Prof. Reinhardt's Remarks on the Genus Balseniceps. 1 73 



clearly the result to which the examination of its external 

 characters had led; and, in the author's opinion, this bird, 

 together with Scopus, forms a small separate group among the 

 Storks {Ciconime), to which perhaps Anastomus might be added. 



Postscript. — During the interval which has elapsed between 

 the presentation and the printing of the above notice, the author 

 has received some new information respecting the structure of 

 Balaniceps, which induces him to add two further observations. 



The August number of the ' Annals and Magazine of Natural 

 History ' has brought him a report of the proceedings at the 

 Zoological Society's Meeting of the 26th of March, 1861, con- 

 taining a short commuuication from Mr. Bartlett on a new in- 

 vestigation of the bird in question, which he had had the 

 opportunity of instituting after the last of the Balcenicipites 

 sent to the Zoological Gardens had died. 



The most important discovery which Mr. Bartlett has made 

 on this occasion is, that over the loins there is a large powder- 

 down patch, or, it may be said, two patches united posteriorly *, 

 which he had not before noticed when examining the living bird. 

 But this patch is the only one that exists. Neither on the breast 

 nor on the groin is there a trace of one, and so far his former 

 statement is corroborated. That such a powder-down patch is 

 a curious anomaly in a Stork, and a surprising approximation 

 to the Herons, cannot be denied ; and Mr. Bartlett does not 

 hesitate to see in its existence a decisive proof that BaJcenicejjs 

 must accordingly be reckoned among these last. The author, 

 however, cannot attach so great an importance to the powder- 

 down patch. It does not seem to him admissible that it should 

 weigh more than the pervading affinity to Scopus and the Storks, 

 which in so many ways otherwise shows itself in Balaniceps. 

 Nor is it without moment that the patch discovered is precisely 

 that which is occasionally found out of the Heron group, while 

 there is no trace of the breast or groin patches which are ex- 

 clusively peculiar thereto. Mr. Bartlett seems to doubt the 



* Mr. Bartlett in his notice says there are "two large, well-defined 

 powder-down patches" {I.e. p. 187); but the woodcut annexed presents 

 the appearance spoken of above. 



