SYRINX 939 



are attached to the dorsal and some to the ventral ends, those ends 

 being, so to say, equally treated ; this form comprises the SUB- 

 osciNES (p. 921) and Oscines; and 



(2) Passeres anisomyodi, in which the muscles are unequally 

 inserted, either in the middle, or upon only one or the other, 

 dorsal or ventral, end of the semirings ; this form comprises the 

 SuBCLAMATORES (p. 921) and Clamatores. 



In this way we can arrive at a natural classification of the 

 Passeres, and avoid the obviously illogical shortcomings which result 

 from attempts to sort them into two groups by the application of 

 two distinct taxonomic principles, one being the number of the 

 muscles and the other the mode of their insertion, in addition to 

 the over-estimate of the tracheophonous type. 



The following list shews the number of muscles attached to the 

 lower end of the Trachea or to the Syrinx (except the tracheo- 

 clavicular and sterno-tracheal muscles) in various groups of Birds. 



I. Trachea and Syrinx devoid of muscles : — Casuarius, Dromseus, 

 Apteryx, Struthio, most Steganopodes, Ciconiidx, Gathartidse and some 

 Gallinse. This is not a primitive feature, but one brought about 

 by loss. 



II. One pair of muscles inserted on the distal end of the 

 Trachea : — Anseres, with Palamedea, Scopus, Limosa, most Gallinse, 

 Colmnhge, Pteroclidx, Opisthocomus, Bhamphastidse, Bucconidse, Momo- 

 tidx, Todidse, Cypselus, some Pteroptochidse and Formicariidse. 



III. One pair of tracheo-bronchial muscles, arising mostly from 

 the Trachea and attached to one or more of the bronchial semirings : 

 — Bhea, Sphenisci, Colymbus, Podicipedidx, Phalacrocorax, Tuhinares, 

 Ardeidse,Phcenicopterus, Ealli, Grues, Limicolse, Laridse, Alcidx, Mega- 

 cephahn, Lophortyx, most Falconidse, Cuculidse, Coraciid^, Upupidm, 

 GoUidse, some TrocJiilidx, Pici, Capitonidse, Todidse, Striges, Caprimulgi, 

 some Pteroptochidse and Formicariidse, Conopophagidse, Gotingidse, Pittidse, 

 Philepittidde, Eitrylscmidse, various Pipridm and Tyrannidx. 



IV. Two pairs of short tracheo-bronchial muscles : — Gallinago 

 cselestis, Falco, some Trochilidx, various Pipridse and Tyrannidse, 

 Dendrocolaptidse and Furnariidse, and Atrichornis — the last having 

 one pair inserted dorsally and the other ventrally, and being there- 

 fore diacromyodian. 



V. Three pairs : — Psittaci, with tracheal and tracheo-bronchial 

 muscles ; Menura and Poodytcs} with two dorsal and one ventral 

 tracheo-bronchials. 



VI. Four pairs or more : — Grallina, with two dorsals and two 

 \-entrals ; Prosthematodera, with two or three dorsals and two venti'als. 



^ This is the Sphenmcicus of Gould and other writers ; but the type of that 

 genus is a South- African species which I can scarcely believe to be nearly allied; 

 1 have therefore adopted the generic name which applies to the Australian form. 

 The species I examined seems to be P. galactodes. 



