1878.] PROF. A. H. GARROD ON PASSERINE BIRDS. 143 



6. Notes on the Anatomy of Passerine Birds. Part IV. 

 By A. H. Garrod, M.A., F.R.S. 



[Received January 7, 1878.] 



In my "Notes on the Anatomy of Passerine Birds," Part II., 

 whilst discussing the systematic position of the Eurylsemidae, I 

 mention that the method of insertion of the tensor patagii brevis 

 muscle of the arm is unknown 1 . Through the kindness of Lieut. - 

 Colonel Grodwin-Austen, who has placed at my disposal carbolized 

 specimens of Psarisomus dalhousim and Serilophus rubropygius, I 

 have recently had the opportunity of dissecting these species, and 

 am now able to state that in both of them the tendon of the tensor 

 patagii brevis is perfectly passerine, agreeing precisely with the 

 typical arrangement previously described by me in the Order ' — the 

 two tendons which traverse the distance between the point where 

 the main tendon joins the extensor metacarpi radialis longus and 

 the elbow running independently and parallel as they course to 

 their humeral attachment. 



In neither specimen was I able to dissect out the plantar tendons, 

 because they were so dry and brittle that no amount of soaking 

 would render them fit for observation. I was, however, able to 

 determine some other anatomical points, including the existence of 

 a single carotid artery (the left), a normal disposition of the vessels 

 of the thigh (the main artery of the leg being the sciatic), the con- 

 siderable size of the femoro-caudal, of the semitendinosus, and of 

 the accessory semitendinosus, and the absence of the accessory 

 femoro-caudal and of the ambiens muscles. 



Previous evisceration, I regret to say, prevents my adding any thing 

 with reference to the syrinx and the abdominal viscera ; nevertheless 

 I think that now the vomer and the tensor patagii brevis are known 

 to conform exactly with the Passerine type, all shadow of doubt as 

 to the perfectly Passerine structure of the Eurylsemidse may be dis- 

 missed, notwithstanding the aberrant vinculum joining their deep 

 flexor tendons. 



So far as its sternum is concerned, Psarisomus dalhousice so 

 closely resembles Eurylcemus javanicus, as figured by Mr. Sclater in 

 'The Ibis' 3 , that no further remark with reference to it is neces- 

 sary, except to draw attention to the unforked condition of the 

 manubrium. My specimen of Serilophus was too much shot for me 

 to make out its sternal peculiarities. 



1 P. Z. S. 1877, p. 449. 

 a P. Z. S. 1876, p. 508. 

 3 Third Series, vol ii., 1872, p. 179. 



