46 Mr. T. C. Eyton's Notes on Birds. 



sign, by which it would seem that, in pursuit of aquatic insects, 

 on which they subsist, along the surface of waters, they be- 

 come the better marks for Kingfishers, Skimmers, Terns, and 

 other birds which are destined to keep the number of fishes 

 in check, especially in deep waters beyond the reach of the 

 Waders*. 



[To be continued.] 



VIII.— Notes on Birds. By T. C. Eyton, Esq., F.L.S. 



No. IV. 



Psophodes Crepitans, Vig. and Horsf. 

 Tongue nearly the same as in Menura Lyra. Trachea largest at the 

 upper extremity, but gradually contracted towards the inferior 

 larynx ; the tube bound firmly down in the angle made by the rami 

 of the os furcatum. The inferior larynx furnished with five pairs of 

 muscles of voice, as among the Crows and Warblers ; the sterno-tra- 

 cheales weak, the other pairs of muscles connected with the trachea 

 moderately developed. (Esophagus of moderate size, largest at the 

 upper extremity, narrowed near the middle, and again slightly swell- 

 ing above the proventriculus, which is of moderate size. Gizzard 

 filled with the remains of insects, muscular, and of moderate size. 

 Intestinal canal of large diameter in proportion to the size of the 

 bird, largest a little below the duodenum ; rectum short, about 

 equal in diameter to the duodenum ; caeca rudimentary ; cloaca 

 rather large. 



Length of intestinal canal from stomach to cloaca 9^ inches. 

 Length of rectum 1^ inch. Sternum rather elongated, and straight 

 on the posterior margin between the fissures, which are two in 

 number, one situated near each lateral margin, nearly closed poste- 

 riorly, deep, oval, and large. Keel shallow, nearly straight on its 

 inferior edge, traversed by raised bony ridges as in Menura ; the an- 

 terior edge of the keel and the manubrial process also resemble in 

 shape those portions in the above-named genus. 



Os furcatum long, without any process at the point where it joins 

 the sternum ; the rami rounded, and bending slightly inwards, so as 

 to approach each other near the middle ; coracoids, pelvis, ribs, sca- 

 pula, and caudal vertebrae also as in Menura. The numbering of the 

 vertebrae is 



Cer. 11 ; Dor. 7 ; Sac. 11 ; Caud. 6 ; Ribs 8, 5 true, 3 false. 



Remarks. — In the structure of the soft parts and tongue 

 Psophodes comes very near to Menura ; the trachea however 

 differs in not having the muscles of voice so strong, and in 

 their being disposed as among the Warblers and Thrushes. 

 Menura and Psophodes also agree in the form and length of the 

 coracoids, scapula, and ribs, showing in these parts an affi- 

 nity to Scansores, though not so strongly marked as in Me- 



* See remarks on P. perseus in a subsequent part of this paper. 



