352 Transactions. — Zoology. 



In conclusion, I may add that Mr. Beddard, Prosector tO' 

 the Zoological Society (through Sir W. Buller's courtesy), 

 examined a female supposed hybrid, satisfying himself of its 

 being a true fowl ; his (and my old) colleague, Mr. A. D. 

 Bartlett, the Superintendent of the Gardens, from casual 

 inspection of its outward aspect, inclining to regard it as a 

 hen of the Silky Fowl breed. Thus, independently, we three 

 observers have arrived at a nearly similar view respecting a. 

 male and female of the supposed hybrid fowl and weka rail ; 

 and, from the anatomical evidence instituted, the question, I 

 should say, may be regarded as finally settled. 



DESCEIPTION OF THE PLATES. 

 Plate XXI. 



Fig. 1. Sketch of the supposititious hybrid between the domestic fowl 

 and the weka rail [Ocydromus grcyi, Buller). The attitude 

 here given and the general aspect of the plumage are ideally 

 drawn according to the description of the bird's carriage, as 

 given by Sir Walter Buller and his correspondents. 



Fig. 2. Part of its right lower leg and hind-toe, showing the spur and the 

 scaly covering. Natural size. 



Fig. 3. A back view of the skull, natural size, of the same bird, to illus- 

 trate the vertically high-shaped occipital foramen. (Compare 

 Darwin's figure of that of the Cochin cock, " Animals and 

 Plants under Domestication," vol. i., p. 261.) 



Fig. 4. A side view of the same skull. Also natural size. 



Fig. 5. A corresponding side view of the skull of the southern weka rail 

 {Ocydromus australis). Natural size. 



Plate XXII. 

 Figs. 1 and 2. Upper and lower surface of the skull of the supposed hybrid 



fowl. Natural size. 

 Figs. 3 and 4. Similar views of the cranium of Ocydromus mtstralis, for 



comparison with the preceding figures. Also natural size. 

 Fig. 5. Reduced drawing of the exterior of portion of the digestive organs 



of the suggested hybrid : ce, oesophagus ; c, crop ; ^J, proventri- 



culus ; ij, gizzard ; i, intestine. 



Plate XXIII. 

 Fig. 1. Tail-vertebra> of the supposed hybrid in side view. Natural size. 

 Fig. 2. The same parts in Ocydromus australis. Also natural size. 

 Fig. 3. Outside view of the lower mandible of the assumed hybrid. 



Natural size. 

 Fig. 4. Similar aspect of the lower mandible of CJ.f«(s^rrtJis. Natural size. 

 Fig. 5. Upper view of the lower mandible of the supposed hybrid. 



Natural size. 

 Fig. G. Corresponding bone of Ocydromus. Also of natural size. 

 Fig. 7. Upper surface of the tongue-bones and cartilaginous appendages 



of the 2H«si-hybrid. Natural size. 

 Fig. 8. Same parts in O. australis. Natural size. 

 Fig. 9. Right tarso-metatarse and foot of supposed hybrid fowl, in front 



view, showing scutellation, &c. Half natural size. 

 Fig. 10. Corresponding parts in O. australis. Natural size. 

 Fig. 11. Anterior view of the tibial cnemial process and upper end of 



right tibia of the so-called hybrid. 

 Fig. 12. The corresponding bone in 0. australis. 



