1894. 



PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



303 



Gerthiola has no crop, Coereba has a well marked crop-like dilatation 

 of the oesophagus, and Glossoptila has a good-sized crop. The stomach 

 is small in Certhiola, a little larger in Glossoptila, and largest in Careba 

 ccerulea. In all, the intestine is long and slender. There are many con- 

 volutions in Gerthiola^ comparatively few in Coereba., while Glossoptila is 

 somewhat intermediate between the two. In C. cyaneathe intestine is 

 •090 mm. long, in C. coerulca •125 mm,; both have two small C(pca a short 

 distance above the anal opening. The food of Gerthiola, as indicated 

 by the stomach contents, consists of small insects and spiders, that of 

 Gcereba and Glossoptila consists of small berries, containing numerous 

 small seeds. 



Q. 



Fig. 4. — (1) Pterylosis of Gerthiola cahoti. a little more than half natural .size; (2) Dorsal tract of 

 Glossoptila campestris, natural size. 



The feather tracts and apteria are, with trifling variations, as shown 

 in the figure-of Gerthiola caboti. The pattern of the dorsal tract varies 

 slightly according to the species, and the lengths of the median apteria, 

 especially that on the under side of the neck, vary according to the 

 length of the neck. 



Glossoptila is different from the other Coerebidw in having a narrower 

 dorsal tract, and much longer and looser feathers. 



Professor Baird, in his " Review of North American Birds," considered 

 the CoerebidiTB as nearly related to the Mniotiltid*, being apparently 

 largely influenced by the slender beaks of this last group, and by the 

 peculiar tongue of Dendroica tigrina. 



Dr. Gadow, in the "Birds of the Sandwich Islands," considers the 

 Ca?rebidoe as the nearest allies of the Sandwich Ishind Drepanidid^e, 

 this family being formed to accommodate the slender-billed brush- 

 tongned birds peculiar to those islands. 



Dr. Sclater* places the C<Erebid{B just before the tanagers, remarking 

 that it is difficult to separate them from the tanagers on the one hand 

 and the Mniotiltidse on the other, and this position is that generally 

 accepted. 



British Mviseum Catalojiiie of Birds. 



