626 mr. a. h. garrod on [Junel7, 



Macrodipteryx sperlingi, sp. n. 



Very like M. longipennis, but much larger, and differently marked 

 on the wings and tail. The first primary has only three large rufous 

 bars and a subterminal spot on the inner web ; and the outer tail- 

 feather has only six broad ashy-white bars on the inner web. Total 

 length 95 inches, wing 7'9, tail 5"4, tarsus # 8. 



Hab. Bay of Malimba (R. M. Sperling). 



This new Goatsucker is strictly congeneric with Macrodipteryx 

 longipennis, although, being shot out of season, it has not the long 

 pennants. There are other differences in plumage besides those 

 noticed ; but I have chosen the most distinguishable, as long descrip- 

 tions are of little assistance in this group of birds. I have named 

 this fine species after my friend Commander Sperling, who shot the 

 specimen at sea off the Bay of Malimba. 



9. On certain Muscles of the Thigh of Birds and on their value 

 in Classification. By A. H. Garrod, B.A., F.Z.S., Pro- 

 sector to the Society. Part I. 



[Eeceived June 16, 1873.] 



In their works on the general anatomy of the animal kingdom 

 Meckel and Cuvier have devoted special chapters to the myology of 

 birds. The dissections on which their observations were based were 

 evidently undertaken more with the desire to determine the relations 

 borne by the muscles of birds to those of Mammalia and Reptiles, 

 than with the object of studying the variations in the arrangement 

 of the muscles in the class itself. Nitzsch, Reid, Owen, Milne-Ed- 

 wards, Coues, Selenka, and others have published their dissections 

 of certain birds, as the Vulture, Penguin, Apteryx, Eagle, and Loon ; 

 and most of these are, from their accuracy and clearness, valuable 

 additions to zoological knowledge. Sundevall seems to be the only 

 ornithologist who has employed the variations that he has observed 

 to be constant in different birds towards the furtherance of classi- 

 fication ; and my results, on the points discussed by him, in most 

 cases correspond with his. 



The great opportunities afforded me by this Society for the study 

 of a great many species of birds in the flesh, have reduced the diffi- 

 culties connected with the dissection of any special soft part to a 

 minimum ; and in the present communication the results are recorded 

 of my dissection of the region of the thigh of the birds which have 

 passed through my hands. In this region there are six muscles, or 

 well-defined portions of muscles, which may or may not be present ; 

 and my chief object has been to note their presence or absence, 

 which in some cases is far from easy, as modifications may occur 

 which disguise the true connexions of a muscle, and thus lead to 

 misinterpretation. 



As a common Fowl happens to possess all these six muscles well 

 developed and easily demonstrable, I will commence with a short 



