G38 



SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1884. 



iu comparison with that retained by Dr. Coues, which essentially ex- 

 pressed the previous views of American naturalists. 



I. ALLIN^. 



1. Alle. 



II. ALCIN^. 



(Alcew.) 



2. Plautus. 



3. Alca. 

 ( Urice.) 



4. Uria. 



III. PHALERIN^. 



{Geppheoe.) 



5. Cepphus. 

 {Brachyramphcce. ) 



6. Brachyramphus. 



7. Synthliboramphus. 

 {Plialerece.) 



8. Ciceroiiia. ^ 



9. Phaleris. I 



10. Simorhynchus. i 



11. Cyclorhynchus. \ 



12. Ptychoramphus. 



13. Cerorhyncha. 



IV. FRATERCULIN^. 



14. Fratercula. 



15. Lunda. 



II. ALCIN^. 



6. Alle. 



12. Alca. 



11. Utamania. 



10. Lomvia. 



9. Uria. 



8. Brachyrhamplius. 

 7. Synthliborhamphus. 



1. PHALERIDINJE. 



4. Simorhynchus. 



5. Ptychorhamphus. 

 3. Ceratorhina. 



1. Fratercula. 



2. Lunda. 



Miocene Tertiari/ Indian Birds. — The Tertiary beds of India, belonging 

 to the series of Siwalik beds (so called on account of their being devel- 

 oped in the Siwalik Hills), have furnished numerous remains of mam- 

 mals, which have been the subject of various elaborate monographs. 

 The bones of birds bave also been found in considerable numbers, but 

 have not been investigated until lately. Mr. Eobert Lydekker has re- 

 cently applied himself to the determination of the relationships of these 

 remains, and has been able to j^rove to his satisfaction that the bones 

 belonged to species of Pelecanus, Phalucrocoax, Leptoptilus^ Mergus^ 

 StrutJiio, and Dromceus, or at least very closely related genera. The 

 most interesting is the so-called Dromceus. Tbis form, called Droimcus 

 iivalensis, has been based upon four phalangeal bones; which so closely 

 resemble those of the living Dromceus or emu as to leave little doubt in 

 his mind that they belonged to at least a nearly allied genus of the class, 

 although perhaps generically separable*. {Ibis (5), iii, p. 107.) 



Shedding of Claws in Birds. — Long ago Prof. Sveu Nilsson, who re- 

 ieutly died at a very advanced age, called alteution to tbe fact tliat 

 n certain species of grouse the claws were periodically shed, but bis 



