THE RHAMPHASTID.E. 95 



closely placed. Dorsal tract simple to between the shoulders ; then a broad gap, behind which 

 commences the rump-band, which is divided lialf-way (in C. tamatia, Plate V, figs. 9, 10), or nil 

 the way (C. collaris, C. mdanotis} to the oil-gland. In C. tamatia and collaris the rump-band 

 emits from the commencement of the two limbs two lateral series of feathers, which run backwards, 

 but in C. mdanotis it is gradually dilated towards the middle. This species also has the outer 

 branch of the pectoral portion of the inferior tract completely adjacent, whilst in the two other 

 species it diverges for half its length. The strong femoral tract is simple, but in C. collaris it 

 has a row of feathers above it just as in Poyonias sulcirostris. Remiges twenty-one, the first 

 uniformly graduated, the fourth and fifth longest. 



2. Monastes} Pterylosis in all parts exactly as in Capita tamatia, except that the tracts 

 are a little wider. The outer branch of the inferior tract is separated only at the end, but 

 strongly, and the two limbs of the rump-band are pointed in front (Plate V, fig. 11); the 

 two rows of feathers issuing from them are also wanting. I carefully examined only M.fuscus, 

 in which I found twenty remiges, of which the fourth and fifth are the longest, and the first three 

 are very strongly graduated. The oil-gland has a few fine hairs at the apex. 



B. RHAMPHASTIDjE. 



Contour-feathers with no after-shaft ; oil-gland with a circlet of feathers at the apex ; ten 

 tail-feathers. 



The form of the tracts, which may be seen from Plate V, figs. 12 and 13, is perfectly 

 concordant in essential points in all the species of this family examined by me, namely, 

 Ptcroglossus viridis, Rhamphastus erythrorhynchus, R. discolorus WAGL., R. tucai, and a fourth unde- 

 termined species, and approaches most nearly to that of Capita. I found in all an inferior tract, 

 which is simple to the middle of the neck, but is remarkably broad only in R. erythrorhynchus. 

 The two narrow limbs of this, commencing at this point, send a branch to the humeral tract, 

 form a strong and perfectly free outer branch with a very distinct hook at its extremity on the 

 breast, and then run as narrow biserial bands along the trunk to the anus. The dorsal tract is 

 still more singular. Running simply as far as between the shoulders, it has at this point generally 

 a gap, 2 behind Avhich the rump-band commences with two separated limbs, which run thus 

 divided to the tail itself, enclosing the oil-gland between them. The two portions of the 

 rump-band are at first approximated, but soon diverge, become broader externally, and then 

 continue nearly parallel. Beside them, in the region of the sacrum, there is on each side a row 

 of strong contour-feathers, which may be regarded as the inner limb of the angular femoral 

 tract ; the other, or outer limb, runs transversely over the upper part of the tibia and the whole 

 femur, and finally joins the rump-band, at least in R. erythrorhynchus. Another remarkable 



Trogonidae. See Sclater's ' Synopsis of the Fissirostral Family Bucconidse,' 8vo, London, 1854, and 

 Burmeister's ' Syst. Uebersicht d. Th. Brasiliens/ vol. ii. P.L.S.] 



1 As Vieillot's name Monasa is founded upon a false etymology, and must properly be written 

 Monastes, Wagler's alteration of it to Lypornis appears to me to be superfluous. 



2 In the species of which the name is unknown to me this gap was wanting, and the simple part 

 was united to the strongly convergent halves of the rump-band. 



