Page 629. 
Page 630, 
452 ON THE ANATOMY OF THE MALEO. 
75. ON THE ANATOMY OF THE MALEO (MEGA- 
CEPHALON MALEO).* 
Bzstpes being a Megapode, Megacephalon maleo is interesting as a 
peculiar form; I therefore take the opportunity of bringing before 
the Society the results of my dissection of three specimens of this 
bird which have died in the Gardens. 
Pterylosis—In the distribution of its feather-tracts the Maleo is 
somewhat different from the typical Galline. Nitzsch briefly records 
what he found in a bad specimen of Megapodius rubripes, mentioning 
that the tracts were not different from those in allied birds, and that — 
the oil-gland was tufted. This is all we know of the pterylosis of the 
group. 
In Megacephalon maleo the anterior surface of the neck is covered, 
not thickly, with feathers, which only tend to divide opposite the 
furcula into the two pectoral tracts, each of which descends, strong 
and uniform in breadth, to opposite the middle of the carina sterni, 
where it ceases obtusely. The ventral tract does not exist over the 
anterior or upper part of the pectoral region, but commences narrow 
close to and opposite the middle of the carina sterni, dilating opposite 
the abdomen, near the middle line of which it descends parallel to its 
fellow, to just above the anus, where the two meet. The skin over the 
carina and in the middle line of the abdomen is hard and scaly. The 
hypopteral tract is but feebly represented, and the termination of the 
pectoral tract is some distance from the commencement of the 
abdominal tract, the angle between the direction of the one and the 
other being about 25°. 
A strong tract traverses the middle dorsal line of the neck, with a 
space on each side of it. This does not bifurcate in the scapular 
region, but ceases abruptly a little below the level of the shoulder- 
joints, undilated. Over the rump and the inferior scapular region 
the dorsal tract is diffused and indefinite, ceasing before the nude oil- 
gland is reached. There is no ephippial space. There are sixteen © 
rectrices. The lumbar tract is only well developed over the tibia- 
head and for a little way behind it. The humeral tract is not in any 
way peculiar. I counted nine primary and sixteen secondary remiges, 
the first and second secondary feathers being considerably shorter 
than those which follow. 
Down-feathers are generally distributed. The after-shaft is weak, 
* “ Proceedings of the Zoological Society,” 1878, pp. 629-31. Read, May 21, 1878. 
