202 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidse. 



but some of its habits, well told by Mr. Buller, certainly recall 

 peculiarities of the Hoopoes and Hornbills. On the other 

 hand, possession of wattles, the remarkable difference in length 

 of the beak in the sexes, &c. weaken even exterior characters 

 where these are relied on for interpretation of relationship. 



The strongest evidence that its construction is unlike that of 

 Upupa and Irrisor is given by its anatomy. Mr. Grarrod's* 

 recent investigation shows that coracomorph and not coccygo- 

 morph type prevails. According to him the dorsal feather-tract 

 does not enclose an ephippial space; remiges nineteen; rectrices 

 twelve; uropygium naked. Tongue elongated, triangular, 

 slightly bifid apically. There are two short csecal appendages, 

 and a single left carotid artery. A forwardly truncate and pos- 

 teriorly cleft vomer obtains; the maxillo-palatines do not meet; 

 the nasal septum is unossined, the prepalatines leave an open 

 wide cleft. Other points are noted ; but the above in them- 

 selves are sufficient to prove attributes at variance with what 

 pertains to the Upupidse. 



III. Disposition of the Upupiclce weighed by their organic 

 build. 



1 . To the Larks. — That so great an authority as Sundevall, 

 under the present phase of ornithology, should see fit to con- 

 join the Hoopoes with the Alaudinse, and separate the former 

 from groups truly allied, receives explanation from the false as- 

 sumption of single characters being the test of systematic 

 relation. A resemblance in tarsal scutella, and even terres- 

 trial habit, may coexist in two forms (adaptations to certain 

 phases in modes of life, or scintillations of a once common attri- 

 bute) without these overruling the more stable organic whole 

 as related to kindred and descent. I am willing to cede every 

 scrap of vantage-ground to the worthy Swede, to acknowledge 

 earth-loving nabit, proncness to grovel in the dust, their crest, 

 tenuous beak, long shank, elliptical space in spinal feather- 

 tract, and plantar scutella, as numerical testimony that the 

 Hoopoe has points in common with one or other of the Larks. 



* P. Z. S. 1872, p. 04;:. 



