of  the  lachrymal  bone,  and  below 
connected  by  a  ligament  to  the  upper  surface  of  the  palatine  bone. 
Seen  from  the  side,  in  the  dried  skull  (vide  PI.  XXII.  fig.  1)  the  bone  is 
visible  below  the  malar  arch.  It  lies,  in  the  recent  state,  in  a  cavity 
between  the  nose  and  the  roof  of  the  mouth,  in  an  oblique  position, 
pointing  downwards  and  inward.  This  bone  is  present  in  all  the  genera 
and  species  of  Albatrosses  examined  by  me,  as  well  as  in  Thalassiarche 
clilororhyncha,  as  mentioned  by  Reinhardt.  In  the  Oceanitidse,  in 
Procellaria  and  Cymochorea,  as  well  as  in  Daption  and  Pagodroma,  its 
place  is  taken  by  a  narrow  ligament  in  which  there  is  no  ossification  at 
all.  In  Bulweria,  Pelecano'ides,  Fulmarus,  Thalassceca,  and  Ossifraga 
there  is  a  similar  ligament,  with  a  small,  more  or  less  ossified  nodule  of 
bone  lying  in  it,  only  connected  by  connective  tissue  with  the  surrounding 
bones.  In  Aeipetes,  Prion,  Puffinus,  Majaqueus,  Adamastor,  and  (Estrelata 
it  is  small  and  delicate,  articulating  with  the  lachyrmal  above,  and 
ending  freely  (in  the  cleaned  skull)  below. 

It  is  interesting  to  observe  that  a  very  similar  bone,  both  as  regards 
shape  and  position,  occurs  in  the  genus  Fregata  as  already  pointed  out 
by  Reinhardt,  whose  observation  I  have  been  able  to  verify.  But  it  also 
occurs  in  forms  so  different  from  these  as  the  Musophagidse,  many 
Cuculidae,  Chunga  and  Cariama,  as  well  as  in  some  Laridae  and  Alcidas, 
so  that  its  presence  is  obviously  of  no  particular  taxonomic  value. 
Professor  Parker  informs  me  that  its  precise  morphological  significance  is 
at  present  rather  uncertain. 

The  palate  (vide  PI.  XXII.  figs.  2  and  4) is  always  more  or  less  incomplete 
below,  the  fissure  dividing  it  being,  by  the  less  degree  of  inward 
developrnentof  the  maxillary  processes  of  the  premaxillae,  and  of  approxi- 
mation of  the  inward  edges  of  the  maxillo-palatines  and  palatine  bones, 
longer  and  wider  in  the  smaller  than  in  the  larger  forms. 

The  inaxillo-palatine  processes  are  concavo-convex  lamellae,  extensively 


416        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

fenestrated,  pointing  backwards,  and   with  their   inner  edges  appearing 
but   slightly  internal   to  the  palatine  bones.     They  remain   free   from 
each  other  in   the   middle  line,   and  are  also  unconnected   by   ossifi- 
cation  with   the   vomer   or   nasal  septum.     Hence   the  Tubinares   are 
in  this  point   strictly  schizognathous  birds.     But   in   the  Albatrosses, 
where  the  maxillo-palatines  are  very  large  and  nearly  vertical  in  position, 
the  space  between  their  inner  edges  is  very  narrow,  and  just  in  front  of 
them  the  decurved  end  of  the  vomer  fills  up  the  intervening  chink, 
Zool.   Chall    especially  in  Phcebetria  fuliginosa,  where  it  is  firmly  fixed  to,  though 
Exp.  vol.  ir.   apparently  not  anchylosed  with,  the  maxillary  plates.     The  transition 
p  .  xi.  p.     .  £rom  £njs  f.Q  a  desmognathous  type  would  therefore  be  but  very  slight. 

The  palatines  in  the  smaller  forms  are  of  generally  flat  form,  with 
their  posterior  angles  rounded  off,  closely  apposed  together  for  a  very 
short  way  behind  the  posterior  nares,  and  with  fairly  developed  descending 
and  ascending  plates,  the  latter  being  recurved  posteriorly  and  anchy- 
losed to  the  vomer.  This  latter  bone  (PI.  XXI.  figs.  4  and  5)  is  always 
broad  behind,  of  generally  depressed  form,  and  strongly  bent  downwards 
in  front,  its  pointed  extremity  appearing  between  the  maxillo-palatine 
processes  at  about  their  anterior  edge. 

In  the  larger  forms  the  vomer  becomes  enormously  broad,  and  keeled 
both  above  and  below.  The  palatines  meet  for  a  much  more  considerable 
distance  posteriorly,  greatest  in  Fulmarus,  and  their  descending  plate 
becomes  more  pronounced ;  at  its  anterior  end  the  bones  of  opposite 
sides  nearly  meet.  The  ascending  plate,  too,  becomes  very  large,  more 
or  less  embracing  the  vomer  at  its  base,  and  being  separated,  especially 
in  the  Albatrosses,  only  by  a  narrow  chink  anteriorly  from  the  posterior 
end  of  the  equally  upturned  maxillo-palatine.  The  posterior  margin 
of  the  palatines  is  more  or  less  concave.  The  pterygoids  are  nearly 
straight,  slightly  compressed,  cylindrical  bones,  which  articulate  mesially 
partly  with  the  basisphenoidal  rostrum,  partly  with  the  truncated  pos- 
terior ends  of  the  palatines.  Well-developed  basipterygoid  facets  are 
present  in  all  the  forms  (vide  PI.  XXII.  figs.  2  and  4),  except  the  Diome- 
deinae,  the  Oceanitidse,  Procellaria  and  Cymoclwrea  *.  The  quadrate,  as 
in  most  birds,  is  two-headed.  Its  distal  end  has  two  distinct  articular 
cartilage-coated  areas,  separated  by  a  depression.  The  most  external  of 
these  is  oblique  from  behind  outwards,  and  is  somewhat  saddle-shaped, 
being  convex  from  side  to  side,  arid  concave  antero-posteriorly.  The 
inner  facet  has  its  axis  directed  forwards  and  inwards,  nearly  parallel  to 
that  of  the  pterygoid  bone.  It  is  divided  by  a  prominent  oblique  trochlea 
into  an  inner,  nearly  flat,  surface,  of  triangular  shape,  and  a  more 
external,  deeply  grooved  one,  also  of  saddle  shape.  As  might  be  expected, 

*  Ha7ocypfena  has  not  yet  been  examined  in  this  respect:  it  probably  resembles  the 
last  two  genera  named. 


TilE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'  417 

these  features  are  less  obvious  in  the  feeble  and  smaller,  than  in  the 
stronger  and  larger,  species  of  the  group. 

The  foramen  magnum  is  more  or  less  reniform,  with  the  major  axis 
transverse,  in  the  small  species,  whereas  in  the  biggest  it  is  oval, 
especially  in  Ossifraya,  with  the  long  axis  vertical.  The  moderately 
sized  species  are  here  again  intermediate  in  structure. 

The  mandible  has  no  recurved  angular  process ;  its  posterior  end  is 
more  or  less  inturned  and  truncated  behind,  the  truncated  surface  being 
of  triangular  shape.  The  articular  surfaces  are  two  in  number,  and,  of 
course,  of  inverse  shape  to  the  corresponding  facets  on  the  quadrate  bone. 
One  or  more  pneumatic  foramina  enter  the  bone  at  this  point. 

Axial  Skeleton. — The  number  of  vertebrae  varies  from  thirty-eight  to 
forty-two,  but  that  of  the  cervical  ones  is  always  fifteen,  as  may  be  seen  z°o1-    Chall. 
from  the  table  appended  (p.  419).     In  the  Oceanitidae,  it  will  be  observed,     pt^p.'le. 
the  number  of  cervico-dorsal  vertebrae  is  twenty-one,  in  the  Procellariidae 
it  is  twenty-two,   with  two  exceptions,  where   there  are  as  many  as 
twenty- three. 

The  articular  cup  of  the  atlas  is  always  incomplete  superiorly,  the 
odontoid  process  of  the  axis  filling  up  the  gap,  and  so  completing  the 
joint.  The  fifteenth  cervical  vertebra  has  a  well- developed  free  rib, 
which  may  have  an  uncinate  process,  and  one  or  more  of  the  preceding 
vertebras — usually  two,  but  sometimes  as  many  as  four  (Oceanites) — have 
short  V-shaped  ribs,  which  do  not  anchylose  with  the  vertebrae.  Some- 
times (Oceanites,  Prion)  the  fourteenth  cervical  rib  is  longer,  resembling 
in  shape  that  of  the  fifteenth,  but  with  no  uncinate  process. 

The  dorsal  vertebrae  *  are  all  free,  except  the  last,  or  occasionally  two 
last,  which  are  anchylosed  to  those  forming  the  sacrum.  They  usually 
have  well-developed  hypapophyses,  especially  anteriorly.  These  are 
particularly  strong  and  well-developed  in  Pelecandides  as  in  other  diving 
birds  (e.  g.  Una,  Alca,  Podiceps),  extending  there  to  quite  the  last  dorsal 
vertebra.  In  the  Diomedeinae,  on  the  other  hand,  they  are  quite  absent, 
or  merely  represented,  on  the  most  anterior  ones,  by  short  expanded 
processes  like  those  of  the  few  last  cervical  vertebrae. 

In  nearly  all  the  Tubinares,  each  of  the  dorsal  vertebral  centra  has  on 
its  sides  a  distinct  oval  depression,  of  varying  depth,  at  the  bottom  of 
which,  in  the  largest  species,  open  one  or  more  small  pneumatic  foramina, 
to  admit  air  to  the  interior  of  the  bones.  In  the  Albatrosses,  however, 
these  pneumatic  depressions  are  absent,  though  air  is  admitted  to  the 
bones — which  are  highly  pneumatic  here — by  a  distinct,  but  small, 

*    I  count  all  those  vertebrae  which  bear  ribs,  whether  true  or  false,  behind  the  first 

dorsal — defined  as  such  by  its  rib  being  the  first  to  articulate  with  the  sternum as 

"  dorsal."     The  succeeding  ribless  vertebrae  which  are  anchylosed  together  are  "  sacral,' 
the  remaining  free  ones  "caudal." 

2E 


418         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

aperture  in  each  centrum.     The  transverse  processes,  too,  are  in  these 
latter  birds  very  much  hollowed  out  for  air-cavitiea. 

The  ribs  in  the  Oceanitidae  are  peculiarly  broad,  and  flattened  out 
dorsally,  to  an  extent  not  seen  in  any  Procellarian. 

In  Ptlecandides  the  ribs  are  very  long,  and  oblique  in  position,  the 
more  posterior  ones  most  so,  with  the  angles  formed  by  their  vertebral 
and  sternal  moieties  very  acute.  Thu&  the  whole  trunk  almost  becomes 
completely  surrounded  by  a  bony  box,  in  a  way  well  calculated  to  resist 
the  pressure  of  the  water  when  these  birds  dive.  The  same  modification 
may  be  seen  well-developed  in  the  diving  Alcidae  (Uria,  Alca,  &c.). 

The  uncinate  processes  are  well-developed  and  nearly  straight.  They 
are  firmly  anchylosed  to  the  ribs. 

As  may  be  seen  from  the  table,  the  number  of  ribs  and  unciuate  pro- 
cesses varies  slightly,  and  the  same  is  true  for  the  sacral  and  caudal 
Zool.    Chall.   vertebrae.      The  latter   have  well-developed  transverse   processes,   and 
ot'xJ0  47    between  their  centres  inferiorly  small  chevron  bones,  smallest  anteriorly, 
larger  and  double  posteriorly,  are  developed.      The  last  of  these  may, 
apparently,  anchylose  with  the  body  of  the  corresponding  vertebra.     The 
pygostyle  is  long  and  compressed.     The  diving  Pelecandides  has,  it  will  be 
noticed,  a  greater  number  of  vertebrae  (9)  in  its  tail  than  the  other  forms. 

Pectoral  Arch.— The  sternum  (Pis.  XXIII.  &  XXIV,)  is  usuallyfrather 
broad  and  short,  much  longer  in  Pelecandides  than  in  any  other  genus, 
with  a  well-developed  keel,  and  a  short,  but  distinct  manubriuin — obsolete 
in  Pelecandides.  The  costal  processes  are  triangular  in  shape,  directed 
outwards,  or  in  the  Oceanitidae  and  Pelecandides,  forwards  and  outwards. 
The  anterior  margin  of  the  keel  is  more  or  less  excavated,  with  its  lower 
angle  produced  forwards,  most  so  in  Puffinus  anglorum.  In  Pelecandides 
(PL  XXIII.  figs.  3,  4)  this  part  articulates  with] the  clavicular  symphysis, 
instead  of  being  merely  connected  to  it  by  ligament,  as  in  the  other 
forms.  The  coracoidal  grooves  are  oblique  backwards,  and  present  two 
distinct  articular  areas  for  the  articulation  of  the  coracoid  bone.  The 
sides  of  the  sternum  usually  converge  towards  the  lower  end  of  the 
costal  process,  and  then  diverge  again  to  their  posterior  extremities.  As 
Ibid.  p.  48.  may  be  seen  from  the  figures  of  Plates  XXIII.  &  XXIV.,  the  posterior 
end  of  the  sternum  varies  a  great  deal  in  its  outline  in  different  members 
of  the  group. 

In  most  of  the  larger  forms  of  Procellariidae,  the  visceral  aspect 
of  the  sternum  presents,  towards  its  anterior  extremity,  more  or  fewer 
pneumatic  apertures,  which  are  best  developed  in  the  Albatrosses,  where 
the  whole  bons  is  much  permeated  with  air.  In  Fulmarusy  and  all  the 
smaller  forms  of  Procellariidae,  as  well  as  in  the  Oceanitidaa,  the  sternum 
has  no  pneumatic  apertures  at  all,  and  does  not  contain  air. 

In  the  genera  Cynwchorea  (PI.  XXIV.  fig.  7),  Procellaria,  and  Halocyp- 
taia,  as  also  in  Fregetta  (fig.  9)  and  Garrodia,  the  posterior  margin  of  the 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.' 


419 


9 

a 
I 


1  |  p  ft  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p  p 


OOfr-l>OOOOGOO5O5  00000000000000000500000000 


- 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp,  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  47. 


2E2 


420        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DUK1XG 

Zool.  Chall.  sternum  is  entire,  with  only  a  very  slight  concavity  in  the  outline  of  each 
pt^xi^p.  48  side.  In  the  Oceanitine  genera  Oceanites  and  Pelayodroma  it  is  very  nearly 
the  same  in  shape,  though  each  side  has  a  small  excavation,  the  margin 
between  the  excavations  being  convex.  In  Pdecandides  (PL  XXIII.  fig.  3) 
also  the  sternum  is  nearly  straight  posteriorly.  In  the  Diomedeiiiae  (e.  g. 
Thalassiarche  melanophrys,  fig.  1)  the  posterior  angles  of  the  sternum 
are  produced  backwards  and  outwards  considerably,  and  its  posterior 
border  is  broadly  excavated  by  a  sinuous  curve,  convex  externally,  concave 
mesially.  In  Diomedea  evulans  the  inner  concave  part  is  divided  into 
two  smaller  concavities  on  each  side  by  a  process  of  bone,  so  that  the  pos- 
terior margin  presents  four  slight  notches,  the  inner  pair  being  the  bigger. 
In  the  remaining  genera  of  the  group,  the  posterior  border  of  the 
sternum  is  always  more  or  less  four-notched  posteriorly,  the  notches 
being  generally  best  developed  and  deepest  in  the  genera  allied  to 
Puffinus  and  Majaqueus  (PI.  XXIY.  figs.  1-6),  whilst  in  the  Eulmarine 
forms  the  notches  are  smaller  and  tend  to  be  irregular.  Bulweria  (fig.  11) 
departs  widely  from  any  of  the  so-called  Storm-Petrels  in  the  form  of  its 
sternum,  and  approaches  closely  (Estrelata  &c.  The  exact  forms  of  this 
notching,  which  is  inclined  to  vary  in  different  specimens,  may  be  best 
understood  from  an  inspection  of  the  figures.  The  outer  notch  may, 
as  in  the  specimen  of  Adamastor  figured  (fig.  13),  be  converted  into 
a  foramen  by  the  partial  ossification  of  the  membrane  filling  it. 

The  coracoid  bones  in  the  smaller  genera  (vide  PL  XXIV.  figs.  7-10)  are 
well-developed,  with  nearly  cylindrical  shafts,  dilated  internally  at  their 
distal  ends  to  meet  the  acromial  process  of  the  scapula,  whilst  proximally 
they  are  broad  and  expanded,  and  produced  externally  into  a  pointed,  or 
slightly  hooked  process.  In  Pelecanoides  (PL  XXIII.  figs.  3,  4)  these  bones 
diverge  at  a  smaller  angle  from  each  other  than  in  the  other  forms  ;  their 
shafts  are  less  cylindrical,  and  the  proximal  ends  comparatively  little  dilated. 
In  the  larger  forms,  on  the  other  hand,  the  coracoids  become  very 
divergent,  and  the  shaft  and  both  extremities,  but  particularly  the 
proximal  one,  are  much  dilated,  so  as  to  assume  the  extraordinary  form 
seen  in  Diomedea  (figs.  1  and  2)  and  its  allies,  where  the  greatest  trans- 
verse diameter  of  the  bone  at  its  base  is  nearly  as  great  as  its  entire 
length.  The  external  outline  of  the  bone  is  deeply  concave,  owing  to  the 
great  development  of  its  external  costal  process. 

Ibid.  p.  49.  The  scapula  is  a  slender,  slightly  curved  bone,  presenting  no  special 
peculiarities.  Its  acromial  process  is  prolonged  inwards  and  forwards 
to  nearly,  or  quite,  meet  the  posterior  end  of  the  clavicle.  The  angle  it 
forms  with  the  coracoid  varies  very  much  in  different  genera,  being 
most  acute  in  Pelecanoides,  whilst  in  the  Oceanitidse  it  is  hardly,  if  at  all, 
less  than  a  right  angle  (vide  PL  XXIV.  fig.  10,  Fregetta).  Procdlaria  and 
Cymochorea  resemble  the  other  Procellariida>,  the  coraco- scapular  angle 
being  in  them,  obviously  (t,  c.  fig.  8)  acute. 


THE  VOYAGE  OP  THE  *  CHALLENGER.'         421 

The  clavicles  are  always  well  developed,  strongly  convex  forwards  as 
seen  from  the  side,  and  forming  a  more  or  less  widely-open  U  when  seen 
from  in  front.  Their  posterior  ends  are  produced  backwards  to  unite,  by 
ligament,  with  the  acromial  process  of  the  scapula.  The  symphysis  is 
usually  somewhat  dilated  and  thickened  and  closely  apposed  to  the 
an tero- inferior  angle  of  the  sternum,  to  which  it  is  connected  by  liga- 
ment. In  Pelecanotdes  the  clavicular  arch  is  more  V-shaped,  its  limbs 
diverging  but  little,  and  the  symphysis  develops  a  firm  articulation  with 
the  carina  sterni  (vide  PI.  XXIII.  figs.  3,  4)  as  in  Phalacrocorax,  Sula, 
Plot>is,  and  Phaeihon  of  the  Steganopodes.  In  the  Oceanitidae  (vide 
PL  XXIV.  fig.  8)  the  symphysis  fur culce  has  a  strong,  curved  hypocleidial 
process,  directed  downwards  and  backwards,  very  much  more  developed 
than  the  corresponding  part  in  any  Procellarian  genus,  even  Cymochorea 
or  Procellaria  (t.  c.  fig.  6). 

Anterior  Extremity. — The  humerus  (PL  XXI.  figs.  1-3,  where  that  of 
Majaqueus  cequinoctialis  is  figured)  is  long,  with  a  cylindrical  shaft,  often 
much  compressed  distally  in  such  a  way  that  the  outer  margin  of  the 
bone  with  its  condyle  is  anterior  and  the  inner  one  with  its  condyle 
posterior.  The  head  is  but  little  elevated  above  the  general  level  of  the 
proximal  end  of  the  bone.  The  pectoral  ridge  is  prominent  and  trian- 
gular, but  short,  and  the  deltoid  impression  extends  only  as  low  as  its 
distal  termination.  Behind  the  deltoid  impression  is  a  linear  one  for 
the  latissimus  dorsi.  The  bicipital  surface  is  well  developed,  the  lesser 
trochanter  strong  and  recurved  ;  it  is  excavated  behind  and  below  by  a 
deep  infra-capitular  fossa,  bounded  above  by  the  strong  interfossal  ridge, 
the  supra-capitular  fossa  being  a  more  shallow  concavity.  The  tubercle 
for  the  insertion  of  the  pectoralis  secundus  is  strong,  and  is  situated  at 
the  commencement  of  the  pectoral  crest,  just  anterior  to  the  articular 
head.  Below  and  anterior  to  it  is  an  oval  depression,  often  large,  for 
the  pectoralis  tertius.  The  external  condyle  is  prolonged  obliquely 
upwards  and  inwards  on  the  anterior  surface  of  the  bone ;  the  capi- 
tellum  is  distinct,  and  separated  by  a  slight  notch  from  the  internal 
condyle.  The  olecranar  fossa  is  shallow  and  prolonged  upwards  into  a 
smooth,  slightly  excavated  triangular  area.  The  impression  for  the  bra- 
chialis  anticus  is  deep  and  oval. 

Above  the  external  condyle  there  is  a  very  strong,  forwardly-directed 
epicondylar  process,  from  which  arises  the  more  superficial  of  the  bellies 
of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior  muscle.     This  is  least  developed   Zool.    Chall. 
in  Pelecano'ides  and  Thalassoeca.  Exp.  vol.^ir. 

The  pectoral  crest,  on  its  inferior  aspect,  presents  an  elongated  surface 
for  the  attachment  of  the  great  pectoral,  coextensive  with  the  lower 
moiety  of  its  border.  This  surface  develops  a  roughness  at  each 
extremity,  particularly  below,  where  the  main  part  of  the  more  superficial 
layer  of  the  muscle  is  attached  by  its  strong  tendon.  The  double  nature 


422        O5  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

of  the  pectoral  muscle  is  indicated  by  a  distinct  muscular  ridge  dividing 
the  general  area  of  insertion  into  two. 

In  the  Oceanitidse  the  humerus  is  conspicuously  a  stouter  and  shorter 
bone,  with  its  shaft  evidently  curved,  instead  of  being  almost  straight, 
The  epicondylar  process  projects  much  less  forwards,  and  is  continued 
down  by  an  elevated  ridge  to  the  surface  of  the  condyle  itself. 

In  the  Albatrosses  the  humerus  is  distinctly  concave  forwards,  with  its 
shaft  considerably  compressed  throughout.  The  pectoral  crest  is  sharply 
pointed,  the  bicipital  surface  very  prominent  and  convex,  the  internal 
trochanter  less  developed,  and  the  infra-capitular  fossa  very  shallow, 
with  its  apex  occupied  by  a  large  pneumatic  foramen,  and  the  brachialis 
impression  long  and  very  shallow. 

In  Pelecanoides,  as  might  have  been  expected  from  its  diving  habits, 
the  humerus  is  somewhat  modified  from  the  ordinary  Procellarian  type. 
The  shaft  of  the  bone  is  comparatively  short  and  much  compressed, 
especially  below,  where  it  has  sharp  anterior  (external)  and  posterior 
(internal)  margins.  The  pectoral  crest  is  little  developed.  The  internal 
condyle  descends  considerably  lower  than  the  external  one,  and  the  capi- 
tellar  surface  is  well  developed  and  compressed.  Behind  it  and  the 
external  condylar  trochlea  is  a  strongly-marked  deep  pit,  into  which  fits, 
like  a  peg,  a  sharp  conical  process  developed  at  the  proximal  end  of  the 
ulna.  The  epicondylar  process  is  very  short,  and  the  depression  for  the 
brachialis  anticus  very  shallow. 

The  radius  is  a  slender,  straight,  and  cylindrical  bone,  with  its  distal 
end  depressed  and  grooved  superiorly. 

The  ulna  is  much  stouter,  with  its  posterior  edge  sharply  keeled,  with 
only  slight  impressions  for  the  secondary  remiges.  The  olecranon 
process  is  short  and  bluntly  triangular.  In  Pelecanoides  the  radius  and 
u'lna  are  considerably  compressed  from  before  backwards.  The  ulna  is 
stout,  and  develops  at  its  proximal  end  a  slightly  curved  triangular 
process,  directed  upwards,  which,  as  already  described,  fits  into  a  cor- 
responding socket  on  the  humerus,  and  so  firmly  unites  the  bones  together. 
The  manus  is  very  long.  The  second  and  third  metacarpals  are  nearly 
parallel  and  straight,  the  third  metacarpal  being  much  more  slender  than 
its  fellows.  The  pollex  has  but  one  phalanx,  which  is  strong  and  long, 
about  equalling  one  half  of  the  second  metacarpal.  The  two  phalanges 
of  the  index  are  well  developed,  the  basal  one,  which  does  not  articulate 
with  the  third  digit,  being  much  dilated  posteriorly. 

ZooL  jCh9.ll.  In  the  Oceanitidse  the  radius  and  ulna  are  generally  stouter  and 
Exp.  vol.  iv.  granger  bones  than  they  are  in  the  Procellariidae ;  the  former  is*considerably 
pt.  xi.  p.  .  expan(je(j  at  its  distal  extremity. 

As  may  be  seen  by  the  table  at  the  end  of  this  section  (p.  426)  the 
three  chief  segments  of  the  fore  limb  are,  as  a  rule,  nearly  equal  in  length, 
this  being  especially  true  as  regards  the  arm  and  forearm. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  'CHALLENGER.'  423 

Pelecano'ides  alone  has  the  latter  much  shorter  than  the  arm,  the  pro- 
portions here  being  three  to  four.  In  all  the  others  the  humerus  and 
ulna  are  nearly  equal  in  length. 

In  most  of  the  genera  the  manus  (excluding  the  carpus)  is  the  longest 
of  the  three  segments,  but  this  is  not  the  case  in  the  larger  forms 
(Adamastor,  Majaqueus,  and  Ossifraga)  of  the  Procellariinae,  whilst  in  the 
Diomedeinae  the  inanus  is  very  much  shorter,  as  may  be  seen  by  the 
measurements,  than  either  the  humerus  or  ulna. 

Pelvic  Arch. — The  pelvis  (cf.  PI.  XXII.  fig.  5,  pelvis  &c.  of  Majaquem 
cequinoctialis)  may  be  described  as  generally  elongated  and  narrow.  The 
prae-acetabular  is  about  equal  to  the  post-ace  tabular  axis,  though  in 
Cymochorea,  Procellaria,  Pelecano'ides,  and  the  Oceanitidae  it  is  consider- 
ably longer.  In  Puffinus,  on  the  other  hand,  the  reverse  is  the  case.  . 

The  ilia  are  long  and  narrow ;  anterior  to  the  acetabula  they  are 
slightly  concave  plates,  with  their  anterior  extremities  somewhat  rounded 
off,  separated  mesially  by  the  sacral  vertebrae,  the  neural  spines  of  which 
coalesce  into  a  strong  median  ridge.  The  antitrochanteric  eminences  are 
strong,  and  stand  out  conspicuously,  the  iliac  bones  attaining  here  their 
greatest  transverse  extent,  though  each  bone  is  narrow  and  separated  by 
a  wide  space,  occupied  by  the  bodies  and  transverse  processes  of  the 
more  posterior  sacral  vertebrae,  from  its  fellow  of  the  other  side.  A 
strongly  marked  post-acetabular  ridge  runs  from  here  inwards  and  back- 
wards to  the  prominent  posterior  iliac  angle,  which  lies  between  the 
transverse  processes  of  the  second  and  third  caudal  vertebrae.  External 
to  the  ridge,  the  iliac  surface  is  nearly  vertical. 

The  ischia  are  narrow  and  compressed  plates  of  bone,  usually  strongly 
curved  downwards  posteriorly  to  articulate  with  the  dilated  posterior 
ends  of  the  nearly  straight,  slender,  pubic  bones,  each  of  which  has  at 
the  level  of  the  anterior  angle  of  the  acetabulum,  a  slight  prepubic  spine. 
The  posterior  ilio-sciatic  margin  is  first  strongly  concave  backwards,  and 
then  convex. 

Seen  from  above,  the  pelvis  preserves  its  generally  narrow  shape,  the 
pubes  being  only  slightly  inturned  at  their  posterior,  cartilaginous 
extremities.  The  renal  fossae  are  narrow,  fairly  deep,  and  confluent. 
In  front  they  are  limited  by  the  transverse  processes  of  the  3rd  or  4th 
sacral  vertebrae,  which,  like  those  of  their  predecessors,  are  short  and 
slender,  the  7th,  8th,  9th,  and  10th  of  those  bones  developing  transverse 
processes,  which  abut  against  the  ilia,  and  in  the  larger  forms  become 
strong  and  more  or  less  double. 

There  is  not  very  much  divergence  from  the  general  form  of  pelvis  Zool.    Chall. 
described  here  amongst  the  various  forms  of  Petrels.     In  the  Albatrosses     Esp.jol.iT. 
it  becomes  very  narrow,  especially  anteriorly,  the  renal  fossae  being  cor- 
respondingly narrow  and  deep.     The  bones  entering  into  its  composition, 
and  supporting  it,  become  extensively  pneumatic.     Anteriorly  the  ilia 


424  ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

unite,  or  nearly  so,  over  the  neural  crest,  whilst  posteriorly  the  foramina 
between  the  transverse  processes  of  the  sacral  vertebras  become  reduced 
to  small  holes,  owing  to  the  increased  amount  of  ossification.  A  ten- 
dency to  similar  increased  ossification  in  these  parts  is  discernible  in  the 
larger  forms  of  Petrels. 

In  Pelecanoides  the  ischia  are  nearly  straight  along  their  posterior 
margin. 

In  Cymochorea  and  Procellaria,  as  well  as  in  the  Oceanitidee,  the  pelvis 
generally  is  weaker,  with  its  posterior  region  more  deflexed.  But  that 
of  the  two  former  genera  may  be  distinguished  from  that  of  the  Oceani- 
tidae  by  the  obsolete  condition  of  the  posterior  iliac  spine,  the  weakness 
of  the  post-acetabular  ridge,  and  the  smaller  size  of  the  ilio-sciatic  and 
obturator  foramina. 

Posterior  Extremity. — The  femur  is  short,  and  more  or  less  curved, 
most  so  in  Puffinus.  The  head  is  a  little  elevated,  and  set  on  nearly  at 
right  angles  to  the  long  axis  of  the  bone.  The  external  condyle  descends 
lower  than  the  internal,  and  has  a  well-marked  posterior  trochlear  sur- 
face. The  femur  of  the  Oceanitidse  is  a  stronger  and  better- developed 
bone,  particularly  at  the  two  extremities,  than  it  is  in  the  Procellariidae 
of  corresponding  size.  The  tibia  is  long,  especially  in  the  Oceanitidse, 
where  it  is  at  least  twice  as  long  as  the  humerus.  It  has  a  very  large 
and  strocg  cnemial  process,  best  developed  in  the  genus  Puffinus,  for  the 
attachment  of  muscles,  rising  high  above  the  articular  faces  of  the 
femur  (vide  PL  XXI.  fig.  6).  Its  distal  end  is  more  or  less  antero- 
posteriorly  compressed,  and  has  an  osseous  bridge  for  the  extensor  corn- 
munis  digitorum.  The  ridge  for  the  fibula  extends  for  about  one  quarter 
the  total  length  of  the  shaft  of  the  bone,  beginning  a  little  below  the 
external  condylar  facet. 

The  fibula  is  a  delicate,  styliform  bone,  which  may  be  two  thirds  as 
long  as  the  shaft  of  the  tibia. 

The  tarso-metatarsus  has  a  smooth,  rounded,  interarticular  prominence 
proximally,  and  a  calcaneal  eminence,  with  two  deep  grooves,  which  may 
become  converted  into  canals,  for  the  passage  of  the  flexor  tendons.  In 
the  Diomedeinae  this  calcaneal  process  is  feebly  developed,  with  but  a 
single  groove  internally,  and  a  broad  trochlear  surface,  with  two  shallow 
furrows,  externally.  The  antero-external  margin  of  the  bone  is  sharply 
keeled.  In  such  forms  as  Puffinus  this  keel  becomes  very  sharp  and 
prominent,  owing  to  the  greatly  compressed  form  of  the  leg.  Internal 
to  it  the  bone  is  distinctly  grooved. 

Of  the  articular  trochleae  at  its  distal  end,  the  inner  is  the  shortest  and 
most  oblique.  Those  for  the  third  and  fourth  digits  are  more  nearly 
Zool.  Chall.  equal,  that  for  the  third,  however,  being  slightly  the  longer.  There  is  a 
Exp.  vol.jv.  8maii  foramen  between  it  and  the  fourth. 

In  Puffinus  there  is  a  distinct  osseous  bridge,  developed  on  the  anterior 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  *  CHALLENGER.'         425 

and  distal  surface  of  this  bone,  external  to  the  impression  for  the  tibialis 
anticus,  which  I  have  also  seen  present  (on  one  side  only)  in  Diomedea 
exulans.  Usually  the  bridge  remains  tendinous. 

The  three  anterior  digits  are  strong  and  well  developed,  the  third  and 
fourth  being  nearly  equal  in  length.  They  have  the  normal  number  of 
phalanges,  of  which  the  basal  one  is  always  much  the  longest.  In  the 
Oceanitidae  the  phalanx  of  the  middle  digit  always  exceeds  the  two  suc- 
ceeding ones,  taken  together,  in  length,  whereas  in  the  Procellariidae 
it  is  always  shorter,  considerably,  than  these  two. 

The  hallux  is  altogether  absent  in  Pelecqno'ides,  and  is  present  only 
in  the  most  rudimentary  form,  as  already  described  (supra,  p.  377),  in  the 
Diomedeinae.  In  the  Oceanitidae  and  remaining  Procellariinae  it  is  always 
present,  though  small,  but  is  peculiar  in  consisting  of  only  a  single 
phalanx,  which  bears  the  claw  (vide  PL  XXII.  fig.  6).  It  articulates, 
proximally,  with  a  small  metatarsal,  which  lies  in  its  usual  relationship 
to  the  cannon-bone  formed  by  the  conjoined  metatarsals. 

In  the  ordinary  Petrels  the  only  pneumatic  bones  of  the  skeleton  are 
the  skull,  lower  jaw  (around  its  angle),  sternum  (very  slightly),  and  the 
cervical,  dorsal,  and  some  of  the  more  anterior  sacral  vertebrae.  The 
limb-bones  are  all  filled  with  marrow.  In  the  smaller  forms  indeed  of 
both  families  only  the  skull,  lower  jaw,  and  a  few  of  the  most  posterior 
cervical  vertebrae  seem  to  be  pneumatic.  As  a  rule  there  seems  to  be  a 
gradual  increase  in  the  amount  of  pneumaticity  of  the  bones  correlated 
with  the  increase  of  size  in  the  bird  generally. 

In  the  Albatrosses  the  whole  of  the  axial  skeleton  (excepting  some  of 
the  ribs,  the  scapula,  furcula,  caudal  vertebrae,  and  uncinate  processes) 
becomes  extensively  pneumatic,  the  sternum  being  especially  so.  The 
humerus,  moreover,  becomes  hollowed  and  filled  by  air,  which  enters 
through  the  pneumatic  foramina  developed  at  the  bottom  of  the  infra- 
capitular  fossa. 

The  proportion  of  the  hind,  as  compared  with  the  fore,  extremity,  as 
well  as  those  between  different  segments  of  those  limbs,  are  very  different, 
as  may  be  seen  from  the  appended  table  of  measurements  (in  millimetres), 
in  the  Oceanitidse  and  the  Procellariida?  respectively.  In  the  former 
the  leg,  as  measured  by  the  combined  lengths  of  the  femur,  tibia,  and 
metatarsus,  and  therefore  excluding  the  toes,  is  longer  than  the  wing 
(humerus  +  ulna  -fmanus,  omitting  the  carpals).  The  tarsus  is  longer 
than  the  mid-toe  or  ulna,  and  at  least  twice  as  long  as  the  femur.  The 
tibia  is  at  least  twice  as  long  as  the  humerus,  and  much  longer  than  the 
manus. 

In  the  Procellariidae  (including  the  Diomedeinee  and  Pelecano'ides)  the 
leg,  measured  in  the  same  way,  is  shorter  than  the  wing.  The  tarsus  is 
not  longer  than  the  mid-toe  (except  in  Procellaria  where  it  is  just)  but  Zool 

shorter,  and  the  same  is  always  the  case  when  it  is  compared  to  the  ulna.     Exp.  vol.  iv. 

pt.  xi.  p.  54. 


426 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


It  is  never  twice  as  long  as  the  femur.     The  tibia  is  only  a  little,  or  not 
at  all,  longer  than  the  humerus  or  manus. 


Name. 

Hu- 
merus. 

Ulna. 

Manus. 

Femur, 

Tibia. 

Tarso- 
Meta- 
tarsus. 

Middle 
Toe. 

Oceanites  oceanicus  

23 

21 

34 

15 

50 

35 

28 

Garrodia  nereis  

20 

17 

26C?)t 

14 

51 

34 

25 

Pelagodroma  marina         . 

27 

24 

37 

18 

60 

41 

35 

Fregetta  melanogastra 

27 

23 

36 

19 

56 

38 

26 

Cymochorea  leucorrhoa   .. 

35 

35 

42 

16 

37 

24 

26 

Procellaria  pelagica  
Bulweria  columbina  

26 
62 

24 

62 

33 
63 

13 

20 

33 
42 

22 

28 

20 

28 

"GJstrelata  grisea"  

81 

83 

84 

31 

61 

36 

43 

Majaqueus  sequinoctialis 

151 

154 

143 

51 

116 

67 

81 

Adamastor  cinereus  

134 

132 

127 

50 

108 

62 

78 

Puffinus  anglorum    .  .. 

79 

72 

86 

31 

79 

46 

51 

obscurus 

66 

63 

71 

25 

66 

40 

44 

Daption  capensis    

86 

84 

91 

38 

80 

46 

56 

Aeipetes  antarcticus  

98 

93 

100 

44 

88 

44 

56 

Thalassoeca  glacialoides 

115 

113 

118 

48 

96 

57 

68 

Fulmarus  glacialis 

118 

116 

117 

50 

113 

54 

67 

Ossifraga  gigantea     . 

243 

236 

212 

88 

184 

94 

130 

Pnon  desolatus.    ... 

57 

56 

56 

23 

53 

32 

35 

Pelecanoides  urinatrix  

43 

33 

44 

23 

46 

24 

27 

Diomedea  exulans    . 

428 

417 

290 

110 

246 

124 

168 

brachyura    

281 

285 

222 

76 

175 

96 

122 

Thalassiarche  melanophrys  

259 

262 

202 

80 

161 

83 

118 

IV.  THE  CLASSIFICATION  OF  THE  TUBINARES. 

The  propriety  of  the  division  of  the  entire  order  Tubinares  into  two 
main  families,  which  must  be  termed  the  Oceanitidae  and  Procellariidae  J, 
first  proposed  by  Professor  Grarrod  in  1873  (vide  supra,  p.  372),  has  been 
fully  borne  out  by  my  further  investigations  into  the  structure  of  these 
forms.  To  the  differences  in  the  myological  formulae,  and  in  the  presence 
or  absence  of  caeca,  may  now  be  added  numerous  other  points,  both 
external  and  internal. 

The  Oceanitidae  agree  together  in  having  the  following  peculiarities 
which  are  not  shared  in — with  one  or  two  exceptions  marked  by  an  * — by 
any  of  the  Procellariidae : — 

The  number  of  secondary  remiges  is  never  more  than  ten.  The  tarsi 
are  not  uniformly  reticulate,  but  are  either  ocreate,  or  covered  by  large 
Zool.  Chall.  transversely-oblique  scutes  anteriorly.  The  claws  are  very  flat,  depressed, 
Exp,  vol.  jv.  an(j  lamellar.  There  are  no  colic  caeca.*  (Absent  in  Halocyptena  only 
of  the  Procellariidae.)  There  is  a  peculiar  expansor  secundariorum  muscle. 
The  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  is  quite  simple  throughout.  The 


pt  xi.  p.  55. 


t  Imperfect  in  the  specimen  measured.     This  length  is  estimated. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER/         427 

semi-tendinosus  muscle  has  a  well- developed  accessory  head.  The  ambiens 
muscle,  when  present,  does  not  pass  over  the  knee,  but  is  lost  on  the 
cueniial  process  of  the  tibia.  The  number  of  cervico-dorsal  vertebrae  is 
twenty-one.  The  clavicles  have  a  long,  curved,  symphysial  process.  The 
leg-bones  are  longer  than  the  wing-bones.  The  tarsus  is  longer  than  the 
mid-toe  *  and  ulna,  and  at  least  twice  as  long  as  the  femur.  The  tibia  is 
at  least  twice  as  long  as  the  humerus,  and  much  longer  than  the  manus. 
The  basal  phalanx  of  the  middle  toe  is  as  long  as,  or  longer  than,  the 
next  two  taken  together. 

The  Oceanitidae  also  agree  together  in  having  no  basipterygoid  pro- 
cesses, no  uncinate  bone,  a  peculiarly  short  and  stout  humerus,  radius, 
and  ulna,  a  single  circular  nasal  aperture,  a  sternum  with  its  posterior 
margin  quite  or  nearly  entire,  a  larger  gluteus  primus,  as  well  as  in 
numerous  other  smaller  details  already  noticed.  All  these  characters 
never  coexist  together  in  any  Procellarian  form,  and,  if  my  observations 
are  correct,  the  Oceanitidae  further  differ  from  the  Procellariidae  by  having 
a  bleeps  brachii  muscle  of  the  normal  form,  with  no  patagial  slip. 

The  Procellariidae,  on  the  other  hand,  have  the  following  charac- 
ters:— 

The  number  of  secondary  rerniges  is  never  less  than  thirteen,  and  is 
usually  much  greater.  The  tarsi  are  pretty  uniformly  covered  with  small 
hexagonal  scutella.  The  claws  are  sharp,  curved,  compressed.  Short 
colic  caeca  are  present  t.  There  is  no  expansor  secundariorum  muscle. 
The  termination  of  the  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  brevis  is  never  quite 
simple,  and  may  become  very  complicated.  There  is  no  accessory  head 
to  the  semi-tendinosus.  The  ambiens  muscle  (only  absent  in  Pelecano'ides) 
always  crosses  the  knee.  The  number  of  cervico-dorsal  vertebrae  is  not 
less  than  twenty-two.  The  clavicles  have  only  a  very  small  symphysial 
process.  The  leg  is  shorter  than  the  wing.  The  tarsus  is  not  larger 
than  the  mid-toe  (except  in  Procellaria),  and  is  shorter  than  the  ulna.  It 
is  never  twice  as  long  as  the  femur.  The  tibia  is  only  a  little,  or  not  at 
all,  longer  than  the  humerus  or  manus.  The  basal  phalanx  of  the  middle 
toe  is  shorter  than  the  two  next  joints.  Basipterygoid  facets  may  or 
may  not  be  present,  and  the  same  is  true  of  the  uncinate  bone.  The 
humerus,  radius,  and  ulna  have  a  shape  different  from  that  of  the 
Oeeanitidae.  The  form  of  the  nostrils,  and  of  the  posterior  margin  of 
the  sternum,  varies  extensively.  The  gluteus  primus  is  always  very 


t  Halocyptena  is  apparently  an  exception  to  this  rule,  but  as  Cynochorea  has  only 
one  caecum,  there  is  nothing  surprising  in  the  reduction  being  carried  a  step  further. 
As  therefore  all  the  congeners  of  Halocyptena  have  caeca,  it  may  be  safely  assumed  that 
their  disappearance  in  it  has  been  very  recent,  and  has  occurred  since  it  acquired  the 
rest  of  its  Procellarian  characters.  This  loss  of  caeca  therefore  by  it  does  not  in  any 
way  really  approximate  it  to  the  Oceanitidas. 


428  ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

small,  and  there  is  a  peculiarly  formed  patagial  slip  derived  from  the 
biceps  muscle. 

Zool.  Chall.  Thus  in  spite  of  the  general  superficial  resemblance  of  the  Oceanitidae 
EtXfxiV01  56  to  ^6  sma^er  f°rms  °f  Procellariidae,  with  which  all  ornithologists  previous 
to  Garrod  had  confounded  them,  the  differences  between  the  two  families 
are,  it  will  be  seen,  numerous  and  important.  The  special  points  of 
resemblance  which  the  Oceanitidse  have  with  such  Procellarian  genera  as 
Procellaria  and  Cymochorea — such  as  the  general  small  size,  style  of 
coloration,  form  of  skull,  comparative  simplicity  of  the  tensor-patagii 
arrangement,  simple  sternum  and  syrinx  (the  last  three  peculiarities 
being  also  common  to  Pelecano'ides) — may  best  be  explained  by  supposing 
that  these  small  Procellarian  forms  are  on  the  whole  less  specialized  than 
the  larger  ones  (Fulmars,  Albatrosses,  Shearwaters,  &c.),  and  so  retain 
more  of  the  characters  possessed  by  the  primitive  and  now  extinct  com- 
mon form  from  which  both  the  Proceilariidae  and  Oceanitidse  must  have 
been  derived. 

The  Oceanitidae  are  a  small  and,  on  the  whole,  compact  group,  with  but 
few  differences  of  importance  between  the  four  genera  contained  in  it. 
Of  such  differences  the  most  important  are  the  loss  of  the  anibiens,  and 
the  very  flattened  nails  and  feet  of  Fregetta  ;  the  lengthening  of  the  foot 
in  Pelagodroma ;  and  the  acquisition  of  an  ocreate  tarsus  by  Fregetta  and 
Oceanites.  Garrodia  is,  therefore,  on  the  whole,  the  least  modified  form 
of  the  group.  The  four  genera  may  be  distinguished  as  follows  : — 

Garrodia.  Ambiens  present ;  tarsus  scutellated  anteriorly  ;  sternum 
posteriorly  entire. 

Oceanites.  Ambiens  present ;  tarsus  ocreate ;  sternum  posteriorly 
slightly  excavated ;  interdigital  webs  yellow  *. 

Pelagodroma.  Ambiens  present ;  tarsus  scutellated;  sternum  and  webs 
as  in  Oceanites ;  feet  very  long. 

Fregetta.  Ambiens  absent ;  tarsus  ocreate ;  sternum  entire  ;  feet  very 
short,  and  nails  peculiarly  broad  and  blunt  f. 

The  Proceilariidae,  comprising  as  they  do  by  far  the  greater  number  of 
species  and  genera  of  the  group,  show  much  more  divergence  inter  se 
than  is  the  case  with  the  Oceanitidae.  The  Albatrosses  are  by  far  the 
most  aberrant  forms  of  this  group,  with  which,  however,  they  have  all 
the  characters  above  noted  in  common,  though  in  themselves  specialized 
in  several  points.  The  discovery  of  a  rudimentary  hallux,  and  of  an 

*  To  the  genus  Oceanites  belong  Thalassidroma  gracilis  (Elliot,  Ibis,  1859,  p.  391 — 
the  type  (?)  of  which,  now  in  the  Smithsonian  Institution,  I  have  examined)  and  Tha- 
lassidroma  lineata  (Peale,  Orn.  U.S.  Expl.  Exped.  pi.  xxxix.  p.  403).  Thalassidroma 
segethi  (Philippi  and  Landbeck,  Wiegm.  Arch.  1860,  p.  282)  may  be  the  former  bird, 
or,  as  suggested  by  Mr.  Salvin  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1878,  p.  736),  Freyetfa  grallaria. 

t  Besides  Fregefta  grallaria  and  melanogastra  there  seem  to  be  two  other  species  to 
be  referred  here,  viz.  Procellaria  albogularis,  Finsch  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1877,  p.  722), 
and  Fregetta  m&stissima,  Salvin  (Proc.  Zool.  Soc.  1879,  p.  130). 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  T11E  '  CHALLENGER.'  429 

aftershaft  in  these  birds,  disposes  of  two  of  the  characters  which  have 
hitherto  been  available  for  their  separation  from  the  other  Tubinares,  as 
do  the  gradations  of  form  that  exist  in  the  amount  of  separation  of  the 
two  parts  of  the  dorsal  tract  of  another.  As  peculiarities  of  the  Dio- 
uiedeinae  may  be  included  : — 

The  lateral  position  of  the    nostrils*.     The  presence  of  a  distinct  Zool.    Chall. 
gluteus  quintus  muscle.     The  formation  of    the  biceps    humeri  muscle,     pt^^p  57" 
which  gives  off  a  patagial  slip  from  its  coracoidal  head.     The  characteristic 
sternum.     The  absence  of  haemapophyses  on  the  dorsal  vertebrae.     The 
pneumatic  os  humeri.     The  generally  pneumatic  condition  of  the  skeleton. 
The  proportion  of  the  mauus  to  the  humerus  and  ulna. 

The  tongue  and  palate  are  also  more  or  less  peculiar,  and  in  all 
the  genera  there  are  uncinate  bones,  no  basipterygoid  facets,  and  two 
large  distinct  accessory  wing-ossicles ;  the  right  liver-lobe  is  also  distinctly 
the  larger  of  the  two. 

There  are  apparently  three  good  genera  of  Albatrosses,  which  may  be 
distinguished,  independently  of  external  characters,  as  follows  : — 

Diomedea.  Tongue  very  short ;  uncinate  bones  more  or  less  styliform. 
(Diomedea  exulans  and  bracJiyura.) 

Thalassiarclie.  Tongue  intermediate ;  uncinate  bones  styliform. 
( Thalassiarche  culminata.) 

Phcebetria.  Tongue  much  longer;  uncinate  bones  flattened;  hallux 
better  developed  than  in  the  other  genera,  and  with  an  external  claw. 
(Phcebetria  fuliginosa.} 

Neglecting  for  the  present  the  peculiar  diving  Pelecanoides,  the  re- 
mainder of  the  Procellariidae  forms  a  natural  group  distinguished  by  the 
following  characters  from  the  Albatrosses  (Diomedeinae)  : — 

The  more  or  less  dorsal  position  of  the  nostrils,  the  form  of  which, 
however,  varies,  as  has  already  been  described,  though  they  are  never 
lateral.  The  absence  of  a  glutens  quintus.  The  peculiar  form  of  the 
biceps  brachii  muscle,  which  is  in  two  separate  parts,  the  humeral  head 
forming  a  patagial  slip.  The  presence  of  haemapophyses  on  the  dorsal 
vertebrae,  the  centra  of  which  are  marked  by  more  or  less  developed  pneu- 
matic depressions.  The  non-pneumatic  humerus.  The  different  ptery- 
losis,  and  the  nearly  equal  size  of  the  lobes  of  the  liver.  The  greater 
size  of  the  hallux,  which  always  has  a  distinct  nail  externally.  (Quite 
absent  in  Pelecano'ides.} 

*  This  feature,  in  which  the  Albatrosses  are  apparently  more  primitive  than  are 
either  the  Oceanitidse  or  the  other  Procellariidae,  can  hardly,  if  my  views  about  the 
relationships  of  these  groups  to  each  other  be  correct,  be  considered  to  have  been  a 
character  of  the  common  Petrel-ancestor.  It  may  be  more  probably  explained  as  due 
to  arrested  development  during  embryonic  life,  as  a  study  of  the  development  of  the 
nostrils  of  other  Petrels  would  probably  show  that  these  are  actually,  at  some  time, 
lateral,  and  subsequently  coalesce. 


430         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DUE1NG 

Pelecandides  is,  in  some  respects,  as  much  specialized  as  the  Albatrosses, 
though  many  of  its  modifications  are  distinctly  traceable  to  its  diving 
habits,  as,  e.  g.,  the  compressed  form  of  the  wing-bones,  the  great  develop- 
ment of  the  hypapophyses  of  the  dorsal  vertebrae,  the  elongated  sternum 
and  pectoral  muscles,  the  peculiar  ribs.  But  it  stands  alone  (amongst 
the  Procellariidae)  in  the  absence  of  the  ambiens  muscle ;  the  peculiar  dis- 
position of  the  femoral  vein ;  the  absence  of  a  ballux  ;  and  the  single 
interclavicular  air-cell.  Moreover,  as  in  Bulweria  only  of  other  Tubinares, 
its  myological  formula  is  A.X.,  there  being  no  accessory  head  to  the  femoro- 
caudal  muscle. 
Zool.  Chall.  But  Pelecandides  shows  marks  of  beiog  in  some  respects  an  early  form 

Exp.  vol.  iv.  in  the  simple  condition   of  the   tensor  patagii  muscle,  in  its  very  simple 
pt.  xi.  p.  Oo.  r  J- 

syrinx,  and  in  the  general  shape  of  its  sternum.     It  has  the  characteristic 

form  of  biceps  muscle  found  in  all  the  Proeellariidse,  except  the  Albatrosses, 
and  like  all  those  forms,  except  the  Procellaria-grou]),  has  basipterygoid 
facets. 

Pelecandides  is  thus,  as  will  be  seen,  a  very  well-marked  form,  though 
it  is  somewhat  difficult  to  decide  as  to  whether  its  peculiarities  are  such 
as  to  entitle  it  to  form  a  separate  subfamily  by  itself.  The  presence  of 
basipterygoid  facets  would  seem  to  indicate  that  it  probably  diverged 
from  the  general  stock  of  the  Procellariinae  at  a  point  when  the  latter 
had  already  developed  that  feature,  and  therefore  at  a  period  after  the 
ancestor  of  the  Procellaria- group — in  many  ways  the  least  specialized, 
and  therefore  presumably  more  ancient,  of  the  subfamily,  and  in  which 
there  are  no  such  facets — had  already  acquired  its  main  characters. 

According  to  modern  ideas,  the  object  of  a  classification  is  not  so  much 
to  represent  morphological  facts  as  to  indicate  the  phylogenetic  relations 
of  the  different  forms  concerned.  According  to  the  first  view,  Pelecandides 
might  well  be  placed,  as  many  authors  have  done,  in  a  special  group  of 
its  own ;  but  if  we  admit,  as  seems  on  the  whole  most  probable,  that  it 
has  been  derived  from  the  same  stock  as  the  Procellaria-grou])  after  the 
special  ancestor  of  the  latter  was  developed,  I  prefer  considering  it  as 
simply  a  highly  specialized  form  of  the  Procellariinae. 

The  Procellariinae  so  defined  fall  into  a  number  of  smaller  groups, 
distinguishable  by  good  characters. 

The  "  Stormy-Petrels  "  of  the  genera  Procellaria,  Cymochorea,  and 
Halocyptena  *  form  one  such  minor  group,  distinguished  by  their  general 
small  size  and  coloration,  comparatively  long  tarsi,  nearly  single  nasal 
aperture,  simple  triangular  tongue,  simple  tensor  patagii,  peculiar  skull 
with  no  basipterygoid  facets  or  distinct  uncinate  bone,  entire  posterior 
sternal  margin,  and  little  specialized  syrinx.  Procellaria  has  two  ca3ca, 


*   Oceanodroma  also,  I  have  little  doubt,  belongs  to  this  group. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  4  CHALLENGER.'         431 

Cymockorea  one  only,  and  Halocyptenat  as  already  mentioned,  has  them 
quite  absent. 

The  position  of  Pelecanoides  has  already  been  fully  discussed  ;  it  stands 
quite  per  se,  though  presumably  derived  from  a  stem  common  to  it  and 
the  remaining  Procellariinae,  which  must  have  diverged  from  the  less 
specialized  one  now  represented  by  the  Procellaria-group. 

Prion  (with  which  Halobcena  is  probably  to  be  associated)  represents  a 
third  minor  group,  much  specialized  as  regards  its  peculiarly  broad  beak 
with  its  fringe  of  lamellae,  whilst  in  its  tensor-patagii  arrangement  and 
syrinx  it  is  not  highly  developed. 

The  two  genera  Pagodroma  and  Daption  seem  very  central  as  regards 
their  relationships,  which  seem  to  be  with  Prion  (as  indicated  chiefly  by 
the  rudimentary  lamellae  of  Daption)  on  the  one  hand,  and  with  the  Zool.  Chall. 
Fulmars  on  the  other,  Aeipetes  *  being  the  less  specialized  of  these,  both  jj^i'jj'gj 
as  regards  its  imperfect  trachea!  septum  and  the  number  of  rectrices. 
The  type  of  syrinx  so  characteristic  of  the  Fulmars  is  foreshadowed,  as 
it  were,  as  has  been  already  pointed  out  (supra,  p.  401)  in  that  of  Pago- 
droma, and  all  four  genera  (Fulmarus,  Thalassoeca,  Ossifraga,  and  Aeipetes} 
agree  in  the  general  disposition  of  the  ttnsor  patagii,  which  has  no  ossicles, 
in  the  more  or  less  rudimentary  os  uncmatuin,  in  the  tendency  to  anchy- 
losis of  the  lachrymal  and  frontal,  in  the  shape  of  the  tongue  and  of 
more  or  less  well-developed  lamellae  on  the  bill,  and  in  having  four  more 
or  less  complete,  but  never  deep,  sternal  emarginations. 

Aeipetes  is,  on  the  whole,  the  least  specialized  of  the  Fulmarine  group 
in  the  most  limited  sense.  This  includes  besides  Thalassoeca,  Fulmarus, 
and  Ossifraya,  which  last,  on  account  of  its  great  size,  peculiar  syrinx, 
and  sixteen  rectrices,  may  be  considered  the  culminating  point  in  this 
direction  of  the  Procellariidse. 

The  remaining  genera,  (Estrelata,  Pujfinus,  Adamastor,  Majaqueus,  and 
Bulweria,  are  also  apparently  closely  related  to  each  other,  the  first  and 
last  named  being  perhaps  least  so.     All  agree  in  having  a  deeply  four-  ibid.  p.  0. 
notched  sternum,  in  having  well-developed  uncinate  bones,  in  the  posses- 
sion of  one  or  t\vo  accessory  wing -ossicles  developed  in  the  termination 


*  I  propose  to  make  a  genus  under  this  name,  for  the  reception  of  the  Procettaria 
antarctica  of  Gmelin  (Sy^t.  Nat.  1788,  vol.  i.  p.  505),  which  has  usually  been  considered 
congeneric  with  Thalasxceca,  the  type  (and  only  representative)  of  which  is  Thalassoeca 
ylacialoides.  For  the  latter  bird  also  was  instituted  Houibron  and  Jacquinot's  genus 
Priocella  (s.  c.  vol.  iii.  p.  148).  Aeipetes  is  easily  distinguishable  from  Thalassoeca  by 
the  much  shorter  and  stouter  bill,  and  differently  shaped  nasal  tubes,  as  will  be  best 
understood  from  the  accompanying  figures  (figs.  31,32,  p.  432).  The  number  of  rec- 
t  rices  is  also  different  (twelve  as  compared  to  fourteen)  ;  the  tracheal  septum  is  incom- 
plete, and  the  structure  of  the  syrinx  also  quite  different  (fide  supra,  p.  404).  The 
coloration  of  the  two  forms  is  quite  unlike. 


432 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


Zool.  Chall. 
Exp.  vol.  iv. 
pt.  xi.  p.  59. 


of  the  tensor  patayii  tendons,  in  the  spiny  tongue  (?  Adainastvr),  and  the 
palatal  armature  of  spines  (?  Adamastor),  and  in  there  never  being  even 
indications  of  lateral  lamellae  on  the  beak. 

(Estrelata  differs  from  its  allies  in  having  only  a  single  ulnar  ossicle, 
there  being  two  in  all  the  others. 

Puffinus  and  Adamastor  are  more  closely  connected  together  than  they 
are  with  Majaqueus,  easily  distinguishable  by  its  more  normal  nostrils, 


Fig.  31. 


Beak  of  Thalassoeca  glacialoides. 
«.  The  aperture  of  the  nasal  tubes,  from  in  front.     Natural  size. 

Fig.  32. 


The  same  parts  of  Aeipetes  antarcticus. 

Ibid.  p.  60.  less  compressed  tarsi,  and  specialized  (?  Adamastor}  syrinx.  Bulweria  is 
a  peculiar  form,  with  no  very  close  ally,  and  must  be  regarded  as  a  highly 
specialized  form,  as  shown  in  its  myological  formula  being  reduced  to 
A.X.,  and  its  peculiar  cuneate  tail.  It  has  no  close  relationship  at  all  to 
the  Stormy-Petrels,  as  already  pointed  out  by  Dr.  Coues  *  and  Garrodt. 
These  views  on  the  classification  of  the  Tubinares  may  be  represented 
in  the  diagram,  p.  436. 


*  S.  c.  186(>,  p.  139. 


t  Coll.  Papers,  p.  221. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         433 


V.  THE  AFFINITIES  OF  THE  TUBINARES. 

The  Tubinares  as  a  group  may  be  shortly  defined  as  follows  : — 

Holorhiual  schizognathous  birds  with  a  large,  broad,  depressed,  pointed 
vomer,  and  truncated  mandible ;  with  the  anterior  toes  fully  webbed,  and 
the  hallux  either  very  small  and  reduced  to  one  phalanx,  or  absent ;  with 
a  tufted  oil-gland  and  large  supraorbital  glands  furrowing  the  skull ;  with 
the  external  nostrils  produced  into  tubes,  usually  more  or  less  united 
together  dorsally  ;  with  an  enormous  glandular  proventriculus  and  small 
gizzard  of  unusual  shape  and  position,  and  with  the  commencing  duode- 
num ascending  ;  with  a  completely  double  great  pectoral  muscle,  and  a 
well-developed  pectoralis  tertius ;  with  the  femoro-caudal  and  semi-tendi- 
nosus  muscles  always  present,  and  the  ambieiis  and  accessory  femoro-caudal 
only  exceptionally  absent. 

Some  at  least  of  these  characters — the  structure  of  the  hallux,  the 
formation  of  the  nostrils*,  and  the  form  of  the  stomach — are  quite  peculiar 
to  the  Tubinares,  not  being  found  in  any  other  birds,  though  of  universal 
presence  in  these.  These  features  alone  would  at  once  suffice  to  distin- 
guish them  from  any  other  Avian  order,  whilst  the  combination  of  other 
characters  is  as  unique.  It  is  therefore  a  difficult  task  to  assign  to  this 
group  a  satisfactory  position  in  any  arrangement  of  the  class  Aves,  owing 
to  its  much  isolated  position. 

Most  previous  writers  have  considered  the  Petrels  as  more  or  less  Zool.    Chall. 
closely  connected  with  the  Gulls  (LaridaB),  but  the  grounds  for  any  such     Exp.  vol.  iv. 
collocation  are  very  slight  in  my  judgment,  now  that  the  structure  of  the 
two  groups  is  better  known. 

The  Gulls  exhibit  no  trace  of  any  of  the  characteristic  peculiarities  of 
the  Petrels  t,  and  differ  widely  from  them  in  the  important  feature  of 
being  schizorhinal  +.  The  peculiar  disposition  in  two  quite  separate  layers 
of  the  great  pectoral  muscle  in  the  Tubinares  is  quite  unlike  anything 
seen  in  the  Gulls  or  their  allies,  whilst  the  large  pectoralis  tertius  of  the 
Petrels  is  altogether  unrepresented  in  the  Laridae.  The  character  of  the 
caeca  in  the  two  groups  is  also  quite  different,  and  there  are  no  special 
osteological  resemblances  between  the  two  groups  so  far  as  I  can  see,  for 
the  mere  schizognathous  character  of  the  palate  is,  we  now  know,  not 
necessarily  a  mark  of  affinity.  The  character  of  the  young  plumage,  the 


*  The  Oaprimulgine  genus  Siphonorhis  (Sclater,  Proc.  Zool..  Soc.  1861,  p.  78) 
perhaps  approaches  the  Tubinares  more  nearly  in  this  point  than  any  other  bird  known 
to  me. 

t  I  cannot  understand  Professor  Huxley's  remark  (Proc.  Zool.  Soo.  1867,  p.  455) 
that  "  the  Gulls  grade  insensibly  into  the  Procellariidse," 

\   Cf.  Garrod,  Coll.  Papers,  p.  128. 


434         ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

condition  of  the  young  birds,  and  the  number,  shape,  and  coloration  of 
the  eggs — points  on  which  some  stress  may  be  laid  in  questions  of  this 
kind — are  totally  dissimilar  in  the  two  groups,  as  indeed  are  the  habits 
of  the  adult  birds  themselves,  though  no  doubt  both  are  "  web-footed  " 
and  more  or  less  pelagic  in  habit.  Such  resemblances,  however,  can 
hardly  be  seriously  considered  as  indicating  any  real  affinities*. 

L'Herminier,  A.  Milne -Ed  wards,  and  Huxley  have  all,  in  describing 
various  points  in  the  osteology  of  the  Tubinares,  pointed  out  similarities 
of  various  kinds  between  their  osseous  structure  and  that  of  various 
forms  of  the  Steganopodes,  though  they  still  kept  them  close  to  the  Laridas. 
Eyton,  on  the  other  hand,  places  the  various  Petrels  he  describes 
in  the  family  "  Pelecanidse,"  the  Gulls  forming  a  separate  family  by 
themselves. 

But  no  one  will  be  prepared,  I  think,  to  dispute  that  the  Steganopodes 
are  allied  to  the  Herodiones,  including  under  that  name  the  Storks  and 
Herons,  with  /Scopus,  only.  Thus,  on  osteological  grounds  alone,  there 
is  sufficient  ground  for  placing  the  Tubinares  in  the  vicinity  of  the  Ste- 
ganopodes and  Herodiones.  And,  in  fact,  neglecting  the  desmognathous 
structure  of  the  palate — the  taxonomic  value  of  which  per  se  is  becoming 
more  and  more  dubious  as  our  knowledge  of  the  structure  of  birds 
increases — there  is  little  in  the  characters  assigned  to  the  groups  Pelar- 
gomorphfe  and  Dysporomorphse  by  Professor  Huxley  (1.  c.  p.  461)  that 
is  not  applicable  to  the  general  Petrel  type. 

The  completely  double  great  pectoral  muscle  is  a  characteristic  only 
found,  as  already  observed,  in  the  Ciconiiclse,  Cathartidae,  the  Steganopodes 
Zool.  Chall.  (except  Plialacrocorax),  and  the  Tubinares,  and  in  all  these  forms  it  is 
Exp.  vol.  iv.  associated  with  short  colic  caeca  of  peculiar  shape  (absent  altogether  in 
the  Cathartidse,  as  in  some  of  the  Tubinares),  more  or  less  completely 
webbed  feet,  tufted  oil-gland  (except  in  the  Cathartidaa),  holorhinal 
nostrils,  a  tendency  of  the  palatine  bones  to  unite  behind  the  posterior 
nares,  truncated  mandible,  broad,  strong,  well-developed  sternum,  and 
strongly  curved,  well-developed  clavicles.  These  birds  also  agree  together 
in  being  "  Altrices,"  the  young  birds  being  quite  helpless  after  birth,  and 
requiring  to  be  fed  for  a  long  time  by  their  parents — and  in  generally 
laying  eggs  of  a  white,  or  nearly  white,  colour. 

The  group  so  constituted,  of  which  the  ArdeidaB  and  Falconidaa  must 
also  be  considered  as  aberrant  members, — the  first  family  being  closely 


*  No  views  regarding  the  affinities  of  the  Petrels  other  than  that  to  the  Laridae 
already  discussed,  and  that  to  the  Ciconiiform  birds,  have,  so  far  as  I  know,  been 
seriously  advanced  by  ornithological  writers,  Professor  Garrod  having  abandoned  his 
early  idea  that  the  Tubinares  were  probably  related  remotely  to  the  Anseres  and  their 
allies  (</.  Coll.  Papers,  pp.  220  and  521). 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER. '         435 

related  to  the  Cicomicta  through  Scopits,  whilst  the  Falconidee  are 
probably,  though  much  more  remotely,  connected  with  the  Steganopods, 
— corresponds  to  the  Ciconiiform.es  of  Grarrod  *,  with  the  addition,  as  he 
had  already  himself  suggested  t,  of  the  Tubinares. 

But  his  earlier  definition  of  that  group,  in  so  far  as  it  relates  to  the 
absence  in  it  of  the  accessory  femoro-caudal  muscle  (B),  will  have  to  be 
modified,  inasmuch  as  this  muscle  is,  as  shown  above,  generally  present 
in  the  Tubinares.  These,  too,  differ  markedly  from  the  other  Ciconii- 
formes  in  the  well-developed  pectoralis  tertius  (very  small  or  absent  in 
the  others),  in  the  large  size  of  the  vomer,  and  the  non-desmognathism 
of  the  palate,  though  as  regards  this  latter  character  it  has  already  been 
pointed  out  that  the  Albatrosses  are  nearly  desmognathous,  whilst  the 
desmognathism  of  the  Cathartidae  is  of  a  different  kind  to  that  prevalent 
in  the  other  forms  concerned. 

The  two  existing  groups  of  Petrels  are  clearly  related  to  each  other  so 
much  more  nearly  than  to  any  other  group  of  birds  that  it  is  evident 
that  they  must  have  had  a  common  ancestor  that  possessed  the  peculiar 
features  characterizing  the  Tubinares  as  an  order.  Such  a  form  may 
therefore  be  safely  assumed  to  have  had — 

1.  The  characteristic  nostrils  of  the  group. 

2.  The  equally  characteristic  stomach  and  duodenum. 

3.  Webbed  feet,  with  a  small  hallux  of  a  single  phalanx. 

4.  A  double  great  pectoral  muscle,  and  large  pectoralis  tertius. 

5.  A  formula  AB.XY,  a  glutens  primus,  and  an  ambiens  muscle. 

6.  Short  colic  cseca  of  characteristic  shape. 

7.  A  tufted  oil-gland,  and  the  pterylosis  characteristic  of  the  group. 

8.  Aholorhinal  schizognathous  skull,  with  large  depressed  vomer,  great 
supraorbital  glandular  depressions,  no  basipterygoid  facets,  and  a  trun- 
cated mandible. 

9.  A  short,  broad,  deeply-keeled  sternum,  more  or  less  entire  behind, 
with  strong  clavicles. 

10.  A  peculiar  humerus,  and  tibia  with  large  cnemial  crest. 

No  living  Petrel  has  this  combination  of  characters ;  the  OceanitidaB  z°pl-  Chall. 
having  lost  their  colic  cseca,  the  Procellariidae  the  accessory  semi-tendinosus  pt.  xj.  p<  Qit 
(T)  muscle,  and  both  groups  having  become  specialized  in  other  ways. 

Such  an  ancestral  form  as  here  indicated  may  be  supposed  to  be  an 
early,  and  in  some  respects — as  shown  by  the  large  vomer,  schizognathous 
palate,  large  third  pectoral  muscle,  and  formula  AB.XT — more  primitive 
form,  that  diverged  from  the  common  stock  of  the  Ciconiiform  birds 


*  Collected  Papers,  p.  218. 
t  Loc.  tit.  p.  521. 

2*2 


436 


ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 


very  early,  when  the  latter  had  only  acquired  the  most  prevalent  of  the 
characters  now  existing  in  the  various  groups  of  that  suborder.  One 
branch  of  this  stock  has  since  become  greatly  modified  in  the  Tubinarial 
direction,  whilst  the  other  branch,  losing  "  B  "  and  the  large  vomer,  and 
becoming  desmognathous,  split  up  and  gave  origin,  at  different  times  and 
in  different  ways,  to  the  remaining  families  of  the  group.  The  definite- 
ness  of  the  characters  of  these,  and  the  amount  of  specialization  they 
show,  indicate  not  only  a  great  antiquity  for  the  whole  group,  but  also 
the  great  amount  of  extinction  that  has  gone  on  amongst  its  members  in 
the  past,  in  the  process  of  which  nearly  all  the  intermediate  and  less 
specialized  forms  have  disappeared. 


DIOMEDEINJE 


PROCELLARIID^EN 

PROCELLARIIN^E 


OCEAN  ITID^E 


Exp.  vol.iv] 
pt.  xi.  pi.  i. 


DESCRIPTION  OF  THE  PLATES. 
PLATE  XII. 

1-  Head  of  Oceanites  oceanicus.    1  a  leg  and  1  b  foot  (from  before)  of  same. 

2,  2  a,  2  b.  The  same  of  Garrodia  nereis. 

3,  3  a,  36.  The  same  of  Pelagodroma  marina. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'        437 


PLATE  XIII. 

Fig.  1.  Head  of  Fregetta  grallaria.     1  a  leg  and  1  b  foot  (from  before)  of  same. 

2.  2  a,  2  b.  The  same  of  Procellaria  pelagica. 

3.  Bill  of  Bulweria  columbina. 

4.  View  of  external  nares  of  same,  from   before,  to  show  their  two    distinct 

openings. 

5.  Nostrils  of  Oceanites  oceanicus,  from  before. 

6.  The  same  of  Procellaria  pelagica. 

Figs.  4-6  enlarged.    The  others  are  of  the  natural  size. 

PTATV  XTV  Zool> 

Exp.vcl.iv. 

Fig.  1.  Liver,  stomach,  and  duodenal  loop  of  Majaqueus  (squinoctialis,  viewed  from  in        pt.  ii.  pi.  ii. 
front.     L.  Liver  ;  pr.  Proventriculus  (the  letters  are  placed  on  its  fundus)  ; 
g.  Gizzard  ;  p.   Pancreas  ;  g.b.  Gall-bladder  ;   r.K.d.,  l.h.d.  Eight  and  left 
hepatic  ducts  ;  v.p.  Vena  portse  ;  h.a.  Hepatic  artery. 

2.  Palate  of  Pelecano'ides  urinatrix. 

3.  Palate  of  (Estrelata  lessoni. 

4.  Palate  of  Fulmarus  glacialis. 

5.  Palate  of  Prion  banksi. 

6.  Palate  of  Oceanites  oceanicus,  enlarged.     (The  line  shows  the  natural  size.) 

7.  Colic  caeca  of  Majaqueus  (squinoctialis,  enlarged  slightly. 

All  the  figures,  except  figs.  6  and  7,  are  of  the  natural  size. 

PLATE  XV. 

Fig.  1.  Tongue  of  Oceanites  oceanicus. 

2.  Tongue  of  Pelecano'ides  urinatrix. 

3.  Tongue  of  Diomedea  brachyura. 

4.  Tongue  of  Phosbetria  fuliginosa. 

5.  Tongue  of  Cymochorea  leucorrhoa. 

6.  Tongue  of  Aeipetes  antarcticus. 

7.  Tongue  of  Daption  capensis. 

8.  Tongue  of  Pagodroma  nivea. 

9.  Tongue  of  Ossifraga  gigantea. 

10.  Tongue  of  Prion  banksi. 

11.  Tongue  of  Majaqueus  (squinoctialis. 

12.  Tongue  of  (Estrelata  lessoni. 

13.  Tongue  of  Larus,  sp.  ? 

14.  Tongue  of  Puffinus  brevicauda. 

15.  Outline  of  stomach,  &c.,  of  Fregetta  grallaria. 

16.  Gizzard  of  Fulmarus  glacialislaid  open,  to  show  the  character  of  its  epithelium. 


Fig.  1.  Left  pectoral  region  of  Majaqueus  <zquinoctialis,  to  show  the  double  pectoralis 
major  (seu  primus)  muscle  ;  its  superficial  layer  (p.  1  a)  has  been  for  the 
most  part  removed,  its  cut  origin  from  the  sternal  crest  and  furcula  (F.)  being 
reflected  :  p.  1  a',  its  insertion  into  the  humerus,  also  cut  and  reflected  ; 
p.  1  b,  the  deep  layer  ;  p.  2,  fascia  covering  the  pectoralis  secundus  muscle  ; 


438        ON  THE  PETRELS  COLLECTED  DURING 

t.p.  Belly  of  tensor  patagii  muscles  ;  t.p.l.  Their  tendon,  joined  by  b.s.  (biceps 
slip)  formed  by  the  humeral  head  of  the  biceps  humeri  muscle  ;  b.  Main 
belly  of  biceps  muscle,  formed  by  the  coracoidal  head  ;  8.  Body  of  sternum, 
bare  of  muscular  fibres. 

Fig.  2.  Dissection  of  left  pectoral  region  of  JDiomedea  brachyura,  to  show  the  two 
layers  of  the  pectoralis  primus  muscle  (p.  I  a,  p.  1  b),  which  have  been  cut 
and  removed  in  large  part,  and  the  compound  pectoralis  secundus^  p.  2,  its 
sternal  origin ;  p.  2',  its  coracoid  origin ;  p.  2",  its  furcular  origin ;  p.  2'", 
origin  from  coraco-furcular  membrane  (c.f.m.);  p.  3.  Pectoralis  tertius  ; 
C.  Coracoid  bone;  F.  Furcula,  at  symphysis ;  8.  Sternum.  (The  line  above 
it  shows  the  limit  of  origin  of  the  deep  layer  of  the  pectoralis  primus.) 

PLATE  XVII. 

Fig.  1.  Left  shoulder-joint,  inner  side,  of  Ossifraga  gigantea,  to  show  the  peculiar 
biceps  muscle  :  c.  Its  coracoid  head,  continuous  below  with  the  belly  of  the 
muscle  (b} ;  k.  Its  humeral  head,  which  forms  &  biceps  slip,  joining  the  tendon 
of  the  tensor  patagii  (t.p);  p.  1.  Insertions  (cut)  of  the  two  layers  of  the 
pectoralis  primus  muscle;  e.  Extensor;  t.  Teres;  c.b.l.  Coraco-brachialis 
longus ;  c.b.b.  Coraco-brachialis  brevis. 

2.  Dissection  of  right  wing  of  Ooeanites  oceanicus,  to  show  the  peculiar  expansor 

secundariorum  muscle,  e.s.  Tendinous  portion  arising  from  the  last  remiges 
(8.) ;  e.s'.  The  other  moiety,  arising  from  the  last  scapular  feathers  (So.)  ; 
p.  1.  Pectoralis  primus  muscle,  to  which  the  expansor  secundariorum  is 
attached;  H.  Humerus;  Pat.  Patagial  membrane;  v.n.  Yessels  and  nerves 
to  wing. 

3.  Left  shoulder-joint,  inner  side,  of  Tkalassiarcke  culminata  :  c.,  h.  Coracoid  and 

humeral  heads  of  biceps,  here  uniting  below  into  the  common  tendon  of 
that  muscle  (b) ;  b.s.  Biceps  slip,  largely  tendinous  and  joining  the  tensor 
patagii  near  the  elbow,  derived  from  the  coracoid  head  of  the  biceps. 

PLATE  XVIII. 

E°         \\       -Fig- 1-  Dissection  of  right  elbow  of  (Estrelata  lessoni,  to  show  the  disposition  of  the 
pt.  xi.  pi.  iv.  tensor  patagii  muscles,  as  seen  from  above. 

2.  The  same  in  Ossifraga  gigantea. 

3.  Dissection  of  right  wing  of  Majaqueus  csquinoctialis,  to  show  origin  and  general 

disposition  of  the  tensor  patagii  muscles.  Lettering  as  in  PL  XIX.  fig.  2  ; 
also  t.p.  Common  belly  of  tensor  patagii  longus  and  brevis ;  t.p.l .  Cushion 
of  elastic  tissue,  developed  in  the  tendon  of  the  tensor  patagii  longus  (t.p.l.) 
at  its  origin  from  the  humerus ;  e.  Elastic  pad,  developed  in  the  marginal 
tendon  of  tensor  patagii  longus,  opposite  the  elbow ;  d.  Deltoid  muscle  ;  l.d. 
Latissimus  dorsi  (insertion) ;  n>  Circumflex  nerve. 

PLATE  XIX. 

Fig.  1.  Dissection  of  right  elbow  of  Prion  desolatus,  to  show  the  disposition  of  the 

tensor  patagii  muscles,  as  seen  from  above. 

2.  The  same  in  Pelecano'ides  urinatrix.  H.  Humerus ;  7?.  Radius  ;  b.  Biceps 
muscle  ;  t.p.l.  Tensor  patagii  longus  ;  t.p.b.  Tensor  patagii  brevis  ;  e.m,  e.m'. 
Superficial  and  deep  bellies  of  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior  ;  e.m.*  Inner 
of  twin  tendons  of  origin  of  its  superficial  belly  ;  b.s.  (in  fig.  3).  Biceps  slip  ; 


PI. XII 


Ticf.lh 


J.  Strut  lith  .  HanKant  imp . 

EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  OF  PETRELS. 


ri.xn 


Zo  OL  .  CHALL.EXP.?T.XI  .Pi.1 


J.Stnitiikh. 


EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS  OF  PETRELS. 


PI.  XIII. 


ZOOL. 


Ftq.Z 


Fuf.  la, 


V 

fiff.6. 


J.Smitlith.  Hanhart  imp. 

EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS   OF  PETRELS. 


PI. XIII. 


ZOOL. 


Fic/.Z 


Fig.  la, 


Fug.2b 


Fiff.5.  Fig. 6. 


J.Smitlith.  Haj^tiart  imp. 

EXTERNAL  CHARACTERS   OF  PETRELS. 


PI.  XIV. 


ZoOL.CHAIJ,.ExP.PT.XiPli.ll. 


Ftff.S. 


Fiff.6. 


Fiq.4*. 


J  Sm.it  lith  .  Hanhar-t  imp. 

ALIMENTARY  CANAL  &  PALATE   OF  PETRELS. 


PL  xrv. 


ZoOL.CHALT-.ExP.PT.Xi.Pi.ll 


Fiq.3. 


FbCf.A. 


h.ou. 


Fy.5. 


J.SmitliUi  .  Hanhanb  imp. 

ALIMENTARY  CANAL  &  PALATE   OF  PETRELS. 


PI.  XV. 


L. ExF.Pr.XI.PL.il 


Fuf.2 


Fioi.  3. 


Fig.  1 


FiylO. 


J.Smitlith.  Han>jar>t.imp. 

ALIMENTARY  CAN  ALAND  TONGUE  OF  FE 


PI.  XV. 


ZOOI>.CHALL  EXP.  Pr.XI.  PL.]  1 


Fig. 10. 


J.Smitlith.  Han>jar»t.imp. 

ALIMENTARY  CANAL  AND  TONGUE  OF  PETRELS. 


PI. XVJ. 


J.SmiUith. 


HanHa,rt.  imp 


MYOLOGY  OF  PETRELS 
Anterior  Extremity. 


pi.-rvu. 


J.SmitlibH. 


Harrh-urb  imp. 


MYOLOGYOJ1  PETRELS 
Anterior  Extremity. 


. ,' 


PI.  X  VIII 


ZooL.CHALL.Exp.PT.Xl.PL.lv. 


Fia.Z. 


H 


Hajihartimp. 


MYOLOGY  OF  PETRELS 
Tensor.Pa.tagn  muscles. 


PI.  XIX. 


ZOOL.CHALL.EXP.PT  Xl.PiJV 


Fiy.Z. 


Hanhart 


imp 


MYOLOGY  OF  PETRELS 

rp  i  •   •  ,  or-1  o  CL 


PI. XX. 


ZOOL 


ql 


Fif.Z. 


J.Smib  lith. 


Hanhar-t  imp 


MYOLOGY  OF  PETRELS.  :    ;  :, 
Hinolei'  Extremity.  \,»  ; 


PI  ..XXL 


Zooi. .  CHALL  .ExP.TV.  XI.PL  VI. 


Fvg.5. 


OSTEOLOGY  OFPZTRELS. 
Skull  and  limb  Lones. 


Ha.nhart  imp. 


PI.. XXL 


.Xl  PL..VT. 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS. 
Skull  and  limb  bones. 


Ha.nKarL  imp 


PI  XXII. 


ZOOL.CHALL. 


J.  Smillith. 


OSTEOLOGY  OP  PETRELS 
Skull  Pel  vis  dTid  Irmb. bones. 


PI  XXII. 


ZOOL.CHALL.EXE  P 


J.  Smith th. 


:rrip 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS 
S  kull  F  e.1  YJ  s  an  a  1  imb  L  on  e  s . 


Pl.XXIII. 


ZOOL. CHAI.L .Exp.Pr 


J.Smiblilh. 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS 
Sterna, 


mp. 


pi.xxrn, 


J.Smiblith. 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS, 

Sterna, 


Hanhart  imp. 


Pi  XXIV. 


Zooi, .CKALL  EXP 


> 


Fiy 


Kg.Z. 


'-•  j 


Kg. 


Fig.  5. 


Fig.  6. 


Fig.  9. 


to. 


11. 


! 


fig.  12 


Fy.  73. 


tff 


14. 


FLy.15. 


J.SmiLlith 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS. 
Sterna, 


Hanharb  imp. 


PI  XXIV. 


Zooi,  .CKALL  EXP  Tr.XI.PL  .VII . 


Fiy.1. 


3 


Fig. 2. 


| 


Fig.  3 


Fig.  5. 


Fu/.6. 
I : 


.  11. 


Fig.  9. 


Ficf.10. 


ffim^l 


Fy.12. 


Fy. 


Fig. 15. 


J.Smitlith. 


OSTEOLOGY  OF  PETRELS. 
Sterna. 


Ha  nil  art  imp. 


THE  VOYAGE  OF  THE  '  CHALLENGER.'         439 

/.  Fasciculus  of  patagial  tendons  continued  on  to  ulnar  fascia ;  a,  a'.  Ossicles 
developed  at  origin  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior ;  t.p' .  (in  fig.  5). 
Special  slip  from  patagial  tendons  to  deep  belly  of  extensor  metacarpi  radialis 
longior. 
Fig.  3.  The  same  in  (Estrelata  brevirostris. 

4.  The  same  in  Diomedea  exulans.    An  arrow  is  passed  between  the  twin  tendons 
of  origin  of  the  superficial  part  of  the  extensor  metacarpi  radialis  longior. 

PLATE  XX. 

Fig.  1.  View  of  superficial  muscles  of  right  thigh  of  Majaqueus  aquinoctialis ;  P.  Exp.  vol.  iv. 
Pelvis;  s.  Sartorius;  gl.  1.  Glutens  primus;  g.  Gastrocnemius ;  b.  Biceps;  pt.  xi.  pi.  v. 
s.t.  Semirtendinosus ;  s.m.  Semi-membranosus. 

2.  View  of  deeper  thigh-muscles  of  the  same  bird ;  the  glutens  primus,  biceps,  and 

gastrocnemius  (g'.)  muscles  cut  and  reflected  to  show  the  deeper  parts. 
Lettering  as  above  ;  also  b'.  cut  end  of  biceps  passing  through  the  tendinous 
loop  formed  by  the  origin  of  the  gastrocnemius  ;  f.c.  Femoro-caudal  muscle  • 
a.f.c.  Its  accessory  head;  o.e.  Obturator  externus;  add.  Adductor  muscles- 
f.v.  Femoral  vein ;  s.c.  Sciatic  nerve  and  artery ;  o.g.  Oil-gland. 

3.  The  same  parts  in  Oceanites  oceanicus  ;  a.s.t.  Accessory  semi-tendinosiis  muscle  ; 

Pb.  Pubis  ;  7?.  Eectrices. 

4.  Dissection  of  thigh  of  Pelecanozdes,  to  show  the  absence  of  the  accessory  femoro- 

caudal  muscle,  and  the  abnormal  course  of  the  femoral  vein,  this  passing 
over,  instead  of  under,  the  femoro-caudal  muscle ;  o.i.  Obturator  internus  • 
gl.  Glutei. 

PLATE  XXI.  2bid.  pi.  vi. 

Fig.  1.  Left  humerus  of  Majaqueus  cequinoctialis,  from  above. 

2.  Proximal,  and  fig.  3,  distal  extremities  of  the  same  bone,  inferior  surface. 

4.  Vomer — with  the  ascending  plate,  anchylosed  to  it,  of  the  palatine  bones — of 

Diomedea  exulans,  from  above. 

5.  The  same,  fr  jm  the  side. 

6.  Proximal  end  of  right  tibia  of  Ossifraga  gigantea,  to  show  the  cnemial  crest. 

7.  Left  uncinate  bone  ("  os  crochu  "  of  Reinhardt)  from  behind,  of  Thalassiarche 

culminata. 

8.  The  same  of  Pkoebetria  fuliginota* 

PLATE  XXII. 

Fig.  1.  Skull  of  (Estrelata  lessoni,  viewed  from  the  side.     All  the  figures  are  of  the 
natural  size. 

2.  The  same,  from  below. 

3.  The  same,  from  above. 

4.  Skull  of  Prion  vittatus,  from  below. 

5.  Pelvis,  seen  from  the  side,  of  Majaqueus  cequinoctialis. 

6.  Hallux  of  Ossifraga,  with  its  metatarsal.     The  single  phalanx  of  which  it 

consists  is  vertically  bisected,  to  show  the  hollow  interior. 

PLATE  XXIII. 

Fig.  1.  Sternum,  with  coracoids  and  furcula,  of  Thalassiarche  melanophrys,  from  in 
front.    Reduced. 

2.  The  same,  from  the  side. 

3.  Sternum  and  pectoral  arch  of  Petecanotdes  urinatrix,  from  in  front. 

4.  The  same,  from  the  side. 


440  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  BIRDS. 


PLATE  XXIV. 

Fig.  1.  Outline  of  posterior  margin  (right  side)  of  sternum  of  Ossifraga  gigantea. 
Reduced. 

2.  The  same  of  D apt ion  capensis. 

3.  The  same  of  Fulmarus  glacialis. 

4.  The  same  of  Aeipetes  antarcticus. 

5.  The  same  of  Thalassceca  glacialoides. 

6.  The  same  of  Prion  desolatus. 

7.  Sternum  and  pectoral  arch  of  Cymochorea  leucorrhoa,  from  in  front. 

8.  The  same,  from  the  side. 

9.  The  same  of  Fregetta  mela/nogastra,  from  in  front. 

10.  The  same,  from  the  side. 

11.  Outline  of  posterior  margin  (right  side)  of  sternum  of  Bulweria  columbina. 

12.  The  same  of  (Estrelata  lessoni. 

13.  The  same  of  Adamastor  cinereus. 

14.  The  same  of  Majaqtteus  cpquinoctialis. 

15.  The  same  of  Puffinus  anglorum. 

16.  The  same  of  Pagodroma  nivea. 


ibis  188*  66*  ON  THE  VARIATIONS  FROM  THE  NORMAL 

P.' 386?  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  BIRDS.* 

"  IN  all  birds,  even  in  Arcluxopteryx,  the  fifth  digit  of  the  pes  remains 
undeveloped  ....  Many  birds  have  only  three  toes,  by  suppression  of 
the  haliux.  In  the  Ostrich,  not  only  the  hallux,  but  the  phalanges  of 
the  second  digit  are  suppressed  ....  hence  the  Ostrich  has  only  two 
toes." 

"  The  normal  number  of  the  pedal  phalanges  in  birds  is  (as  in  ordinary 

Lacertilia)  2,  3,  4,  5,  reckoning  from  the  hallux  to   the  fourth   digit. 

Among  the  few  birds  which  constitute  exceptions  to  the  rule  are  the 

Ibis,  1882,    Swifts,  in  which  the  third  and  fourth  toes  have  only  three  phalanges 

p.  387.     each  (2,  3,  3,  3),  and  the  Goatsuckers  and  the  Sand-Grouse,  in  which 

the  fourth  toe  only  has  the  number  thus  reduced  (2,  3,  4,  3)." 

Prof.  Huxley  has  described  in  these  words  f  the  nature  of  the 
variations  from  the  normal  structure  of  the  Avian  pes,  as  regards  the 
number  of  digits  and  phalanges  composing  it,  exhibited  by  various 


*  Ibis,  1882,  pp.  386-390. 

t  '  A  Manual  of  the  Anatomr  of  Vertebrated  Animals,'  pp.  206,  297.      London,  1871. 


ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  BIRDS. 


441 


members  of  that  group.  As,  however,  the  account  here  quoted  is,  in 
some  points,  incorrect,  and  in  others  incomplete,  and  as  other  errors 
occur  in  other  authors'  works  on  this  subject,  I  have  thought  that  it 
might  be  useful  to  draw  up  as  complete  a  list  as  possible  of  the  differences 
in  these  two  points  of  structure  now  known  to  exist  amongst  birds. 

I.  The  Number  of  Digits. 

The  ordinary  number  of  toes  in  birds  is  four,  representing  the  first, 
second,  third,  and  fourth  digits  of  the  normal  pentadactyle  foot  (fig.  1,  i). 


W1 

fldfl 

V 


<7  nt 
w 


VI 


on 


o 

O      V 


A  number  of  birds,  however,  are  three-toed,  the  reduction  in  nearly  all 
cases  being  effected  by  the  suppression  of  the  hallux  (fig.  1,  n).  This 
may  be  the  case  even  in  birds  belonging  to  zygodactyle  groups  (fig.  1,  in)  ; 
so  that  we  have  three-toed  "Woodpeckers  (e.  g.  Picoides  *)  and  Jacamars  Ib^s> 
(Jacamaralcyon)  f.  It  is  not  always,  however,  the  hallux  that  is  thus 
absent  in  tridactyle  birds.  In  the  Kingfishers  of  the  genera  Ceyx  and 
Alcyone  the  foot  is  three-toed,  but  the  hallux  is  well  developed ;  the 


p.  388. 


*  By  some  error  Nitzsch  (Osteograph.  Beitr.  p.  102)  describes  Picoides  as  lacking 
the  fourth  ("letzte")  toe.  As  I  have  lately  shown,  however  (P.Z.  S,  June  1882), 
there  is  a  rudimentary  hallux,  with  its  metatarsal,  in  these  birds,  though  it  is  quite 
concealed  under  the  skin,  and  has,  in  consequence,  been  overlooked  by  previous 
observers.  The  existence  of  a  similarly  concealed  rudimentry  hallux  in  many  other 
birds  apparently  tridactyle  is  therefore  rendered  highly  probable. 

t  The  specific  name  of  Loxia  tridactyla  (Gmel.  Syst.  Nat.  i.  p.  866;  Phytotoma 
tridadyla.  Daud.  Tr.  Orn.  ii.  p.  366)  seems  to  be  a  mistake,  founded  on  Bruce's 
drawing  of  a  bird  met  with  by  him  in  Abyssinia,  and  mentioned  by  Buffon  (Hist.  Nat. 
Ois.  iii.  p.  471)  under  the  name  of  "  Le  Guifso  Balito."  This  is  usually  identified  as 
a  well-known  Abyssinian  Barbet  (Pogonorhynchus  abyssinicus,  Marshall,  Mon.  Capit. 
pi.  9),  with  feet  of  the  normal  structure. 


442  ON  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  BIRDS, 

second  digit,  on  the  other  hand,  is  reduced  to  its  basal  phalanx  (fig.  1,  iv), 
thus  appearing  externally  merely  as  a  wart-like  eminence  on  the  side  of 
the  digit  next  to  it,  in  a  way  very  similar  to  that  exhibited  by  some 
Edentata,  in  which  the  fifth  digit  of  the  manus  is  greatly  reduced. 

In  the  curious  Passerine  genus  Cholornis,  on  the  other  hand,  which  is 
also  said  to  be  three-toed,  the  reduction  is  brought  about  by  the  absorption 
of  the  most  external,  or  fourth,  digit  (fig.  1,  v)  *. 

In  the  Ostrich,  finally  (fig.  1,  vi),  only  two  digits  are  present,  both 
the  first  and  second  having  entirely  disappeared. 

LIST  OF  TRIDACTYLE  FAMILIES  AND  G-ENERA  OF  BIRDS. 
A.  By  suppression  of  the  hallux. 

Rheidae.  Turnicidge  (excl.  Pedionomus). 

Casuariidae.  Syrrhaptes  [Pteroclidse]. 

Calodromas\  [Tinamidae].  Alcidae. 

Tinamotis  t             ,,  Charadriidae  (many  genera,  e.  g.  Charadrius, 

Ibis,  1882,  Pelecanoides  [Procellariidae]J.  Hcematopus,  Hoplopterus,  Calidris). 

p.  389.       Phoenicoparrus  [Phcenicopteridaa].  Eissa  (at    least    generally ;    cf.  Saunders, 

Otididse.  P.  Z.  S.  1878,  pp.  162,  163)  [Laridse]. 

GEdicnemididae  (incl.  Esacus).  Saaia,  Picoides,  Tiga  [Picidse]. 

Cursorius.  Jacamaralcyon  [Galbulidse]. 

B.  By  suppression  of  the  2nd  digit. 

Ceyx,  Alcyone  [Alcedinidee]. 

C.  By  suppression  of  the  4th  digit. 

Cholornis  [0 seines]. 

II.  The  Number  of  Phalanges. 

The  normal  number  of  phalanges  in  birds  is,  as  already  stated,  2,  3, 4, 

5,  in  the  respective  digits,  counting  from  within  outwards  (fig.  2,  i).    In 

all  the  Tubinares  §,  so  far  as  I  have  seen,  except  Pelecanoides  (where  the 

Ibis,  1882,   hallux  is  quite  absent),  the  number  of  joints  in  the  hallux  is  reduced  to 

p.  6vO.       one^  which  js  quite  short,  and  covered  by  the  spur-like  claw ;  the  digital 

formula  therefore  becomes  1,  3,  4,  5  (fig.  2,  n). 

*  I  have  not  myself  yet  had  an  opportunity  of  examining  Cholornis  paradoxa  ;  my 
authorities  for  the  statement  here  made  are  MM.  David  and  Oustalet  (Oiseaux  de  la 
Chine,  p.  205),  who  describe  this  bird  as  having  the  external  digit  reduced  to  a 
"  simple  moignon."  It  would  be  interesting  to  know  how  far  the  reduction  here  has 
progressed. 

t  Sundevall  places  these  two  genera,  with  some  doubt,  amongst  his  "  Otidinse " 
(Tentamen,  p.  128).  A  skull  extracted  from  a  skin  of  Calodromas  in  my  possession 
shows,  however,  that  it,  at  least,  is  undoubtedly  a  Tinamou,  the  palate  being  perfectly 
"  dromseognathous." 

|  The  DiomedeincB,  often  described  as  three-toed,  have  a  very  minute  and 
rudimentary  hallux  (cf.  P.Z.  S.  June  1882). 

§  Cf.  Coues  "  On  the  Osteology  of  Colymbus  torquatus  "  (Mem.  Bost.  Soc.  Nat. 
Hist.  i.  p.  161,  note). 


OX  THE  STRUCTURE  OF  THE  FOOT  IN  BIRDS.  443 

Fig.  2. 
i  i  iff  iv 


Ibis,  1882, 
p.  389. 


/7DQ 

a  w 


0 


D 


\ 


n 

(7  V          ^ 

I-  PJ 


In  the  true  Swifts  (i.  e.  the  genera  Cypselus  and  Panyptila)*,  though 
not  in  the  rest  of  the  Cypselidae,  the  number  of  phalanges  in  each  digit 
external  to  the  hallux  is  three,  the  formula  thus  becoming  2,  3,  3,  3 
(fig.  2,  in).  In  the  other  genera  of  Swifts  the  normal  number  of 
phalanges  obtains,  as  already  correctly  stated  by  Mr.  Sclater  f. 

In  the  Pteroclidse  and  true  Caprimulgidse,  finally,  the  formula  is  2,  3, 
4,  4  (not  2,  3,  4,  3,  as  stated  by  Prof.  HuxleyJ),  the  fourth  digit  being 
one  short  of  the  normal  number  of  phalanges  (fig.  2,  iv).  The  anomalous 
genera  Steatornis,  ^Egoiheles^  Nyctibius,  &c.  are  normal  as  regards  the 
structure  of  their  feet  §,  as  also  are  Thinocorus  and  Attagis. 

Nitzsch,  who  must  have  been  misled  by  a  badly  articulated  skeleton, 
ascribes  four  joints  each  to  all  the  toes,  both  of  Struihio  and  Casuarius  ||. 
He  was  in  doubt  therefore  as  to  which  digits  were  represented  in  these 
forms.  As  a  fact,  I  need  scarcely  remark,  the  normal  number  of 
phalanges  (4,  5  and  3,  4,  5  respectively)  is  present  in  both  these  birds, 
though  in  museum  specimens  a  joint  or  two  is  often  missing.  In  many 
Ostriches,  however,  the  nail  of  the  outer  toe  is  quite  absent,  and  in 
others  very  small ;  so  that  their  foot  is  evidently  tending  to  become,  like 
that  of  the  Solipeds,  reduced  to  a  single  toe,  in  this  as  in  other  cases 
the  third. 


Ibis,  1882, 
p.  390. 


*  Nitzsch,  so  long  ago  as  1811,  pointed  out  this  fact,  as  well  as  the  reduction  in 
Caprimulgus  ("  Ueber  die  Gliederung  der  Fusszehen,  besonders  im  Ziegenmelker  und 
in  der  Mauerschwalbe,"  Osteogr.  Beitr.  pp.  101-105). 

t  P.Z.  S.  1865,  p.  596. 

\  Possibly  misled  by  an  error  in  the  figure  of  the  skeleton  of  Syrrhaptes  in  Prof. 
Parker's  memoir  "  On  the  Osteology  of  the  Gallinaceous  Birds  and  Tinamous  "  (Tr. 
Z.  S.  v.  pi.  38),  where  the  outer  toe  is  represented  as  consisting  of  three  joints  only, 
though  in  the  text  (p.  203)  the  correct  number  is  accurately  stated. 

§  Cf.  Sclater,  P.  Z.  S.  1866,  p.  124. 

|i  Op.  cit,  p.  102. 


444  ON  A  NEW  SPECIES  OF  HEMIPODE. 


Ibis,  1882,          67.  ON  A  NEW  SPECIES  OF  HEMIPODE  FROM 
P.  428.  NEW  BRITAIN.* 

(Plate  XXY.) 

A  FEW  months  ago  I  received,  through  Mr.  Sclater,  a  small  collection 
of  birds  in  spirit  from  varions  parts  of  the  world,  which  had  been 
forwarded  to  him  for  identification  by  Herr  J.  D.  E.  Schmeltz,  Curator 
of  the  Godeffroy  Museum  in  Hamburg.  Amongst  these  was  a  single 
specimen  (which  on  dissection  proved  to  be  a  female)  of  a  small  Turnix 
from  New  Britain,  where  it  had  been  collected  by  the  late  Herr  Klein- 
schmidt,  who  was  murdered  by  the  natives  of  that  inhospitable  island 
shortly  after wrards. 

I  at  first  thought  that  this  bird  was  referable  to  the  Australian  Turnix 
melanonota  of  Gould  ;  but  having  compared  it  with  Gould's  types  of  that 
species,  now  in  the  collection  of  the  Academy  of  Sciences  in  Philadelphia, 
as  well  as  with  a  series  of  ten  specimens  in  the  British  Museum,  I  am 
inclined  to  consider  it  specifically  distinguishable  from  the  Australian 
bird,  and  propose  therefore  to  call  it 

TTTBNIX  SATTJEATA.     (Plate  XXV.) 

Affinis  T.  melanonotae,  sed  rostro  crassiore  magisque  curvato,  superdliis 
magis  rufescentibus,  et  colore  subtus  omnino  (prcesertim  in  mento,  gula 
et  pectore)  intensiore  distinguenda. 

Long.  al.  3*2,  tars.  '85  poll.  Angl. 

Ibis  1882        Besides  my  specimen  I  have  seen  two  quite  similar  ones,  also  females, 
p.  429.     one  kindly  lent  me  by  Canon  Tristram,  the  other  in  the  collection  of  the 
British  Museum.     Both  these  were  collected  by  Mr.  Layard  in  Blanche 
Bay,  New  Britain. 

Turnix  saturata  differs  from  the  Australian  T.  melanonota,  to  which  it 
is  closely  allied,  in  its  generally  darker  colour  above,  as  well  as  in  the 
greater  intensity  of  the  rufous  colouring  of  the  underparts,  this  being 
not  only  of  a  much  deeper  hue,  but  extending  quite  onto  the  throat  and 
chin,  the  latter  being  almost  white  in  Australian  examples  of  T.  mela- 
nonota. The  rufous  eyebrows  are  also  much  more  conspicuous,  and,  as 
so  often  happens  in  insular  forms  as  compared  with  their  continental 
representatives,  the  beak  is  much  larger  and  thicker,  besides  being  more 
curved  and  of  a  dirty  yellow  colour,  as  opposed  to  the  generally  horny 
colour  of  the  beak  of  T.  melanonota. 

T.  saturata  as  yet  appears  to  have  been  only  found  in  New  Britain  and 

*  Ibis,  1882,  pp.  428-431,  PI.  XII. 


•h 


': 


ON  A  NEW  SPECIES  OF  HEMIPODE.  445 

the  Duke-of-York  group  *,  in  which  latter  locality  it  was  met  with  by 
Mr.  Layard,  Jim.  (« Ibis,'  1880,  p.  302).  It  is,  I  believe,  the  only  species 
of  the  Turnicidae  yet  known  as  inhabiting  the  Papuan  Islands,  eleven 
altogether  of  that  group  being  found  in  the  Australian  region.  Of  these 
the  following  is  a  complete  list.  Of  all  of  them,  except  T.  scintillans,  I 
have  seen  skins  in  the  collections  of  the  British  Museum. 

1.  TURNIX  MELANOGASTER. 

Turnix  melanogaster,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxi.;  Handb.  ii.  p.  178. 
Eastern  Australia  (Gould). 

2.  TURNIX  YARIA  (Lath.). 

Turnix  varia  (Lath.),  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxii. ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  179. 
New   South   Wales,   Victoria,   S.  Australia,   and   (?)  W.  Australia 
(Gould)-,  Eockingham  Bay  &c.  (Ramsay). 

3.  TURNIX  SCINTILLA.NS.  Ibis,  1882, 
Turnix  scintillans,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxiii. ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  181. 

Abrolhos  Islands,  "W.  Australia  (Gould). 

4.  TURNIX  MELANOXOTA. 

Turnix  melanotus,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxiv. ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  182. 

Moreton  Bay  (Gould)-,  Cape  York  (H.M.S.  l  Challenger');  Lizard 
Island  (Jukes  in  B.M.) ;  Wide  Bay,  Bichmond  and  Clarence  Kiver 
districts,  N.  S.  Wales,  and  interior  (Ramsay). 

5.  TURNIX  SATURATA,  mini. 

New  Britain  (Layard,  Kleinschmidt) ;  Duke-of-York  group  (Layard). 

6.  TURNIX  RUFESCENS. 

Turnix  rufescens,  Wallace,  P.  Z.  S.  1863,  p.  497. 

Samao  Island,  Timor  (Wall). 

This  species  I  only  know  from  a  single  specimen  obtained  by  Mr. 
Wallace,  and  therefore  probably  the  type  of  his  description  (s.  c.),  in  the 
British  Museum.  This  skin  is  in  poor  condition ;  but  the  species, 
though  near  to  T.  melanonota,  is  apparently  a  good  one,  distinguishable 
by  the  scapularies  having  no  edging  of  creamy  buff,  as  in  the  last-named 
bird.  A  further  series  of  specimens  will  be  necessary  to  decide  the 
question.  Mr.  Wallace  describes  the  irides  as  being  brown,  whilst  in 
Jukes's  specimen  of  T.  melanonota  from  Lizard  Island  they  are  called 
"  white,"  as  also  they  are  in  Layard's  skin  of  T.  saturata  from  New 

*  It  remains  to  be  seen  what  species  it  is  which,  according  to  Mr.  Ramsay  (apud 
Sahadori,  "  Prodromus,"  Ann.  Mus.  Civ.  Gen.  xviii.  p.  9),  occurs  near  Port  Moresby. 


446         THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Britain.  According  to  Blyth  ('Ibis/  1867,  p.  162)  T.  rufescens  also 
occurs  in  Java  ;  he  compares  it  to  the  Indian  T.  tanki  (—T.  dussumieri, 
apud  Jerdon,  B.  India,  iii.  p.  599). 

7.    TUENIX  CASTANONOTA. 


Turnix  castanonotus,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxv.  ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  183. 
Northern  and  North-western  Australia  (Gould). 

8.  TFENIX  VELOX. 

Turnix  velox,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxvii.  ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  185. 

Ibis  1882        Australia,  from  Swan  river  to  New  South  Wales  (Gould)-,  Port  Deni- 
p.  431.      son,  Wide  Bay,  and  Clarence  Eiver  districts  (Ramsay). 


9.  TFENIX  PYEEHOTHOEAX. 

Turnix  pyrrhothorax,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxxvi.  ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  186. 
East  Australia  (Gould). 

10.  TUENIX  EUFILATUS. 

Turnix  rufilatus,  Wall.  P.  Z.  S.  1865,  p.  480. 
Celebes  :  Macassar  (  Wall.). 

11.  PEDIONOMUS  TOEQIJATTTS. 

Pedionomus  torquatws,  Gould,  B.  A.  v.  pi.  Ixxx.  ;  Handb.  ii.  p.  187. 
Plains  of  Central  Australia  (Gould). 


ibis  1883  68'  THE  LAST  J°URNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.* 

p!  494. ' 

JTOY  19th,  1882.  Left  Liverpool  in  S.S.    'Bonny/  797  tons    register, 

Captain  Haltje,  getting  ofi  about  noon.  Sea  rather  rolling.  Passed 
Skerries  about  6  P.M.,  and  off  South  Stack  at  9  P.M. 

July  20th.  Showery  and  dull,  with  a  rolling  sea.  40  miles  south  of 
Tusker  at  breakfast.  Bun  130  miles  from  Skerries. 

July  21st.  Showery,  but  finer.  Ship  still  rolling  a  good  deal.  Run 
214  miles. 

July  22nd.  Finer  and  sea  smoother.  Rim  231  miles.  A  few 
Oceanites  behind  ship. 

July  23rd.  Fine  and  bright.  Swell  gone  down.  Run  about  238  miles. 
Many  Petrels  behind  ship. 

*  '  Ibis,'  1883,  pp.  494-537. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 


447 


July  24th.     Fine  and  bright,  much  warmer.     Sea  smooth.     A  number 
of  Petrels  behind  ship,  their  yellow  webs  clearly  seen.      The  legs  are 
carried  straight  out  behind,  extending  a  little  beyond  tail,  and  only   ibis,  1883, 
lowered  when  "  coming-to  "  on  the  water.     I  have  not  yet  seen  one  clearly      P-  ^95. 
settle.     The  flight  Fulmar-like,  the  wings  being  rapidly  beaten  to  get  up 


Map  of  Lower  Niger,  showing  Forbes's  Stations. 

speed,  the  bird  then  gliding  with  wings  stretched  for  some  time.  Eun 
256  miles.  289  miles  from  Madeira  at  noon,  in  latitude  of  Cape  St. 
Vincent. 

July  25th.  Sighted  Porto  Santo  about  10  A.M.  on  port,  and  Madeira, 
about  three  hours  later,  on  starboard.  There  is  a  deep  sea  (over 
100  fathoms)  between  the  two,  whereas  the  Desertas,  nearer  Madeira, 


Ibis,  1883, 
p.  496. 


448  THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

are  connected  to  that  by  a  bank.  Prom  Porto  Santo  to  the  lighthouse 
at  Madeira  is  23  miles.  Between  the  two  islands  I  saw  many  Buliveria, 
two  quite  close  to  the  ship,  settle  on  the  water.  The  flight  is  strong, 
Puffinus-  or  Sv\ift-like.  Besides  the  Bulwerias,  a  good  number  of  a 
brownish-grey  Puffinus,  with  belly  and  rest  of  underside  pure  white ; 
head,  breast,  and  tail  like  the  back.  There  were  a  number  of  these  just 
off  Funchal ;  also  some  Gulls,  apparently  Larus  affinis,  with  yellow  feet, 
darkish  mantle  ;  patagial  margins  of  wings,  tip  of  secondaries,  and  an 
oblique  bar  across  second  coverts  white.  Got  into  Eunchal  about  5  P.M., 
anchoring  close  to  shore.  The  town  looks  very  pretty  from  the  sea — 
white  houses,  green  shutters  &c.,  quite  like  other  Portuguese  towns. 
The  lower  slopes  of  the  hills  are  much  cultivated  in  terraces,  the  tops 
wooded  with  stone-pines  and,  apparently,  Erica  arborea,  a  bright  green 
conifer-like  tree.  The  streets  are  paved  with  rounded  pebbles,  closely 
packed  together,  and  quite  polished  from  the  friction  of  the  cow-sledges, 
there  being  no  wheeled  vehicles.  "Went  to  Miles's  hotel  and  had  some 
dinner.  Pretty  garden,  with  bananas,  palms,  Hibiscus,  Cannas,  &c.  &c., 
and  many  Spliinx  convolvuli.  Only  birds  seen  were  Swifts,  apparently 
Cypselus  apus,  and  a  yellowish  Wagtail,  Motadlla  sulphurea.  On  ship 
again  about  8.30  P.M.  and  off  at  9.  The  '  Con  way  Castle  '  for  Cape  came 
in  just  after  we  did,  and  left  again  just  after  us,  soon  passing  us.  The 
three  Desertas  are  well  seen  from  Madeira,  the  most  northern  low  and 
truncated,  the  two  others  high,  rocky,  and  barren.  All  the  group  are 
obviously  volcanic,  some  section  of  Madeira  being  seen  in  coast-cliffs  as 
we  steamed  west  from  the  lighthouse  to  Funchal. 

July  26th.     Duller  and  cooler,  with  some  swell.     Running  before  the 

north-east  trades.     At  noon  had  come  about  150  miles  from  Punch al. 

In  afternoon  passed  a  Dutch  steamer,   schooner-rigged,  going  north. 

About  9  P.M.  saw  the  revolving  light  of  Palma,  about  15  miles  distant  on 

Ibis,  1883,   starboard  bow.     In  the  morning  saw  a  few  of  the  same  Puffinus  as  we 

p.  497.       bad  seen  off  Madeira. 

July  27th.     Duller  and  cooler.     No  ships  or  birds.     Eun  235  miles. 

July  28th.  Very  smooth  and  fine,  but  not  hot.  Eun  228  miles. 
50  miles  off  Cape  Blanco  at  dinner.  A  lot  of  Oceanites  behind  ship  till 
dusk.  A  large  Hawk  appeared  about  7,  when  ship  about  50  miles  from 
land,  striking  apparently  at  something  (?  a  Petrel)  and  not  reappearing. 

July  29th.  Cool  and  smooth.  Bun  235  miles.  A  few  flying-fish 
seen  in  the  evening. 

S.  July  30th.  Cape  Verde  in  sight  at  breakfast-time.  A  high  cliff 
with  lighthouse  on  top,  rising  rather  suddenly  from  a  low  wrooded  flat 
coast.  No  palms  visible  on  shore  from  ship  at  10  miles  off.  A  lot  of 
Oceanites  after  ship  all  day ;  and  in  afternoon  a  flock  of  Puffinus  fishing 
with  a  school  of  Bonitas.  Eun  251  miles.  Some  rain  towards 
evening. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.         449 

July  31st.  Showery  in  morning,  cloudy,  with  a  slight  sea.  Com- 
menced casting  about  10.  Eun  215  miles.  Eoughish  all  day. 

Aug.  1st.  Heavy  rain  in  morning.  About  10  A.M.  a  flock  of  about  ten 
of  a  Sula  behind  ship,  nearly  all  white,  and  apparently  Sula  bassana. 
Eun  220  miles.  Sea  smoother.  Cleared  up  at  noon.  In  afternoon, 
about  4.30,  sighted  the  high  hills  (Sierra  Leone,  s.  str.)  to  south  of 
Freetown.  Close  to  land  by  6  P.M.,  and  anchored  in  river  off  light- 
house by  9. 

Aug.  2nd.  Up  early  on  deck  to  see  Sierra  Leone ;  raining  hard,  but 
cleared  up  after  breakfast.  The  high  hills  lie  south  of  the  town,  which 
is  small  and  very  English-looking  with  brick  houses,  and  the  barracks 
&c.  on  higher  ground  behind  town.  The  land  on  north  of  river  is  flat 
and  bushy ;  an  island  above  town  on  south  bank  also.  Some  traces  of 
forest  left  on  highest  range  of  hills  ;  the  rest  pretty  nearly  entirely 
cleared,  with  a  few  scattered  big  trees  and  bushy  undergrowth,  and 
numbers  of  palms  close  to  shore.  I  took  two  photos,  one  of  the  light- 
house at  point  (west  of  town  about  4  miles),  the  other  of  breakers,  just 
to  right  of  it;  the  second  Gallinia  interfered  with,  exposing  it  too  long.  Ibis,  1883, 
Got  our  "  boys,"  and  left  by  noon.  Bather  rough  outside  with  heavy  P*  ^' 
rain.  Saw  a  number  of  Oceanites  in  Sierra-Leone  river  just  behind  ship  ; 
and  the  water  being  smooth,  could  watch  them  well.  They  never  settle, 
but  paddle  in  the  water  with  fluttering  wings,  and  also  "  duck-and- 
drake  "  along  by  bounds,  the  wings  being  kept  steady  and  horizontal  and 
the  tail  spread,  the  legs  depending  vertically.  On  shore  could  see  some 
pensile  long  nests  hanging  from  cocoa-palms  (?  of  Hyphantornis\  and  a 
Tern  or  two,  but  too  far  off  to  make  out  the  species. 

Aug.  3rd.  Warmer  and  finer,  with  sea  smooth.  Eun  200  miles  from 
Sierra  Leone.  Men  painting  ship  and  "  boys  "  making  themselves  gene- 
rally useful,  cleaning  donkey-engine,  brass-work,  &c.  Land  at  12.  About 
5  P.M.  off  Cape  Mount,  a  thickly  wooded  high  rounded  promontory, 
apparently  of  black  basalt,  rising  abruptly  from  the  rest  of  the  coast, 
which  is  flat,  well  wooded,  and  extends  as  far  as  one  can  see  both  east 
and  west  of  it.  About  10  P.M.  saw  the  light  at  Monrovia. 

Aug.  4th.  Fine  and  smooth,  with  cool  breeze.  Still  off  the  Liberian 
coast,  here  flat  and  low  still.  Mangos  taste  like  tamarinds  with  a  dash 
of  turpentine.  Alligator-pears  like  vegetable-marrow,  or  inferior  cu- 
cumber, but  pulp  softer  and  sweeter.  About  11  A.M.  saw  a  whale 
spouting  inshore,  not  a  large  one,  apparently.  The  evening  before  passed 
close  to  a  shoal  of  dolphins  just  off  Cape  Mount — pale  grey  above,  below 
and  side-stripes  white ;  a  long  nose.  Half-speed  all  day. 

Aug.  5th.  Off  Grand  Sestres  at  daybreak,  and  shipped  seven  boys 
and  some  others  as  passengers.  The  town  consists  three  fourths  of 
patches  of  mud  and  palm  huts  in  cleared  patches  on  the  beach.  The 
men  are  bigger  and  finer  than  those  we  shipped  at  Sierra  Leone,  and 

2u 


450  THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

much  browner  in  colour,  as  a  rule,  though  varying  much.  Many  have  a 
broad  line  tattooed  down  forehead  to  tip  of  nose,  and  two  arrow-shaped 
marks  on  face,  one  on  each  side,  with  apex  just  below  outer  centres  of  eyes. 
Most  wear  only  a  loin-cloth,  with  bracelets,  bangles,  and  necklace  of 
Ibis,  1883  brass  wire,  with  keys  &c.  as  pijues.  Some  have  a  few  tattooed  marks  on 
p.  499.  kack  jn  stripes,  or  on  breast  just  above  nipples  -;-.  Hair  very  short  and 
woolly  on  head,  and  some  quite  shaved  there ;  little  or  no  beard  or 
whiskers ;  a  good  deal  of  short  curly  hair  on  abdomen,  chest,  thighs,  &c. 
Saw  a  couple  of  whales,  apparently  very  big  and  greyish  in  colour,  about 
an  hour  after  leaving  Grand  Sestres.  An  Oceaniles  off  ship  at  Grand 
Sestres.  Saw  Cape  Palmas  about  9.30.  Coast  low,  flat,  and  wooded 
densely,  with  sandy  beach,  and  black  (?  basalt)  rocks  in  places.  The 
Grand  Sestres  canoes  are  dug-outs,  with  J  cross  thwarts,  and  rounded 
away  stem  and  stern.  The  men,  one  third  sit  or  kneel  on  bottom  and 
paddle  with  both  hands  on  one  side,  the  paddle  being  short,  with  a 
rhomboidal  blade.  Besides  this  usually  a  wooden  scoop  to  bale  out. 
Canoes  and  paddles  often  mended  by  being  sown  up  with  some  creeper, 
also  used  for  making  thwarts  fast  at  side  of  boat.  Had  come  about 
100  miles  at  noon  from  position  day  before.  Saw  Cape  Palmas  and 
wreck  of  '  Joriba.'  Lost  land  in  afternoon. 

S.  Aug.  6th.  Fine  and  smooth,  with  bright  sun.  Just  after  break- 
fast two  steamers  hove  in  sight,  steering  to  the  north.  They  turned  out 
to  be  the  '  Volta'  and  '  Coanza;'  the  latter  in  tow  and  disabled,  having 
been  on  shore  at  Porto  Seguro  (close  to  Little  Popo),  and  carried  away 
stern-post,  rudder,  and  three  blades  of  propeller.  Communicated  and 
sent  letters,  papers,  &c.  on  board,  and  then  proceeded  on  our  course. 
At  noon  80  miles  west  of  Cape  Three  Points.  Run  261  miles.  One  or 
two  Oceanites  still  occasionally  seen  off  ship.  In  afternoon  off  Assinie 
hills  and  "  Hummocks  of  Apollonia."  At  10  P.M.  in  sight  of  the  light 
at  Cape  Three  Points.  Got  two  photographs  of  our  Kru  boysj  the 
second  Ashbury  exposed  by  lifting  the  slide. 

Aug.  7th.  Cool,  fine,  and  smooth.  Passed  Cape  Coast  Castle  at  1  in 
the  morning.  Accra  at  about  7.30.  Coast  beyond  Volta,  which  we 
passed  about  1,  with  sandy  beach  and  low  scrubby  bush  ;  no  thick  forest 
apparently.  Off  Popo  coast  in  afternoon.  *  Congo '  at  anchor  off 
Little  (?)  Popo,  with  captain  down  with  fever.  Passed  Whydah  about 
11.30P.M. 

Ibis,  1883,       Aug.  8th.     Off  Lagos  about  7  A.M.     Quite  a  fleet  of  steamers  there — 

p.  500.       i  Corisco '  (homeward),  4  Kinsembo '  (west  coast),  *  Maleinbe  '  and  '  Win- 

nebah'   (Hamburg),   also   one   or   two  smaller  branch  and  bar  boats. 

Rowland    gone    to    Accra.        Quite    cool    and    cloudy,    with    slight 

swell. 

Aug.  9th.  Cool  and  cloudy  still,  with  calm  sea.  Land  in  sight  at 
daybreak,  low  and  flat.  Anchored  in  Bonny  river  off  the  town  about 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        451 

1.30.  Coming  in  on  a  sandy  spit  below  "  Bough  Corner"  (the  white- 
men's  burying-ground)  is  a  great  colony  of  a  large  grey-mantled  Tern, 
Sterna  melanotis  [S.  caspia].  Went  on  shore  about  3  P.M.  with  Ashbury 
and  John  Jumbo's  clerk  and  brother-in-law  (white).  Interviewed  J.  J., 
who  gave  us  a  guide  through  the  town  to  show  us  the  juju-house  (much 
neglected),  church,  and  other  sights.  Many  of  the  unmarried  girls  up 
to  17  or  so  quite  nude,  as  are  all  the  children  up  to  10  or  12.  Men 
wear  a  loin-cloth,  or  a  shirt,  drawers,  <fec.  of  European  stuffs,  and 
married  women  clothed  below  navel.  Many  of  the  children  and  girls 
stencilled,  often  very  beautifully  and  elaborately,  all  over  with  a  native 
dye  from  a  green  pomegranate -like  fruit,  simulating  tattooing.  The 
street  very  narrow  and  in  part  paved  with  a  large  Cardium.  The 
houses  of  wattle,  the  interstices  filled  up  with  mud,  and  the  roofs  palm- 
thatched  or  corrugated  zinc.  Some  fine  old  forest-trees  on  outskirts  of 
town,  also  bush,  with  many  ferns  (especially  a  large  Osmunda,  with 
fertile  apex  only  of  pinnules  of  fronds),  and  mangrove-swamps.  Saw  an 
Elaphocerium  growing  on  a  big  tree.  In  Jumbo's  garden  a  fine  frangi- 
pani  shrub  in  flower,  with  Merium,  or  yellow  papilionaceous  shrub,  roses, 
Carica,  &c.  In  the  mangrove-swamp  an  AnopTithalmus  in  swarms,  going 
on  land  when  disturbed,  and  hopping,  duck-and-drake-like,  over  water 
like  a  lot  of  tadpoles.  Many  land-crabs  also.  Of  birds  saw  Vidua 
principalis,  a  Nectarinia,  a  Drymceca  (?),  and  others. 

Aug.  10th.  From  ship  in  morning  saw  a  large  flock  of  Pelicans  on  sandy 
spit  on  right  of  river,  also  a  largish  white  Ardea,  and  a  black-and-white 
Eagle  flying  over  water  (?  GypoTiieraoc}.  Went  on  shore  about  10,  and 
took  about  twelve  photos  of  town  and  natives,  juju-house,  church,  and 
mission-station.  At  latter  saw  Archdeacon  Crowther,  son  of  the  Bishop.  Ibis,  1883, 
In  the  compound  was  a  fine  shrub  in  full  flower  of  the  orange-yellow  p* 
Lilias  (fide  Gallinia),  of  which  I  had  seen  flowers  before.  The  natives 
organized  a  grand  dance  of  three  or  four  men,  including  the  chief  juju 
priest,  to  a  band  of  two  or  three  tomtoms.  Some  of  the  girls  and 
children  entirely  covered  with  a  red  dye  (camwood),  whether  for  orna- 
ment or  for  curing  "  craw-craw  "  (a  skin-disease)  is  doubtful.  Caught  a 
few  butterflies,  including  a  black-and-yellow  Papilio  and  an  Acrcea ;  the 
latter  common  and  flying  slowly  in  afternoon  over  a  pink  heliotrope,  or 
allied  shrub,  and  accompanied  by  a  mimicking  Geometer  with  pectinated 
antennae.  Saw  a  few  grey  Parrots  flying  in  twos  and  threes  high  and 
fast  overhead. 

Aug.  llth.  Wet  in  morning.  Went  on  shore  about  11,  with  Watson 
and  Gallinia.  Wet,  but  cleared  up  in  evening.  About  4  P.M.  went  off 
with  J.  J.,  W.,  and  G-.  to  try  and  shoot  some  Pelicans.  Only  got  within 
400  yards,  and  missed  two  shots  at  that  distance  ;  then  went  up  a  creek 
on  other  side  of  river  and  got  into  a  warm  corner  with  Curlews,  Sand- 
pipers, a  few  Parrots,  &c.  Killed  a  few  Totanus  Jiypohucus  and  a  couple 


452        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

of  large  Terns  (?  Sterna  melanotis),  the  best  of  which  I  skinned.  Came 
on  to  rain  hard  before  we  got  back  to  ship. 

Aug.  12th.  Wet  in  morning.  Left  Bonny  about  11  and  went 
ashore  with  Ashbury  to  photograph.  Took  photos  of  a  big  tree  (?  a 
Bomba-x).  and  three  of  a  so-called  "  albino  "  girl  (Ibo),  belonging  to  a 
black  named  Hart,  who  sent  us  (it  having  got  very  wet)  aboard  the 
'Adriatic  '  hulk  in  grand  style  in  his  canoe,  with  about  thirty  paddlers, 
double-banked.  On  board  '  Adriatic  '  for  the  night, 

Aug.  13th.  On  board  '  Adriatic'  with  Captain  Gillies  and  C.  de  Certi, 
a  Corsiean  trader,  formerly  at  Opobo.  Wet  all  morning,  and  did  not 
leave  ship  till  about  4  P.M.,  when  left  with  Ashbury  and  Greenshiekls 
for  Akassa  in  4  Dodo.'  Ship  rolled  horribly  during  the  night. 

Aug.  14th.  Off  the  mouth  of  the  ]STun  at  8  A.M.,  but  did  not  reach 
Ibis,  1883,  Akassa  till  three  hours  later,  owing  to  the  difficulty  of  sighting  the  bar- 
buoy,  the  land  being  hazy.  River  about  a  mile  or  a  mile  and  a  balf 
broad  at  mouth,  12  feet  of  water  on  bar,  passage  being  surrounded  by 
breakers  on  both  sides,  and  particularly  on  the  west.  Akassa  is  situated 
on  the  right  bank,  a  few  miles  above  mouth.  Two  dwellings,  a  billiard- 
room,  some  sheds,  native  huts,  and  further  up  the  shops.  About  180 
Lands  employed,  all,  except  three,  black.  Mr.  W.  A.  Earnshaw  in 
charge,  Sargent  and  Macintosh  being  away.  A  lovely  yellow  bushy 
Hibiscus,  with  big  leaves,  behind  the  house ;  also  saw  a  black  Papilio,  a 
male  Chalcosia,  crowds  of  Anophtlialmus,  land-crabs  of  several  species, 
one  with  asymmetrical  chelae  (?  Callianassa},  and  a  black  lizard  with  red 
head  and  tail.  The  natives  had  strings  of  a  large  Achatina  hanging  up 
for  sale  to  eat,  and  with  them  a  Cinixyt.  Had  some  chops  at  the  house 
and  left  about  5  in  the  *  King  Massaba,'  Captain  Charles  Macintosh,  for 
Abutschi,  a  station  just  below  Onitscha.  For  some  miles  steamed 
through  nothing  but  half -flooded  mangrove-swamps,  in  which  gradually 
a  few  bushy  palms  appear,  these  increasing  in  number  as  banks  get  a 
little  higher  and  land  firmer.  Anchored  for  night  about  10.  In 
swamps  about  5.30  P.M.  ;  saw  half  a  dozen  live  Scopus,  also  a  grey 
Parrot  or  two,  and  a  large  black-and-white  Kingfisher. 

Aug.  15th.  Under  steam  all  day  from  about  5.30  to  8.  Out  of  the 
mangroves  at  daylight ;  they  do  not  extend  very  far  up.  Ashbury 
photographing  the  banks,  with  village,  all  day.  Towns  in  this  part 
hostile.  Passed  in  afternoon  place  where  '  Sultan  of  Sokoto  '  got  ashore 
and  was  plundered,  a  few  miles  below  a  largish  village  called  Emblama. 
The  banks  are  covered  with  not  very  thick  forest  and  jungle,  a  large 
cotton-tree  being  the  most  conspicuous  plant,  also  oil-palms  in  numbers. 
In  afternoon  saw  several  of  a  moderate-sized  tree,  with  white  smooth 
stem  and  splendid  large  scarlet  flowers.  Many  plantains,  a  few  cassavas, 
and  a  large  Calodium-Yike  plant  called  "  coco  "  are  grown  by  the  natives. 
The  banks  are  low,  with  many  sand-banks  in  places,  all  apparently  a 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        453 

light  yellow  or  greyish  loam,  apparently  quite   recent  and   fluviatile. 

Saw  in  morning  a  few  deep-blue  small  Swallows,  with  white  on  tail  Ibis'  18^» 

(?  Atticora  fasciata),  and  a  small  Motucilfa,  very  white.     In  afternoon  a 

small  Buceros  or  two,  solitary,  black,  with  white  belly,  high  black  beak, 

and  casque  with  large  white  mark  (?  Buceros  Jistulator).     The  flight  is  an 

alternation  of  heavy  flapping  with  smooth  gliding.     Lots  of  Pratincola 

flying  like  Swallows  just  over  surface  of  river  below  Emblama — white 

tail  and  below,  with  large  square  white  patch  on  primaries.     Saw  a  flock 

of  three  of  a  green  Treron  fly  over  river,  and  got  a  shot  at  a  crocodile 

lying  on  a  bank.     Macintosh  had  previously  killed  one  about  8  feet  long. 

Aug.  16th.  Fine  morning.  Started  at  6,  and  at  7  were  near  to  Wari 
creek,  the  head  of  the  delta  leading  to  Benin,  and  about  200  miles  from 
sea  (in  ship's  course).  Saw  a  Buceros  and  a  couple  of  Cuculine  birds, 
chestnut  with  black  cap  and  white  throat  (probably  Centropus).  On  a 
bank  just  at  Wari  creek  saw  a  great  number  of  Gypohieracc  (both  in 
young  and  adult  plumage)  and  a  solitary  Ardea  goliath.  A  little  above 
saw  two  Hippopotami ;  but  Macintosh  failed  to  hit  them.  Ardea  flavi- 
rostris,  and  another  smaller  grey  species,  on  sand-banks  above.  The 
coco  and  palm-nut  trees  near  the  villages  are  crowded  with  compact 
circular  pensile  nests  of  a  Weaver-bird,  first  seen  yesterday.  The  banks 
are  about  18  feet  high  where  exposed  by  river-section,  of  a  reddish-grey 
or  yellowish  loam,  obviously  stratified,  but  not  always  horizontally. 
About  12  got  to  Aboh,  where  there  is  a  factory  and  the  hulk  « Arran 
Isle/  The  native  town  is  inland  about  an  hour's  walk.  Got  about 
twenty  butterflies  near  bank,  chiefly  Acrcea  of  two  or  three  species. 
Shot  a  male  Hypliantornis  and  a  female  Estrelda — eyes  pale  brown- 
olive,  beak  rosy  red  marked  with  black,  feet  dirty  flesh.  On  shore  about 
three  quarters  of  an  hour.  After  lunch  landed  on  a  large  sandy  bank  to 
stalk  two  crocodiles,  and  got  within  about  150  yards,  but  missed  mine 
as  it  was  going  into  -the  water.  Greenshields  did  not  get  his  shot. 
Walked  about  on  bank  and  shot  a  male  Vidua  principalis,  also  saw 
several  of  the  Glareola  walking  about  on  bank.  In  morning  shot  a 
crocodile  from  steamer  at  about  800  yards  with  the  captain's  Martini, 
and  made  fine  practice  at  a  bottle,  a  cartridge,  or  two  inches  of  pipe  put 
upon  fore  davits. 

Aug.  17th.     Passed  Osomari,  Alenso,  Atani,  and  about  noon  got  to  Ibis,  1883, 
Abutschi.      In  morning,  just  above  Osomari,  met  Captain  Macintosh  in      P-  5<^ 
the  '  Jessie '  from  Lukoja.     He  came  on  board  for  a  few  minutes  and 
went  on  to  Akassa.     Abutschi  is  about  270  miles  by  river  from  Akassa, 
a  little  way  below  Onitschi,  on  the  left  bank  of  the  river.     Caught  a  few 
butterflies  about  the  steamer  on  landing  at  factory,  and  in  afternoon 
went  down  to  a  large  sand-bank  with  Captain  D.  Macintosh  and  suc- 
ceeded in  shooting  a  hippopotamus  from  the  bank.      He  sank,  but  his 
body  could  not  be  found,  though  we  sent  a  boat  and  boys  to  watch  for  • 


454  THE  LAST  JOUENAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

its  rising.  I  shot  a  Qlareola  cinerea  (legs  and  base  of  beak  bright  red), 
a  Hyphantornis  personatus,  male,  and  one  of  another  species  (eyes  orange- 
brown)  which  was  nesting  on  the  acacia-bushes  on  the  bank.  The  nests 
are  of  grass,  nearly  circular,  of  the  size  of  one's  two  fists,  with  the  aper- 
ture vertical  to  one  side.  An  egg  was  bluish  green,  thickly  freckled 
with  red-brown  blotches,  forming  a  zone  round  larger  pole.  Captain  D. 
Macintosh  also  shot  a  Rhynchops  for  me ;  we  had  seen  large  flocks  of  it 
on  the  banks  coming  up.  When  settled  on  the  ground  looks  peculiarly 
small.  Saw  also  Corvus  curvirostris,  which  has  a  caw  like  our  crow. 

Aug.  18th.  At  Abutschi.  Captain  D.  Macintosh  out  shooting  in  the 
morning  and  brought  me  in  six  or  seven  birds,  including  a  nice  Centropus 
and  a  Pogonias.  Caught  a  most  peculiar  pale  glaucous-green  Homopteron 
in  garden,  flying  about  amongst  shrubs,  like  a  Geometer,  which  it  was,  I 
thought,  till  I  pinned  it.  In.  evening  shot  two  Euplectes  flammiceps, 
these  and  Vidua  macrocerca  being  very  common  in  grass-lands  behind 
factory  amongst  their  plantations. 

Aug.  19th.  Went  out  in  morning  with  young  Macintosh  along  bank. 
Shot  thirty  of  the  orange-headed  Hyphantornis,  an  Estrelda,  and  a 
Pluvianus  cegypticus,  of  which  I  had  seen  plenty  before  (bill  black,  eyes 
dark  brown,  legs  beautiful  pale  greyish  blue,  claws  black).  Started  to 
get  ready  for  Onitschi ;  but  a  heavy  shower  came  on  just  after  we 
started,  so  Greenshields  and  I  turned  back,  Ashbury  going  on.  After 
Ibis,  1883,  lunch  at  Abutschi  on  'King  Massaba'  we  went  out  after  birds,  D. 
Macintosh  shooting  Hyphantornis  luteus  (eyes  orange-brown),  Hyphant- 
ornis personatus  ?,  Spermestes  cucullatus,  a  Timeliine  bird,  and  a  Telephonus 
(eyes  deep  smalt-blue).  Also  saw  Euplectes  oryx  or  ignicolor,  several  of 
a  Buceros  and  Psittacus  erithacus.  About  5.15  P.M.  started  on  horses  for 
Onitschi  factory,  which  we  got  to  in  three  quarters  of  an  hour's  ride 
through  a  sandy  grass-covered  country,  with  scattered  trees  and  termite- 
hills  6  feet  high.  Swarms  of  a  Lampyroid  glowworm  outside  factory. 
Some  nests  of  the  Hyphantornis  on  beach  (?  Hyphantornis  aurifrons)  had 
callow  young,  and  one  an  egg  of  uniform  pale  chocolate-brown  colour. 
Beautiful  little  purse-like  nests  of  vegetable  fibres  in  long  grass  made  by 
the  little  Estrelda. 

S.  Aug.  20th.  Started  about  9  for  a  creek  on  left  bank  of  river,  a 
little  above  Onitschi,  with  Greenshields  in  a  canoe  with  five  boys.  Saw 
no  Hippopotami  (native  "  Itabo  "),  but  shot  a  Manati,  and  saw  several 
monkeys,  apparently  Cercopithecus  mona,  and  a  black  one.  One  of  the 
former  I  wounded,  but  did  not  secure.  Saw  several  Plotus,  and  shot  a 
female,  its  stomach  just  as  in  Plotus  melanoc)  aster :  gastric  epithelium  to 
top  of  and  covering  proventricular  area,  and  no'  V-shaped  ridge  distinct. 
Stomach  full  of  nematodes,  but  none  penetrated  (apparently)  past  plug, 
numerous  ones  being  caught  and  detained  in  it.  Pood  was  apparently 
entirely  freshwater  prawns.  Saw  several  fine  Ilaliaetus  vocifer,  several 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.  455 

Neophron  pileatus  (very  tame),  a  large  Buceros  with  high  casque,  Psittacus 
erithacus,  a  greyish-blue  Campephaga,  a  steely-blue  Progne  with  white 
throat,  a  Butorides  with  orange  legs,  dark  cap,  and  pale  chestnut  gular 
streak,  Ceryle  rudis  ?,  a  beautiful  small  blue  Alcedo  with  black  bill,  orange 
legs  and  underside,  and  white  ear- spot,  the  Centropus,  &c.  Got  a  lot  of 
orchids  and  a  Platycerium,  amongst  which  was  a  caterpillar  (?  Noclua) 
with  large  black  yellow-bordered  ocelli  on  sides  of  fourth  segment.  A 
fine  grey  Hawk -Eagle  at  factory,  with  black-and-white  barred  tail, 
elongated  nuchal  crest,  yellow  bill  and  feet,  and  pale  greyish-yellow  eyes. 
Also  saw  on  banks  a  small  chocolate  Dove,  with  red  beak  and  slaty-blue 
cap. 

Aug.  21st.  After  chop  went  over  to  Onitschi  (town)  with  Green-  Ibis,  1883, 
shields ;  he  with  gun,  I  with  net.  At  first  through  fields  of  grass  and  p' 
yams,  then  to  town,  enclosed  in  a  stockade  neatly  kept,  with  fine  big 
trees,  coco-palms,  undergrowth,  and  red  clay  houses.  Papilio  merope 
abundant,  and  caught  a  pair  in  copulation,  the  male  with  a  black-and- 
white  Diadema-like  female.  Several  species  of  Terias  and  Pieris  very 
abundant  in  outskirts.  Shot  a  pair  of  the  Lagonosticta  (eyes  olive-brown) 
in  fields,  a  glossy  green  Swallow,  a  Nectarinia,  Hypfiantornis  castaneo- 
fuscus  (eyes  yellow,  legs  dark  livid  flesh),  and  a  Sycobius  with  red  head, 
which  frequented  the  palms,  and  was  in  company  with  a  similar,  but 
black-headed  bird.  Also  saw  several  of  the  smaller  yellow-billed  Buceros 
in  trees  of  town.  On  return  to  factory  (Mr.  Taylor,  a  Sierra-Leone 
man,  is  "  boss  "),  found  our  "  Manati  "  of  yesterday  was  an  immense 
crocodile,  about  15  feet  long,  with  nuchal  scutes  just  separated  from 
dorsal,  of  which  there  were  six,  strongly  keeled  in  each  series,  diminish- 
ing to  four  on  tail,  with  indication  of  another  row  on  flanks.  A  male 
with  tracheal  loop  (?  Crocodilus  acutus).  Stomach  contained  fish  and 
stones,  some  of  the  latter  much  rounded.  Saved  skull,  nuchal  plate, 
and  trachea.  Rode  back  with  Greenshields  to  Abutschi  in  evening, 

after  '*  liquoring  up  "  with  M ,  the  agent  of  the  French  factory  at 

Onitschi. 

Aug.  22nd.  Skinning  birds  and  reloading  cartridges  nearly  all  day. 
In  afternoon  shot  a  Hirundo  senegalensis  in  garden,  one  of  several  perch- 
ing on  a  high  tree  and  hawking  insects.  Also  got  a  female  Ploceine 
bird  (?  female  of  an  Euplectes).  Boy  brought  in  one  of  the  common 
house-lizards,  which  change  colour  most  remarkably,  head  and  middle 
third  of  tail  becoming  brick-red,  basal  third  and  middle  of  back  metallic 
bluish  green  when  excited,  after  a  long  rest  entirely  dull  blackish.  The 
Buceros  here  is  apparently  Buceros  cylindricus  or  some  closely  allied  form, 
shy,  and  not  easy  to  approach. 

Aug.  23rd.     Out  with  Greenshields   in  morning  in  plantations  behind 
factory.     Shot  a  male  Euplectes  franciscanus,  three  Hyphantornis  textor  ibis,  1883, 
(irides  red),  which  had  nests  in  a  colony  on  a  small  tree  over  some  water .  1J-  ^' 


456        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

(nests  purse -like,  not  pensile,  strangely),  mixed  up  with  a  smaller  black- 
fronted  species,  and  a  Orithagra  chrysopyga,  which  is  not  at  all  rare  (in 
twos  and  threes)  and  has  rather  a  pretty  song.  D.  Macintosh  on  the 
*  Pulah/  with  the  '  Jessie  '  in  tow,  turned  up  on  return ;  and  about  12 
we  started  off  up  the  river  for  Lukoja  on  board  the  '  Fulah.'  Passed 
Onitschi,  the  town  quite  invisible  from  the  river,  and  Asaba,  and  had 
shots  at  some  Hippopotami  on  way. 

Aug.  24th.  Met  the  '  Busybody/  with  Mr.  Ashcroft  on  board,  about 
8.  He  was  fixing  up  a  new  station,  and  had  been  collecting  birds  for 
me,  amongst  them  two  Glareola  cinerea,  which  he  gave  me.  The  banks 
here  are  about  15  feet  high,  nearly  vertical,  of  a  compact  reddish-yellow 
or  grey  loam,  not  obviously  stratified  ;  in  other  parts  only  sections  of 
recent  sand-banks  are  seen.  Saw  a  large  flock  of  Psittacus,  some  Horn- 
bills  (?  Berenicornis  or  Buceros  elatus\  some  Plectropterus,  Ardea,  &c. 
Banks  thickly  wooded  with  pretty  dense,  but  not  big,  forest,  with  but 
few  big  trees  or  llianas.  Heard  some  leopards  miauling  in  bush  at 
night. 

Aug.  25th.  Up  to  Idda  about  9,  a  large  town  on  left  bank  of  river  on 
a  high  bluff,  with  vertical  cliffs  towards  river,  perhaps  120  to  150  feet 
high,  apparently  of  an  unaltered  sandstone  of  a  red  colour,  laminated  or 
stratified  in  places,  with  contemporaneous  veins  (?)  running  nearly 
horizontally.  Saw  a  number  of  white  Egrets  and  Plotus  on  a  high  tree. 
Towards  noon  got  in  amongst  the  high  country,  with  flat -topped  hills, 
apparently  remains  of  a  continuous  tableland. 

Aug.  26th.  Amongst  the  hills  still,  just  below  Beaufort  Island,  appa- 
rently of  a  much  jointed  compact  yellowish  sandstone,  weathering  out 
into  large  boulders.  Some  of  the  hills  conical  and  nearly  isolated,  others 
flat-topped  ;  Mount  d'Or,  one  of  the  highest,  rounded.  Saw  apparently 
a  couple  of  Chenalopex  on  a  sand-bank,  also  some  Hornbills.  Lukoja 
mountain,  long,  low,  and  flat- topped,  to  left  of  river,  ascending.  Saw  a 
couple  of  Balearica  on  a  bank,  here  called  crown-birds.  The  country 
here,  above  Beaufort  Island,  seems  to  fall  away  and  become  less  hilly 
Ibis,  1883,  and  flatter,  the  hills  running  transversely  across  the  river  on  both  banks. 
p.  508.  Q_O£  ^o  ijUk0jaj  passing  Tybebe  on  left  bank  just  before,  about  noon,  and 
left  again  in  an  hour's  time  for  Magagi,  the  country  above  Lukoja  being 
a  high  tableland,  coming  down  to  river  by  steep  inclines,  more  or  less 
wooded.  Got  to  Magagi  by  dark. 

S.  Aug.  27th.  At  Magagi,  discharging  and  loading  cargo,  with  some 
difficulty  in  getting  alongside,  the  water  being  shoal.  Went  on  shore  ; 
but  though  I  saw  lots  of  birds,  shot  vilely,  losing  or  missing  all  but  a 
Platystira  (eye- wattle  vermilion,  tarsal  planta  pseudo-mesomyodian,  but 
syrinx  oscinine).  A  Toccus  rather  common  ;  and  also  saw  from  steamer 
a  Berenicornis,  with  head  and  tail,  except  two  median  rectrices,  white. 
Saw  lots  of  Euplectes  franciscanus,  Sperme-stes  cucullata,  the  Ixos,  a 


THE  LAST  JOUKNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        457 

Turlur,  &c.  Lois  of  butterflies.  Saw  a  black-and-white  Motacilla  and 
a  yellow-wattled  and  legged  Lobivanellus  (senegalensis  ?).  Macintosh  got 
for  me  a  Cercopithecus  alive  from  factory,  quite  young,  with  long  fur, 
fleshy  face,  smutty  nose,  tipped  ears,  and  a  black  facial  ring  (?  Cerco- 
pithecus nisnas).  They  also  had  a  Cercopithecus  sabceus  and  a  Cynoce- 
phalus,  apparently  Cynocephalus  sphinx,  both  young.  Lots  of  Pluvianus. 
Got  photos  of  nests  of  Hyphantornis  textor  in  town.  Returned  quickly 
to  Lukoja,  and  before  dark  went  on  shore  and  shot  a  Waxbill,  apparently 
Rhodopyga  rhodopsis,  not  at  all  rare  in  town.  Pluvianus  on  beach  walk- 
ing about  or  flying  over  water  in  numbers. 

Aug.  28th.  Went  on  shore  early  to  hills  behind  town  and  got  a  lot 
of  birds  amongst  small  bushy  trees,  a  Picus,  Chrysococcyx,  Turlur  sene- 
galensis (in  town  and  compound),  Estrelda  melpoda,  E.  minima  ?,  E. 
nigricollis,  two  species  of  Nectarinia,  a  Hintndo,  and  two  or  three  others. 
Saw  also  Scopus,  Euplectes  franciscanus,  E.  flammiceps,  Urobrachya 
macroura,  in  grassy  hills  &c»  outside  town.  Hill  volcanic,  quartzite-  or 
felsite-looking,  or  metamorphic,  cleared,  with  grass.  Got  a  bright 
yellow-red  antelope-skin  from  Macintosh.  The  commonest  birds  in 
town  of  Lukoja  are  Passer  simplex,  Neophron,  Spermestes  cucullata, 
Ifypochera,  and  Estrelda  senegala  or  minima.  After  breakfast  again  on 
shore  and  saw  a  beautiful  red-black  Nectarinia  singing  quite  sweetly  in  ibis,  1883, 
a  gingeri-tree,  which  has  an  agreeable  drupaceous  fruit.  In  old  factory  P-  £09< 
Spermestes  cucullata  is  very  common ;  a  nest  I  found  was  built  on 
ground,  of  grass,  lined  with  feathers,  contained  a  pure  white  egg  and 
three  newly-hatched  down-covered  young.  The  red-  and  green-headed 
lizards  both  common  round  houses.  Hyphantornis  textor  in  great  swarms 
in  trees  of  town,  the  Spermestes  also  nesting  in  a  mango  in  the  compound 
of  factory,  where  the  Turtur  was  also  walking  about  quite  tame.  Got 
away  about  1  and  went  up  the  Binue,  passing  a  large  town  on  right  as 
you  enter  the  Binue,  called  Gandi,  with  the  tableland  behind  and  to  left 
of  us.  Wooded  banks  on  both  sides. 

Aug.  29th.  Steaming  up,  the  Binue  running  very  rapidly  against  us, 
with  lots  of  Pistia  and  floating  drift-grass.  This  river  rises  a  little 
earlier,  even  more  rapidly,  than  the  Niger ;  only  navigable  by  steamer 
for  about  three  mouths ;  for  the  rest  of  the  year  very  low  and  full  of 
snags  and  sand-banks.  The  French  have  factories  at  Lukoja  and  Loko. 
The  banks  generally  low  and  wooded ;  saw  some  high  land  in  distance 
to  left  in  morning,  and  earlier  passed  an  isolated  rising  facing  river  by 
a  steep  bluff,  apparently  due  to  a  thick,  slightly  inclined  (dip?)  basalt 
bed,  overlying  a  compact  yellow  sandstone.  Saw  several  Plectropterus 
(nearly  certain  gambensis,  but  ?  head),  and  five  or  six  Hornbills,  appa- 
rently Buceros  buccinator,  with  white  wings  and  tail.  "Arthur  "down 
with  fever,  temperature  1030>8 ;  mine,  Greenshields's,  and  a  boy's  about 
99°-6.  Only  passed  two  towns  on  left  hand  (or  bank),  Rumasha  and 


458        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Amara;  there  used  to  be  a  station  at  former.  Above  it  we  passed 
Mr.  Watson  in  the  '  Rosie '  launch  with  a  large  boat  in  tow. 

Aug.  30th.  At  Loko  by  8.  Went  on  shore  shooting  and  again  after 
chop,  getting  back  by  4.  Got  a  lot  of  birds,  including  an  Indicator, 
Turtur,  a  Pogonias,  Drymoeca,  Ixos  and  young  ?,  Hypochera  (common), 
Criihagra,  Estrelda  phosnicotis,  a  fine  Pytelia  (one  out  of  a  lot  in  a  tree), 
a  male  Hyphantornis  (?  textor,  male  in  non-breeding  dress,  the  bird  being 
Ibis,  1883,  common  here),  a  black  Pceoptera  ?,  a  Muscicapine  form,  and  others,  also 
p,  510.  Euplectes  franci^scanus,  Spermestes  cucullata,  and  Vidua  princlpalis,  as 
also  Passer  simplex,  the  first  and  last  in  numbers ;  also  one  Ciconia  epis- 
copus,  a  long-tailed  Pigeon,  a  Woodpecker,  &c.  The  country  is  flat, 
with  corn-  (?  G-uinea)  fields  and  grassy  lands,  with  10-  or  12-feet  high 
termite-hills  of  red  clay,  everywhere  interspersed  with  small  trees ;  no 
thick  bush  or  big  trees  anywhere.  The  town  is  like  other  towns  here, 
surrounded  by  a  mud  wall,  with  regular  gate  of  square  shape,  and  bee- 
hive-roofed circular  huts,  the  entrance- gate  with  two  facing  doors, 
enclosed  in  a  palm  or  wicker  fence.  People  (Mahometan)  usually 
clothed  in  white  or  blue  cloth.  King  tributary  to  Sokoto.  Some  higher 
land  visible  to  south  beyond  left  bank  of  river,  here  perhaps  twice  as 
broad  as  the  Thames  at  Westminster  and  with  a  strong  current.  Ivory 
comes  from  Ademawa  country,  thirty  days  off. 

»  Aug.  31st.  Left  Loko  about  9,  and  going  down  Binue  rapidly  reached 

Lukoja  about  5.  Saw  a  few  Plectropterus  on  banks  of  river,  and  a  pair 
of  Balearica.  The  Neophron  very  abundant  at  Loko.  Took  up  our 
quarters  in  old  factory. 

Sept.  1st.  Looking  after  things  in  factory,  not  much  done. 
Caught  a  Bat  and  a  Gecko  in  house,  the  former  escaped.  Curious  ants' 
nest  in  mango-tree  in  factory  compound,  with  the  leaves  all  spun 
together  with  abundance  of  silk.  Got  female  and  workers.  Male  much 
smaller  than  latter. 

Sept.  2nd.  In  morning  shot  an  Emberiza  (tforbesi),  a  couple  of  male 
Nectarinia  pulchella,  a  Lagonosticta,  and  a  Motacilla.  Afterwards  went 
down  to  old  factory  and  into  bush  on  hill,  catching  a  few  butterflies  &c. 

Ashbury  photographed  M and  natives.     Got  some  fish,  three  species 

— a  Clupeoid  and  a  broad  Cyprinoid,  both  with  red  fins,  and  a  Percine 
form.  Native  dance  by  men — flowing  garments,  baggy  trousers,  and 
tobes.  Got  an  antelope's  head  from  chief,  shot  here  two  days  ago, 
apparently  Alcelaphus  tora. 

Sept.  3rd.     Out  shooting  in  morning  and  got  a  new  species,  an  Orty- 

gospiza,  a   Corythornis,  an  Elminia1?,   and   a  Platystira;    also  Estrelda 

Ibis,  1883,  melpoda  and  the  Saxicola.     Saw  Urolrachya  macroura,  same  as  already 

p.  511.      shot,  with  yellow  interscapulars ;    Nectarinia  pulcliella  quite  common. 

A  female  antelope,  bright  yellow-brown  colour,  paler  below,  with  black 

patches  on  fore  legs,  was  brought  in,  apparently  Cervicapra  lohor. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        459 

Sept.  4th.  Arthur  disappeared.  Went  up  the  Lukoja  hill  with  Green- 
shields  and  five  men.  We  started  at  8.30  and  took  55  minutes,  including 
stops,  to  top  a  tough  climb  over  a  rocky  and  pebbly  path  in  bush.  The 
top  is  a  fine  park-like  plateau,  with  more  or  less  long  grass  and  wooded, 
not  thickly,  with  scattered  trees  (sometimes  big),  acacias,  &c.  Saw 
some  of  the  red-flowered  tree.  Numerous  "spoor"  of  buffalo,  antelope, 
and  pig,  but  none  seen.  The  hill  consists  of  metamorphic  oolitic  sand- 
stone and  a  breccia- like  conglomerate,  or  agglomerate,  of  red  colour, 
with  included  rather  angular  fragments.  Shot  a  Drymceca  on  top,  and 
saw  some  Guinea-fowl  (?  Numida  rendalli),  but  few  other  birds.  Green- 
shields  caught  some  butterflies,  dragonflies,  and  two  moths.  Left  about 
2,  and  took  30  minutes,  without  a  stop,  to  return  to  old  factory.  Found 
that  Arthur's  body  had  been  recovered,  having  been  found  in  the  river  a 
little  way  above  white  mission  house,  the  trousers  and  shirt  on  bank 
close  by.  Got  a  small  snake  and  a  Calotes  from  Ankrah. 

Sept.  5th.  Shot  four  Sunbirds  in  morning  from  lime-tree  in  com- 
pound, including  examples  of  two  species  new  to  me.  Afternoon 
skinning  and  looking  after  spirit-specimens.  At  4  buried  Arthur  in  bush 
just  below  model  farm,  and  close  to  graves  of  Consuls  Fell  and  Maxwell, 
who  died  here  in  1867,  the  former  the  last  white  who  had  died  here. 
Mr.  Jones,  a  Sierra-Leone  black,  of  Church  Missionary  Society,  per- 
formed the  service,  Ashbury,  Greenshields,  and  self,  and  about  twenty 
blacks  assisting.  The  soil  is  a  reddish  clay,  apparently  of  half-decom- 
posed basalts  and  igneous  rocks ;  no  solid  rock  seen  in  grave.  Abiga 
shot  several  "  deer "  to-day  and  day  before,  close  to  town.  Got  five  of 
the  green-headed  lizard  from  a  boy  at  old  factory.  Saw  a  couple  of 
Ayapornis  feeding  on  long  grass  on  the  banks  of  the  creeks  intersecting 
the  town. 

Sept.  6th.  Went  out  with  Abiga  in  morning  down  river  after  "  deer ;  "  Ibis,  1883, 
but  though  we  found  lots  of  spoor,  both  of  them  and  of  buffalo,  only  P'  ^  ' 
saw  one  and  did  not  get  a  shot.  Saw  some  green-  and  yellow-backed 
Pceocephali.  Abiga  gave  me  the  horns  of  a  "  deer  "  he  had  shot  the  day 
before  close  to  town,  described  as  rather  small  and  red  and  white, 
apparently  Tragelaphus  scriptus.  Got  six  of  the  common  smaller  green- 
striped-headed  lizard  from  a  boy ;  and  a  woman  brought  a  large,  but 
mutilated,  Clarices-like  Siluroid,  with  free  maxilla?  About  4.30  the 
*  Formoso '  arrived,  bringing  Mr.  Sargent  and  a  newspaper  of  July  29th. 
Ashbury  very  low,  determined  to  leave  per  '  Formoso '  for  Egga ;  Green- 
shields  and  self  stopping  here.  Man  brought  a  young  Eail  of  uniform 
sooty  black,  with  bright  yellow-green  beak,  red  legs,  crimson  eyes  and 
orbits  (?  Limnocorax  niger). 

Sept.  7th.  Out  all  day  from  8.30  to  5.30  in  the  bush  with  Abiga 
down  as  far  as  opposite  Igbebe,  but  got  nothing,  though  I  had  two  shots 
at  an  antelope,  apparently  a  reddish  gazelle,  with  black  patches  on  the 


4GO        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

feet.  Saw  Hcdiaetus  vocifer  and  lots  of  spoor  of  buffalo,  antelope,  and 
leopard  quite  fresh.  The  country  is  an  undulating  or  nearly  level  grassy 
plain,  with  small  isolated  trees,  with  thicker  bush  only  along  the  streams. 
In  many  places  fine  cairns  of  big  boulders  of  granite  or  gneiss,  the 
former  with  very  large  crystals  of  felspar  and  a  good  deal  of  hornblende. 
Many  of  the  rocks  obviously  waterworn,  and  the  whole  valley  clearly  old 
valley  of  river. 

Sept.  8th.  Out  for  a  couple  of  hours,  8  to  10,  in  morning  with  gun. 
Got  an  Anihus  in  too  bad  plumage  (moulting)  to  skin  (?  Anthus  youldi), 
a  female  UrobracJiya  macroura,  and  a  male  Hyphantornis  (?  atrogularis) 
with  nearly  white  eyes.  Saw  a  fine  adult  Helotarsus  flying  high  over- 
head, the  white  under  wing-surfaces  very  conspicuous,  and  the  legs 
apparently  behind,  short  tail.  At  Abiga's  house  saw  several  antelope- 
skins,  two  dodoka  ('?  Hippotragus  equinus),  mana  (?  Adenota],  kanki 
(Alcelaphus\  and  mazo  (Tragelapkus  scrijotus),  of  which  latter  he  had 
given  me  the  horns.  Got  a  pair  of  horns  of  Bos  brachyceros,  and  of 
Ibis,  1883,  what  he  said  was  a  young  kanki,  from  him,  and  a  skin.  Later  went  out 
p'  '  shooting  up  valley.  Got  very  hot  and  only  shot  two  birds,  a  Drymoeca 
(same  as  that  shot  on  top  of  Mount  Patter),  and  two  young  Ploceiue 
birds  of  uncertain  species.  (This  is  certainly  young  of  Spermestes  cucul- 
lata;  I  saw  several  of  it  next  day  in  company  with  adults.)  A  heavy 
rain  and  thunder-storm  came  on  just  before  sunset. 

Sept.  9th.  Out  shooting  early  up  valley,  but  only  got  a  male  Estrelda 
rara  (one  of  two)  and  a  Turtur  (?  semitorquatus),  same  as  seen  at  Loko. 
Saw  a  yellow-bellied  Laniarius,  a  Tchitrea,  and  some  others,  including 
Thamnobia  frontalis,  a  Ruticilla,  apparently  all  young.  Picked  up  a 
Mus.  In  afternoon  got  a  few  butterflies  in  lane  close  to  factory,  and  in 
fields  adjoining  some  birds,  including  the  Elminia^\  a  young  Vidua 
principalis,  of  which  I  saw  several,  two  specimens  of  Drymceca,  and 
Estrelda  rufopicta,  which  occurs  here  with  Estrelda  minima,  but  is  rarer, 
female  much  redder,  and  male  has  pale  bluish  eye-ring.  Abiga  brought 
in  a  skin  of  a  female  Tragelaphus. 

Sept.  10th.  Skinned  birds  in  morning.  Felt  seedy,  and  about  3  a 
sharpish  attack  of  fever  came  on.  Piled  on  a  lot  of  blankets  and  sweated 
profusely.  Felt  better  in  evening  and  cooler ;  slight  headache  and  pains 
in  leg. 

Sept.  llth.  In  bed,  more  or  less,  all  day.  Felt  better,  but  still  weak, 
with  little  appetite.  A  slight  recurrence  of  fever  in  afternoon.  Green- 
shields  went  out  in  morning  and  shot  three  birds,  a  Nectarinia  (cupreat), 
a  Lamprocolius  (one  of  a  flock),  and  a  Timelia.  In  evening  brought  in 
male  and  female  Urobrachya,  a  Spermestes  cucullata,  and  one  of  the  thick- 
billed  Drymoeca. 

Sept.  12th.     Still  feverish,  but  better.     Wet  all  day. 

Sept.  13th.      '  Fulah '  arrived   with   A.  Macintosh,    Shit  ta,   and   the 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.         461 

consul.     Felt  decidedly  better.     Got  a  letter  from  mother,  and  news  of 
Balfour's  death. 

Sept.  14th.     On  *  Fulah,'  more  or  less  well.     The  valley  is  wider  up 
here,  the  hills  only  appearing  in  the  distance.     Macintosh  tells  me  that 
at  Abutschi  very  lately  he  found,  on  the  rocks  exposed  by  the  very  low   Ibis,  1883, 
water,  freshwater  mussels,  edible  and  "spiny;"  also  that  a  shark  was      P- 514. 
killed  there  lately  and  another  at  Egga. 

Sept.  loth.  Grot  to  Egga  about  9  and  landed  at  factory  in  a  barge,  the 
water  being  too  low  for  steamer  to  come  alongside,  the  passage  up  a  very 
narrow  channel.  Saw  some  Jaganas  close  to  town,  also  a  Sterna,  Plotus, 
Balearica,  Pluvianus,  Euplectes  abystinicus,  and  HypJiantornis  personatus 
in  acacia  bushes  by  river.  The  town  is  well  built  of  round  mud  huts,  in 
mud-walled  compounds  and  very  narrow  streets.  Got  a  toad  in  factory 
and  head  of  big  fish  (31  x  24|  inches  in  girth,  17|  Ibs.).  Adipose  fin; 
ventral  fin  rather  thoracic,  very  bony ;  white  flesh.  There  is  a  tree  in 
yard  crowded  with  Hyphantornis  factor,  and  a  large  tree  (^  Adamsonia) 
outside  more  so,  with,  I  should  say,  near  1000  nests. 

Sept.  16th.  Convalescent.  Repacked  my  baggage.  There  are  lots  of 
the  two  common  house-lizards  here,  and  a  pair  of  Corvus  curvirostris 
came  to  the  big  tree  outside.  Greenshields  left  for  Tchunga. 

S.  Sept.  17th.  Went  out  shooting  with  Macintosh  down  the  river, 
but  only  got  one  Chenalopea,  though  we  saw  lots  of  it,  and  a  Duck, 
apparently  a  Dendrocygna.  On  one  of  the  banks  Glareola  cinerea  was  in 
thousands,  with  a  few  of  a  darker  one  (?  nordmani),  one  of  which  I  got ; 
also  lots  of  Pluvianus  and  several  flocks  of  Ehynchops.  Also  saw  several 
Balearica,  the  large  white  black-billed  Ardea,  a  Merops,  Vidua  principalis, 
and  shot  a  Chrysococcyx. 

Sept.  18th.  In  about  factory  all  day.  Got  from  Mr.  Bishop  a  fine 
pair  of  horns  of  an  AlcelapJms,  apparently  Alcelaphus  tora. 

Sept.  19th.  Out  with  Macintosh  in  morning.  He  shot  a  Chenalopex, 
and  we  saw  plenty ;  also  a  pair  of  Balearica  and  some  Plectropterus.  He 
shot  for  me  also  a  pair  of  a  deeply-forked-tailed  Swallow  (?  Atticora 
melbina),  very  common  on  the  sand-banks ;  and  I  got  a  Sandpiper  on 
canoe  as  it  lay  on  beach.  Saw  a  Porphyrio ;  alleni,  I  suppose.  Shitta 
brought  in  one  of  the  large  "singing"  snails  (?a  Paludina),  and  later 
another  still  larger.  The  canoe-boys  believed  in  it,  and  pointed  out  the 
Ptdudina  as  the  performer.  Had  a  ride  in  evening. 

Sept.  20th.     Shooting  in  the  morning  on  the  island.     Got  five  birds,   Ibis,  1883, 
male  and  female  Euplectes  abyssinicus,  a  CampepTiaga,  a  Drymceca,  and  a       p< 
female   Hyphanto-niis  of   a   species    new  to   me.      Saw  also  Laniarius 
barbarus1?,  a  Merops,  and  a  Kingfisher,  with  lots  of   Vidua  principalis 
(female  or  young),  Layonosticta,  HypJiantornis  personata?,  Turtur  semitor- 
quatus  and  T.  senegalensis,  and  another  smaller  species  with  no  white  on 
tail.     Macintosh  and  consul  left  about  4  for  Wanengi,  en  route  for 


462  THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Bidda,  I  remaining  here  with  Ashbury,  who  is  better  to-day,  the  8th  of 
his  attack.  In  morning  saw  four  or  five  quite  black  Hornbills.  Heavy 
rain  in  night. 

Sept.  21st.  Showery  in  morning ;  so  did  not  go  out  till  after  break- 
fast, when  I  shot  a  Centropus  (same  as  at  Abutschi)  and  a  couple  of 
Merops,  both  with  bright  crimson  irides.  Saw  Euplectes  franciscanus  on 
island,  and  saw  several  Euplectes  melanogaster.  Got  a  mail  per  *  Wan- 
derer,' which  had  arrived  in  the  night. 

Sept.  22nd,  23rd,  S.  24th,  and  25th.     Fever. 

Sept.  26th.     Ashbury  left  in  *  Formoso.'     Consul  back. 

Sept.  27th.  Better.  Still  about  factory.  Dog  caught  a  couple  of 
rats,  a  blackish  moderate-sized  species.  Also  found  another  Gecko  (same 
species  as  at  Lukoja),  and  found  a  dead  brown  rat  of  another  species  in 
factory-yard.  Saw  Barber. 

Sept.  29th.  Macintosh  back  from  Bidda  about  10.  Discharged  *  Jane ' 
at  Egga.  Started  up  river  for  Eabba  on  '  King  Massaba '  (Macintosh, 
Flint,  Lever,  and  self)  about  3,  and  steamed  till  dark. 

Sept.  30th.  Fine  and  bright  in  morning ;  about  5.30  saw  a  mag- 
nificent comet,  altitude  about  20°  about  E.,  apparently  twice  as  big  as 
that  of  1881,  and  with  splendid  tail.  Saw  an  adult  Xenorhynchus  on  a 
bank ;  C.  M.  had  already  described  it  to  me  at  Egga,  and  Lever  had  shot 
at  a  young  one  there.  Saw  also  GypoTiieraoc  and  Ardea  goliath  and 
A.  flavirostris  (yellow  beak,  clear).  About  9  off  the  Eennell  Mountains, 
1200  feet  high  (900  feet  above  river),  flat-topped,  but  very  detached, 
with  only  some  remains  of  hills,  much  lower  laterally,  just  above  the 
river ;  the  cliffs  and  lower  (only)  hills  are  composed  of  a  pale  whitish- 
Ibis,  1883,  and-pink  stratified  sandstone,  said  by  Macintosh  to  be  very  clayey. 
p.  516.  About  noon  got  to  Egbagi,  a  factory  on  left  bank.  Afterwards  the  banks 
are  low  and  grassy,  with  the  flat  hills  still  in  distance  when  visible. 
About  5  off  Kaduna  river,  and  took  a  photograph  of  left  bank  covered 
with  bush.  Saw  lots  of  Hornbills  in  evening,  apparently  of  two  species, 
a  Toccus  and  Buceros  atratus  (  $  ?),  flying  high  in  air  to  resting-places. 

IS.  Oct.  1st.  Got  aground  twice  in  morning,  and  '  Jessie '  got  damaged. 
Distant  hills  on  left  bank  still  quite  flat-topped ;  banks  low  and  grassy. 
Hills  recede  going  up  river,  and  only  seen  on  horizon.  Banks  alternate 
with  grass  and  thick  bushy  (low)  forests,  with  oil  and  a  flabelliform. 
palm ;  the  latter  more  in  grassy  lands,  and  has  a  fusiform  stem.  About 
4  P.M.  got  to  Tchunga  creek,  on  right  bank  of  river ;  very  narrow.  Just 
before  entering  saw  a  single  fine  Cercopithecus  mona  in  trees.  A  good 
number  of  birds  in  Tchunga  creek,  including  Plotus,  a  nearly  uniform 
brown-grey  Schizorhis  (?  concolor),  lighter  beneath  and  with  yellow  bill 
(three  in  a  tree),  the  smallish  black-capped  orange-legged  Butorides. 
Shot  a  large  Owl  from  ship  (vide  description  at  end  of  Hartlaub)  as  we 
were  anchored  for  night  two-thirds  way  up  to  Tchunga. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.  463 

Oct.  2nd.  Started  at  10  in  '  Jessie/  with  Macintosh,  Lever,  and  Flint, 
for  Kabba.  Saw  three  Balearica  in  main  river.  Got  to  Eabba  about  3. 
Factory  in  ruins,  and  town  almost  deserted.  Strolled  up  river  a  short 
way.  The  surface  is  river-gravel,  derived  from  a  metamorphic  (?)  fine- 
grained sandstone  conglomerate,  generally  with  rounded  quartz-pebbles, 
only  occasionally  angular. 

Oct.  3rd.  Left  Eabba  about  5,  and  got  down  to  Massaba  by  8.  The 
country  is  low,  except  about  Eabba  (left  bank),  generally  grass-covered, 
with  scanty  dwarf-looking  trees  scattered  about  or  in  clumps.  Plotus 
abundant  in  creek,  and  saw  several  other  birds  coming  down,  including 
an  Ardetta,  Metopidius  (in  creek),  Balearica,  a  brown  Ibis  (?  Ibis  hage- 
dash),  a  pair  of  blue-winged  red-beaked  Halcyon,  and  a  large  black-and- 
white  Ceryle,  also  a  blue-green  Nectarinia  with  long  tail ;  these  two  last 
from  Massaba.  A  large  fulvous  Bat  was  common  along  banks,  flying  out  Ibis» 
from  trees  or  margins.  Very  bad  night,  with  fever  and  mosquitos. 

Oct.  4th.  Feverish  all  day;  on  'Massaba,'  at  anchor  in  creek, 
Macintosh  &c.  being  busy  in  rowing  down  stream  from  factory.  About 
4  left  Massaba,  and  went  up  creek  in  canoe  to  factory ;  in  charge,  Mr. 
Bishop.  Creek  very  narrow  latterly.  Settled  myself  in  factory.  Saw 
Estrelda  on  tree  close  to  landing-place ;  also  Hyphantornis  textor,  Hypo- 
chera,  Passer,  Neophron,  Balearica,  Lagonosticta,  &c. 

Oct.  5th.  Good  night,  and  felt  much  better  in  morning.  Took  a 
short  walk  up  to  town,  situated  on  hill  beyond  factory.  Saw  many  birds 
— Ixos,  Turtur  vinacea  (?),  an  Ardea  (either  A.  cinerea  or  A.  atricollis), 
Hoplopterus,  Coliopasser,  Chrysococcyx,  several  Drymceca,  a  new  Timeliine, 
a  large  grey  Pigeon,  &c.  In  afternoon  went  up  hill  behind  factory. 
Good  view  of  town,  surrounded  by  castellated  mud  walls,  and  of  river- 
valley,  very  wide;  the  hills  (?  on  the  other  side)  apparently  in  distance. 
Hill  covered  with  rounded  flint-pebbles,  with  occasional  blocks  of  sand- 
stone conglomerate  of  dark  colour.  Is  this  rock  in  situ  ?  Saw  Estrelda 
melpoda,  Nectarinia  pulchella,  and  a  dark  species,  Spermestes  semitorquatus 
and  S.  senegalensis,  Centropus,  a  Treron,  &c.  About  twenty  Neophron 
settled  for  night  in  tree  outside  factory.  Greenshields  arrived  from  Eabba 
about  9.  Very  bad  night,  and  feverish  again. 

Oct.  6th.  In  factory  all  day,  feeling  seedy  and  weak,  with  no 
appetite.  Took  a  short  walk  in  evening  up  to  town.  Greenshields  had 
a  touch  of  fever.  Good  night. 

Oct.  7th.  Better  and  stronger.  Greenshields  left  again  for  Eabba, 
feeling  better.  In  and  about  factory.  Walked  up  to  Egga  in  evening. 
Good  night. 

S.  Oct.  8th.  Decidedly  better,  but  appetite  still  very  poor.  Shot  a 
white-rumped  Swiftlet,  already,  I  think,  seen  at  Egga  (?  Cypselus  dbys- 
siniciis,  in  spirit),  and  a  red-rumped  Swallow  (?  Hit-undo  melanocrissus)  in 
factory-yard.  In  morning's  walk  saw  Estrelda  rufopicta  close  to  factory, 


464        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

and  a  peculiar-looking  Hypliantornis — top  of  head,  back,  wings,  and  tail 
Ibis,  1883,  olive-brown  ;  lores  and  part  of  face  black  ;  very  broad  eyebrows  (tEuplectes 
melanogaster  changing,  or  a  distinct  species).  Shot  a  Turtur  senegalensis 
in  morning  in  yard  for  "  chop." 

Oct.  9th.  In  factory  all  day,  labelling  birds  &c.  till  4,  when  I  went  up 
hill  to  back  of  factory.  Got  a  few  butterflies,  including  a  nice-looking 
Erycynid ;  but  I  was  awfully  tired  and  dazed ;  so  came  down,  and  was 
back  by  5.30.  Slept  well. 

Oct.  10th.  Went  out  shooting  with  Marina  at  6.30  to  Egga  and  back  by 
road  along  back  of  hill.  Got  a  Drymceca  and  a  Centropus,  and  shot  also 
HypTiantornis  teootor  ( $ ,  spoilt)  and  Turtur  senegalensis  for  "  chop." 
Got  fearfully  dazed  by  light ;  so  came  back  about  8,  without  having  seen 
any  thing  new.  In  evening  took  a  short  stroll  along  track.  Got  a  few 
Celonias,  a  Lycus,  and  a  very  curious  grasshopper,  all  on  grass-stems  ; 
also  some  Noctuce,  flying  round  the  grass-flowers,  of  two  or  three  species. 

Oct.  llth.  Went  out  in  the  morning  on  hill  behind  town  to  Egga. 
Shot  an  Anihus  (?  campestris  J ),  and  saw  a  Budytes  flava  on  cleared 
ground  near  farm.  Further  on  shot  a  male  Francolinus  (?  bicalcaratus) 
on  top  of  a  termite-hill :  food,  dipterous  larvae.  Got  dazy,  so  returned 
by  8 ;  very  tired  all  day.  Skinned  birds ;  slept  and  sat  in  chair.  In 
evening  found  a  remarkable  humpy-looking  spider,  which  on  being  put 
into  spirit  dissolved,  there  being  hundreds  of  young  ones,  which  were 
closely  applied  to  limbs,  thorax,  and  abdomen  of  mother,  and  so  carried 
about. 

Oct.  12th.  Slept  till  about  8,  and  felt  much  better.  Shot  Budytes 
(which  turns  out  not  to  be  B.  raii)  just  outside  factory-door,  and  saw 
several  more  in  old  disused  factory-yard.  In  evening  took  a  new  walk, 
past  landing-place  parallel  to  creek.  Got  several  Lycus,  one  or  two 
pairs  in  cop.,  the  male  being  the  form  with  dilated  elytra ;  also  a  few 
Acrceas  &c. 

Oct.  13th.     Went  out  about  6.20  along  same  path  after  birds,  but  got 

very  wet  in  long  grass.     Shot  a  Hypergerus  and  a  Timelia  (same  as  that 

Greenshields  got  at  Lukoja),  and  saw  Laniarius  barbarus  quite  close,  a 

Merops  (?  viridissimus\  and  a  black  Cuckoo  (nearly  certainly  Oxylophus 

Ibis,  1883,   ater),  also  Estrelda  melpoda  and  a  single  Poeocephalus  (I  think,  P.  sene- 

P*  galensis),  and  others.     Several  Budytes  in  old  factory.     Very  sleepy  all 

day,  with  headache.     Good  night. 

Oct.  14th.  Out  shooting  about  6.30  ;  back  again  by  8.  As  weak  as 
a  cat,  and  could  hardly  carry  gun ;  got  very  dazed,  but  managed  to  shoot 
two  out  of  five  Merops  nubicus  in  a  large  tree  back  of  factory,  and  saw 
three  of  a  new  noisy  Timelia.  Saw  a  yellow-billed  dull  brown  Milvus 
outside  factory  in  morning,  apparently  same  species  as  the  live  one  at 
Abutschi. 

S.  Oct.  loth.     Did  not  go  out  all  day,  feeling  very  lazy  and  pulled-down. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        465 

Marina  forgot  to  call  me  for  dinner,  and  I  slept  till  11  and  admirably 
afterwards. 

Oct.  16th.  Went  out  about  6.30.  Saw  a  pair  of  Hypergerus,  several 
Oxyloplius,  an  Emberiza,  and  shot  a  Trichophorus  and  a  Halcyon,  both 
new  to  list.  Bad  night. 

Oct.  17th.  Went  out  and  soon  came  back,  the  sun  being  too  hot  for 
me.  Saw  a  Cossypha,  and  blew  a  Laniarius  barbarus  to  bits.  Got  a  fine 
green  Treron  out  of  the  "  fig-tree,"  and  shot  a  Passer :  is  it  P.  simplex  ? 

Oct.  18th.  Took  a  stroll  in  old  factory-yard.  Budytes  still  abundant, 
apparently  all  young  birds.  Saw  two  or  three  (Ena  capensis,  quite  tame, 
and  lots  of  two  other  species  of  Turtur.  The  day  before  somebody  brought 
a  very  peculiar  scincoid  lizard,  pale  pink  above,  lighter  beneath,  with  black 
spots  ;  head  much  damaged.  Rained  heavily  in  night. 

Oct.  19th.  Got  a  few  butterflies  and  other  insects,  the  latter  chiefly 
at  night.  Went  out  in  the  morning,  but  got  no  birds. 

Oct.  20th.  Spent  most  of  the  day  in  labelling  and  repacking  birds' 
skins.  Did  not  shoot  in  morning. 

Oct.  21st.  Went  out  in  morning  and  shot  a  white  Ardea,  one  of  three  or 
four,  from  the  top  of  a  big  tree  in  village.  Saw  a  small  Pliylloscopus  in 
fig-tree ;  but  very  little  done,  though  I  worked  along  top  and  bottom 
of  hill. 

S.  Oct.  22nd.  Took  things  easily ;  poor  breakfast.  In  evening  took 
constitutional  up  to  town.  Bad  night. 

Oct.  23rd.     Continued   lying-up,   so    did    not  go    out    in  morning. 
Christmas-day  here ;    so  in  morning  a  great  procession  of    horsemen    Ibis,  1883, 
coming  from  mosque,  gorgeously  arrayed,  especially  as  regards  umbrellas,      P*       • 
with  much  furious  galloping  and  explosion  of  petards.     Greenshields 
arrived  in  evening  from  Rabba,  very  weak,  having  been  very  ill  with 
fever,  dysentery,  worms,  &c.     Goodish  night. 

Oct.  24th.  Lying-up.  Greenshields  quite  invalided.  Ee-made 
cartridges.  Dreadful  night. 

Oct.  25th.  Still  lying-up.  Greenshields  slightly  better.  At  Eabba 
he  got  some  birds  for  me  (see  end  of  book),  but  Prionops  was  the  only 
new  one.  He  also  got  a  couple  of  an  Astacus,  which  reached  me  badly 
preserved.  Marma's  attempts  at  shooting  hitherto  rather  feeble,  resulting 
in  a  couple  of  Pluvianus.  Been  here  three  weeks ;  on  the  whole 
a  very  bad  time  as  regards  "  chop,"  sleep,  and  strength,  and  no  spirit  for 
specimens. 

Oct.  26th.  Had  a  better  night,  having  taken  a  strong  dose  of  chloro- 
dyne.  Felt  sleepy  all  day  in  consequence,  and  did  not  get  up  till  10. 
Greenshields  not  so  well  again.  Took  a  constitutional  up  to  town  in 
evening.  Wretched  night  again,  with  impossible  dreams. 

Oct.  27th.  No  change.  Greenshields  considerably  better.  In 
evening  went  out  for  a  short  time,  and  shot  a  Budytes  rail  in  old  factory- 

2n 


466  THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

yard  (a  young  bird,  moulting)  and  a  Phylloscopus  (apparently  Willow- 
Wren)  out  of  fig-tree ;  also  an  Ixos  and  the  female  Hypochera  (spoilt). 
Took  a  strong  dose  of  chlorodyne  at  night,  and  slept  better. 

Oct.  28th.  Did  not  get  up  till  10.  Skinned  birds.  Appetite  seems 
better.  In  evening  went  out  and  shot  a  Cypselus  (?  abyssinicus),  a 
Swallow  (Hirundo  melanocrissus),  and  one  of  the  dark  Nectarinias.  Slept 
very  badly. 

S.  Oct.  29th.  Very  poor  appetite.  Skinned  birds  shot  the  day  before. 
In  evening  went  out  and  got  a  female  HypJiantornis  tesctor  and  a  fine 
Schizorhis  (sp.  inc.).  Slept  better. 

Oct.  30th.  Did  not  go  out  all  day.  Skinned  birds.  Very  weak  still, 
with  poor  appetite.  Slept  wretchedly. 

Oct.  31st.  Did  not  go  out  all  day.  Slept  much  better,  having  taken 
a  strong  dose  of  chlorodyne. 

Ibis,  1883,  Nov.  1st.  Greenshields  went  out  before  breakfast,  and  shot  a  young 
p.  521.  Arfoa  atricollis,  in  the  stage  with  the  neck  behind  grey  and  in  front 
white  and  buffy  (upper  mandible  black,  lower  bony,  and  ringed  at  base 
and  apex  with  yellow  and  along  tomise  with  blackish  ;  lores  naked,  yellow, 
as  is  space  round  eye  ;  a  leaden  streak  below  eye  leads  to  beak ;  iris  bright 
yellow ;  legs  black).  In  factory  all  day. 

Nov.  2nd.  Lots  of  Mllvus  parasiticus  about  factory  in  morning ;  also 
saw  a  Merops  nubicus  or  two.  Skinned  a  Pluvianus  which  Greenshields 
had  shot  the  previous  evening.  About  4  we  went  down  creek  in  canoe, 
but  did  not  get  much  (only  a  Corythornis  and  another  of  the  yellow- 
chinned  Trichophorus),  though  we  saw  lots  of  birds,  Wishie-wi shies,  and 
apparently  another  kind  of  Duck  (no,  it  is  (Edicnemus),  an  Oriolus,  King- 
fishers, &c. ;  SchizorTiis  we  saw  several  of ;  Merops  nubicus  was  common, 
hawking  in  the  air,  flying  slowly,  with  alternate  flapping  of  wings  and 
gliding,  and  uttering  a  low  repeated  note.  Saw  lots  of  Parra. 

Nov.  3rd.  Shot  a  Neophron  pileatus  in  morning  from  factory  for  a 
skeleton.  Appetite  decidedly  better.  In  afternoon  went  down  creek 
again,  but  without  very  great  results.  Got  a  young  Parra  (for  coloration, 
see  Hartlaub),  a  Merops  erythropterus  in  bad  plumage,  a  Ceryle  rudis,  and 
an  Ixos.  Went  ashore  amongst  some  really  big  forest-trees,  but  no 
second-growth  or  creepers,  and  only  long'  grass  &c.  below.  Quite  a 
swarm  of  Merops  nubicus  flying  very  high  over  trees. 

Nov.  4th.  Saw  five  of  the  brown  Ibis  in  morning  in  front  of  factory. 
They  have  a  loud  mewing  Hornbill-like  cry,  and  fly  like  Cranes  with 
extended  downwardly  directed  head  and  neck.  Appetite  much  better, 
and  made  a  heavy  breakfast,  which  kept  me  asleep  most  of  the  day. 
Skinned  the  Ixos.  Did  not  go  out  in  the  evening,  Greenshields  being 
busy  with  his  accounts. 

Nov.  5th.  The  weather  the  last  few  mornings  has  been  remarkably 
cool  and  fresh.  Going  on  well.  Went  down  creek  in  afternoon  in 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.  467 

canoe  alone,  rather  earlier  than  usual,  and  got  a  long  way  down.     Shot 
an  adult  Jagana,  an  Ispidina  cyanotis,  one  of  the  smaller  Flycatchers  so 
common  along  creek,  a  couple  of  Merops  (very  common  all  along  lower   Ibis,  1883, 
part),  as  well  as  a  couple  of  the  orange-winged  Bats.     All  the  wing-       p' ' 
membranes  are  cadmium-yellow ;  the  muzzle,  nose-leaf,  and  ears  light 
orange-yellow  (diaphanous)  ;  fur  yellowish  grey.    Saw  also  Ceryle  maxima, 
the  Greenshank  of  Egga,  the  small  grey  Heron,  and  apparently  also 
Ardea  purpurea,  or  perhaps  young  A.  goliath.     A  good-sized  Monitor 
tumbled  off  a  tree  into  the  boat,  but  got  away. 

Nov.  6th.  Appetite  still  good.  Went  out  in  evening  down  creek. 
Shot  a  Peristera  afra  and  Halcyon  cinereifrons  or  dryas  (upper  mandible 
scarlet,  blackish  at  apex ;  lower  black,  shaded  with  red ;  feet  red ;  iris 
brown),  a  Merops,  SchizorTiis,  HypTiantornis  personatus  (in  change),  and  a 
Swallow  of  the  species  so  common  at  Lukoja.  Saw  Ceryle  maxima  again, 
and  the  Monitor  in  the  same  place ;  also  saw  plenty  of  Merops  nubicus 
and  M.  castus. 

Nov.  7th.  Spent  day  as  usual.  In  evening  went  down  other  branch 
of  creek.  Got  three  birds — Halcyon  senegalensis,  Corythornis  cceruleo- 
cephala,  and  (Edicnemus,  the  latter  being  what  we  had  taken  for  young 
of  Hoplopterus.  Saw  also  a  Heron  (size  of  Ardea  cinerea)  with  yellow 
legs  and  beak,  in  brown  striated  plumage ;  nearly  sure  it  is  Ardea  pur- 
purea, jr.  In  creek  saw  several  Ceryle  gigantea,  but  could  not  shoot  one  ; 
also  lots  of  Plotus.  Young  Merops  nubicus  was  in  thousands,  in  great 
swarms  high  in  air,  flying  over  the  fields,  and  in  forties  and  fifties  on  the 
trees  ;  mixed  with  it  a  good  number  of  M.  castus.  Got  a  shot  at  a  pair 
of  Ibis,  but  missed.  Also  saw  an  Eagle,  apparently  a  young  Spizaetus 
occipitalis.  Plenty  of  Merops  erythropterus,  Euplectes  ignicolor,  &c. 

Nov.  8th.  Skinned  birds  in  morning,  and  filed  down  brass  cartridges 
to  fit  shot-gun.  No  canoe  to  be  had  in  evening  ;  so  did  not  go  out  at 
all.  Not  so  well,  with  no  appetite  and  some  fever  (?  in  consequence). 
Took  a  strong  dose  of  quinine,  and  slept  better.  Comet  still  visible  in 
east  by  a  little  south,  higher  than  it  was  at  E/abba.  Canoe  arrived  at 
last  from  Egga,  with  stores  and  gin. 

Nov.  9th.     All  right  again.     Packed  up  and  soldered  spirit-specimens.    Ibis,  1883, 
Did  not  go  out  in  canoe  in  evening,  as  all  the  people  are  engaged  getting       P-  5^p 
sticks  &c.  for  wall  of  new  factory.     Took  a  walk  along  hills  and  back 
along  top,  but  saw  nothing.     Slept  very  badly. 

Nov.  10th.  Packed  away  bird-skins.  Greenshields  shot  a  Crow,  which 
I  pickled.  In  evening  went  down  creek  again  in  canoe.  Lots  of  the 
two  Bee-eaters  close  to  "  beach,"  over  grass-fields.  Saw  very  few  birds 
in  creek,  but  shot  a  Flycatcher  (Tchitrea  sp.  ?),  one  out  of  several  flying 
about  top  of  high  trees  in  some  bush  where  we  landed,  and  a  very  fine 
Owl,  apparently  a  new  Scotopelia,  in  creek  ;  also  a  Bat  (Epomophorus) 
fluttering  in  water,  apparently  bathing. 


468         THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Nov.  llth.  Got  a  Siluroid  from  natives,  about  2  feet  long,  and  a  small 
Protopterus  ("  Addo").  Skinned  the  Owl,  which  took  best  part  of  the 
day.  In  afternoon  went  up  left  arm  of  creek  in  canoe.  Got  a  large 
Epomopliorus  (?  monstrosus),  of  which  there  were  considerable  flocks, 
disturbed  out  of  bordering  trees,  mixed  with  the  orange-winged  species. 
Of  birds,  got  a  Laniarius  barbarus.  Ceryle  rudis,  and  a  small  masked 
Ploceus.  This  species  swarms  all  round  the  creeks  in  reeds  and  long 
grass  ;  but  all  the  flocks  consist  of  females  or  males  in  olive  plumage, 
with  a  few  males  not  quite  in  full  colour  (are  these  moulting  from,  or 
changing  to,  full  dress?),  vide  a  skin  procured.  Saw  an  Ardetta 
(minuta  ?)  in  full  dress. 

Nov.  12th.  Three  Ibises  passed  in  morning.  They  %  like  Cranes, 
with  outstretched  necks,  and  are  very  noisy  on  wing.  Note,  two  long 
followed  by  three  short,  uttered  in  a  bleating  sort  of  way.  Balearica 
says  "  quack,  quack"  in  a  very  resonant  trumpeting  way.  In  evening 
went  up  left  arm  of  creek  again.  Shot  a  young  Sdxicola  (?  rubetra}  at 
landing-place,  and  in  creek  a  Merops  nubicus,  Halcyon  senegalensis,  a 
Plotus,  and  a  Phalacrocoraoc  africanus,  of  which  I  saw  four  or  five  in  the 
trees.  Swarms  of  Merops  again  ;  besides,  saw  a  very  fine  red-white-and- 
blue  Halcyon,  and  a  large  white  bird  (I  think  a  Pelican),  Haliaetus  vocifer, 
Gypoliieracc,  Ibis  Tiagedash,  &c. 

Nov.  13th.  Dissected  the  stomach  of  the  Plotus.     Just  as  in  the  first, 

Ibis,  1883,  no  V-shaped  "  ridge,"  except  that  the  proventricular  patches,  particularly 

p.  524.      On6)  are  raj-ner  elevated  marginally.     Pish  (all  small  and  transfixed)  in 

stomach,  with   nematodes,    and    many  taeniae.     Eemade  all  cartridges. 

Greenshields  shot  a  Halcyon  senegalensis  close  to  new  factory.     Saw  an 

adult  Ardea  atricollis  in  rice-fields  opposite.     Did  not  go  out  in  evening. 

Nov.  14th.  Went  out  about  6.30  on  hills  behind  factory  towards  town, 
but  only  got  another  Whinchat  and  two  Merops  nubicus,  which  was  in 
numbers  on  two  or  three  trees.  Saw  a  fine  pair  of  a  red-headed  grey- 
backed  Falco  (?  rujicollis)  and  a  flock  of  apparently  Foudia  erythrops,  but 
only  one  was  in  colour,  and  that  flew.  Got  two  fine  Malapterurus  and  a 
Percine  form  from  natives.  In  evening  went  down  creek,  but  only  got 
a  Halcyon  (dryas  ?)  and  a  Lacerta  ;  the  latter  caught  in  canoe.  "  Plogging 
palaver  "  in  evening.  Saw  a  single  Palceornis  in  creek. 

Nov.  15th.  Started  about  6.30  A.M.  in  canoe,  and  went  up  left  arm  of 
creek.  Unlucky ;  only  got  a  Jagana  and  a  small  Warbler,  apparently 
Acrocephalus  arundinaceus.  Saw  a  Plectropterus,  Emblema  rufopicta, 
Limnocorax,  several  Ardea  purpurea,  Laniarius,  an  Oriole,  Ceryle  gigantea, 
seven  young  Nycticorax  (?  europceus\  and  four  Irrisor  (apparently  Irrisor 
pusillus),  &c.,  &c.,  three  together,  but  all  unfortunately  out  of  shot. 
They  fly  with  tail  stretched  out  straight  behind.  Saw  two  Balearica, 
each  perched  on  top  of  a  tree  answering  each  other.  Greenshields  got 
my  gun  "fixed"  again  safely.  Got  six  half-grown  examples  of  the 


*'  ' 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FOKBES.  469 

Percine  form.  In  afternoon  caught  a  few  butterflies  &c.  and  a  very  fine 
bug  —  in  life  straw-colour,  with  Veronese-green  spots  and  red  sinuous 
line  on  prothorax. 

Nov.  16th.  Went  out  in  morning  along  footpath  at  base  of  hills  to 
near  bush  on  creek.  Got  four  or  five  new  birds,  including  a  Parrot, 
apparently  PoeocepTialus  rufiventris,  and  saw  more  ;  also  one  or  two 
Acrocephalus  turdoides  (in  bushy  part)  ,  a  Drymoeca  (?  new),  and  Estrelda 
cinerea.  Also  saw  Euplectes  oryx  in  flocks  with  last,  Euplectes  francis- 
canus,  Urobrachya  macroura,  Hypliantornis  personatus,  Spermestes  cucuttata, 
&c.  ;  all  Euplectes  oryx  out  of  full  colour,  apparently  moulting,  whereas  Ibis,  1883, 
many  E.  franciscanus  in  full  plumage.  Shot  a  ragged  female,  same  as 
male,  some  still  in  yellow-and-black  dress.  Also  got  a  Crithagra 
chrysopyga.  Got  a  good-sized  Clarias  and  another  Siluroid,  also  a  large- 
scaled  barbel-like  fish,  from  natives. 

Nov.  17th.  Einished-off  Parrot  in  morning  ;  put  fresh  spirit  in  tins 
&c.  In  evening  went  down  to  bush  and  palm-groves,  where  I  saw  many 
birds  —  Colius,  Hornbills,  Kingfishers,  Ibis,  &c.  ;  but  all  out  of  shot,  and 
only  got  a  ragged  (moulting)  Weaver-bird  of  a  species  new  and  unknown 
to  me,  with  black  crown  and  broad  rufous  eyebrows  (ptil.  hyem.).  The 
note  of  the  Ixos  usually  is  a  mellow  whistle  of  two  notes,  the  second 
stronger  and  more  pronounced.  Tree  on  beach  with  Palm-birds'  nests 
now  quite  deserted,  and  Greenshields  says  young  flown.  This,  taken 
with  other  facts  (HypJiantornis  personatus),  looks  as  if  Weaver-birds  bred 
during  wet  season  (cf.  Abutschi),  moult  into  non-breeding  dress,  and  take 
to  fields  in  flocks.  Greenshields  got  me  a  nice  living  Cyclanosteiis  from 
the  natives. 

Nov.  18th.  Down  to  palm-groves  early.  Got  some  good  birds,  three 
new,  Cossypha  albicapilla,  Aiidropadus  sp.  ?,  and  Anthus  pratensis, 
another  species,  the  doubtful  Weaver,  the  fine  Nectarinia,  and  Criniger 
gularis,  and  saw  many  others  —  Poeocephalus,  Palceornis  and  Agapornis 
(both  in  some  numbers),  Colius,  Irrisor,  a  pair  of  a  Musophaga,  the 
striolated  Halcyon  (?  one  at  Abutschi),  the  rufous-fronted  Timelia,  &c. 
&c.  The  Ibis  is,  I  believe,  falcinellus  after  all.  I  saw  a  Coly  clinging 
to  tree-trunk  (a  vertical  palm-stem)  just  like  a  Woodpecker,  one  of  which, 
also  of  a  species  not  seen  before,  was  just  above  it.  Both  Irrisor  and 
Colius  are  very  wary,  keeping  just  in  front  of  you  out  of  shot,  and  flying 
from  one  palm-crown  to  another.  I  rather  thought  I  recognized  a  fourth 
Parrot,  a  Pceocephalus  of  the  meyeri  lot,  but  too  far  away  to  be  certain  of. 
Greenshields  got  me  a  nice  Muraenoid  fish  (about  30  inches),  with  very 
small  eyes.  Skinned  birds  all  day.  Greenshields  went  down  to  palms 
in  evening,  but  only  got  an  Ixos. 

Nov.  19th.  Down  to  palm-groves  in  morning.     Got  two  new  birds   Ibis» 
(Pyrenestes  ostrinus  c?  and  two  ^Ejialitis  tricollaris)  in  rice-fields,  where       P'  * 
there  was  also  another  Wader  with  white  tail  ;  also  shot  a  Drymoecu  and 


470  THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FOEBES. 

Agapomis,  of  which  there  were  a  good  many.  Saw  a  small  orange- 
fronted  black-faced  Weaver  (?  HypTiantornis  brachypterus)  of  an  unob- 
tained  species,  Pceocephalus,  a  large  black  Hawk  (Spizaetus),  Hyperyerus, 
Cossypha,  &c.  &c. ;  no  Colius  nor  Irrisor,  and  only  one  Toccus.  Green- 
shields  got  another  scorpion.  In  evening  down  to  palm-groves  again ; 
got  two  new  species — Toccus  pcecilorhyncTius  and  Hypliantornis  brachy- 
pterus. 

Nov.  20th.  Down  to  palm-groves  early.  Did  well,  shooting  two 
Irrisor  seneyalensis,  a  large  Bulbul  of  a  new  species,  another  Pceocephalus, 
and  a  Halcyon  senegalensis.  The  black-and-white  Hornbill  is  apparently 
Toccus  semifasciatus.  Greenshields  went  out  and  got  two  or  three  small 
birds  and  a  Wader  of  a  new  species,  apparently  a  young  Redshank. 
Later  on  he  got  a  Halcyon  rufiventris  on  beach  and  a  small  snake.  Got 
four  fish  from  natives,  two  specimens  of  a  large  marbled  grey-and-black 
siluroid,  and  two  of  a  Percine  form  with  dark-banded  tail.  Pelt  rather 
seedy  all  day,  having  had  a  bad  night. 

Nov.  21st.  Much  better.  Got  a  small  grass-snake  from  native,  of  a 
bright  dark  green  above,  paler  below,  a  few  of  the  scales  entirely  light 
blue,  many  with  a  small  spot  towards  base  of  same  colour.  Also  got  a 
large-scaled  abdominal  carp-like  fish,  with  yellow  eyes.  Comet  still 
visible  and  much  higher,  apparently  as  long  as  height  of  Orion  when 
vertical ;  bearing  E.S.E.  Took  things  easily  rest  of  day,  skinning  Parrot 
and  reloading  cartridges. 

Nov.  22nd.  A  regular  "  thoke."  Got  no  specimens  of  any  kind, 
except  two  of  the  Mursenoid  fish.  Went  down  creek  in  afternoon,  but 
got  nothing.  Had  a  shot  at  a  snake  swimming  across  creek,  and  another 
at  a  Palcon  in  tree  close  to  Katambos  (the  outside  houses  with  two 
entrances  are  called  "  kattas  "). 

Nov.  23rd.     Down  to  palm-groves  again.     Got  a  Hornbill  of  a  new 

species  (apparently  a  Tcccus,  sp.  nov.),  two  Andropadus,  the  Passer,  and 

Ibis,  1883,   the  same  green  Nectarinia  as  occurred  at  Lukoja.     Saw  Cossypha,  the 

p.  527.       grey-and-red  Tchitrea,  &c.,  but  no  Colius  or  Irrisor.     The  Ibis  has  red 

feet  and  reddish  beak,  and  is  apparently  after  all  Ibis  hagedash.     Got  a 

calabash  full  of  small  fish  of  five  or  six  species,  a  Phoxinus  and  perhaps 

one  or  two  others  new.     Got  two  large  specimens  of  the  Muraenoid  fish 

from  the  fishermen ;  it  makes  a  noise  when  held  in  hand. 

Nov.  24th.  Almost  a  blank  day,  and  did  not  go  out  at  all.  Only  got 
a  few  beetles  &c.  from  box.  Bought  a  pair  of  female  jujus  from  Plorin 
and  a  mat  from  Bidda.  Packed  a  tin  and  got  it  soldered,  which  took 
five  men  about  two  hours,  and  then  it  leaked. 

Nov.  25th.  Down  to  palm-groves  in  morning.  Got  nothing  new,  and 
saw  comparatively  little  except  a  fine  pair  of  Spizaetus  occipitalis.  Shot 
a  Parrot,  Nectarinia,  HypJiantornis  textor  (?  3  out  of  colour),  &c.  Found 
four  Polypterus  for  me  on  return,  and  later  on  got  three  smaller  ones 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.  471 

from  same  women.  Heads  all  broken,  being  supposed  to  be  very  savage 
by  natives  (name  Nupi).  Went  out  again  in  evening  in  canoe,  but  got 
no  birds.  Saw  two  or  three  Ceryle  gigantea,  lots  of  Merops  nubicus,  &c. 
&c.  Got  some  more  fish  from  boys  in  evening,  all  small,  and  another 
specimen  of  Siluroid,  very  silvery  beneath,  olivaceous  above.  A  Laby- 
rinthicine  (?)  form  has  a  series  of  small  metallic  bright  blue  spots  along 
back,  2-5  in  vertical  series,  and  a  similar  (1-2)  series  on  dorsal  fin ;  a 
blackish  spot  on  operculum  and  another  on  sides  of  body  posteriorly ; 
skin  at  base  of  scales  reddish  ;  general  colour  olivaceous  green,  paler  and 
redder  below. 

Nov.  26th.  Again  down  to  palm-groves,  but  only  shot  a  young  Cen- 
tropus.  Missed  a  Hornbill,  and  only  wounded  one  or  two  other  birds, 
which  escaped.  Saw  a  covey  of  Guinea-fowls  perched  in  high  tree  ;  the 
one  struck  got  away  wounded.  Got  another  Polypterus^  and  a  second 
specimen  of  one  of  the  Percine  forms.  In  afternoon  went  out  for  a  ride 
with  Greenshields  to  Shonga  town  (the  wharf  town  is  called  Shonga 
Patteh)  and  beyond.  Got  a  nasty  tumble,  hurting  badly  left  shoulder, 
hip,  and  side.  Very  busy  market-place,  surrounded  by  king's  house,  Ibis,  1883, 
mosque  (destroyed),  &c.  In  garden  of  former  are  some  fine  date-palms  p<  52  ' 
(introduced),  and  in  one  of  the  yards  I  saw  a  Cactoid  (Euphorbia),  which 
is  rare  in  this  part,  so  far  as  I  have  seen. 

Nov.  27th.  Did  not  go  out  in  morning.  Got  a  Polypterm  (the  ninth) 
and  another  fish  from  people,  and  in  evening  one  of  the  large  Siluroids 
and  a  basinful  (about  20)  of  an  eight-barbed  species  of  small  size.  Went 
down  creek  in  evening,  but  got  nothing.  Saw  Ceryle  gigantea,  a  pair  of 
Schizorhis,  and  a  single  Podica,  which  got  away  wounded ;  it  climbsd  up 
bank  out  of  water,  and  rather  nimbly  up  a  small  tree  to  ten  or  twelve 
feet  from  ground ;  very  Duck-like  altogether  in  habit. 

Nov.  28th.  Went  down  creek  again  in  morning  to  look  after  Podica, 
but  in  vain.  Only  shot  a  Platystira  with  scarlet  eye-wattles  and  a 
Totanus  of  same  species  as  one  skinned  at  Egga  (iris  brown ;  beak 
greyish ;  legs  pale  dead-flesh  colour).  A  small  scarlet  Homopteron  is 
common  on  reeds  in  reed-beds,  and  a  brilliant  object  when  flying  in  the 
sun.  Eefilled  cartridges,  labelled  birds,  &c.  rest  of  day. 

Nov.  29th.  Down  to  palm-groves  in  morning.  Did  well,  getting 
three  specimens  of  Woodpeckers  (all  new  to  me),  Hirundo  senegalensis, 
one  of  the  obscure  Ploceus  in  good  (out  of  colour)  plumage,  and  an  dEgia- 
litis,  apparently  hiaticula  (eyelids  narrowly  yellow;  iris  olive-brown; 
beak  black  ;  legs  pale  orange),  on  beach,  and  a  mature  moulting  specimen 
of  the  black-and-white  Toccus.  Saw  three  or  four  Crithagra,  the  fine 
Nectarinia,  &c.  Saw  a  family  of  a  fine  large  Cynocephalus,  apparently 
C.  anubis,  on  border  of  bush  and  in  banana- clearing — large,  with  long 
tail,  mane  rather  deep  colour,  and  large  callosities ;  face  blackish.  Got 
a  small  harmless  snake  in  afternoon  from  a  native ;  and  in  afternoon  . 


472        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FOKBES. 

went  down  creek,  getting  five  birds — a  Turdus,  Dicrurus,  JButoridcs, 
(Edicnemus,  and  a  Caprimulgus,  the  first  two  in  bush,  the  last  in  reed- 
marsh.  Got  two  shots  at  the  big  Kingfisher,  and  of  course  missed  ;  also 
saw,  but  did  not  get,  a  Cossypha  in  bush.  Dicrurus  was  in  a  swarm  of 

Ibis,  1883,   ten  to  fifteen,  and  is  awfully  active,  incessantly  in  motion.     Grot  my 
p'  tenth  Polypterus  (undamaged)  from  fishermen  in  marshes.     About  10  P.M., 

as  Greenshields  and  I  were  sitting  in  piazza,  with  lamp,  a  snake's  head 
appeared  above  low  parapet-wall  separating  piazza  from  factory,  and 
disappeared  again  directly.  I  saw  it,  and  going  out  killed  (in  three 
shots  from  16-bore) — a  good  deal  damaging  it — a  fine  puff-adder,  44 
inches  long.  On  dissection  it  turned  out  a  female  full  of  eggs,  but  with 
empty  stomach.  Shonga  cannot  be  considered  exhausted  as  regards 
birds,  as  to-day  I  have  got  eight  new  species,  six  of  which  I  had  not  even 
seen  before.  Have  been  here  eight  weeks,  and  have  got  or  seen  about 
105  birds. 

Nov.  30th.  Not  out  in  morning,  but  put  spirit-specimens  in  order. 
Got  some  fish  from  Suma  (=Sheedi),  a  black  Osteoylossum  (?),  a  Perciue 
form,  and  a  silvery  Clupeoid  with  ventral  and  anal  fins  slightly  tinged, 
with  lower  lobe  of  caudal  entirely  bright  red  (?  same  as  got  at  Lukoja). 
In  evening  went  down  creek,  but  only  got  a  Metier  ax  (has  not  this  bird 
lumbar  powder-downs  ?),  beautifully  shot.  Had  a  shot  at  MacrodipUryx ; 
of  course  saw,  but  did  not  get,  the  big  Ceryle. 

Dec.  1st.  Down  to  palm-groves,  but  unlucky ;  only  got  one  new 
species,  Estrelda  subjlava,  a  Euplectes  franciscanus  in  moult,  and  another 
of  the  doubtful  Ploceus.  Saw  little  else,  except  a  flock  of  five  Colius 
(one  of  which  I  might,  if  not  short-sighted,  have  got),  Crithagra,  Aga- 
pornis,  &c.  Got  five  fishes  from  natives — two  Siluroids  (new  species  : 
of  the  silvery  form  which  has  lower  lobe  of  tail  reddish,  and  one  very 
heavily  armoured),  a  Polypterus,  and  two  banded-tailed  Percoids.  The 
natives  have  an  idea  that  the  eggs  of  the  puff-adder  (Edou-Tappa-Nupi- 
Arka- Yagi  =  Toruba)  produce  Polypterus.  Got  a  lot  of  eggs  of  a  very 
large  Teleostean  (?  Siluroid),  full  of  yolk  (size  and  colour  of  a  large  white- 
heart  cherry),  with  small  very  vascular  area,  pellucid  above,  in  which  lie 
well-developed  and  active  1^-inch  embryos,  with  perfect  black  con- 
spicuous eyes  and  limbs,  extracted  from  uterus :  natives  say  eggs  grow 

Ibis,  1883,   to  twice  the  size  before  hatching :  adult  has  smooth  thick  skin,  of  dull 
p  silvery  colour;  across  middle  of  body  (in  transverse  section)  10  inches. 

In  afternoon  got  a  small  black  snake  in  stable,  coiled  up  beneath  lumber. 
Took  some  photographs  of  beach  and  natives  in  afternoon,  and  after- 
wards went  down  creek,  shooting  a  couple  of  Elminia  longicauda  in  bush. 
Got  a  few  small  fish  from  native  boys,  including  a  nice  little  Polypterus 
and  the  young  (of  several  sizes)  of  a  curious  suctorial-mouthed  form. 
This  grows  to  about  18  inches.  Felt  feverish  in  evening,  and  had  a 
wretched  night,  not  getting  any  sleep  after  12. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.        473 

Dec.  2nd.  Felt  seedy,  and  did  not  go  out  in  consequence  all  day. 
Got  a  good  Polypterus,  and  in  evening  a  large  specimen  of  the  silvery 
Siluroid  (with  very  long  upper  tentacle)  and  an  adult  of  the  banded- 
firmed  Percoid.  Shuma  brought  in  for  inspection  a  mutilated  and  much- 
contracted  skin  of  a  Viverra,  apparently  V.  civetta,  thickly  spotted  with 
black,  with  black  head  and  white  patch  on  each  side  ;  fur  rather  long. 

S.  Dec.  3rd.  Got  two  more  Polypterus  from  natives,  still  alive  when 
brought ;  neither  very  big.  Greenshields  shot  a  nice  Laniarius  barbarus 
in  tree  behind  yard.  Went  down  creek  in  evening,  but  did  not  fire  a 
shot. 

Dec.  4th.  Got  a  Macronyx  croceus  (structure  of  tarsus  typically  Osci- 
nine  and  Alaudine)  and  a  Halcyon  rufiventris  (?)  in  palm-groves ;  but 
saw  little  else  particular,  except  a  flock  of  six  or  seven  Colius,  which  I 
u  chivied  "  hard,  but  could  not  get  within  range  of.  A  large  specimen 
(28  inches  long)  of  the  large-scaled  Ceratodoid  Osteoglossum  was  brought 
in,  but  too  big  for  pickling  with  the  poor  spirit  at  my  disposal. 

Dec.  5th.  Went  down  to  palm-groves  in  morning,  with  gun  and  net. 
Got  a  Pogonias  and  Estrelda  cinerea,  and  saw  a  solitary  Colius,  but  could 
not  get  up  to  it.  Caught  a  few  butterflies  &c.,  and  had  a  little  sweeping 
amongst  rushes  and  ferns  &c.  in  damp  parts,  producing  a  very  curious 
Mantis,  wonderfully  plant-like,  and  two  or  three  species  of  stalk-eyed 
flies.  Got  two  new  specimens  of  fish  from  natives,  a  very  curious  horse- 
headed  form,  and  two  large  specimens  of  a  large-scaled  Cyprinoid.  In 
evening  shot  a  male  Macrodipteryx  in  factory-yard,  the  long  feathers  ibis,  1883, 
apparently  broken  or  shot  short.  Alarm  of  a  hyaena  in  night  (before).  P-  531. 

Dec.  6th.  Only  got  an  Estrelda  melpoda  in  morning's  shooting,  and 
saw  nothing  interesting  except  a  Hypergerus  and  the  Ibis  which  has  very 
conspicuous  light  metallic-green  shoulders  and  white  stripe  on  sides  of 
head.  In  evening  went  down  other  branch  of  creek.  Saw  few  birds, 
except  Ceryle  gigantea  (as  usual)  and  a  lot  of  Treron  and  Corythaix  in 
big  tree  near  fork.  Got  five  Bats  (three  EpomopJiorus  and  two  of  the 
insectivorous  form),  and  coming  back  got  a  female  Macrodipteryx  in  reed- 
beds.  Got  one  big  and  a  lot  (about  fifteen)  of  smaller  Polypteri. 

Dec.  7th.  Went  out  for  two  hours'  entomologizing  in  morning,  and 
got  four  specimens  of  Lyccena,  two  Hesperias,  Danais,  Acrcea,  &c.  &c.  in 
or  on  road  to  palm-groves.  Got  a  very  blubbery  fat  Malaptei-urus- 
like  fish  (greenish  grey  spotted  with  black  above,  whitish  beneath),  a 
Scaroid  (silvery  dark-striped,  like  a  young  mullet,  with  red  fins),  a 
Clupeoid  with  red  fins  (?  =  that  gob  at  Lukoja),  two  specimens  of  Chse- 
todontoids  (silvery,  one  with  entirely  red  fins  and  unmarked  ;  the  other 
with  eleven  long  lines,  the  more  dorsal  zigzagy,  fins  edged  with  red  and 
larger  scales),  and  a  large  dull  grey  barbel-like  fish.  In  evening  down 
to  palm- groves.  Got  a  Turdus  pelios  and  a  second  larger  specimen  of 
Centropus,  of  which  I  had  also  got  (but  not  recognized  as  distinct)  a 
young  bird. 


474         THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Dec.  8th.  Got  one  big  and  two  small  Polypteri,  two  of  the  black  Osteo- 
glossum,  and  two  of  a  new  fish  with  no  ventrals,  small  pointed  dorsal, 
and  very  long  anal  fins.  People  brought  in  with  other  hides  a  skin  of 
Hippotragus  equinus  from  Potashi,  a  town  about  half-a-day's  steaming 
from  Bussah.  Got  a  large,  small-scaled,  carp-like  fish,  of  a  new  species, 
in  evening  from  Bishop.  Went  down  creek  in  afternoon,  as  far  as  bush 
at  fork.  Got  a  Xerus  and  three  birds — female  of  Platystira  melanoptera, 
Hyper  gems  (several  seen  ;  its  note  a  harsh  one,  repeated  several  times), 
and  a  new  Drymoeca-like  form.  Saw  and  wounded  a  large  grey  monkey, 
apparently  Cercocebus  albigena  or  G.  fuliginosus,  also  a  Nycticorax ;  but 
both  escaped. 

Ibis,  1883,        Dec.  9th.  Got  three  Polypteri  and  two  other  fishes,  the  silvery  Clupeoid 
p>       '       and  the  Scaroid,  which  superficially  exactly  resemble  one  another,  differ- 
ing in  teeth,  form  of  head,  anal  fin,  and  coloration  of  ventrals.     In  even- 
ing went  down  creek,  but  got  little,  only  an  Epomophorus  and  an  Estrelda 
rubropicta,  both  damaged. 

Dec.  10th.  Down  to  palm-groves  &c.  and  got  five  birds,  two  being 
new,  a  small  Barbatula  (iris  brown,  with  bright  orange-yellow  frontal 
spot,  light  yellow-sulphury  uropygium,  and  citron-yellow  edgings  to 
lesser  wing-coverts  ;  greater  coverts  and  most  proximal  remiges  bordered 
with  white ;  crown,  nape,  and  neck  flammulated  with  white)  and  a  small 
Drymceca.  All  flocks  of  Euplectes  and  of  Ploceus,  sp.  inc.,  are  now  in 
full  winter  plumage.  Lots  of  Pratincola  about.  In  evening  went  down 
creek  ;  got  a  female  Ploceus  brachypterus  and  male  Macrodipteryx.  Saw 
also  the  male  of  the  Tchitrea  I  had  previously  got  female  of ;  it  is  white, 
with  glossy  crested  head  and  two  long  rectrices.  Saw  also  some  females  of 
it,  Laniarius,  &c. 

Dec.  llth.  Down  to  usual  shooting-grounds  in  morning.  Got  two 
females  and  one  male  of  Ploceus  brachypterus  and  a  small  Drymceca.  Saw  a 
single  Scopus  (flight  light,  easy  sailing,  with  no  heavy  flapping  as  in  Herons), 
and  wounded  or  killed,  but  could  not  find,  what  was  apparently  an  Indi- 
cator. In  evening,  down  creek,  got  the  male  Tchitrea ;  also  a  Scotornis 
climacurus  on  way  back.  Bather  feverish  again. 

Dec.  12th.  Did  not  go  out  in  morning,  but  took  a  "  thoke."  Filled  a 
tin  full  of  specimens.  In  evening  down  creek.  Saw  a  Scopus,  and  shot 
one  of  the  large  species  of  Centropus.  Stores  from  Egga  arrived.  Got  a 
few  fishes,  including  two  specimens  of  a  new  barbel-like  fish  with  a  red 
spot  on  tips  of  scales. 

Dec.  13th.     Got  about  eighteen  fishes  in  morning,  of  six  or  seven 

species,  including  one  new  one,  a  barbel-like  form  with  very  large  scales. 

Did  not  shoot  in  morning.     Got  a  young  Ibis  cethiopicus  in  evening  in 

rice-fields  opposite  factory,  one  of  a  number  ;  these  birds  have  appeared 

quite   commonly  during   the   last   few   days.      Saw   several  Scopus  in 

Ibis,  1883,   company  with  these  Ibises  and  Cow-birds  ;  and  there  were  also  a  fine 

p.  533. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FOKBES.        475 

pair  of  Xenorhynchus  stalking  about  in  same  fields,  now  with  water  let 
off  and  rice  about  a  foot  high.  Down  creek  in  evening,  and  got  a  new 
Phylloscopus  in  high  bush.  Saw  a  pair  of  Ciconia  episcopus  flying  over 
creek. 

Dec.  14th,  Down  to  palms  in  morning;  got  a  Campephaga  (?),  one 
of  the  small  Centropus,  and  three  others.  Saw  a  number  of  what  was 
nearly  certainly,  from  size,  colour,  and  note  (which  is  particularly 
whirring),  Ploceus  textor,  frequenting  the  small  palms  there.  Green- 
shields  tells  me  they  do  not  return  to  beach  till  about  March,  i.  e.  begin- 
ning of  rains.  All  those  I  saw  to-day  were  in  female  plumage,  and  for 
a  long  time  I  have  seen  no  full-plumaged  males.  Comet  still  visible  from 
about  10  till  early  morning,  much  more  dim  than  formerly ;  movement 
from  E.  to  W.  Got  a  number  of  small  fishes  in  afternoon,  chiefly  a 
perch-like  form  ;  amongst  them  a  curious,  spotted,  small  Siluroid,  with 
the  two  inferior  pairs  of  tentacles  branched. 

Dec.  15th.  Went  into  rice-fields  in  morning,  but  was  nearly  murdered 
by  mosquitoes  and  had  to  come  back  soon.  Shot  in  rice-fields  a  large 
Centropus,  anAcrocephalus  turdoides,  and  a  Limnocora&Jfavirostris.  Green- 
shields  afterwards  shot  an  Ibis ;  and  we  saw  Scopus  and  a  Ciconia  epis- 
copus,  each  singly,  in  same  flock.  In  evening  down  creek  and  got  a 
Nycticorax  europceus  in  adult  dress,  but  with  no  long  crest-feathers* 
Saw,  going  down  creek,  an  antelope  (apparently  a  male  Tragelaphus\  a 
Gull  (?  Rissa),  and  a  white-winged  pale  rufous  Heron  (?  Ardea  comata). 

Dec.  16th.  Rather  seedy,  with  a  headache.  Went  down  to  palms, 
and  got  at  last  a  big  Ceryle ;  also  a  Macronyx  and  a  small  Drymoeca. 
Did  not  go  out  in  evening. 

Dec.  17th.  Started  about  9  with  Greenshields  in  canoe  for  an  expe- 
dition down  creek  into  big  river  (Edou-Tappa-Quorra-Gambari-Oiya- 
Yagi),  getting  back  about  7.30.  In  lower  part  of  creek  came  across 
Merops  bullocki  in  some  numbers,  settling  in  high  trees  on  bank  and 
flying  off  in  regular  Bee-eater  style ;  also  shot  a  Ceryle  gigantea  (?  female 
or  young,  very  different  from  others)  and  one  of  the  Lobivanellus  which  is  Ibi8,  1883, 
common  here  and  turns  out  to  be  albiceps.  Went  up  river  towards  Rabba  P-  5^« 
for  some  way,  and  saw  plenty  of  birds  on  banks — about  twenty  Balearica 
on  one  bank,  with  some  Ibises  (/.  cethiopica),  a  pair  of  Chenalopex,  and 
three  Spoonbills,  one  of  which  I  shot,  Greenshields  getting  one  of  the 
Geese.  Also  saw  an  Osprey,  one  or  two  Haliaetus^  and  plenty  of  Gypo- 
hierax.  Saw  a  couple  of  monkeys  (?  Cercopithecus  cynosurus  or  C.  griseo- 
viridis)  in  bush,  and  might  have  had  a  fine  shot  at  them,  but  rifle  not 
loaded.  Also  saw  and  shot  at  a  single  Hippopotamus.  Feverish  all 
day. 

Dec.  18th.  Slept  till  10,  and  felt  much  better.  "Gunniga"  brought 
in  two  bush-fowl,  chickens,  just  hatched.  They  are  apparently  a  Turnix  in 
first  plumage.  Got  a  second  Cydanosteus ;  it  has  yellow  iris.  The 


476  THE  LAST  JOUENAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

Platalea  (a  male)  has  wind-pipe  thoracically  dilated,  depressed,  of  peculiar 
structure,  and  convoluted  subcutaneously,  the  loop  coming  halfway  up 
neck  nearly.  Greenshields  shot  a  Balearica  opposite  factory.  In  after- 
noon down  creek.  Got  an  immature  Squacco  Heron  and  a  nice  Scopus, 
perched  on  a  low  branch  of  tree  overhanging  water ;  it  vomited  up  a 
number  of  small  fishes  when  shot.  Saw  the  Missa(t)  again  in  reed-beds. 
Wretched  night. 

Dec.  19th.  Greenshields  shot  a  second  Scopus  just  outside  in  morning. 
Pilled  up  a  tin  with  spirit-specimens.  Felt  seedy  all  day.  Went  down 
creek  in  afternoon,  and  shot  a  Cossypha  verticalis  in  bush,  and  saw  others. 
They  hop  about  ground  and  low  bushes  and  trees,  and  are  very  shy  ; 
their  note  a  harsh  whistle.  A  sharp  attack  of  fever  came  on  in  canoe ; 
so  got  home  early  and  lay  up.  No  dinner.  Got  two  more  Cyclanostcus 
from  a  woman  ;  smaller  than  others. 

Dec.  20th.  Much  better  this  morning.     Got  another  Cydanosteus  and 
five   other  fishes — two  Malapterurus  and  three  specimens    of    a  small- 
scaled  barbel.     Went  down  creek  in  evening  and  saw  two   or  three 
Rissa  (?)  near  wharf,  and  shot  a  small  Phylloscopus  (greenish,  with  yellow 
soles),  which  got  ruined  in  rain.     About  5.30  a  strong  tornado-breeze, 
with  lightning  and  heavy  rain,  came  on  ;  and  we  got  a  good  wetting.    It 
Ibis  1883    has  Deen  yery  co°l  and  cloudy  for  last  day  or  two.     This  is  first  rain  for 
p.  535.       about  two  months,  except  one  or  two  very  slight  showers.     It  rained 
again  in  night,  sleepless  for  me. 

Dec.  21st.  Got  a  large  Siluroid,  with  big  rounded  adipose  fin ;  I 
think  new  to  me.  Dull  and  cloudy  all  day,  and  in  evening  it  came  on  to 
rain  about  5,  and  rained  afterwards  again  all  night.  Did  not  go  out  all 
day. 

Dec.  22nd.  Not  out  in  morning.  Got  a  few  fishes,  but  nothing  new. 
Cloudy  and  dull  all  day,  but  no  rain ;  cleared  up  a  little  before  sunset. 
Went  about  5  down  creek,  and  got  a  young  black  Tern  (new)  and  a 
second  Cossypha  verticalis  on  a  tree  the  other  side  of  creek.  Saw  the 
white  male  Tchitrea  again,  with  female  Laniarius  and  Dicrurus,  &c. 

Dec.  23rd.  Down  to  usual  shooting-grounds,  but  saw  and  shot  nothing 
new.  Ploceus  brachypterus  is  now  abundant ;  these  feeding  on  corn 
(and  palms  ?).  Got  another  of  the  Drymoecine  form,  in  which  sexes  differ 
in  colour  of  soft  parts,  a  Macronyoc  (perched  in  a  biggish  tree),  one  of  the 
Zosterops-like  form,  and  a  Hypergerus.  In  evening  down  creek  ;  got  two 
males  of  the  Tchitrea  (one  in  perfect,  one  in  immature  dress)  and  a 
Scopus. 

Dec.  24th.  Down  to  usual  shooting-grounds  in  morning,  and  then 
turned  off  to  right  over  hills,  where  grass  has  been  burnt,  and  so  back  to 
Shonga.  Saw  several  (and  shot  one)  Hoplopterus  spinosus,  Toccus  pceci- 
lorhynchus,  a  Dicrurus,  Macrodipteryx,  and  two  or  three  of  a  Pterocles  in 
sandy  places  on  hills,  the  Zosterops,  &c.  A  pair  of  Xenorliynchus  again 
in  rice-fields  opposite,  stalking  about  in  afternoon. 


THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES.  477 

Dec.  25th.  CHRISTMAS  DAT.  Out  shooting  in  morning,  but  got  little, 
though  I  saw  several  nice  things — an  Oriole,  grey  CampepTiaga  (?),  a 
single  Pterocles,  Toccus  pcecilorhynchus  (several),  &c.  &c.  A  small  flock 
of  Schizorhis  in  palm-groves  ;  they  have  a  loud  call-note,  rapidly  repeated, 
"  cow-cow-cow "  &c.,  and  when  sitting  sometimes  raise  tail  till  quite 
vertical  over  body.  Bag :  one  Turclus  pelios  (shot  hopping  on  ground 
amongst  burnt  bush)  and  one  Drymceca.  Got  a  Diodon  (or  Tetrodon) 
from  a  native  woman — ground-colour  olive- black;  chin  and  belly  nearly 
whitish,  shading  off  above  into  yellow ;  several  long  stripes  pale  yellow  Ibis,  1883, 
dorsally,  getting  deeper  ventrally,  and  below  level  of  caudal  fin  getting  P*  ^' 
chrome-yellow  of  flanks  and  vent,  round  latter  of  which  the  colour  is 
brightest ;  dorsal  fin  yellowish ;  caudal  fin  olive-green  for  basal  half, 
rest  bright  yellow ;  pupil  yellow,  with  a  red  ring  round  it.  This  speci- 
men was  rather  dry  when  brought ;  the  colours  are  much  brighter  where 
skin  has  kept  moist  by  being  covered  by  the  fins.  In  its  stomach  were 
remains  of  a  small  Anodon  or  Unio,  which  also  forms  food  for  the  Cyclan- 
osteus.  The  fish  is  well  known  to  natives,  and  it  is  said  to  be  common. 
They  do  not  "  chop "  it,  but  make  drums  of  its  skins.  Greenshields 
caught,  almost  uninjured,  a  small  snake  in  factory-yard,  and  brought  it 
in  alive;  apparently  allied  to  Tropidonotus.  In  evening  down  creek; 
got  a  new  Flycatcher  and  a  second  specimen  of  Tern  with  reddish  beak, 
perched  on  high  grass  amongst  reeds.  Saw  also  a  MusopJiaga  violacea  in 
big  trees,  but  could  not  get  a  shot  at  it ;  a  second  specimen  of  the  big 
Scotopelia,  which  I  missed  twice ;  and  a  third  time  got  a  missfire  at 
several  Platystira,  a  couple  of  female  Tchitrea,  Scopus,  &c.  &c. 

Dec.  26th.  BOXING  DAT.  Intended  to  have  gone  out  photographing 
in  morning  ;  but  the  fall  was  out  of  order,  and  it  took  some  time  to  set 
it  right.  Got  a  couple  of  small  fishes  in  afternoon — one  new,  one  of  the 
red-spotted  barbel.  Went  down  creek  in  evening,  but  got  nothing  and 
saw  little — two  or  three  Laniarius,  a  Malaconotus,  &c.  The  canoe-men 
saw  and  caught  for  me  a  chain seleon  which  was  on  a  small  tree  overhanging 
river ;  it  is  apparently  Chamceleon  senegalensis.  Saw  also  a  snake 
swimming  across  creek  ;  but  it  just  escaped  :  apparently  a  Tropidonotus 
with  a  row  of  dark  brown  spots  down  back. 

Dec.  27th.  Seedy  from  diarrho3a  in  morning  and  did  not  go  out, 
having  slept  badly.  Went  down  second  branch  of  creek  in  evening,  but 
got  nothing,  not  even  firing  my  gun.  Got  two  fishes,  one  new,  a  large 
Gadoid-like  Acanthopteron,  which  Greenshields  says  is  the  species  that 
grows  to  be  the  biggest  fish  in  this  river. 

Dec.  28th.     Still  ill,  having  had  another  wretched  night.     Stayed  in  ibis,  1883, 
house  all  day.     Greenshields  shot  a  second  Lanius  rutilans  for  me  from      P-  ^' 
bush  opposite  factory. 

Dec.  29th.  Not  much  better,  the  diarrhoea  (or  dysentery)  continuing. 
Women  brought  in  a  small  laud-tortoise,  with  movable  carapace  (Cinixys); 


478        THE  LAST  JOURNAL  OF  W.  A.  FORBES. 

In  factory  all  day.  Greenshields  shot  me  a  small  Centropus  in  field 
opposite. 

Dec.  30th.  Still  ill.  Greenshields  got  me  a  Limnocorax ;  and  they 
brought  in  a  pretty  lineated  Tropidonotine  snake,  scarcely  at  all  damaged. 

Dec.  31st.  In  factory  all  day  ;  perhaps  a  little  better.  Greenshields 
in  morning  shot  a  young  Anastomus  lamelligerus  on  top  of  roof  of  house. 
He  says  they  are  not  uncommon  here.  (N.B. — Notice  the  peculiar 
lamellae  at  the  apex  of  maxilla.) 

1883. 

Jan.  1st.  Much  the  same,  with  no  decided  change.  Got  a  new 
Scaroid  fish  and  a  very  pretty  small  Colubrine  snake. 

Jan.  2nd.     Still  seedy. 

Jan.  3rd.     A  small  snake  was  caught  in  factory  during  the  night. 

Jan.  4th.  Still  seedy,  getting  better  only  slowly,  with  want  of  appetite 
and  weakness.  Greenshields  shot  a  couple  of  Waders  from  two  separate 
flocks  in  rice-field ;  they  are  both  new  to  me.  Canoe-men  brought  in  a 
small  Monitor  (?  ocellatus). 

Jan.  5th  and  6th.  Still  ill ;  feverish,  with  no  sleep  or  appetite.  Satur- 
day afternoon  got  a  big  packet  of  letters  from  home ;  the  last  about 
November  8th.  It  is  about  14  weeks  since  the  last  lot  reached  Egga. 

Jan.  7th,  8th,  9th,  and  10th.     Still  very  ill ;  in  great  fever. 

\_In  another  liand.~\ 

Jan.  llth.     In  high  fever. 

Jan.  12th  and  13th.     In  very  high  fever,  and  delirious  night  arid  day. 

S.  Jan.  14th.     W.  A.  F.  died  at  8.40  A.M. 


INDEX. 


Abdimia,  12. 

Abdimia  sphenorhyncba,  6. 
Abnormales,  148. 
Aburria  carunculata,  343. 
Acanthisitta,  360-363. 
Acanthisitta  chloris,  360. 
Acantborhynchus,  73. 
Accipitres,  6,  284. 
Acbras  sapota,  257. 
Acidalia  immorata,  31. 

immutata,  31. 

ornata,  32. 

perochraria,  31. 

strigilaria,  31. 

Acrasa,  451,  453,  464,  473. 
Acrobata,  188. 
Acrobata  pygmsea,  180. 
Acrocephalus  arundinaceus,  468. 

turdoides,  469. 

Acromyodi,  148,  208. 
Acryllium  vulturinum,  343. 
Actias  luna,  294. 

yama-mai,  294. 

Adamastor,  369,  370,  393,  414,  415,  420, 

423,431,432. 

Adamastor  cinereus,  368,  413,  419,  426. 
^Egialites  hiaticula,  226,  471. 

inornatus,  35,  42. 

tricollaris,  469. 

^gotheles,  443. 

Aeipetes,  380,  383,  384,  392,  397,  415,  431. 

Aeipetes  antarcticus,  365,  404,   407,  413, 

419,  432. 
jEthopyga,  136. 
Agapornis,  99,  132,  133,  205, 459, 469,  470, 

472. 

Agrion,  294. 
Agrotis  c-nigrum,  31. 
Ajaja  rosea,  343. 
Alca,  417,  418. 
Alca  alle,  386. 


Alca  torda,  7,  13. 

Alcedinidae,  207,  212,  346,  347. 

Alcedo,  207,  351,  455. 

Alcelaphus,  460,  461. 

Alcelapbus  tora,  458,  461. 

Alces,  315. 

Alcida,  191,  225,  335,  415,  442. 

Alcyone,  441,  442. 

Alectorides,  7,  164. 

Alle  nigricans,  368. 

Amaurospiza  unicolor,  259, 

Amblyrhampbus  holosericeua,  6. 

Ampbigyri,  164. 

Amphioxus,  28. 

Anaitis  plagiata,  32. 

Anastomus  lamelligerus,  477. 

Anatidae,  341,  372. 

Andrias  scbeucbzeri,  105. 

Andropadus,  469,  470. 

Angulirostres,  352. 

Anodon,  477. 

Anomalogonatse,  202,  209,  346,  351,  352. 

Anopbtbalmus,  451,  452. 

Anous  sp.,  243. 

Anser  cinereus,  5. 

Anseranas  melanoleuca,  341. 

Anseres,  6,  164,  354,  371. 

Anseriformes,  21 2,  372. 

Anthocharis  belia,  167. 

euphenoides,  166,  167. 

Antbropoides  virgo,  344. 

Anthus,  460. 

Anthus  carapestris,  464. 

pratensis,  469. 

Antilocapra  araericana,  127,  295. 
Apatura  ilia,  30,  168,  294. 

iris,  294. 

Apbantochroa  cirrochloris,  269. 
Aphides,  295. 
Aphobus  chopi,  263. 
Aplonius  tavuensis,  44. 
vitiensis,  44. 


480 


INDEX. 


Apteryx,  15,  18,  202,  232,  234,  237,  241. 
Apteryx  australis,  235. 

haasti,  235. 

.  mantelli,  6,  234,  235. 

oweni,  6,  235. 

Ara  spixi,  245. 

Aramides,  227. 

Aramides  cayennensis,  277- 

Aramus,  191,  206. 

Aramus  scolopaceus,  206,  226,  344. 

Arboricola  torqueola,  6. 

Archaeopteryx,  440. 

Archibuteo  lagopus,  6. 

Arctica  alle,  222. 

Ardea,  456,  463. 

Ardea  atricollis,  463,  466,  468. 

candidissima,  246,  274. 

cinerea,  463,  467. 

cocoi,  6. 

comata,  475. 

flavirostris,  453,  462. 

goliath,  453,  462,  467. 

purpurea,  467. 

Ardeidse,  282,  387,  388,  434. 
Ardetta,  463. 
Ardetta  rainuta,  468. 
Argus  giganteus,  6. 
Argynnis  adippe,  30. . 

aglaia,  102. 

amathusia,  102,  169. 

dia,  30,  102. 

ens,  169. 

ino,  102. 

lathonia,  30,  102,  169. 

niobe,  30,  102,  169. 

pales,  102. 

paphia,  30. 

thore,  169. 

Artamus,  282. 

Artamus  leucopygialis,  36. 

Arundinicola  leucocephala,  218,  264. 

Astacus,  465. 

Astur,  164. 

Ateles,  117,  119,  123. 

Atelornis,  150;  159. 

Atelornis  crossleyi,  152. 

Atrichla,  208,  209,  214,  282. 

Atrichiidse,  148. 

Attacus  atlas,  294.' 

Attagis,  13,  207,  224,  225,  443. 

Attagis  gayi,  226. 

sp.,  6. 

Atticora  cyanoleuca,  254. 
fasciata,  453. 


Atticora  melbina,  461. 
Aulacorhamphus  prasiuus,  323. 


B. 


Balasniceps,  333. 

Balaeuoptera,  318. 

Balearica,  344,  456,   458,  461,   462,  468, 

476. 

Barbatula,  474. 
Baryphthengus,  319,  350. 
Basileuterus  auricapillus,  254. 
Belideus,  181,  188. 
Belideus  breviceps,  180. 

sciureus,  180,  183. 

Berenicornis,  456. 
Biziura  lobata,  354-357. 
Bombyx  rubi,  31. 

trifolii,  31. 

Bos  brachyceros,  460. 
Botaurus  stellaris,  193. 
Botys  cespitalis,  32. 

lutealis,  32. 

nubilalis,  32. 

purpuralis,  32. 

Brachypteracias,  150,  154, 159. 
Brachyurus  calvus,  117,  124,  126. 

—  israelita,  123. 

melanocephalus,  117,  124. 

ouakary,  123. 

rubieundus,  105-126. 

Bradypus  didactylus,  308. 
Bucconidse,  156,  200,  212,  284. 
Buceros,  453,  454,  455. 
Buceros  atratus,  462. 

buccinator,  457. 

cylinclri^us,  455. 

elatus,  456. 

fistulator,  453. 

Bucerotidse,  199,  207,  212. 
Bucorvus,  157. 
Bucorvus  abyssinicus,  193. 
Budytes  flava,  464. 

rail,  464,  465. 

Bulweria,   369,   372,   373,  375,  380,  384, 

391,  392,  393,  395,  404,  415,  420,  430, 

431,  448. 
Bulweria  colurnbina,  365,  387,  413,  426. 

macgillivrayi,  365,  406,  408. 

Buteo  jackal,  6. 
Butorides,  455,  462,  472. 
Butorides  cyanurus,  275. 


INDEX. 


481 


c. 

Cacatua,  205. 
Cacatua  sulphurea,  193. 
Oacatuinae,  131,  205. 
Caccabis  chukar,  6. 
•         melanocephala,  6. 

saxatilis,  6. 

Cacomantis,  6, 155. 
Cacomantis  flabelliformis,  40. 
Calathus  nubigena,  34. 
Calidris,  442. 
Callianassa,  452. 
Callimorpha  hera,  31. 
Callipepla  gambeli,  6. 
Oalliste,  136. 
Calliste  cyaneiventris,  137. 

fastuosa,  256. 

festiva,  137,  256. 

flava,  256. 

melanonota,  137. 

nigriviridis,  137. 

thoracica,  137. 

tricolor,  137. 

Callithrix,  119,  123. 
Callithrix  amicta,  113,  115. 
Calodromas,  442. 
Calotes,  459. 
Calyptomena,  214,  218. 
Calyptomena  aura,  274. 

viridis,  138,  139. 

Camelopardalis,  315. 

Campephaga,  455,  461,  475,  477. 

Cancroma,  210. 

Oancroma  cochlearia,  6. 

Capitonidse,  200,  201,  207,  212,  323-326. 

Capitoninse,  207,  208,  323. 

Capreolus,  313,  315. 

Oaprimulgidge,  204,  212,  353,  443. 

Carabus  catenulatus,  34. 

Cariama,  325,  415. 

Cariama  cristata,  278. 

Carica  papaya,  257. 

Carpophaga,  325. 

Carpophaga  assimilis,  41. 

latrans,  204,  386. 

Carterocephalus  palaemon,  169. 
Cassicus  persicus,  262. 
Casuaridse,  241,  442. 
Casuarius,  16,  443. 
Casuarius  beccarii,  6,  15,  238. 

bennetti,  238. 

galeatus,  236-238. 


Casuarius  picticollis,  6,  15. 

uniappendiculatus,  6,  15,  238. 

westermani,  238. 

Cathartes  atratus,  244,  274. 

aura,  206. 

Cathartidce,  199,  211,  242,  388,  434,  435. 
Oatocala  fraxini,  294. 

paranympha,  31. 

Cebus,  119,  123. 

Cebus  apella,  120,  121,  123. 

capucinus,  1 13,  119,  120,  121. 

Cecomorpbae,  371. 

Centropus,  453,  454,  455,  462,  463,  464, 

473,  474,  475,  477. 
Centropus  phasianus,  40,  194. 

rufipennis,  153,  194. 

Cepbalopterus,  138,  149. 
Ceratorbinus  sumatrensis,  170-172. 
Cercocebus  albigena,  474. 

fuliginosus,  474. 

Cercopithecus  cynosurus  475. 

griseo-viridis,  475. 

mona,  454,  462. 

sabseus,  457. 

Cereopsis,  354. 
Certbia  sanguinolenta,  71. 
Certhiidje,  361. 
Certbiola  chloropyga,  255. 
Certbiparus,  359,  363. 
Cervicapra  bobor,  458. 
Cervulus,  313. 
Cervus,  315. 
Ceryle,  463,  472. 
Ceryle  americana,  270. 

gigantea,  467,  468,  471,  473. 

maxima,  467. 

rudis,  455,  466,  468. 

Cetonia,  464. 

Cetonia  aurata,  1. 

Ceyx,  441,  442. 

Chsetura,  133. 

Chalcopsitta,  70. 

Cbalcopsitta  rubiginosa,  22. 

Cbalcosia,  452. 

Cbamsea,  359. 

Cbamseidse,  3. 

Chamaeleon  senegalensis,  477. 

Cbamaepelia  griseola,  276. 

talpacoti,  276. 

Cbaradriidse,  221,  223,  226,  229,  442. 
Cbaradriiformes,  212,  224. 
Cbaradriomorpbae,  221. 
Cbaradrius,  442. 
Cbauna,  12,  164,  197,  201,  205. 
2l 


482 


INDEX. 


Chauna  derblana,  6,  8,  197,  205. 
Chenalopex,  456,  461,  475. 
Chionididaj,  221. 
Chionis  alba,  226. 
Chionobas,  104. 
Chionobas  aello,  103. 
Chiropotes,  123. 
Chiroxiphia  pareola,  266. 
Chloronerpes  affinis,  270. 
Chlorophoiiia,  136. 
Chlorophonia  viridis,  136. 
Choloepus,  308. 
Cholornis,  441,  442. 
Cholornis  paradoxa,  442. 
Chordata,  281. 

Chrysobronchus  virescens,  270. 
Chrysococcyx,  6,  155,  457,  461,  463. 
Chrysolampis  moschitus,  270. 
Chrysoinela  alpina,  34. 

cerealis,  2. 

marginata,  2. 

menthrasti,  2. 

Chrysomitris  yarrelli,  261. 
Cbrysothrix,  123. 
Chrysotis,  98. 
Chrysotis  sestiva,  247,  278. 
Chunga,  415. 
Ciconia  alba,  6. 

boysiana,  6. 

episcopus,  458,  475. 

nigra,  412. 

Ciconiidse,  343,  434,  435. 

Ciconiiformes,  212,  373,  435. 

Cidaria  bilineata,  32. 

caesiata,  32. 

ferrugata,  32. 

flavicinctata,  32. 

variata,  32. 

verberata,  32, 

Cidaris,  204. 

Cidaris  goliath,  204. 

Cinixye,  452, 477. 

Cinnyris  eques,  71. 

rubrater,  71. 

Cissomela,  72. 

Cissopis  leveriana,  6,  137. 

Citta  thalassina,  6. 

Cittura,  346. 

Clarias,  469. 

Climacteris,  359. 

Clitonyx,  358,  363. 

Coccygomorphaj,  6,  164,  283,  284. 

Ccenonympha  arcania,  169. 

. pampbilue,  31. 


Ccenonympha  satyrion,  103,  169. 
Coereba,  136. 
Coereba  cyanea,  255. 
Colias  edusa,  29,  167. 

hyale,  29. 

Coliidse,  207,  212,  353. 
Coliopasser,  463. 
Colius,  469,  470,  472. 
Colius  castanonotus,  6. 
Colluricincla  rufigaster,  37. 
Columba  livia,  5,  12. 

picazuro,  276. 

rufina,  246,  276. 

speciosa,  246. 

Columbse,  6,  164,  204,  221. 
Columbidse,  191,  211,221. 
Colymbidse,  335,  372,  396. 
Colymbus  torquatus,  442. 
Conopophaga,  217,  218,  219,  241. 
Conopophaga  aurita,  217,  267. 

lineata,  217,  219,  267. 

melanops,  217. 

Conopophagidse,  217,  219. 
ConopophaginEe,  217. 
Conurus  cactorum,  272. 

jendaya,  272. 

Cookilaria,  369. 

Coracias  garrula,  151,  153. 

indica,  151. 

Coraciida,  154,  157,  159,  202,  204,  212, 

284. 

Coracopsis,  96,  97, 99. 
Coracopsis  mascarina,  98. 

nigra,  98. 

Corrus  curvirostris,  454,  461. 

monedula,  5. 

Corydon,  214. 

Corydon  suraatranu8,  138,  143. 

Corythaix,  473. 

Corythaix  erytbrolopha,  194,  195. 

persa,  194. 

porphyreolopha,  194. 

Corythopsis,  217. 
Corythornis,  458,  466. 
Corythornis  caeruleocephala,  467. 
Cosmeteira,  71,  73. 
Cossus  ligniperda,  31. 
Cossypha,  465,  470,  472. 
Cossypha  albicapilla,  469. 

yerticalis,  476. 

Cotingidae,    144,    147,    148,    208,    209, 

362. 

Coturniculus  manimbe,  261. 
Coturnix  com  munis,  5. 


INDEX. 


483 


Cracidae,  342. 
Cractieus,  359. 
Crambus  culmellus,  32. 

geniculeus,  32. 

perlellus,  32. 

tristellus,  32. 

Craspedophora  magnifica,  38. 
Crax  alberti,  342. 

alector,  342. 

caruuculata,  342. 

daubentoni,  342. 

globicera,  342. 

incommoda,  342. 

sclateri,  6,  342. 

Creadion,  359. 

Crex,  221. 

Criniger  gularis,  468,  469. 

Crithagra,  471,  472. 

Crithagra  chrysopyga,  455,  469. 

Crocodilus  acutus,  455. 

Crotalus  horridus,  276. 

Crotophaga  ani,  271. 

sulcirostris,  200. 

Crypturi,  202. 
Crypturus,  333. 
Crypturus  noctivagus,  279. 

talampa,  6,  278. 

Cuculidse,  11,  154,  156,  157,  159,  208,  211 

212,  415. 
Cuculinge,  207. 
Cuculus  canorus,  6,  153,  154. 

cineraceus,  40. 

Cursoriua,  207,  221,  442. 
Cursorius  gallicus,  226. 
Cuscus,  181,  188. 
Cuscus  maculatus,  180. 
Cyanalcyon  macleayi,  36. 
Cyanopica  cooki,  243. 
Cyanorhamphus,  63,  66. 
Cyanorhamphus  auriceps,  66. 

novae-zealandiae,  66. 

Cyclanosteus,  438,  475,  476,  477. 

Cycloccela,  164. 

Cyclopsitta,  132,  133. 

Cyclorhis  albiventris,  254. 

Cycloturus,  301,  309. 

Cygnidse,  343. 

Cygnus  americanus,  344. 

atratus,  344. 

bewicki,  344. 

buccinator,  344. 

coscoroba,  344. 

ferus,  343,  344. 

iminutabilis,  344. 


CygnuB  nigricollis,  344. 

olor,  6,  12,  16,  344. 

Cymbirhynchus,  139,  140,  141,  218,  362. 
Cymbirhynchus  macro rhynch us,  138-142. 
Cyraochorea,  366,  369,  374,  378-381,  390, 

393,  399,  405,  415,  416,  423,  424,  428, 

430,  431. 
Cymochorea    leucorrhoa,   230,    365,    387, 

401,  413,  419,  426. 

monorhia,  387. 

Cynocephalus,  119. 
Cynocephalus  anubis,  471. 

sphinx,  457. 

Oypseliformes,  211,  212,  353. 
Cypseloides,  194. 
Cypselomorphae,  164. 
Oypselus,  194. 
Cypselus  abyssinicus,  463. 
apus,  448. 


D. 


Dacelo,  199. 
Dacelo  cervina,  194. 

gigantea,  6,  11,  194. 

Dacnis  cayana,  255. 

plumbea,  255. 

Danais,  473. 

Daplidice,  29. 

Daption,  368,  369,  371,  378,  382,  383,  384, 

392,401,415,431. 

Daption  capensis,  379,  387,  413,  419,426. 
Darter,  216. 
Dasypodidae,  305. 
Dasyptilus,  205. 
Dasypus,  303. 
Dasyuridse,  186. 
Dendrocolaptes,  219. 
Dendrocolaptidae,  146,  335. 
Dendrocygna,  461. 
Depressaria  hoyden  i,  32. 
Desmodactyli,  148. 
Desmognatha?,  350,  371. 
Diasemia  litterata,  32. 
Dicaeum  hirundinaceum,  39. 
Dicrurus,  472,  476. 
Didunculus,  335. 
Dilophus,  144. 
Diodon,  477. 

Diomedea,  231,  367,368,  370. 
Diomedea  brachyura,  360,  365,  376,  377, 

378,  380,  387,  389,  410,  412,  413,  415, 

419,  426. 

2l2 


484 


INDEX. 


Diomedea  chlororhynchus,  371,  379. 

derogata,  412. 

exulans,  360,  365,  370,  372,  375-378, 

380,  383,  387,  410,  411,  413,  414,  419, 

420,  426. 

fuliginosa,  369. 

nigripes,  412. 

Diomedein*,  284,  392,  393,  395,  423,  424, 

429,  442. 

Diplopterus  naevius,  272. 
Donacobius  atricapillus,  253. 
Drepanis,  73. 
Dromseus,  236. 

Dromseus  novae-hollandiae,  6,  14,  238. 
Dromas,  221. 
Dromas  ardeola,  226. 
Dromicia,  188. 
Dromicia  nana  (?),  180. 
Drymceca,  451,  458,  459,  460,  461,  463, 

464,  469,  474,  475,  477. 
Dryocopus  major,  324. 

medius,  324. 

minor,  324. 

Dulus,  359. 
Dysporomorph.ee,  434. 


E. 

Eclectic,  19-25. 
Eclectus  cardinalis,  19,  25. 

corneliae,  19,  25. 

grandis,  19,  25. 

intermedius,  19. 

linnsei,  19. 

polychlorus,  19,  25. 

westermanni,  19,  25. 

Edentata,  304. 
Elainea  pagaua,  264.] 
Elaphodus,  313. 

Elephas,  308. 

Elephas  africanus,  46-62. 

indicus,  55,  62. 

Eleutherodactyli,  148. 

Eleutherodactylous  Passeres,  282. 

Elminia,  458,  460. 

Elminia  longicauda,  472. 

Emberiza,  465. 

Emberiza  forbesi,  458. 

Emblema  rufopicta,  468. 

Entomyza,  359. 

Eos,  70. 

Eos  rubra,  69. 


Ephemera,  294, 

Epomophorus,  467,  468,  473,  474. 
Erebia,  104. 
Erebia  asthiops,  31. 

ceto,  102. 

epiphron,  102,  169. 

euryale,  103,  169. 

evias,  169. 

glacialis,  103. 

lappona,  103. 

ligea,  31,  103. 

medusa,  169. 

melampus,  169. 

nerine,  30. 

pronoe,  30. 

stygne,  30. 

tyndarus,  104. 

Erebia;,  33. 

Erismatura  rubida,  355. 
Erismaturinas,  355. 
Erodii,  164,  373. 
Erythrauchsena  humeralis,  41. 
Estrelda,  453,  454. 
Estrelda  cinerea,  469,  473. 

melpoda,  457,  458,  463,  473. 

minima,  457,  460. 

nigricollis,  457. 

phoenicotis,  458. 

rubropicta,  474. 

rufopicta,  460,  463. 

senegala,  457. 

subflava,  472. 

Eucephala  caerulea,  270. 
Euchloe  belia,  101 . 
Eudromias  morinellus,  226. 
Euelephas,  62. 
Eumomota,  350. 

Eupetes,  281. 

Eupetes  macrocercus,  331. 

Euphema,  63. 

Euphema  pulchella,  62,  63. 

Euphonia,  134-137. 

Euphonia  violacea,  135,  256. 

Eupithecia  euphrasiata,  32. 

Euplectes,  474. 

Euplectes  abyssinicus,  461. 

flammiceps,  454,  457. 

franciscanus,  455,  456,  457,  458,  462, 

469,  472. 

ignicolor,  467. 

macrocercus,  281. 

melanogaster,  462,  464. 

nigriTentris,  161. 

oryx,  454,  469. 


INDEX. 


485 


Euplocamus  cristatus,  6. 
Eupodotis,  193. 
Eupodotis  australis,  205. 

denhami,  162. 

Eurycreon  verticalis,  32. 

Eurykemidse,   3,  136-144,  148,  208,  209, 

214,  220. 

Eurylaemus,  282,  362. 
Eurylsemus  javanicus,  138. 

ochroraelas,  138-142. 

Eurypyga,  191,  223,  281,  331-335. 
Eurypyga  helias,  226. 
Eurypygidse,  191. 
Eurystomus  gularig,  152. 
Euscarthmus  gularis,  264. 


F. 


Falco  ruficollis,  468. 
Falconidse,  212,  388,  434. 
Falcunculus,  359. 
Felis  pardus,  127. 
Fluvicola  cliraacura,  244,  263. 
Formicariidse,  217. 
Formicarius,  219. 
Formicivora  grisea,  269. 

rufatra,  269. 

Foudia  erythrops,  468. 
Francolinus,  464. 
Francolinus  bicalcaratus,  6. 

vulgaris,  6. 

Fratercula  arctica,  393. 

Fregetta,  230,   231,   369,  373,   376,   377, 

388,  389,  393,  395,  415,  418,  420,  428. 
Fregetta  aquila,  243,  367. 

grallaria,  243,  365,  387,  413,  428. 

melanogaster,  365,  385,  389,  413,  419, 

426,  428. 

moestissima,  428. 

Fregilus  graculus,  6. 
Fringilla  nitens,  160. 
Fulica,  227. 
Fulica  atra,  5. 

rufigula,  6. 

Fulicariae,  221. 

Fuligula  rufma,  12. 

Fulinarese,  369,  371. 

Fulmaridaj,  230,  272,  373. 

Fulmarus,  367-369,  371,   372,  378,  383, 

384,  392,  397,  403,  404,  415,  416,  431. 
Fulmarus  glacialis,  365,  379,  386,  387,  402, 

413, 419,  426,  428. 
Furnariidae,  148. 


Furnarius,  191,  219. 
Furnarius  figulus,  267. 
rufua,  191,  192. 


Galbula  rufo-viridis,  271. 

Galbulidaj,  156,  200,  212,  284,  346,  347. 

Galliformes,  212. 

Gallinse,  6,  156, 190,  202,  208,  232,  385, 

397. 

Gallinago  frenata  (?),  278. 
Gallus  bankiva,  196,  199. 

domesticus,  5,  190. 

Gambetta  pulverulentus,  42. 
Gampsonyx  swainsoni,  274. 
Garrodia,  231,  373,  376,  389, 395, 399,  418, 

428. 

Garrodia  nereis,  365,  387,  413,  419, 426. 
Garrulax  chinensis,  6. 
Garrulus  brandti,  45. 

japonicus,  45. 

lidthi,  45. 

Gavise,  6. 

Gecinus  canus,  324. 

viridis,  324, 

Gecko,  458,  462. 
Geobiastes,  154,  159. 
Geobiastes  squamigera,  154. 
Geococcyx  affinis,  6. 
Geometer,  451. 
Geopelia  humeralis,  41. 

tranquilla,  41. 

Geopsittacus,  132. 
Geranoaetus  aquila,  6. 
Glareola,  207,  453. 
Glareola  cinerea,  454,  456,  461. 

pratincola,  226. 

Gnophos  dilucidaria,  32. 

glaucinaria,  32. 

obscuraria,  33. 

Goura,  12. 

Goura  coronata,  6. 

Gralke,  6,  164. 

Graucalus  hypoleucua,  36. 

Gruidse,  191,  223,  226. 

Grus,  12,  206. 

Grus  americana,  226,  344. 

antigone,  344. 

australasiana,  226,  344. 

canadensis,  344. 

carunculata,  6,  344. 

cinerea,  226. 


486 


INDEX. 


Grus  leucogeranos,  344. 
Guira  piririgua,  6,  271. 
Guiraca  cyanea,  259. 
Guttera  cristata,  343. 

eduardi,  343. 

pucherani,  343. 

Gymnoderus,  149. 
Gyparchus  papa,  6,  274. 
Gypohierax,  453,  462,  468,  475. 


H. 


Hadrostomus,  218- 
Hsematopus,  442. 
Hoematopus  ostralegus,  226. 
Halcyon,  164,  463,  465,  469. 
Halcyon  cinereifrons,  467. 

dryas,  468. 

macleayi,  36. 

rufiventris,  470,  473. 

senegalensis,  467,  468,  470,  471. 

Haliaetus,  475. 

Haliaetus  vocifer,  6,  454,  460,  468. 

Halicore,  207. 

Halobana,  369,  372,  379,  383,  481. 

Halobaena  caerulea,  379. 

Halocyptena,  369,  374,  381,  383,  387,  389, 

399,  418,  426,  431. 
Halocyptena  microsoma,  365. 
Haploophonas,  148. 
Harpactes,  349. 
Harpactes  reinwardti,  283. 
Helotarsus,  460. 
Hemipodius  melanonotus,  42. 

varius,  226. 

Herodiories,  6,  387,  434. 
Herpetotheres  cachinnans,  274,  279. 
Herpsilocbmus  p-'leatus,  269. 

sp.  inc.,  269. 

Hesperia,  473. 
Hesperia  comma,  31. 

. lineola,  169. 

thaumas,  169. 

Heteralocha,  204,  209. 
Heteralocha  gouldi,  204. 
Hiaticula  inornata,  42. 
Himantopus  nigricollis,  224. 
H'ppotragus  equinus,  460,  473. 
Hirundinea  bellicosa,  265. 
Hirundo,  457. 
Hirundo  leucorrhoa,  244,  254. 

melanocrissus,  463,  466. 

senegalensis,  455,  471. 


Hologyri,  164, 165. 
Homalogonatse,  201,  209. 
Hornceomeri,  148. 
Homopteron,  454,  471. 
Hoplopterus,  442,  463,  467. 
Hoplopterus  spinosus,  476. 
Hyaena  crocuta,  181. 
Hydradephaga,  294. 
Hydralector  cristata,  224. 

—  gallinacea,  228. 
Hydrophasianus  africanus,  222. 

chirurgus,  6,  221,  222,  224,  228. 

Hydropotes  inermis,  313-315. 
Hydropsalis  forcipata,  270. 
Hydrornis,  214. 
Hydrornis  natator,  370. 
Hylactes,  218,  219. 
Hylomanes  gularis,  346,  349. 
Hymenoptera,  294. 
Hyomoschus,  181. 
Hypena  obesalis,  32. 

obsitalis,  32. 

Hypergerus,  464,  465,  470,  473,  474,  476. 
Hyphantornis,  449,  453,  454,  460,  461, 

464. 
Hyphantornis  aurifrons,  454. 

brachypterus,  470. 

castaneo-fuscus,  455. 

luteus,  454. 

person  atus,  454,  461,  467,  469. 

-  textor,  455,  457,  458,  461,  463,  466. 
Hypochera,  457,  458,  463,  466. 
Hypochera  nigerrima,  160. 

nitens,  159. 

Hypsibamoninse,  144. 
Hypsiprymnus,  181. 


I. 


lanthoenas  leucolsema,  204. 
Ibidida,  335. 

Ibis,  191,  206,  463,  469,  473,  475. 
Ibis  sethiopicus,  474. 

falcinellus,  6. 

hagedash,  468. 

rubra,  6,  226. 

Icterus  chrysocephalus,  247. 

tibialis,  262. 

Indicator,  323,  325,  458. 
Indicator  major,  207. 
Indicatoridaj,  201. 
Irrisor,  469,  470. 
Irrisor  pusillus,  468. 


INDEX. 


487 


Irrisor  senegalensis,  470. 
Ispidina  cyanotis,  467. 
Ixos,  456,  458,  463,  466,  469. 


J. 


Jacamaralcyon,  441,  442. 


L. 

Lacerta,  468. 

Lacertilia,  440. 

Lagonosticta,  458,  461,  463. 

Lagopus  scoticus,  6. 

Lagostomus,  308. 

Lagothrix,  119,  122,  123,  247. 

Lagotbrix  humboldti,  113. 

Lagria  hirta,  1,  2. 

LamprocoliuS;  460. 

Lamprotreron  superbus,  41. 

Laniarius,  460,  468,  474,  476,  477. 

Laniarius  barbarus,  464,  465,  468,  473. 

Lanius  rutilans,  477. 

Laridffi,  164,  191,  225,  284,  335,  371,  372, 

373,  380,  415,  433. 
Larus,  13,  222. 
Larus  affinis,  448. 

argentatus,  190,  393. 

glaucus,  393. 

ridibundus,  6. 

Latbamus,  62-71. 
Latbamus  discolor,  65. 
Leistes  superciliaris,  262. 
Lepidoptera,  32,  166,  294. 
Leptasthenura,  191. 
Leptoptila  ochroptera,  277. 
Leptosoma,  333,  346. 
Leptosoraa  discolor,  149-159. 
Lestris,  367,  378. 
Leucopbasia  duponcbeli,  167. 

sinapis,  29,  101. 

Libellula,  294. 
Libytbea,  167. 
Libytbea  celtis,  168. 
Licmetis  tenuirostris,  205. 
Limenitis  Camilla,  30,  168. 

-  populi,  102,  168,  294. 

Sibylla,  294. 

Limicolse,  191,  206,  221,  222. 
Limnocorax,  468,  477. 
Limnocorax  flavirostris,  475. 

niger,  459. 

Limosa  melanura,  226. 


Lipaugus,  218. 

Lobivanellus  senegalensia,  457. 
Lophopsittacus,  98,  99. 
Lorius,  63,  70. 
Lorius  tibialis,  22. 

tricolor,  70. 

Loxia  tridactyla,  441. 
Loxodon,  62. 
Lucanus  cervus,  1. 
Lycsena,  473. 
Lycsena  alcon,  102,  168. 

argiades,  30. 

argus,  168. 

argyrotaxus,  30. 

arion,  102,  168. 

belargus,  30. 

corydon,  102. 

cyllarus,  168. 

damon,  102. 

eros,  168. 

escberi,  102,  168. 

eumedon,  168. 

bylas,  102,  168. 

icarus,  30,  168. 

minima,  102. 

orion,  168. 

sebrus,  168. 

semiargus,  102,  168. 

Lygris  populate,  32. 


M. 


Macacus,  119. 

Machetes  pugnax,  224,  226. 

Machetornis  rixosa,  264. 

Macrocercus,  281. 

Macrocbires,  212. 

Macrodipteryx,  472,  473,  474,  476. 

Macroglossa  stellatarum,  31. 

Macronyx,  476. 

Macronyx  croceus,  473. 

Majaqueus,  369,  371,  375,  376,  379,  380, 

381,  384,  388,  391,  392,  393,  395,  412, 

414,  415,  420,  423,  431,  432. 
Majaqueus  gequinoctialis,  365, 387, 413,  419, 

426. 

Malaconotus,  477. 
Manatus,  207. 
Manis  tridentata,  309. 
Mantis,  473. 
Manucodia  atra,  337,  338-344. 

chalybeata,  338,  341. 

gouldi,  37. 


488 


INDEX. 


Manucodia  jobiensis,  338,  341. 

keraudreni,  37. 

Mascarinus  duboisi,  96,  99. 

madagascariensis,  98. 

Megacephalon,  207. 
Megalasma,  6. 
Megalaema  asiatica,  200. 

franklini,  323. 

virens,  323. 

Megaloprepia  assimilis,  41. 
Megapodidaj,  207,  211. 
Megapodius,  35,  36. 
Megapodius  tumulus,  41. 
Melampitta,  149,  214. 
Melanargia  galathea,  30. 
Melapterurus,  468,  476. 
Meleagris  inexicana,  5,  6,  7. 
Melierax,  164,  472. 
Melitaea  athalia,  30,  102,  168. 

aurinia,  102. 

cinxia,  294. 

cynthia,  102. 

dejone,  166,  168. 

dictynna,  102,  168. 

didyma,  30,  102,  168. 

maturna,  294. 

parthenie,  30,  102,  168. 

phoebe,  168. 

Melopsittacus  undulatus,  62. 

Menopomas,  105. 

Menura,  144,  208,  209,  282,  358. 

Menura  superba,  332, 

Menuridae,  148. 

Mergus  albellus,  387. 

Meropidae,  212,  335,  346. 

Merops,  6,  11,  199,  351,  393,  461,464,  466, 

468. 
Merops  bullocki,  475. 

castus,  467. 

erythropterus,  467. 

nubicus,  464,  466,  468,  471. 

-        ornatus,  35. 

Mesites,  149,  191,  281,  331,  335. 

Mesites  unicolor,  226. 

variegatus,  331. 

Mesitidse,  226. 
Mesogyri,  164. 
Mesomyodi,  148,  209. 
Mesomyodian  Passeres,  360. 
Metopiana  peposaca,  203. 
Metopidius,  227,  228,  463. 
Metopidius  africanus,  220,  224,  227. 

albinucha,  224,  225,  226,  227,  228. 

indicug,  224,  226,  228. 


Microglossum  aterrimum,  40. 
Milium  effusum,  31. 
Milyus,  464. 
Milvus  parasiticus,  466. 
Mimeta  flavocinctus,  38. 

viridis,  38. 

Minoa  murinata,  32. 
Miro,  359,  363. 
Mitua,  342. 
Mitua  fcomentosa,  342. 

—  tuberosa,  342. 
Mohoua,  358. 

Molothrus  bonariensis,  262. 
Momotidse,    207,    212,    345,    348,    350, 

351. 

Momotinas,  345. 
Momotus,  199,  207,  211. 
Momotus  lessoni,  6,  346,  347. 
Monitor,  467. 
Monitor  ocellatus,  477. 
Morpho,  295. 
Moschus,  315. 
Motacilla,  453,  457,  458. 
Motacilla  longipes,  361. 

sulphurea,  448. 

Mus,  460. 
Musophaga,  469. 
Musophaga  violacea,  477. 
Musophagidee,  207,  208,  211,  212,  415. 
Mycetes,  117, 119,  122. 
Myelois  rosella,  32. 
Myiadestes,  359. 
Myiarchus  tyrannulus,  266. 
Myiobius  nsevius,  266. 
Myiochanes  cinereus,  266. 
Myiozetetes,  264. 
Myiozetetes  affinis,  266. 

similis,  265. 

Myrmecophaga  jubata,  296-311. 
Myrmormthinae,  144. 
Myzomela,  70-95. 
Myzomela  adolphinse,  74,  77,  94. 

-  boisei,  74,  77,  93,  94. 

caledonica,  74,  76,  94. 

cardinalis,  45,  74,  88,  94. 

chermesina,  44,  74,  90,  94. 

chloroptera,  74,  76,  93,  94. 

cruentata,  74,  86,  93,  94. 

eques,  73,  74,  83,  93,  94. 

-  erythrocephala,  74,  78,  93,  94. 
infuscata,  79. 

jugularis,  74,  80,  94. 

lafargii,  73,  74,  81,  94 

lifuensis?,  74,  89,  94. 


INDEX. 


489 


Myzoinela  nigra,  74,  91,  94. 

-  nigrita,  74,  82,  93,  94. 

nigriventris,  74,  87,  94. 

obscura,  39,  74,  84,  93,  94. 

pammelama,  74,  83,  93,  94. 

pectoralis,  74,  92,  94. 

pusilla,  92. 

rosenbergi,  74,  90,  94. 

rubratra,  74,  87,  94. 

rubro-brunnea,  74,  85,  94. 

—  rubrotincta,  73,  74,  85,  94. 

sanguinolenta,  71,  72,  74,  94. 

sclateri,  74,  81,  94. 

simplex,  74,  94. 

vulnerata,  74,  79,  93,  94. 


N. 


Nanodes,  62. 
Nasiterna,  131-133. 
Nasiterna  pusio,  131. 

—  pygmasa,  132. 
Nasute,  230,  372. 
Necrepsittacus,  99. 

Nectarinia,  451,  455,  4G3,  466,  469,  470, 

471. 
Nectarinia  australis,  40. 

frenata,  40. 

pulchella,  458,  463. 

Nectariniidse,  145,  335. 
Nectris,  369. 

Nemeobius  lucina,  168,  294. 
Nemosia  fulvescens,  258. 

—  pileata,  258. 
Neoclrepanis,  145. 
Neophron,  457,  458,  463. 
Neophron  percnopterus,  243. 

-  pileatus,  455,  466. 
Neotropical  Mesomyodi,  362. 
Nepa,  294. 
Neptis,  167. 
Neptis  lucilla,  168. 
Nesocichla,  359. 
Nesospiza,  359. 
Nestor,  164,  205. 
Ninox  boobook,  35. 
Nisoniades  tages,  103. 
Noctua,  455. 
Noctuae,  464. 
Normales,  148. 
Nothocrax  urumutum,  343. 
Notonecta,  294. 
Numeniua  arquatus,  224,  226. 


Nuraenius  phseopus,  226. 
Numeria  capreolaria,  32. 
Numida  meleagris,  343. 

initrata,  343. 

-  ptilorhyncha,  343. 

rendaUi,  459. 

Numididse,  343. 
Nyctibius,  443. 
Nycticorax,  468,  474. 
Nycticorax  europaeus,  475. 
Nyctipithecus,  122. 
Nyctipithecus  rufipes,  1 13. 
vociferans,  113. 


O. 


Oceanites,  230,  231,  369, 372, 373, 376,  395, 

417,  420,  428,  448,  449. 
Oceanites    oceanicus,  230,  231,  365,   367, 

381,  387,  413,  419,  426. 
Oceanitidse,  231,  264,  373,  374,  376,  377, 

380,  381,  383,  386,  394,  395,  396,  414, 

417,  420,  422,  424,  426,  428,  435. 
Oceanodroma,  369. 
Ochthodromus  inornatus,  42. 
Ocydromus,  12,  227. 
Ocydromus  australis,  6. 
Odontophorus  guianensis,  6. 
(Edicnemidae,  221. 
(Edicnemididae,  442. 
(Edicnemus,  13,  191,  195,  466,  467,  472. 
(Edicnemus  crepitans,  6. 
OEneis  aello,  169. 
(Estrelata,  369,  370,  371,  381,  383,  384, 

391,  415,  420. 
OEstrelata  brevirostris,  365,  391,  408. 

bulweri,  371. 

fuliginosa,  371. 

grisea,  413,  426. 

-  lessoni,  365,  380,  387,  391,  393,  408, 

410,  413. 

mollis,  365. 

sp.  inc.,  365. 

(Estrelateae,  369,  392. 
(Estrelatinae,  373. 
Opisthocomus,  157,  208. 
Orchesticus  ater,  259. 
—  capistratus,  258. 
Oriolus,  466. 
Oriolus  flavocinctus,  38. 

galbula,  6. 

Tiridis,  38. 


490 


INDEX. 


Ortalis,  342. 

Ortalis  albiyentris,  277,  342. 

garrula,  342. 

motmot,  342. 

Orthocoela,  164,  165. 
Ortholitta  bipunctaria,  32. 

limitata,  32. 

Orthonyx,  149,  214,  357,  359. 
Orthonyx  ochrocephala,  357,  358. 

spinicauda,  357,  358. 

Ortygospiza,  458. 
Ortyx  virginian  us,  6. 
Orycteropus,  302. 
Oryzoborus  maximiliani,  259. 

torridus,  259. 

Oscines,  341. 

Ossifraga,  368,  369, 371,  377,  380,  383,  392, 

397,  402,  414,  415,  417,  423,  431. 
Ossifraga  gigaiitea,  365,  369,  379, 385,  387, 

404,  413,  419,  426. 
Osteoglossum,  472,  473,  474. 
Otaria  gillespii,  316-322. 

jubata,  316,  317-322. 

stelleri,  316. 

Otididae,  205,  209,  442. 
Otis,  12,  190. 
Otis  tarda,  6,  205,  356. 
Ouakaria,  123. 
Ouakaria  calva,  125. 

calvus,  124. 

melanocephala,  124. 

rubicunda,  1 25. 

—  spixii,  117, 124. 
Oxylophus,  465. 
Oxylopbus  ater,  464. 
Oxyrhamphus,  149. 
Oxyrhynchus,  219. 


P. 


Pachycephala  flarifrons,  43. 

icteroides,  43. 

sp.,  35,  36. 

Pachyrhamphus  atricapillus,  267. 
Pagodroma,  369,  372,  377,  384,  392,  400, 

401,  415,  431. 

Pagodroma  nivea,  365,  402. 
Paictidae,  3. 
Paixis  galatea,  342. 
Palaeno,  29. 
Palseornis,  97,  99,  205,  469. 


Palamedeas,  6,  206. 

Palarnedeidae,  197,  205. 

Paludina,  461. 

Papilio,  451,  452. 

Papilio  machaon,  29,  101,  294. 

merope,  455. 

podalirius,  29,  167. 

Paradisea  papuana,  337. 

rubra,  337. 

Pararge  achine,  169. 

• segeria,  31. 

hiera,  31,  103. 

janira,  31. 

maera,  103,  169. 

tithonus,  31. 

Parnassius,  104,  167. 
Parnassius  apollo,  29,  101,  167. 

delius,  101. 

mnemosyne,  101. 

Paroaria,  260. 
Paroaria  larvata,  261. 
Parra,  227,  466. 
Parra  aenea,  221. 

africana,  221. 

gymnostoma,  224,  228. 

jacana,  220-229,  278. 

sinensis,  221. 

Parridse,  191,  220,  221,  224,  226,  229. 

Passer,  463,  465,  470. 

Passer  simplex,  457,  458. 

Passeres,  3,  6,  11,  13,  148,  164,  198,  208r 

212,  213,  218,  345,  358,  362. 
Passeriformes,  211,  212,  353. 
Passerinas,  217. 
Pauxis,  342. 

Pedionomus  torquatus,  446. 
Pelagodroma,  230,  231,  369,  373,  376,  379, 

380,  389,  395,  402,  428. 
Pelagodroma  marina,  365,  387,  413,  426. 
Pelargi,  164,  373. 
Pelargornorpb.83,  434. 
Pelecanidae,  434. 
Pelecanoides,  194,  212,  360,  364,  368,  375, 

378-380,  383,  385,  389,  393,  395,  396, 

399,  414,  415,  417,  418,  420,  421,  423, 

429,  430,  442. 
Pelecanoides  urinatrix,  365,  366,  373,  387, 

413,  419,  426. 
Pelecanoidinae,  284. 
Pelecanus,  206,  328,  388. 
Pempelia  semirubella,  32. 
Penelope  cristata,  342. 

jacucaca,  342. 

pileata,  342. 


INDEX. 


491 


Penelope  purpurascens,  342. 

superciliaris,  277. 

Peristera  afra,  467. 

Petaurus,  183. 

Petroeca,  359. 

Petrogale,  181. 

Pezoporus,  63,  132. 

Phaenorhiua  goliath,  386. 

Pbaeornis,  359. 

Phaethon,  388,  421. 

Phainopepla,  359. 

Pbalacrocorax,  11,  193,  327,  356,  421,  434. 

Phalacrocorax  africanus,  468. 

brasiliensis,  6. 

carbo,  6 

Phalangista,  177,  181,  186,  188. 
Pbalangista  vulpina,  180. 
Pbalangistidaa,  184,  188. 
Pbalangistinae,  188. 
Pbaps,  12. 

Pbaps  chalcoptera,  6. 
Pbaromacrus  mocinus,  283. 
Pbascolarctinae,  188. 
Pbascolarctos  cinereus,  173-186. 
Pbascolomyinae,  188. 
Pbascolomys,  177,  181,  183,  187,  188. 
Pbascolomys  wombat,  180,  183. 
Pbasianidje,  343. 
Pbasianus  parraka,  342. 
Pbiledon,  144. 
Philemon  buceroides,  39. 
Pbilepitta,  144-149,  214,  362. 
Pbilepitta  castanea,  145. 

paictes,  144. 

Philepittidae,  362. 

Pbilbydrida,  294. 

Pbkeocryptes,  191. 

Pbabetria,  360,  377,  379,  384,  411. 

Phoebetria  fuliginosa,  360,  365,  366,  371, 

377,  395,  413,  416,  429. 
Phoenicocercus,  149. 
Pbcenicopterus,  164,  193,  383. 
Pbonygama  gouldi,  337,  338-344. 

keraudreni,  338,  339,  341. 

Pbryganidae,  294. 
Phylidonyris,  71. 
Pbyllomyias  semifusca,  2(54. 
Pbylloscopus,  465,  466,  476. 
Pbysalise,  243. 
Pbytotoma,  149. 
Pbytotoma  tridactyla,  441. 
Piaya  cayana,  272. 
Pici,  164,  325. 
Picidffi,  156,  201,  207,  212,  324. 


Piciformes,  211,  212,  353, 

Picoides,  360,  441,  442. 

Picus,  457. 

Picus  martins,  324. 

Pieris,  455. 

Pieris  brassicae,  29. 

-  callidice,  101. 

-  napi,  29,  33,  101,  167. 

—  rapae,  29. 

Pinarolestes  megarhynchus,  37. 
rufigaster,  37. 

Pionea  forficalis,  32. 
Pionus  corallinus,  99. 

violaceus,  6. 

Pipile  cujubi,  343. 

cumanensis,  342. 

jacutinga,  342. 

Pipra  rubricapilla,  266. 

Pipridse,  144,  147,  148,  208,  209,  219,  345, 

362. 

Pipridea  melanonota,  137. 
Pipro-Cotingidaj,  218. 
Pitangus  sulphuratus,  265,  266. 
Pitbecia,  119,  123. 
Pithecia  alba,  125. 

calva,  125. 

cbiropotes,  123. 

melanocephala,  124. 

monacbus,  113,  115,  119,  121. 

rubicunda,  125. 

—  satanas,  107,  111,  116,  121,  122,  312. 
Pitta,  146,  209,  362. 

Pitta  cyanura,  146. 

melanocepbala,  146. 

Pittidae,  3,  148,  209,  362. 
Pitylus  fuliginosus,  137. 
Plagioccela,  164,  165. 
Platalea,  191,  206,  476. 
Platalea  ajaja,  203,  226. 

—  leucorodia,  26,  226,  343. 
Plataleae,  335. 

Plataleidae,  191,  221,  225,  226. 
Platycercidse,  205. 
Platycercus,  63,  66,  68,  70. 
Platycercus  exirnius,  66. 

icterotis,  6,  10.  11. 

pennantii,  66. 

venustus,  62. 

Platy cerium,  455. 
Platystira,  456,  458,  471,  477. 
Platystira  melanoptera,  474. 
Plectropterus,  456,  458,  461,  468. 
Ploceus,  468,  471,  472,  474. 
Ploceus  brachypterus,  474,  476. 


492 


INDEX. 


Ploceus  textor,  475. 

Plotus,  13,  164,  193,  206,  388,  421,  454, 

456,  461,  462,  468. 
Plotus  anhinga,  3,  12,  206,  326,  327,  387. 

levaillanti,  206,  326,  327. 

melanogaster,  326,  330,  454. 

novae-hollandise,  328. 

Plusia  gamma,  31. 

triplasia,  31. 

Pluviales,  222,  224,  225,  281. 
Pluvianus,  457,  461,  465,  466. 
Pluvianus  asgyptiacus,  454. 
Podargus,  284,  333. 
Podargus  cuvieri,  6. 

papuensis,  35. 

Podica,  471. 

Podiceps,  417. 

Podicipitidse,  372. 

Poeocephalus,  99,  459,  464,  469,  470. 

Pceocephalus  rufiventris,  469. 

Poeoptera,  458. 

Pogonias,  454,  458,  473. 

Pogonorhynchus  abyssinicus,  441. 

Polioptila  leucogastra,  253. 

Polyborus  tharus,  274. 

Polychlorus,  19. 

Polygyri,  164. 

Polyodon,  105. 

Polyodon  folium,  105. 

gladius,  105. 

Polyommatus  alciphron,  168. 

argus,  102. 

dorilis,  29,  101,  168. 

eumedon,  102. 

—  hippotboe,  101,  168. 

phlceas,  29. 

virgaureje,  29,  33,  101,  168. 

Polypterus,  470,  471,  472,  473. 
Pomarea,  359. 

Porphyrio,  12,  221,  227,  461. 
Porphyrio  alleni,  6. 

martinicus.  6. 

poliocephalus,  6. 

Porzana  notata,  222. 
Pratincola,  453,  474. 
Priocella  garnoti,  368. 
Priodontes,  245. 
Priofinus  sequinoctialis,  368. 

arcticus,  368. 

cinereus,  368. 

Prion,  368,  369,  372,  375,  379,  384,  389, 

404,  415,  417. 

Prion  banksi,  365,  382,  387,  389,  393. 
deeolatus,  365,  382,  387,  413,  419. 


Prion  vittatus,   365,  370,  373,   400,  402, 

413. 

Prioneae,  369. 
Prionops,  465. 
Procellaria,  335,  366,  367,  369,  372,  374, 

378,  379,  381,  389,  390,  394,  404,  405, 
415,  416,  418,  420,  423,  424,  428,  430. 

Procellaria  albogularis,  428. 

antarctica,  368. 

brevirostris,  368. 

desolata,  368. 

fregata,  230,  373. 

gigas,  370. 

baesitata,  368. 

lessoni,  368. 

nereis,  373. 

nivea,  368. 

pelagica,  229,  231,  243,  365,  367,  377, 

379,  387,  413,  426. 
Procellarieaj,  369,  372. 
Procellariida),  203,  229,  231,  236,  284,  370, 

371,  373,  395,  396,  414,  422,  425,  426, 

435. 

Procellariinae,  284,  425,  430. 
Procnias,  137. 
Progne,  455. 
Progyri,  164. 
Protopterus,  468. 
Psarisomus,  139. 
Psarisomus  dalbouaiae,  139. 
Psephotus,  63,  70. 
Psephotus  basmatonotus,  66,  69. 
Pseudoprion,  369,  382. 
Psittacarae,  63. 
Psittacella,  133. 
Psittaci,  6,  65,  164,  204. 
Psittacidas,  156,  211. 
Psittacula,  133. 
Psittacula  passerina,  261,  273. 
Psittacus,  96,  97,  99,  456. 
Psittacus  discolor,  62. 

erithacus,  6,  454. 

mascarinus,  98. 

obscurus,  98. 

Psittinus,  132. 

Psodos,  33. 

Ptencedus,  359. 

Pterocles,  12,  476,  477. 

Pterocles  arenarius,  6. 

Pteroclidaj,  148,  191,  204,  221,  335. 

Pterodroma,  369. 

Pteroglossus  wiedi,  6,  323. 

Pteroptochidaj,  220. 

Pteroptochus,  219. 


INDEX. 


493 


Pteroptochus  albicollis,  218. 
Ptilochloris,  149. 
Ptilogonys,  359. 
Ptilopus,  204,  325. 
Ptilopus  superbus,  35,  41. 
Ptilorhis  alberti,  38,  337,  340. 

magnificus,  38. 

paradisea,  337. 

Ptilorhynchus  smithi,  337. 

violaceus,  337. 

Ptilotis  chrysotis,  39. 

filigera,  39. 

lewinii,  39. 

Pudua,  315. 

Puffinejc,  369,  392. 

Puffinuria,  231. 

Puffinus,  335,  367,  368,  369,  370,  371,  372, 

375,  381,  391,  393,  395,  406,  414,  415, 

420,  423,  424,  431,  432,  448. 
Puffinus  anglorum,  368,  387,  413,  418,  419, 

426. 
brevicauda,  365,  384,  387,  391,  406, 

408,  413. 

chlororhynchus,  373. 

cinereus,  370. 

fuliginosus,  368. 

major,  369. 

obscurus,  368,  375, 379,  384,  387, 391, 

408,  413,  419. 
Pygopodes,  6,  163. 
Pyralides,  33. 

Pyranga  erythromelsena,  137. 
Pyrenestes  ostrinus,  469. 
Pyrrhulopsis  personata,  66. 

splendens,  6,  66. 

Pytelia,  458. 

Pytelia  cinereigula,  161. 

citerior,  161. 

melba,  161. 

wieneri,  161. 

Python  bivittatus,  285,  292. 

molurus,  285-289,  292. 

,  285,  292. 


Q. 

Quedius  dilatatus,  46. 
Querula,  149. 


Rallidffi,  164,  206,  220,  222,  224,  225. 


Rallus,  221. 

Rallus  aquaticus,  221,  225. 

longirostris,  277. 

nigricans,  277. 

pectoralis,  35,  43. 

Raptatores,  373. 
Raptores,  164. 
Rasores,  164. 
Ratitse,  163,  236,  241. 
Recurvirostra  avocetta,  226. 
Rhamphastidae,  11,  201. 
Rhamphastinae,  208. 
Rhamphastos,  208,  323. 
Rhamphastos  ariel,  6. 

carinatus,  323. 

cuvieri,  323. 

dicolorus,  323,  324. 

vitellinus,  323. 

Rhamphoccelus  brasilius,  137,  245,  257. 

jacapa,  137. 

Rhea,  10,  15,  16,  232,  338,  341,  360. 
Rhea  americana,  5,  6,  14,  238,  239,  241, 

280. 
macrorhyncha,  238,  241,  245,  251, 

279. 

Rheid®,  442. 

Rhinoceros  indicus,  171,  172. 
Rhinochetidse,  191,  221,  226. 
Rhinochetus,  281,  331-335. 
Rhinochetus  jubatus,  226. 
Rhodocera  rhamni,  29. 
Rhodonessa  caryophyllacea,  203. 
Rhodopyga  rhodopsis,  457. 
Rhopalocera,  167. 
Rhynchaea  australis,  342. 

capensis,  342. 

Rhynchops,  454,  461. 
Rhynchotus  rufescens,  6,  279. 
Rimator,  359. 
Rissa,  442,  476. 
Rivula  sericealis,  32. 
Rupicola,  144, 147,  148. 
Rupicola  crocea,  194. 
Ruticilla,  460. 


S. 

Saltator  magnus,  137,  255. 
Samia  cecropia,  294. 

gloveri,  294. 

Sarcidiornis  carunculata,  275. 
melanonota,  203,  275. 


494 


INDEX. 


Sasia,  442. 

Satyrus  actsea,  31,  103,  169. 

alcyone,  169. 

circe,  31. 

dryas,  31. 

hermione,  31,  103. 

semele,  31,  169. 

Saxicola,  458. 
Scaphirhynchus,  105. 
Scardafella  squamosa,  276. 
Schizognathae,  284. 
Schizorhis,  466,  467,  471. 
Schizorhis  africana,  194. 

concolor,  462. 

Sclerurus,  191. 

Scolopacidsa,  221,  342. 

Scolopacinae,  221. 

Scopus,  388,  434,  435,  452,  474,  475,  476, 

477. 

Scotopelia,  467,  477. 
Scotornis  climacurus,  474. 
Scytalopodinse,  144. 
Scytalopus  indigoticus,  218. 
Selenidera  maculirostris,  323. 
Seleucides  nigra,  335-337. 
Sericoris  conchana,  32. 
Serilophus  rubropygius,  139. 
Serpentarius,  12-16. 
Serpentarius  reptiliyorus,  6. 
Serpophaga  subcristata,  264. 
Sieboldia,  105. 
Simla  melanocephala,  124. 
Siphonorhis,  433. 
Sitta,  361. 
Sitta  chloris,  361. 
Sittella,  359,  361. 
Spermestes  cucullatus,  454,  456,  457,  458, 

460. 

seinitorquatus,  463. 

senegalensis,  463. 

Spermophila  gutturalis,  260. 

hypoleuca,  260. 

nigro-aurantia,  259. 

plumbea,  260. 

Spermophilae,  260. 
Sphecotheres  flaviventris,  38. 
Spheniscidge,  372. 
Sphenostoma,  359. 
Sphenura,  359. 
Sphinx  convolvuli,  31,  448. 
Spiloglaux  marmoratus,  35. 
Spilothyrus  alcese,  31. 

althsese,  169. 

lavatere,  169. 


Spizaetus  coronatus,  6 . 

occipital  is,  467,  470. 

Staphylinus  fulvipes,  46. 
Steatornis,  204,  212,  346,  349,  443. 
Steganopodes,  6,  11,   164,   194,  202,  284, 

373,  434. 

Stelgidopteryx  ruficollis,  255. 
Sterna,  222,  461. 
Sterna  caspia,  451. 

melanotis,  451,  452. 

Strepsilas  interpres,  35,  42. 

Strigidse,  212. 

Stringops,  11,  132,  195. 

Stringops  habroptilus,  6. 

Strix  flammea,  6,  274. 

Struthidea,  3. 

Struthio,  199,  203,  230,  234,  237,  241,  386, 

443. 

Struthio  camelus,  6,  14,  232,  233. 
Struthiones,  6,  15,  209. 
Sula,  388,  421. 
Sula  bassana,  6,  11,  328,  449. 

leucogastra,  328. 

piscator,  328. 

Sycahs,  260. 

Sycalis  flaveola,  261,  273. 

Sycobius,  455. 

Syma,  346. 

Synallaxis,  191. 

Synallaxis  albescens,  268. 

cinnamomea,  268. 

frontalis,  268. 

Synoecus  cervinus,  35,  42. 
Syricthus  alveus,  31,  103,  169. 

cacalias,  103. 

carthami,  103,  169. 

—  proto,  36. 

sao,  103,  169. 

Syrrhaptes,  442,  443. 


T. 

Tachyphonus  coronatus,  137,  258. 

cristatus,  137. 

melaleucus,  134,  136,  137. 

Tadorna  rutila,  6,  12. 
Talegalla  lathami,  42. 
Taraandua,  181,  298,  299,  301,  302,  309, 

311. 

Tamandua  tetradactyla,  304,  312. 
Tanagra,  136. 
Tanagra  abbas,  137. 
cana,  256. 


INDEX. 


495 


Tanagra  episcopus,  137. 

olivina,  259. 

ornata,  137. 

palmarum,  137,  257. 

sayaca,  137,  256. 

vittata,  137. 

Tantalus,  335. 
Tantalus  ibis,  203,  343. 

leucocephalus,  343. 

loculator,  203,  343. 

Tanygnathus,  96,  99. 

Tanygnathus  muelleri,  6. 

Tanysiptera,  346. 

Tapirus,  181. 

Taxaspideae,  144. 

Tchitrea,  460,  467,  474,  476,  477. 

Telephonus,  454. 

Telogyri,  164. 

Terias,  455. 

Tetrao  urogallus,  6,  7,  343. 

Tetrapteryx  paradisea,  344. 

Tetrax,  360. 

Thalassiarche,  378,  380,  384,  429. 

Thalassiarche  chlororhyncha,  415. 

culminata,  360,  365,  376,  377,  379, 

410,  413,  415. 

melanophrys,  413,  419,  420,  426. 

Thalassidroma,  368,  369. 
Thalassidroma  fregetta,  368. 

leacbii,  368. 

lineata,  428. 

marina,  368. 

nereis,  229. 

oceanica,  368,  369,  373. 

pelagica,  368. 

segethi,  428. 

Thalassidrominse,  211,  373. 

Tbalassceca,  369,  383,  392,  397,  402,  403, 

404,  415,  421,  431. 
Thalassceca  glacialoides,  365,  366,  368,  384, 

387,  388,  413,  419,  426,  432. 
Tbamnobia  frontalis,  460. 
Thamnophilinae,  144. 
Tbamnopbilus,  218. 
Tbamnopbilus  palliatus,  268,  269. 

—  torquatus,  269. 
Tbecla  ilicis,  168. 

rubi,  101,  168. 

Thiellus,  369. 

Tbinocoridae,  207. 

Thinocorus,  207,  221,  224,  225,  443. 

Tbinocorus  dorbignyanus,  226. 

rumicivorus,  226. 

Tiga,  360. 


Timandra  ornata,  32. 

Timarcha  coriaria,  1. 

Timelia,  460,  464,  469. 

Timeliidae,  282. 

Tinarai,  6,  13. 

Tinamidae,  442. 

Tityra,  218. 

Toccus,  456,  462,  471. 

Toccus  poecilorhynchus,  470,  476,  477. 

semifasciatus,  470. 

sp.  nov.,  470. 

Todida>,  207,  345-353. 
Todirbamphus  sanctus,  35,  36. 
Todirostrum  cinereum,  264. 
Todus  dominicensis,  345,  347,  349. 

—  viridis,  345,  347,  349. 
Totanus  calidris,  224. 

griseopygius,  42. 

hypoleucus,  451. 

incanus,  35,  42. 

Tracbeopbonae,  148,  149,  219. 
Tragelapbus,  460,  475. 
Tragelapbus  scriptus,  459,  460. 
Treron,  204,  453,  463,  465. 
Trieboglossinae,  67. 
Trichoglossus,  63,  70. 
Trichoglossus  concinnus,  67. 

mitchelli,  22. 

multicolor,  4] . 

swainsonii,  41. 

Trichopborus,  465,  466. 
Tricbotbraupis  quadricolor,  137. 
Trigonocepbalus  brasiliensis,  249. 
Tringa  canutus,  226. 

cinclus,  226. 

Troglodytes  furvus,  254. 
Trogon  atricollis,  283. 

caligatus,  283. 

mexicanus,  283. 

puella,  254,  283. 

reinwardti,  283. 

Trogonidaa,  199,  212,  282. 
Tropidonotus,  477. 
Tropidorbyncbus  buceroides,  39. 
Tubinares,  164,  212,  231,  234,  363-440. 
Turdus,  472. 
Turdus  fumigatus,  252. 

merula,  5. 

musicus,  253. 

pelios,  473,  477. 

rufiventris,  253. 

Turnicidaj,  191,  221,  226,  442. 
Turnix,  444-446,  475. 
Turnix  castanonota,  446. 


496 


INDEX. 


Turnix  dussumieri,  446. 

lathami,  42. 

lepurana,  226. 

melanogaster,  445. 

melanonota,  42,  445. 

pyrrhothorax,  446. 

rufescens,  445. 

rufilatus,  446. 

saturata,  445. 

scintillans,  445. 

tanki,  446. 

varia,  445. 

velox,  446. 

Turtur,  457,  460,  465. 
Turtur  auritus,  5. 

semitorquatus,  461. 

senegalensis,  457,  461,  464. 

vinacea,  463. 

Tyrannidse,  147,  148,  209,  217,  219,  345, 

362. 
Tyrannus  melancholicus,  266. 


U. 

Upupa,  282. 

Upupidse,  204,  212. 

Urania,  295. 

Uria,  417,  418. 

Uria  troile,  7,  9,  13. 

Uriidse,  371. 

TJrobrachya  macroura,  457,  458,  460. 


V. 


Vanellus  cayennensis,  203. 


Vanellus  cristatus  (?),  226. 
Vanessa  antiopa,  30. 

—  atalanta,  30. 

c-album,  30. 

cardui,  30. 

io,  30. 

Vidua  hypocherina,  160. 

—  macrocerca,  454. 
nigerrima,  160. 

principalis,    159,  160,  451,  453,  458, 

461. 

splendens,  159,  160. 

superciliosa,  160. 

Viverra,  473. 
Viverra  civetta,  473. 
Volatinia  jacarina,  260. 


X. 

Xantholsema  rosea,  323. 
Xenicidse,  360-363. 
Xenicus,  360-363. 
Xenicus  longipes,  360,  361. 
Xenorhynchus,  386,  462,  475. 
Xenorhynchus  australis,  6. 
Xerus,  474. 


Z. 

Zalophus  calif ornianus,  316. 
Zonotrichia  pileata,  250,  261. 
Zosterops,  476. 
Zosterops  luteus,  35,  40. 
Zygsena  filipendulse,  31. 


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