68 Appendix. 



windpipe ; insignificant in size ; quite lateral, and terminating by being inserted into the middle 

 of the outer surface of the second bronchial semi-ring of each side. 



Fitta cyamura differs from P. amjolensis only in detail, not in plan of conformation. There 

 are four instead of two syringeal bronchial semi-rings, to the middle of the last of which the 

 single extremely feeble lateral muscle is attached on each side. In it also the last two tracheal 

 rings, and not the last only, are incomplete behind, the last presenting a greater gap than the 

 one above it. This syrinx is figured in Plate VIII, figs. 8-10. 



Pitta is therefore mesomyodiau, in which respect it differs from all the known Old-World 

 Passeres except the Eurylaemidae — although Philepitta, with its lengthy first primary, is most 

 probably the same in this respect. 



The syrinx of Coracina scutata has been described by Professor H. Burmeister', and in Plate 

 VIII, figs. 6 and 7, his figures are reproduced. The organ is mesomyodian and different from 

 that of any known bird, more resembling that of Gymnocephalus calvus than any other. The 

 lowermost tracheal ring blends in the middle line behind with the one next above it, whilst in front 

 it sends down a median process to the topmost bronchial rings which fuse at the point of junction, 

 althou'^h they are independent of one another posteriorly. The second bronchial semi-rings are 

 strong, as are the topmost ; broad at their outer margins and directed downwards at their 

 anterior ends to meet a peculiar process which is directed upwards from the upper edge of the 

 middle of the anterior surface of each of the third bronchial serai-rings. The fourth and the fifth 

 bronchial semi-rings are stronger than is usually the case, and the true normal bronchus begins 

 below them. There is a single pair of narrow lateral muscles which are inserted into the middles 

 of the fifth bronchial semi-rings. 



Among Tracheophone and other Mesomyodian Passeres the syrinx in the following genera 

 and species has been described by myself alone. 



Hylactes megapodius.—ln this species the syrinx is not identical with any of those described 

 by J. Miiller. It does not differ much from those of Scylalopus indiyoticus and Chamaeza hrevicauda 

 in its essential structure. By Miiller, however, no mention is made of a peculiarity which I find 

 in this species, which seems to me to throw some light upon the method of development of the 

 tracheophone syrinx. This consists in the way in which the characteristic very slender rings 

 of the specialised voice-organ, instead of ceasing abruptly at its upper end, continue upwards on 

 the antei-ior sui-face of the trachea for a considerable distance, whilst posteriorly they suddenly 

 change their breadth superiorly where the syrinx ceases. Figures 4 and 5, Plate VIII, represent 

 the anterior and posterior views of the organ. 



The processus vocaks, which rest on the first and second modified and ossified bronchial 

 semi-rings, extend up as far as the tracheal true ring, twelfth from the bottom. These twelve 

 lowermost tracheal rings are incomplete opposite the processus vocales (in other words, at their 

 sides), as they are in all the Tracheophonae ; and the lowest is also broken, as it were, in the 

 middle line behind. 



Posteriorly the lower nine are extremely slender ; the tenth (counting upwards) is somewhat 



' Abhaiid'.ung der NaturfoisclienJen Gescllschaft zu Halle, 1S5G, p. 205. 



