Recently published Ornithological Works. 619 



actions ' for 1869, and the wing of the Phasianine division of 

 the family was discussed in a second essay published in 

 the same work in 1888. In the Eay Society's volume on 

 " Shoulder-girdle and Sternum/' Parker explained his views 

 on these portions of the FowFs structure. The present paper 

 treats of the spine and hind-quarters of the same bird, and 

 also enters upon the corresponding structures in some of its 

 allies, ^'the most important of which is the Button-Quail or 

 Hemipod, a type which is dying out, and is manifestly 

 intermediate between the typical Fowls and the semi-struthi- 

 ous Tinamous/' 



Like all Parker's other works, the present memoir is splen- 

 didly illustrated by four plates, drawn by himself, and put 

 upon the stone by Mr. M. P. Parker. It has been edited by 

 Prof. W. N. Parker. 



106. T. J. Parker on the Apteryx. 



[Observations on the Anatomy and Development of Apteryx. By T. 

 Jefieiy Parker, B.Sc, F.E.S. Phil. Trans, vol. 182 (1891), B, p. 25.] 



It is always pleasant to see sons following the good ways 

 of their fathers, and Prof. Parker's memoir on Apteryx and its 

 development will be well received on that account, as well as 

 for its high intrinsic merits. In his position at Otago the 

 author has had unrivalled opportunities for studying the 

 subject selected for his work, and has manifestly turned these 

 opportunities to excellent account. 



The memoir extends to over 100 pages, and is illustrated by 

 seventeen plates. Among the more important results arrived 

 at are"^: — (1) That in Apteryx the pterylosis is not uninter- 

 rupted, as was supposed by Nitzsch; (2) that the lateral 

 apterial space has a definite function in connection with the 

 attitude assumed by the bird when asleep ; (3) the discovery 

 of several more muscles in the wing than were known to 

 Oweu ; and (4) that the pecten is present in the eye during 

 embryonic life, though absent in the adult, as shown by 

 Owen. 



Prof. Parker makes the remiges of Apteryx to consist of 

 * Cf. Shufeldt, in ' Science ' for June 6th, 1891. 



