Page 511. 
358 ON THE ANATOMY OF PASSERINE BIRDS. 
In Menura superba and in Atrichia rufescens, feeble-winged birds 
again, the arrangement is not typical, and the disposition of the parts 
is almost exactly as in the Pici, as above described. In other words 
there are not two tendons, one only being found, simple and broad, 
apparently produced by the blending of the two. Plate [24] LI. fig. 2 
represents the elbow-region of Menura as seen from its outer side. 
All other Passerine birds which I have examined follow the single 
type, differing only in the angular divergence of the tendons, their 
humeral attachments being much separated in most Sturnida, 
Gymnorhineg, and Tyrannide for example, but closely approximated 
in Tropidorhynchus, Rwpicola, and others. 
A short review of the peculiarities of the insertion of the tensor 
patagit brevis muscle in other birds will tend to render the importance 
of the character more clear, and may add some facts of interest in an 
ornithological point of view; for it is not in the least difficult for any 
one who has compared these structures in the various orders of the 
class to decide by an inspection of the outer surface of the elbow to 
which division any specimen belongs; and for the satisfaction of those 
naturalists who consider it essential that characters of importance 
should be verifiable on all occasions, it may be mentioned that from 
almost any skin it is possible to decide the point by soaking it, or the 
wing alone, in cold water, and carefully removing the tegument thus 
relaxed. On the present occasion the arrangement in the Anomalo- 
gonatz will also be almost solely discussed, although among the 
Homalogonatew characters of nearly equal significance are attainable, 
somewhat diminished in clearness in some cases by the diffused state 
of the tendons. 
In the Galbulide, as represented by Galbula albirostris and 
Urogalba paradisea (spirit-specimens of both of which genera have 
been kindly placed at my disposal by Mr. Salvin), the tendon of the 
short tensor is simple, or it splits slightly before it meets the meta- 
carpal extensor (where the distal moiety there terminates). Its main 
continuation sends back to the outer side of the lower end of the 
humerus a free fasciculus exactly like that above described in the 
Passeres, except that from about the middle of its lower margin a 
thin slip runs downwards and wristwards to the fascia of the ulnar 
side of the outer surface of the forearm. This is represented in 
Plate [23] L. fig. 1. 
In the Meropide, as represented by Merops apiaster and M. ornatus, 
the only difference from the Galbulide is that the distal branch is 
more clearly differentiated, and the slip to the ulnar side of the fore- 
arm is nearer the angular bend. This arrangement is represented 
in Plate [21] XLVIIL fig. 3. In Todus viridis the tendons are similarly 
disposed. 
