Mr, A, Tulk on the Anatomy of Phalangium Opilio. 243 



or suctorial birds ; but the latter are distinguished by the length 

 of the tongue no less than by that of the beak, and this arrange^ 

 ment cannot therefore be called a natural one. Baron de la Fres- 

 naye, while retaining both Irrisor and Upupa among the Tenui- 

 rostres, connects the latter with Upucerthia and its allied genera 

 [CinclodeSj Geositta, Limnornis and Furnarius), But these last 

 are merely a subfamily of the great S. American family Certhiidce, 

 modified in accordance with their terrestrial habits, and the re- 

 semblance which they bear to Upupa is very remote, and seems 

 to be one of analogy only. 



Where then are the Upupidce to be placed ? This question can- 

 not I think be answered satisfactorily till more facts are collected 

 respecting the food, habits and anatomy of this group and of 

 others with which it may be compared. It may however be con- 

 jectured that they are allied in one direction by means of Epima» 

 chus or Astrapia to the Paradiseidce, and in another by Merops to 

 the AlcedinidcB, as shown in ' Ann, Nat. Hist.,^ vol. vi. plate 8, 

 and as originally suggested by Mr. Vigors in ' Linn. Trans.,^ 

 vol. xiv. p. 466. In a third direction they are perhaps connected 

 through Lamprotornis with the Corvida. 



XXX.-^^Upon the Anatomy o/ Phalangium Opilio (Latr.). 

 By Alfred Tulk, M.R.C.S., M.E.S. 



[Continued from p. 165.] 



[With a Plate.] 



Internal Anatomy. — Muscular System. — As might be antici- 

 pated from the disproportionate length and slenderness of the 

 extremities, as contrasted with the body in Phalangium, and that 

 the latter is elevated and balanced between them during rapid 

 flight, when the creature has often to make its way over an irre- 

 gular surface of stones and herbage, the muscles required for 

 such exertious are of large size, and constitute by far the most 

 important portion of the class of organs to which they belong. 

 They consist of numerous strong fasciculi, which arise from the 

 interior of the coxal joints, and pass forwards, filling up the latter 

 cavities almost completely, and are inserted into the trochanter. 

 The transverse striae upon them are remarkably distinct and well- 

 defined, and the ultimate fibrils of considerable size, as both the 

 one and the other may be seen under a magnifying power of be- 

 tween thirty and forty linear. The sarcolemma investing them 

 may be also perceived, either raised occasionally from their sur- 

 face, or connecting their extremities when torn across. The suc- 

 ceeding joints of the legs are too small to admit of the precise 

 distribution of the flexors and extensors being traced, but by sepa- 



