182 



MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE CUCKOOS. [Feb. 17, 



nearly the whole of its extent ; posteriorly it is only two feathers 

 wide and terminates in front of the cloaca, but further back than the 

 point at which the outer branch terminates. 



The spinal tract is narrow on the neck but widens out con- 

 siderably at the commencement of the trunk, where the feathering is 

 less dense ; at this point the spinal tract bifurcates to reunite a 

 short way in front of the uropygium ; each half of the spinal tract 

 is of considerable width, and there is no break between the anterior 



Fig. 6. 



Pterjiosis of Eudynamia orientalis. 



and posterior section as is so commonly the case in other Cuckoos. 

 Furthermore there is no such break between the spinal tract and 

 the humeral tract as figured by Nitzsch in Cuculus canorus ; the 

 feathering is continuous from one to the other though sparse. 



Rhinocoecyx (P/icenicophaes) curvirostris. — This species is appa- 

 rently synonymous with Phcenicophaes viridirufus, of which the 

 pterylosis is described by Nitzsch. I am unable, however, to verify 

 his description with the specimen before me. The ventral tract is 

 widest on the breast and becomes narrower posteriorly ; towards the 

 posterior margin of the sternum each half divides again into two 



