338 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON [Apr. 1.5, 



It has been stated by J. Hancock^ that the windpipe in the male 

 (but not in all males) is convoluted, passing down under the skin 

 right to the anus and then back again. This is a remarlcable point, 

 as it shows an affinity with the Cranes, which are the only nearly 

 allied birds, according to Mr. Forbes's careful list", with a similar 

 modification. It is curious that Psophia is not included in that 

 list ; I have not found any such modification of the trachea myself, 

 nor have I seen any MS. note to that effect of either ^Ir. Garrod or 

 Mr. Forbes. It is evident that some particular species only shows 

 this modification. 



Trachea of Psophia leucoptera. 



While uj)on this subject I may direct attention to a ))aj)er by Mr. 

 T. S. Trail", in which it is said that the trachea communicates 

 directly with the air-sj)ace surrounding it by slit-like apertures in 

 the membrana tympani. In spite of the careful observations of 

 Tiail, it seems to me that we are dealing here with an accidental cut. 



Viscera of Abdomen. 

 The only point to which I direct attention, as being of some 

 bearing ujion the question of the affinities of Psophia is the attach- 

 ment of the gizzard to the parictes and the develojmient of the 

 omentum. I have already pointed out the necessity of taking this 

 structure into account in questions relating to the affinities of 

 different birds. If the comparison which I ' instituted, in part 

 following Huxley ', between this structure and a similar one iu the 

 Crocodile be just, it follows that those birds in which the omentum 

 is extensive and continuous on each side with the oblique septum 

 are relatively the most archaic forms ; while the partial suppression 

 or great reduction of this structure indicates a more modified type. 

 Arguing thus, the Cranes will have to be relegated to a very low 



' "Notes on the Trumpeter Bird or Waracoli of the Arowahs of Guiana, 

 Psophia crepitans of Linna^is," Cliarlesworth's Mag. Nat. Hist. vol. ii. 1838, 

 p. 400. 



2 " On the Convolulod Trachea of two Species of Manueode &c.," T. Z. S. 1882, 

 p. 347. 



' "Observations on the habits, appearance, and anal oiuical structure of the 

 bird named tlie Trumpeter, Psophia crepitans of Liuuieus, Aqami of Cuvier," 

 :\lem. Wern. Soc. Ed. voL v. (1825) p. 523. 



' " Notes ou the Visceral Anatomy of Birds. — No. 1. On the so-called Omen- 

 tum," P. Z. S. 1885, p. 836. 



"• " On the Eespiratory Oi-gans of Aptery.v," P. Z. S. 1882, p. 560. 



