92 PTERYLOGRAPHY. 



exteriorly only by a single row of feathers. Coccygius (cajanus, chrysogaslcr, americanus,galeritus, 

 and ffitira), on the contrary, diverges more in having a branch much turned outwards, narrower 

 than the main stem, and which only recurs to it by a single row of feathers. The space thus 

 formed is very small in the first-mentioned three species, but very large and resembling the form 

 in Sauroihera in the other two. In the rest of the pterylosis these six genera do not differ from 

 Cuculus ; but in them the feathers are more closely approximated on all the tracts, and the rump- 

 tract on the tail is weaker ; the scapular part of the spinal tract is also usually more densely 

 feathered, and more clearly distinguished from the limbs of the rump-tract by the sparse plumage 

 of the latter. The number of remiges amounts to nineteen or twenty ; Scytlirops alone has 

 twenty-three. In it and in Coccygius americanus (Cue. americanus, ATJCTT.) the third primary is 

 the longest, in the other genera the fifth, sixth, and seventh, and the preceding ones are always 

 strongly and equally graduated, so that the first is of very small size. The long tail also usually 

 contains graduated feathers. We have also to notice the stiff lashes on the upper eyelids occurring 

 in all these genera except Bubutus, which alone has perfectly naked cheeks and temples. 



c. The dilated pectoral part of the inferior tract is narrow, und of uniform breadth, and 

 encloses no space. 



Phcenicophanes viridirufus, Sides of the head in the region of the eyes naked and warty, 

 the head otherwise uniformly feathered. Spinal tract narrow, simple as far as the shoulders, then 

 divided and continued in the form of two similar, narrow limbs as far as the caudal pit, enclosing 

 a long space. From this point it is simple, but narrow, with sparse feathers beside it, which are 

 well distinguished from the strong, biserial lumbar tracts, although they reach to them. Inferior 

 tract simple to the middle of the neck, then divided into two narrow branches. Each branch 

 twice as broad upon the breast, but densely feathered and parallel-sided, the dilatation truncated 

 and somewhat separated at the end; thence again narrow, and not reaching the anus. Nineteen 



remiges, the first graduated, the fourth to the sixth the longest. 



/ 



B. With ticelve rectrices, and an after-shaft on the contour-feathers. 



Leptosomm afer (Cuculus afer AUCTT.), of which I have only been able to examine stuffed 

 specimens, belongs to this group from the number of the tail-feathers. 1 



Prodotes NOB. (Indicator AUCTT.) Pterylosis exceedingly peculiar, there being on the breast 

 a perfectly free outer branch of the inferior tract (PI. IV, fig. 16), which is not divided until low 

 down upon the neck, whilst the dorsal tract, which remains simple as far as the pelvis, exhibits a 

 rhombic saddle (fig. 17) enclosing a lanceolate space. Twenty remiges, of which the first and 

 second are the longest. Oil-gland with a small circlet of feathers at the tip, the quills of which 

 extend the walls of the apex. The species examined were, P. albirostris, TEMM. ; PL Col. 367 ; 

 P. proditor, LICHT ; and a third very small species. 



1 Iu two examples seen by me, the outer toe appeared to contain only four joints, a remarkable 

 peculiarity if it should be confirmed by more accurate investigation. Not less singular is the absence of 

 the nasal septum, the nares being truly pervits. [Nitzsch is in error here. The outer toe of Leptoso- 

 mus has the normal number of phalanges, as I have lately shown. See Appendix, note 2. P.L.S.] 



