Mr. T. C. Eyton's Notes on Birds. 51 



lateral processes of the caudal vertebra? are much prolonged, parti- 

 cularly those of the last four l)ut one ; the terminal one is without 

 any lateral process, and nearly triangular. 



Remarks. — The extraordinaiy and doubtful structure of 

 this bird is at once shown by the different places in which it 

 has been arranged by authors ; by Cuvier it is placed among 

 the Passeres, by Lesson and Swainson among the Gallina- 

 ceous bu-ds, and by Gray among the Grallatores. The large 

 and powerful legs which Menura possesses in such an eminent 

 degree, has been doubtless the principal reason why it has 

 been classed by the authors above-mentioned among Rasores 

 and Grallatores ; but on minute examination the scutellations 

 of the tarsi will be found to differ from any of the typical 

 birds in either of these orders, and to agree with that of the 

 true Insessores. Another very striking point in the external 

 structure consists in the great length of the claws, their great 

 strength, and in their being rounded and blunt at the points, 

 and attached to toes of moderate size*. Some of the Ral- 

 lid(E possess lengthened claws, but they are sharp, in general 

 weak and attached to long thin toes, therefore differing from 

 Menura. The Alaudidce have the hind toe lengthened, but 

 it is also weak and sharp ; some of the Cuculidce also have this 

 structure, as the genus Pelophilus, in which the claws are not 

 so much shai'pened as in any of the preceding instances. The 

 genus Pteroptochos-\ has precisely the same form of claw as 

 in Menura, and agrees wdth that genus in many anatomical 

 peculiarities, nearly the only difference being that it has four 

 fissures on the posterior margin of the sternum instead of 

 two. Menura appears to be nearly connected with Megapo- 

 dius, and perhaps with Alecthelia, judging merely from exter- 

 nal characters ; but differs from Talegalla, Chauna, Palamedea, 

 Dicholophus, Psophia, Crax, Ourax, Ortalida, Penelope and 

 Lophocerus, with all of which it has been associated in the 

 same family;}:, in presenting an almost total difference in the 

 structure of the tarsi and feet as well as in the form of the 

 bill, which any one who has an opportunity of examining 

 them, or even some of the best plates, will at once perceive. 



In the structure of the soft parts and chgestive organs, Me- 

 nura agrees with that of Insessores ; and with many of them, 



• On comparing the feet of Menura with those of Insessorial birds, they 

 will not be found, exclusive of the claw, to be of a larger proportion to the 

 size of the bird than many birds among Insessores. 



t For some account of the anatomy of this genus, see ' The Zoology of the 

 Voyage of the Beagle, — Birds.' — Appendix. 



X This family appears to be a sort of refuge for the destitute. 



E2 



