SOME POINTS IN THE ANATOMY OF STEATORNIS. 179 
this region, like those in the Caprimulgidew. Above each eye there 
are two rows of closely set very stiff feathers, ranning parallel to one 
another and to the border of the upper eyelid, forming a double eye- 
brow. The upper of these is slightly the stronger; it is situated ¢ of 
an inch above the lower one, with a bare space intervening. The stiff 
feathers of which it is composed are slightly more than } of an inch 
long and are directed outwards. The lower eyebrow is } of an inch 
_ above the margin of the lid, which has no eyelashes and is bare: it does 
not extend quite so far forward or backward as the one above it; and 
its component feathers are not quite so long. The external auditory 
orifice is nearly circular and 3 of an inch in diameter; there is no 
operculum. It is surrounded by a single row of feathers, much like 
those of the eyebrows; they are all directed backwards, the anterior 
being slightly the longer and acting as a protection to the entrance of 
_ the ear. Several (about a dozen on each side) stiff simple vibrisse, 
many more than 14 inch long, spring from the side of the upper 
beak, and run directly forwards, partially covering the apertures of 
the nostrils. 
The dorsal tract, where it commences, is narrowed on account of 
there being a bare space above each ear; but when it reaches the 
upper part of the neck it broadens, and continues down the back of 
_ the neck as a not strong tract, which becomes narrower and stronger 
as it descends, till at a short distance above the tops of the shoulder- 
blades it is very strong indeed. It continues on in this condition, 
and bifurcates between the scapule to form a well-developed fork, 
with long branches, which become considerably weakened near their 
extremities. Between the lower ends of this fork the continuation of 
the dorsal tract commences, not connected with it at all, but quite free, 
as an upward-turned weak arrow-head, situated in the middle line. 
The axis or shaft of this arrow-headed tract, as it descends, becomes 
narrower and stronger till it ceases abruptly at the base of the long 
infundibuliform nude oil-gland, which closely resembles that of the 
Owls. In the upper part of the loins, above the arrow-head, at a 
short distance on either side of, and parallel with, the mid-dorsal 
tract, is a single row formed by four strong feathers, which are dis- 
tinctly separated from the rest. All over the loins, behind the Page 529. 
acetabula, there is a weak feathering which blends with the lumbar 
tracts. These last are consequently not very distinctly defined, and 
consist mainly of weakly feathered tracts, running from the knee 
obliquely downwards and backwards, leaving the tibize almost bare, 
with the exception of a few semiplumes which are scattered below the 
front of the knee. ; 
Between the rami of the jaws the large triangular surface is naked 
at the sides and weakly feathered along the middle line up to the 
nN 2 
