Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidae. 201 



septum of nares unossified ; no union of maxillo-palatines, and 

 a large palatal cleft. Leg-bones long, the tarsus unusually 

 so ; two outer toes cleft to the root. Tongue long, narrow, 

 pointed, and lies in a groove in symphysis of mandible. 



Whatever supposed affinity Fregilupus bears to Upupa from 

 tenuirostral character, thus we see, breaks entirely down by 

 skeleton-evidence. 



5. Falculia. — My study of F. pattiata, another of* those cu- 

 rious Madagascar forms, is unfortunately limited to a stuffed 

 specimen in the British Museum, and to literature on the bird. 

 Judging from the shape, more particularly the depth of the 

 bill, from the relatively narrowed condition of prefrontals and 

 cranial contour, from the structure of the foot witli elongate 

 tarsus (other than plumage &c, discoursed on by ornitholo- 

 gists), I certainly agree with those who deny its having close 

 affinity to the Hoopoes. It is quite possible that it may veer 

 towards the preceding, Epimachus, or the next to be men- 

 tioned ; but at all events outward character of itself precludes 

 association with the Upupidae. I must refer the reader to 

 GeofFroy St.-Hilaire's original description*, and to Schlegel's 

 accountf, where the young and sexual differences and the habits 

 of the bird are dwelt upon. 



6. Heteralocha. — The anomalous Huia Bird of New Zea- 

 land has been referred by its original describer, Mr. Gould J, 

 by Cabanis§, G. Gray||, Sundevall^[, and others to the neigh- 

 bourhood of the Crows, and in close proximity to the Starlings, 

 though suggestions as to its alliance with the Hoopoes have not 

 been wanting (to wit Gray**). In the latest monograph on 

 the birds of New Zealand, Mr. Buller urges the latter position ; 

 and accordingly H. acutirostris (Neomorpha, Gould) is consigned 

 to the Upupidae ft- The nidification of this bird is unknown ; 



* Mag. de Zool. 1836. t Op. cit. supra, p. 105, pi. 33. 



J P. Z. S. 1836, p. 144 ; Birds of Australia, iv. pi. xix. 



§ Mus. Hein. Th. i. p. 218. || Hand-list of Birds, ii. p. 22. 



51 Meth. Nat. Avium dispon. tent. p. 40. 



** "Birds of N. Zealand," Ibis, 1862, p. 217. 



tt From a conversation with Mr. Buller I learn that his opinion is changed 

 as regards the affinities of Heteralocha since the publication of Pt. i. ; and 

 his introduction rectifies this (Hist; of Bird- of New Zealand, p. xvii.). 

 SER. III. VOL. III. P 



