446 Mr. W. P. Pycraft on the Pterylography S$c. 



Acrotarsium. — This is covered by three large shields ; of 

 these the proximal is of great size ; beneath these are two 

 small scutes 'which overlap the bases of the toes. 



Planta. — The planta is covered by one great shield, 

 laterally compressed to form a sharp keel along the outer 

 border of the planta. 



The hallux is of great size, much longer than the front 

 toes. The middle and outer toes (text-fig. 30, p. 445), it is 

 to be noted, are united at their bases, so that the foot may 

 •well be described as syndactyle. 



Comparative Remarks. 



The pterylological characters of P. apoda and P. minor 

 are practically identical ; but before any result of real value 

 on this subject can be obtained, a large series of specimens 

 of these and other species and genera must be examined. 



I have been able to examine only a single specimen of each 

 of Ptilorhis paradisea and Manucodia comrii, and (among the 

 supposed allies of the Paradise-Birds) of Ptilonorhynchus 

 violaceus and Sericulus melinus. 



Ptilorhis is characterized by a rhombic saddle to the pteryla 

 spinalis and a long, narrow, outer branch to the pt. ventralis, 

 barely diverging from the inner branch at its extreme 

 end. In Manucodia the saddle is spindle-shaped, and the 

 free end of the outer branch of the pteryla ventralis is, 

 though narrow, wider than in Ptilorhis and more distinct 

 therefrom. 



Ptilonorhynchus and Sericulus differ from the Birds-of- 

 Paradise in that the saddle of the spinal tract encloses a 

 space as in the Corvidse. The ventral tract has the outer 

 branch narrow and well separated from the inner. 



Dr. C. G. Giebel, in 1877 *, contributed a few short notes 

 on the subject of the pterylosis of the Birds-of-Paradise, 

 based, however, upon an examination of skins only. His 

 observations, therefore, are necessarily of no great value. 

 He accompanied his remarks with small diagrams of the 



* Giebel, Zeitschr. f. ges. Naturwissensch. xlix. 1877, p. 143. 



