446 



MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE 



[May 16. 



irregularly-placed contour-feathers lying outside the main tract on 

 the surface of the breast, between that tract and the patagial one. 



Concerning the external characters of Todus, I may remark that 

 the structure of the foot, when carefully compared with that of the 

 Momotidse, presents considerable differences. In the first place, the 

 long tarso-metatarse, instead of being covered by distinct transverse 

 scutes anteriorly, and by two or more series of smaller scutellae 

 behind, is "ocreate," being invested anteriorly by a single long 

 scute, without any traces of division ; this spreads round both ex- 

 ternal and internal aspects of the leg, leaving behind a narrow 

 margin of naked skin, with some indication of scutellation. The 

 feet (fig. 2) are much more syndactylous than they are in the Momo- 

 tidae. The second digit is united to the third beyond the first phalanx of 

 each, and the third to the fourth beyond t\\e second joint of the third. 

 In Mornotus and its allies (vide fig. 3) the union between the second 

 and third digits only extends for about the basal half of their first 



Fig. 2. 



Fig. 



Foot of Todus dominicensis. 



Foot of Mornotus lessoni. 



phalanges, and that of the third and fourth for about half the second 

 phalanx of the former. The feet of Todus resemble rather those of the 

 Kingfishers, though the syndactylism has advanced further than in 

 these birds. The position of the hallux is quite normal, it being 

 directed altogether backwards, not largely inwards, as imagined by 

 Dr. iSIurie. The nostrils have a well-defined circular aperture ; 

 they lie, unconcealed by the frontal plumes, close to the culmen. 

 Behind them, and extending back as far as the gape, is a well- 

 developed series of rictal vibrissee, directed downwards and forwards. 

 Another smaller patch of similar vibrissse, but directed upwards, 

 springs, as in Steatornis, from the interramal skin of the lower jaw just 

 behind the mandibular symphysis. 



Dr. Murie has so elaborately described the osteology of Todus 

 viridis that I have not much to add to his account. 



