416 MR. A. H. GARROD ON THE ANATOMY OF COL1US. [May 2, 



1. Notes on the Anatomy of the Colies (Coitus). By A. H. 

 Garrod, M.A.j F.Z.S., Prosector to the Society. 



[Eeceived April 25, 1876.] 



About the systematic position of the Colies there has always been 

 considerable uncertainty, partly on account of the peculiarities of 

 their habits, and partly because their internal structure is but in- 

 completely known. One of the examples of Coitus castanonotus, 

 sent to the Society by Mr. H. C. Tait, C.M.Z.S., having died just 

 as it reached this country, I have had the opportunity of dissecting 

 the bird, and of examining several of its special anatomical details. 



Dr. Murie* has, not long since, given us an excellent resume of the 

 views entertained by different naturalists as to the systematic posi- 

 tion of the Colies, few of which are based an any thing more than ex- 

 ternal form and habits. Burchell f placed them close to Corythaix ; 

 and he has been followed by many. Mr. Wallace J, from a study of 

 their habits, refers them to the Parrot tribe. 



In his ' Pterylography ' Nitzsch § places Colius among his Amphi- 

 bolae, together with Musophaga and Opisthocomus, mentioning 

 nevertheless that the genus " has a very remarkable arrangement 

 of the feathers, and can only be compared in this respect with 

 Buceros." 



In his important, memoir " On the Classification of Birds," Prof. 

 Huxley 'I places Coitus among his Desmognathse, in the smaller 

 group Coccygomorphse, the genus being the sole representative of 

 one of its minor divisions. Prof. Huxley makes no special reference 

 to the skull. 



Dr. Murie has given us valuable information on the osteology of 

 the bird ^[ ; and I am able to confirm most of his observations. 

 There is, however, one part of the skeleton (the palate) where my 

 results differ considerably from those of my predecessor ; and these 

 it is necessary for me to record. Dr. Murie tells us that the speci- 

 men at his disposal was somewhat injured ; nevertheless, of the 

 maxillo-palatine processes of the maxillary bones, he says that they 

 intrude but a slight way beyond the palatal rods, and leave a wide 

 middle space betwixt them, and that, " as respects the presence of a 

 vomer, there is apparently a short one, tapering rather than abruptly 

 truncate anteriorly, and not visibly cleft behind." Dr. Murie there- 

 fore removes Colius from among Prof. Huxley's Desmognathse, and 

 consequently from the Coccygomorphse. 



In the preparation of the skull of my specimen of Colius castano- 



* Ibis, 1872, p. 2(52. 



t Travels in South Africa, vol. i. p. 214 (footnote). 



X Annals & Mag. of Nat, Hist, 1856, p. 213. 



§ Kay Society's English Translation, edited l>v Mr. Sclater, p. 1<>7 



|| P. Z. S. I St 17, p. 466. 



• Loc. cit. p 266, pl.x. 



