292 



NA TURE 



\Feb. 12, 1874 



Oraer II. PASSERIFORMES 

 Family l. Passeres 

 „ 2. Buccoiiicia: (?) 

 „ 3. Trogonida 

 „ 4. Mcropida 

 „ 5. Galhiilida 

 „ 6. CapriiiiulgicUE 

 „ 7. SteatoriiithidcE 

 „ 8. Coraciidce 



Sub-fam. i. Coraciinse 

 „ 1. Momotinae 

 „ 3. Todinse (?) 



0;-rt'^r HI. CYPSELI FORMES 

 Family i. Macrochij-es 



Sub-fam. I. Cypselina; 

 „ 2. Trochilinae 



The Homalogonatoas birds must be divided upon a 

 different basis, and their myological fotmuls here come 

 into service. Before going further it is necessary to show 

 that the habits of the species are not the cause of their 

 myological peculiarities in most cases, though probably 

 in some they do affect them. The Heron and the Swallow 

 have the same formula, and yet how different their habits ? 

 the same may be said of the Owls and the Swifts ; the 

 Kaleege and the Flamingo. The Auk and Guillemot, 

 however, are most probably but distantly related to the 

 Ducks and Pengums if the peculiarity in the nasal bones 

 has the importance that I assign to it ; nevertheless, the 

 muscles of their legs agree more with them, than with the 

 other Schizorhinal birds. By a glance at Table II., the 

 manner in which the Homalogonati may be best sub- 

 divided according to the facts that I have been able to 

 bring forward, may be obtained. Commencing with the 

 orders, the Gallifortnes include all those birds related to 

 the Fowls ; and notwithstanding the high opinions to the 

 contrary, I cannot feel justified in separating^ the 

 Struthious birds away from this group. It is not difficult, 

 after having seen the formula of the Musopha- 

 gidffi and Cuculidic (Table I.), to recognise that these 

 lamilies have nothing to do with the Anomalogonatous 

 birds, aUhough they are peculiar in the former having no 

 caeca, and the latter a nude oil-gland. The Psittaci also 

 cannot be placed anywhere else. 



The Ansenformcs all agree, with the exception of the 

 Storm-Petrels, which are also otherwise difficult to place, 

 in wanting the accessory semitendinosus (Y), and in having 

 the great pectoral muscle very elongate. The whole family 

 of petrels are exceptions in this point also, and may have 

 to be put in the next order, amongst the Ciconiiformes. 



The Ciconiiformes include amongst them the Accipitres, 

 but myology is in no point more clear than with re- 

 gard to the unnaturalness of that family as at present 

 defined. Every Eagle, Hawk, true Vulture, and Owl, has 

 lor formula A. The Secrt tary Bird, which is generally 

 placed with them, is represented by B X Y ; from whi'-h 

 it is seen to be as different from them as it can possibly 

 be. This shows that the position of Serpcntarius must 

 be changed ; that it is not a raptorial bird at all ; and 

 that, as in formula and general appearance it resembles 

 Cariama, it must be placed near it and the Bustards. 

 Similar arguments indicate that the Cathartida; are not 

 true Accipitrine birds, but must form an independent 

 family, though still in the same order as the Falcons. 



The Charairiifonncs all possess the peculiar nasal 

 arrangement which I have termed Schizorhinal. The 

 Turnicida and Parnda are included with the Limicoia, 

 and the Pteroclida: with the Coliimbcr. 



The justification of many of the smaller divisions of 

 the above orders will be seen by comparing the myo- 

 logical formulae, and by a review of the osteological, 

 pterylographical, and visceral arrangement of each. 



In any attempt at classification on new facts, it must be 

 remembered that there must be great inequality in the 



importance of the results arrived at in each order as 

 freshly defined. In one family there may be a uniformity 

 in a particular structure which is greater than could pos- 

 sibly have been exoected ; whilst in another the pre- 

 viously constant character may be one of the most un- 

 certain. For instance, the le t carotid artery is alone present 

 in all the Passerine birds that have ever been examined : 

 but amongst the Bustards the Great Bustard has two. Den- 

 ham's only the right, and Tctrax only the left. There- 

 fore it IS not to be wondered at that myology is equally 

 uncertain in its indications sometimes, though on 

 other occasions its teaching is most decided. In the 

 above attempt at a new arrangement, it has been my 

 endeavour to bring forward the results ol observations 

 made during a considerable time, with the facts obtained 

 from previous work always kept prominently in the fore- 

 ground. 



NOTES 

 In a Congregition held at Oxford on Feb. 10, Prof. H. Smith 

 introduced a st.itute providing that the certificate of the exami- 

 ners appointed under the authority of the Delegates of the Exa- 

 mination of Schools, when given in Greek, Latin, and Elemen- 

 tary Mathematics, be accepted in lieu of Responsions. He 

 represented that in Mathemitics the standard would be higher 

 than in Resp msions ; in Greek and Latin it would be equal, 

 owing to the requirement of translation of "unseen pieces." 

 The c.-mdidate would also have to pass in some other subject. 

 It was therefore inconceivable that the idle should select the 

 Schools Examination as the easier. The standard would be 

 kept up by the employment of the same class of examiners as in 

 other University examination. The preamble of the statute was 

 accepted. 



Dr H. Alley.ne Nicholson, Pro''e sor of Natural History 

 in University College, Toronto, has been appointed to the Pro- 

 fessorship of Zoology in the Royal College of Science, Dublin, 

 vacant by the resignation of Dr. Traquair. Prof. Nicholson is 

 known as the author of many papers on the Grapt elites, and as a 

 writer of several text-books of zoology. 



The Smith's Mathematical Prizes have been adjudged 

 to Mr. Walter \V. R. Ball, second wrangler, 1S74, and Mr. 

 George Stuart, B.A., Enmanuei College, Cambridge, bracketed 

 fourth wrangler, 1874. 



A MEETING of those who have signified their interest in the 

 formation of the new Physical Society wdl be held on the 14th 

 inst., at 3 o'clock p.m., in the Physical Laboratory, South Ken- 

 sington. 



A GENERAL meeting of the Provisional Committee for the 

 establishment of the Scientific Societies Club was held on Jan. 29 

 at the Westminster Palace Hotel, when an organising committee 

 was appointed with a view to the early opening of ilieclub. The 

 number of "original members " is nearly complete, 231 gentle- 

 men having given in their names. Among the Provisional Com- 

 mittee we notice the names of Dr. Gladstone, Prof. Lawson, 

 and Prof. Morris, and others known to Science. 



At the meeting of the Paris Academy of Sciences on Feb. 3 

 the place of Correspondent of the Astronomical Section, left 

 vacant by the election of Sir George Airy to a Foreign Asso- 

 ciateship, was filled up. M. Tisserand obtained 25 voes and 

 M. Stephan 23. The former was therefore elected. At the 

 same meeting the Academy, sitting in secret committee, received 

 the report of the committee appointed to select candidates for 

 the Chair i.f Embryology at the College of France. M. Balbiani 

 was placed first, M. Gerbe second. The election was announced 

 for the 9th irst. 



