266 Dr. J. Murie on the Genus Colius. 



that, according to the natives, several birds lay their eggs in one 

 nest — a remarkable circumstance, if true. Mr. William Jesse, 

 who accompanied the Abyssinian expedition, and whose speci- 

 mens have been described by Dr. Otto Finsch, notes (/. c.) that the 

 contents of the stomach are chiefly fruit and berries, but in one 

 specimen mimosa-seeds were found. The latter fact is at variance 

 with Levaillant's observations. 



II. Pterylosis and points of interior Organization. 



Nitzsch*, above all others a most skilled observer of plumage, 

 says that Colius "has a remarkable arrangement of the feathers, 

 and can only be compared in this respect with Buceros." 



He ranges it under his group of Amphibolse, in which Corythaix 

 and Musophaga precede and Opisthocomus follow. From the first 

 two of these it is distinguished by the stems of the inferior tract 

 being dilated, and no diverging outer branch ; from the third by 

 its dorsal tract being dilated on all sides and sparsely feathered. 



The rectrices are 10, the two outermost exceedingly small ; 

 remiges 19, ten inserted on the pinion, 5th longest, the first four 

 graduated. 



According to Johannes Miillert, Co/?v/s has a simple thick vocal 

 muscle; Corythaix has no muscle to the inferior larynx. Owen's 

 notes on the Purple-crested Touraco [C. porphyreolopha, Vig.)J 

 and my own observations coincide. 



The tongue is said to be flat and cartilaginous, with horny 

 papill8e§, therefore differing alike from the Musophagidse and 

 the Finches. 



Of the stomach, Riippell says, it is of a semimuscular kind. 

 AVhether cseca are present or absent in the intestines has not been 

 recorded, so far as my search amongst the literature extends. 



III. Description of the Skeleton or C. kucotis, Riipp. 

 1. Bones of the Chest. — In proportion to the size of the bird, 



* Pterylograpliie, Engl. Trans. Ray Soc. 1867, p. 107. 



t Bericht d. Akad. d. Wiss. zu Berlin, 1841, p. 179. Miiller's Archiv, 

 1842, p. 11 ; and Abliand. d. Kcinigl. Akad. Berlin, 1845-47, p. .330 &c., 

 pi. v. figs. 9 to 12. 



X P. Z. S. 1834, p. 4. § Riippell, Monog. already quoted, p. 41. 



