THE 



ZOOLOGICAL JOURNAL. 



April'-July, 1828. 



Art. I. Observations on JRhmopomastiis of Dr. Smith, a new 

 Genus among the Promeropidce, By Sir W. Jar dink, 

 Bart,, F, R, S. E., F. L, S,, M. W, S., Sfc. 



This new form,- which Dr. Smith has lately placed in the South 

 African Museum as the t3^e of a separate genus, was sent to me a few 

 months since for examination by that zealous Naturalist. In the notes 

 remitted with the collection which accompanied it, the characters upon 

 which the generic distinctions will rest are merely mentioned, and I am 

 therefore now induced to make them out at more length, and to offer 

 them for the use of the Zoological Journal. 



The species from which Dr. Smith has formed his genus is the only 

 one he has yet met with; and three specimens only have been seen by 

 him. The last procured was remitted to myself, and from it the repre- 

 sentations of the characters for the accompanying plate have been taken. 

 It must be placed among the Promeropidce, and would formerly have 

 made part of the Prcmerops of Brisson ; differing essentially, however, in 

 the curious and I believe peculiar structure of the nostrils, which, in ad- 

 dition to the usual membrane that covers those of a similar formation, are 

 again protected by an incumbent scale, or operculum, which nearly con- 

 ceals the opening. The true membrane also is detached, and the nostrils 

 are quite pervious, while in Promerops they are at once pierced in the 

 substance of the bill, and have no covering membrane. The bill will 

 form the character of next importance; in Dr. Smith's genus it is slender 



Vol. IV. /B 



