174 Prof. Reinhardt's Remarks on the Genus Balseniceps. 



correctness of Nitzscli's assertion that such loin patches some- 

 times appear in other birds besides the Herons. But there is 

 no reason whatever for such a doubt ; and had he only examined 

 some of the birds which Nitzsch names, as Nauclerus furcatus, 

 FJanus melanojjterus, and the species of Circus, he would certainly 

 have easily found them, for they are indeed large enough. At 

 all events Mr. Bartlett^s discovery does not prove any very great 

 approximation to Cancroma. On the contrary, if Balaniceps 

 should really be referi-ed to the Herons, there is not one of them 

 from which it should not be further removed than from that genus, 

 in regard to the powder-down patches. For, besides the three 

 pairs known previously in Cana'oma, Mr. Bartlett has discovered 

 a fourth pair, placed between the shoulders, and overlooked by 

 Nitzsch. That this interesting observation is quite correct, I have 

 had the opportunity of ascertaining for myself in several skins of 

 this bird. Nor should it be forgotten that, though powder-down 

 patches certainly form a very important pterylographic distinction 

 between the Herons and the Storks, yet they are not the only one. 

 Independently of them, from the pterylosis of Balaniceps there 

 can be unquestionably deduced either one or the other opinion. 

 It is therefore much to be regretted that Mr. Bartlett says 

 nothing else about the position of the feathers, and so does not 

 appear to have profited by the excellent opportunity he had of 

 becoming acquainted with it. 



Setting aside the degree of importance to be attached to the ob- 

 servation consequent on the discovery of the loin patch in Balani- 

 cepsjthere has been really proved, as above admitted, an approxima- 

 tion between that bird and the Herons ; but otherwise the author 

 has found nothing whatever in Mr. Bartlett^s notice which can 

 be said to be demonstrated. It is certainly asserted that Bala- 

 niceps, in regard to its intestines, agrees generally with the 

 Herons : " the stomach, liver, intestines, &c., of the two birds 

 appeared exactly to correspond in structure and arrangement." 

 But that this rather vague statement, enunciated as a gene- 

 rality, should be taken according to the strict sense of the 

 words, can hardly have been Mr. Bartlett's intention; for in 

 order to be invested with any especial force of proof, it ought 

 to have been declared as well, whether Scopus and the Storks 



