Miscellaneous. 67 



From numerous microscopic sections, both of the semicartilaginous 

 skeleton and that of the skin, there is not the slightest doubt re- 

 garding the bone of the skeleton and the shagreen of the skin. In 

 sections of the latter I have exposed the dermal tubercles resting 

 upon and attached to the skin. 



James Thomson. 

 276 Eglinton Street, Glasgow. 

 May 27. 



On the two (?) imhnown Species of Argus Pheasant. 

 To the Editors of the Annals and Magazine of Natural Histori/. 



Gentlemen, — Permit me to make a few remarks on the feathers of 

 the two (?) unknown species of Argus Pheasant. 



The largest feather, as figured in Mr. Elliot's ' Monograph of the 

 Phasianidse,' part 5, is undoubtedly a relic of a bird which, when 

 found, will probably prove to be generically distinct from Argus, so 

 different is it in form from any feather of the known species of that 

 genus. Of the other two feathers, which Mr. Elliot supposes to bo 

 primaries of the same bird, I have a very different opinion, believing 

 them to be feathers of the true tail (as distinguished from the orna- 

 mental tail-coverts) of the Javan Peacock, Pavo muticus. I sus- 

 pected this on first looking at the plate ; and on examining the tail- 

 feathers of that bird in the British Museum this opinion was con- 

 firmed, the form, colour, and markings being identical. I also found 

 by comparison that the drawings of these feathers are of exactly the 

 same dimensions as the real ones of P. muticus ; whereas Mr. Elliot 

 states them to be represented only half the natural size. This is 

 probably a mistake ; but if not, the bird to which they belonged must 

 have been, in all probability, a very large variety or species of the 

 genus Pavo. 



I also wish to state that the feather which I described as belonging 

 to an unknown bird related to Argiis also presents certain peculi- 

 arities which seem to indicate that the bird to which it belongs is 

 generically distinct ; and I regi'et that Mr. Elliot, in quoting from the 

 ' Annals,' omitted the note of interrogation which I placed after the 

 word Argus, as I think he will agree with me that the generic posi- 

 tions of these birds can only be approximately determined from their 

 feathers. 



I remain. Gentlemen, 



Yours very truly, 

 London, June 15th, 1872. T. W. Wood. 



Note on « Beformed Example o/Cariama cristata. 

 By Dr. A. Gunthek. 



There is in the British Museum a stufi'ed example of a Qariama 

 which difters from C. cristata in so striking a manner, by the short- 

 ness of its neck and legs, that it might be easily taken for a distinct 

 species. However, on a closer examination, I have convinced myself 



5* 



