466 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON Nov. 16, 
2. Contributions to the Anatomy of Geococcyx californianus. 
By R. W. Suurept, C.M.Z.8. 
[Received June 28, 1886.] 
(Plates XLII.-XLV.) 
The investigations I am enabled to record in the present paper 
have been made possible through the kindness of Mr. W. F. 
Peacock, of Marysville, California. 
This gentleman on the 23rd of July, 1885, came into possession of 
a fine male Geococcyx, which had been captured for him alive by a 
man who had run the specimen down on horseback. Mr. Peacock, 
having been informed by me that I only desired the skeleton of the 
species, killed and eviscerated it, and filled the abdominal cavity with 
powdered charcoal and pyroligneous acid, which preparation brought 
it safely into my hands after three days’ travel during the most 
sultry weather. 
Upon receiving it I at once consigned it to a vessel containing 
strong alcohol; so that, at this date (May 1886), the specimen is 
before me in excellent condition. 
Owing to the fact, however, that it has been eviscerated, I am 
unable upon the present occasion to say anything about those organs 
which are situated in the thorax and abdomen, and will confine 
myself principally to examinations of the muscles of the limbs, the 
carotids, the trachea (if it be not injured), and the pterylosis. 
It will be remembered by those who are familiar with my work 
that I have already published a full account of the skeleton of 
Geococcyx elsewhere *, and to that paper the present memvir may be 
considered a second instalment. ; 
Just now I am far removed by many thousand miles from the 
libraries and museums, and in a country where such American forms 
as might with profit be compared with our present subject do not 
occur. I have by me, however, an excellent field library, consisting 
of many of the standard anatomical works, including the collected 
“*Scientific Papers’? of Garrod and Forbes. Neither of the last- 
named anatomists have anything to say about our Ground-Cuckoo, 
and I am inclined to think that neither of those untiring workers in 
avian morphology ever came into possession of such material. 
Further, so far as my memory serves me, no one has yet paid any 
special attention to the structure of Geococcys« californianus. This 
being the case, I have reason to hope that my present contributions 
will not come amiss. 
Garrod’s investigations upon the anatomy of the Cuculide 
demonstrated the fact that both of the carotid arteries are present in 
.these birds (Coll. Scientif. Papers, p. 169). His statement to this 
effect is based upon his having examined the following species :— 
1 Journ. of Anat. and Physiology, Lond. vol. xx. pt. 2, Jan. 1886, pp. 244— 
266, pls. vii., viii., and ix. 
atid anette 
