472 PROF. HUXLEY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. [Apr. 11, 



the sternum, standing alone among the Coracomorphse in this par- 

 ticular*. 



So far as their osteology goes, the Polymyodse, Oligomyodse, and 

 Tracheophonse form one great group, in which the Finches and the 

 Scytalopidse alone are distinguishable from the rest by any very im- 

 portant characters. 



But one genus, Menura, stands apart from all the other Coraco- 

 morphse. 



The vomer in this singular bird is broad and rounded off in front, 

 and deeply cleft behind. 



The maxillo-palatines are altogether obsolete, or at any rate un- 

 ossified — a condition which I have not observed in any other Coraco- 

 morph. 



The sternum has a well- developed and forked manubrium; but 

 its posterior edge is strongly convex, and only exhibits a slight notch 

 on each side. It is unlike the corresponding bone in any of the 

 other Coracomorphse, in all of which the ])osterior edge is straight. 



The furcula has no median process, and its scapular ends are com- 

 paratively little expanded. 



The tarso-metatarsus has the typical structure ; and the penultimate 

 phalanges are much longer than the basal ones in the anterior toes. 



Thus, with my present information, I should be disposed to divide 

 the Coracomorphse into two primary groups — one containing Me- 

 nvra, and the other all the other genera which have yet been exa- 

 miried. How the latter is to be subdivided is a dithcult question, upon 

 the consideration of which I do not at present propose to enter. 



In concluding this paper, I desire to offer my best thanks to my 

 friends Dr. Giinther, Mr. Parker, and Mr. O. Salvin for their kindness 

 in supjdying me with specimens, to the Museum Committee of the 

 Royal College of Surgeons aiid to Dr. J. E. Gray of the British 

 Museum for the opportunities of freely employing the collections 

 under their charge which I have enjoyed, and especially to Dr. 

 Schiter for many valuable suggestions upon points of nomenclature. 



P.S. I find I have omitted to refer to a memoir by Kessler enti- 

 tled " Osteologie der Vogeltiisse," published in the ' Bulletin de la 

 Socictc Imperiale des Naturalistes de Moscou' in 1841, which is full 

 of valuable information and suggestions. This writer was the first 

 to draw attention to the great systematic value of the tarso-meta- 

 tarsus and to what I have spoken of as the ratio of length of the 

 phalanges. Kessler's views are fully borne out by M. Alphonse 

 Milne-Edwards in the introduction to his great work on Fossil Birds, 

 now in course of publication. 



* In a specimen of Pteroptochus megapoclius ixoxa Chili, in the British Museum, 

 the two notches extend for fully half the length of the sternum, and the middle 

 and outer processes which hound them are very slender. There is a large bifur- 

 cated manubrium ; and the costal process is long and pointed, being directed for- 

 wards and outwards. 



