of the Island of Formosa. 369 



of shells. Layers of fat over the abdomen. Trachea simple, 

 with close-set rings. 



(2.) J. Testes small and dark. Proventriculus long and 

 thickly granulated. Stomach large and soft, nearly empty, con- 

 taining remains similar to (1). Both birds were shot at noon, and 

 had digested all the morning meal. Caeca small and roundish, 

 about -4 in. long, and placed about. 3 in. from anus. Trachea 

 similar to that of (1). 



(3.) $. Ovary moderately developed. Stomach nearly empty, 

 containing one sea-weed ovule, two small empty bivalve mollusks, 

 and a few fragments of shell. Trachea as in (2) and (1). 



(4.) s • Testes large, about '7 in. long, and oval. Stomach 

 only containing bits of the elytra of the salt-water Dytiscus. 

 This and (3) were also shot about noon. The trachea of this old 

 male is convoluted. After entering the thorax, it turns upwards 

 sharply, runs parallel to the neck and its main length for 

 3 inches, bends upwards and runs again towards the thorax, 

 passes the first convolution, and terminates in the bronchial 

 tubes. The almost uniform width of the trachea is about "5 in., 

 the rings being entire and set far apart. The trachea of the 

 female (3) is of the same width, but the rings are much 

 narrower and more closely set. The bronchial tubes of the 

 female are shorter, weaker, and narrower. 



This peculiar formation of the trachea may be peculiar to 

 the mature male, but we have not sufficient grounds for coming 

 to that conclusion. 



The sternum of the Platalea appears to bear a closer relation 

 to those of Nwnenius and the Totani than it does to that of 

 the ArdeidcB, having two open foramina on each side. The 

 sternum of the female (1) is larger than that of the male (2), 

 with the anterior edge of the keel more advancing ; the foramina 

 are more deeply cleft, the scapulars shorter, and its whole 

 structure weaker than in that of the male, which, though 

 smaller in stature, has a robuster body. 



The sternum of the female (3) has a deeper and more rounded 

 keel than that of the old male (4). Its foramina are wider, but 

 not so deeply cleft. It is shorter in entire length. The 

 scapulars are broader and slightly longer. The coracoids are 



