THE PICIN.E. 93 



Troffon. The pterylosis of this genus, of which I have examined four species(r. duvaucelii, ardens, 

 yloeifaM,a& viridis),is exactly that of a Passerine bird, the only difference consisting in the very long 

 after-shafts. The dorsal tract (PI. IV, fig. 19) runs in the form of a narrowband as far as the 

 sacrum, where it becomes dilated into a short, rhombic, acute-angled saddle ; or in T. viridis into an 

 elongated, rhombic one (fig. 20), and then again becoming narrow passes to the oil-gland, which has 

 no circlet of feathers at the tip. The lumbar tracts are distinctly present, but short and small. The 

 inferior tract is as in Prodotes, except that the outer branch does not diverge, but is entirely adjacent 

 to the main stem, forming a densely feathered dilatation of uniform width, obliquely truncated at 

 the extremity. The ventral portion, which commences at this point, is uncommonly wide. In 

 general the plumage is remarkable for the large size of all the contour-feathers, and the entire 

 absence of down. In the wings I found from eighteen to twenty remiges, but always ten on 

 the hand ; the fifth is the longest, and the first very short but broad. The outer tail-feathers 

 are graduated. It is further remarkable that, of the four toes, the first and second are turned 

 backwards, and not, as usual in Scansorial Birds, the first and fourth. 



6. PICIN.E, Nitzschii. 



This group also has no general pterylographic character, at least none belonging to itself 

 alone. For the connection of the humeral tracts with the inferior tract, which occurs in all the 

 Picines, is by no means unfrequent, and occurs in exactly the same manner in Alcedo. Thus not 

 only does the gular portion emit one or two rows of contour-feathers from near its extremity to 

 the humeral tract, but the outer branch also sends forth a second row from its base at the point 

 where it diverges from the main stem of the inferior tract. This outer branch is usually free 

 throughout its course, but in Pogonias sulcirostris we find in its place a mere dilatation. . This 

 genus, with its allies Succo and Micropogon, has its dorsal tract two-limbed on the back ; a 

 similar dorsal tract occurs also in Picus and Jynac, in which, however, it is interrupted before the 

 division, whilst in the former genera the interruption usually occurs behind the arms of the fork. 

 On the other hand Capita, Pteroglossus, and Rhamphastus, have a dorsal tract which is simple as 

 far as the shoulders, but the rump-band is entirely or partially cleft. The number of rectrices 

 varies between twelve and ten, and the feathering of the apex of the oil-gland is no less variable ; 

 whilst all the Picinse appear to possess ten primaries and scansorial feet. The after-shaft 

 occurs in Micropogon, Pogonias, Jynx, and Picus ; it is deficient in all the other genera. But 

 down-feathers are wanting in all, both between the contour-feathers and on the spaces. 



A. BuCCONIDiE. 



a. With ten rectrices, and the apex of the oil-gland feathered. 



The members of this group have likewise a distinct after-shaft on the contour-feathers. 



1. Eucco. Inferior tract simple nearly as far as the end of the neck, then two-limbed, 

 with each limb dilated, and thus united with the humeral tract, so that the above-mentioned two 

 series of feathers are not perceptible. Outer branch free throughout its course, its plumage 



