BT DR. THOMAS DIXON. 115 



sequence. Eeputed Ecbolics are numerous, but the only good 

 ones known are Claviceps purpurea (Ergot of rye), and Ustilago 

 maidis (smut of corn). These are low vegetable growths ; 

 investigation would probably show that this Ecbolic property is 

 a characteristic of this coniomycetous group, as are the 

 physiological jjroperties of other plants and groups. 



The bark probably is an astringent of little value, since we 

 have many such of much more pronounced qualities, — and, 

 moreover, mere astringency is a property less and less estimated 

 in medicine as science advances. 



Note ox the Anatomy of two rare genera of Pigeons 

 By William A. Haswell, M.A., B.Sc. 



JEdirhinus insolitus. 



The genus JEdirhinus is distinguished among the fruit-eating 

 pigeons by the possession of a bony excrescence on the nasal and 

 frontal regions of the skull, very much resembling that occurring 

 in certain varieties of the domestic fowl. An examination of its 

 anatomy, however, shews that in all other respects this rare 

 pigeon is a very near ally of the genus Ptilopus. As in the latter 

 genus there is no gall-bladder the amhiens muscle is absent and 

 the gizzard has a cruciform lumen in transverse section owing to 

 the development of four muscular masses. One point hitherto 

 unnoticed in the myology of Ptilopus is likewise shared by 

 u^dirliinus. In a previous note on the myological characters of 

 the Columhce published in the proceedings of this Society, (Vol. 

 iv., p. 306, 1879), I gave as one of the peculiarities of the 

 muscular system in the Pigeons the absence of a posterior belly 

 of the latissimus dorsi. At that time I had only had the 

 opportunity of examining members of the subfamilies Columhince 

 and Phapince of Garrod, and in these this modification of the 



