222 ON THE ANATOMY AND SYSTEMATIC 



the hindmost, or pelvic portion of it, was dilated. This genus has also 

 weaker lumbar tracts ; and these are united with the uropygial portion 

 of the dorsal tract by sparse contour-feathers." As Mtzsch himself 

 later on says that the pterylosis of the "Lhnicolse" closely approaches 

 that of the Eallinae, and is but little modified from that type, the evidence 

 from pterylosis of the Ealline affinities of the Jaganas is not very strong. 

 In their possession of well-marked firm rectrices, in the weakness of the 

 lumbar tracts, and in the tendency to a division of the dorsal tract into 

 an anterior and a posterior fork, the Parridse differ from the typical 

 Eallidae, and approach the Limicoline type. The same relationship is 

 indicated by the inner, or main, pectoral tract, though very narrow, 

 consisting, at least at its commencement, of two or three rows of feathers 

 in the Parridae, as well as in the Charadriida3 ; whereas in the typical 

 Eallidse, according to Nitzsch, it issues from the branch as only a single 

 row of feathers. 



Visceral Anatomy, <$fc. 



The tongue is long and narrow in shape, thin, and of horny con- 

 sistency. Its apex is slightly notched, and its base spinulose ; for the 

 greater part of its length it is strongly concave. The oesophagus develops 

 P.Z. S. 1881, no crop ; and the proventriculus is zonary. There is a muscular gizzard, 

 p. 641. lined by a rather thick and hard epithelium. The contents of the 

 stomach, in one of the specimens examined, consisted of small seeds mixed 

 with vegetable debris and small fragments of stone. The right liver-lobe 

 is elongated, and twice as large as the left ; and there is a well-developed 

 gall-bladder. The ceeca are lateral in position, and closely approximated 

 to the intestine, which makes them difficult to see. They are mere 

 nipples '2 inch long *. In this respect Parra differs from all the Eallidae 

 (except Porzana notata) which have been examined, as in all of these the 

 caeca are long, sometimes very long. Of the Pluvialine birds, only the 

 Plataleidae and Ehinochetidae, with Sterna, Larus, and one or two others, 

 have such short caeca. The intestines measure, in these two specimens 

 of Parra jacana small intestine 12-3 and 13'2 inches, large intestine 1-1 

 and 1*0 inch respectively. 



In Parra jacana and in Hydrophasianus africanus, as also in Metopidius 

 africanus, as already recorded by Grarrod t, there are two carotid arteries. 

 This is the number found in all the Eallidae, and in most of the Pluviales, 

 excepting the Turnicidas and Arctica alle, according to Grarrod J, where 

 there is only the left developed. 



* In Hydrophasianus chirurgus there is a strong gizzard, and the left liver-lobe is 

 smaller than the right ; the caeca measure "15 inch, the whole length of the intestines 

 being 12 inches. Garrod's MSS. 



t P. Z. S. 1873, p. 469. | L. c. pp. 469, 470. 



