THE ANATOMY OF COLIUS. 349 
Halicore and Plotus levaillanti being converted into a glandular cavity 
in Manatus and Plotus anhinga. 
56. NOTES ON THE ANATOMY OF THE COLIES > 
(COLIUS).* 
Axsout the systematic position of the Colies there has always been Page 416. 
considerable uncertainty, partly on account of the peculiarities of their 
habits, and partly because their internal structure is but incompletely 
known. One of the examples of Colius castanonotus, sent to the 
Society by Mr. H. C. Tait, C.M.Z.S., having died just as it reached 
this country, I have had the opportunity of dissecting the bird, and of 
examining several of its special anatomical details. 
Dr. Muriet has, not long since, given us an excellent résumé of the 
views entertained by different naturalists as to the systematic position 
of the Colies, few of which are based on any thing more than external 
form and habits. Burchellf placed them close to Corythaiz; and he 
has been followed by many. Mr. Wallace,§ from a study of their 
habits, refers them to the Parrot tribe. 
In his “ Pterylography * Nitzsch|| places Colius among his Amphi- 
bole, together with Musophaga and Opisthocomus, mentioning never- 
theless that the genus “‘ has a very remarkable arrangement of the 
feathers, and can only be compared in this respect with Buceros.” 
In his important memoir “On the Classification of Birds,” Prof. 
Huxley§ places Colius among his Desmognathe, in the smaller 
group Coccygomorphex, the genus being the sole representative of one 
of its minor divisions. Prof. Huxley makes no special reference to 
the skull. 
Dr. Murie has given us valuable information on the osteology of 
the bird**; and I am able to confirm most of his observations. 
There is, however, one part of the skeleton (the palate) where my 
results differ considerably from those of my predecessor; and these 
it is necessary for me to record. Dr. Murie tells us that the speci- 
* “Proceedings of the Zoological Society,” 1876, pp. 416-20. Read, May 2, 
1876. + “Ibis,” 1872, p. 262. 
ft “Travels in South Africa,” vol. i. p. 214 (foot note). 
§ “ Annals and Mag. of Nat. Hist.,” 1856, p. 213. 
|| Ray Society’s English Translation, edited by Mr. Sclater, p. 107. 
{ “ Proceedings of the Zoological Society,” 1867, p. 466. 
** Loe. cit. p, 266, Pl. X. 
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