268 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE [Feb. 21, 



genus Mesites should be arranged in the Natural System next to 

 Eurypyga and its near ally Rhinochetus ." 



The nostrils of Mesites are long, linear concave-upward slits, 

 extending for more than half the length of the beak, and covered 

 above by a well-marked membranous valvular operculum, being in 

 this respect very unlike the ordinary form of nostril in the Rails. 



The tarsi have about 10 or 11 distinct transverse scutellae ante- 

 riorly, best developed internally, and there nearly meeting, along 

 the lateral surface, a similar but somewhat more numerous series of 

 smaller scutellse, which are developed along the posterior aspect of 

 the leg, but become obsolete about ^ inch above the metatarso- 

 phalangeal joint. Externally the two series of scutellse are separated 

 by a distinct space covered by smooth, non-scutellated skin. This 

 tarsal scutellation extends upwards above the *' knee " for about 

 I inch, for which extent therefore the tibia is bare of feathers. 



The digits are all free from their bases ; the hallux is considerably 

 the smallest of them ^ 



The number of remiges cannot be counted with certainty ; but 

 there are certainly 10 primaries ; the wing is much rounded. 



There are 1 6 rectrices, a very non-passerine character - ; and both 

 the upper and under tail-coverts are very long, with the last feathers 

 rectriciform and extending along the tail for quite three fourths of 

 its length both above and below. 



There is apparently no claw on the pollex; and the contour- 

 feathers have no aftershaft — in both these respects differing from the 

 BallidcB. The tail in my specimen has unfortunately been so cut 

 that I have been unable to ascertain for certain whether the oil-gland 

 is present or not. I can find no tuft, however ; and as we know that 

 the gland, tljough present, is nude both in Ehinochetus and 

 Eurypyga, such is probably its condition in Mesites too ^. 



The continuous head-feathering extends about halfway down the 

 neck, and then gives off the dorsal and ventral tracts of each side, 

 which are separated by well-marked spaces, of which the dorsal one 

 is considerably the biggest. The feathering of the lower part of the 

 neck is thus quadriserial, separated by as many apteria. In the 

 lower part of the neck the two dorsal tracts, which are narrow but 

 strongly feathered, are widely separated, and somewhat divergent, 

 including between them the anterior pair of dorsal powder-down 

 patches, but converge again in the interscapular region. Here they 

 suddenly become much feebler, and are then continued on as the 

 much more weakly-feathered posterior part of the dorsal tract, this 



^ By soaking out the plantar tendons, I have been enabled to ascertain that 

 there is a good vinculum between the flexores lo7ifftis hallueis and profundus diffi- 

 torum, the tendons of which are ossified near the bottom of the leg. In all 

 ordinary Passeres, it will be remembered, this vinculum is quite absent. 



* According to Nitzsch, however, this is the number met with in the male of 

 Menura superba. 



3 In answer to an inquiry on this subject, M. A. Milne-Edwards has been kind 

 enough to inform me that his spirit-specimen of Mesites is also unfortunately 

 damaged at the root of the tail, but that on an examination of a skin he finds 

 {^[iparently an oil-gland present with no tuft. 



