1882.] MR. FORBES ON THE PTERYLOSIS OF MESITES. 267 
rounded, occupying nearly the whole of the fore part of the sole. 
First hind toe reaching just to the base of the second; fifth to the 
end of the metacarpal of the fourth. 
Molars much as in the subgenus Isomys, broad and rounded, with 
numerous small but well-marked cusps. 
Approximate dimensions, in inches :— 
Forearm Incisors to 
Head and Hind. and Har- Ist upper Molar 
body, ‘Tail, foot. hand. conch. Skull. molars, series. 
6°2 Foe uct | 118 0°65 — 38 “21 
Judging from the analogy of other species, I should imagine that 
Mus nigricauda is an arboreal animal; for in nearly all climbing 
Rodents we find the rather short feet, large rounded foot-pads, and 
more or less bushy tail characteristie of the present species. The 
Dormice, Squirrels, and, most closely analogous of all, the Climbing 
Vesper-mice of Tropical America (Rhipidomys), may be cited as 
examples of forms which possess the above mentioned accompaniments 
of an arboreal habit of life. 
4, Description of the Pterylosis of Mesites, with Remarks 
on the Position of that Genus. By W. A. Forszs, 
B.A., Prosector to the Society. 
[Received February 7, 1882.] 
When making some observations on the pterylographical and 
other peculiarities of Hupetes macrocercus’, I expressed regret at 
not having been able to obtain any specimen of Mesites, which in 
external appearance somewhat approaches Eupetes macrocercus, to 
study its pterylosis also. 
Since then, having obtained through Herr G. Schneider, of Basel, 
a skin of Mesites variegatus, I have been able, from an examination 
of it, to complete our knowledge of this most peculiar form as 
regards the distribution of its feathers. All that was previously 
known of this part of the structure of Mesites was the existence 
in that bird of five pairs of powder-down patches*, M. A. Milne- 
Edwards in his paper on it * having confined his observations to its 
osseous and internal structure *. Those interested in the various 
opinions which have been held by naturalists as to the exact syste- 
matic position of Mesites, I will refer to M. Milne-Edwards’s paper 
just quoted, only adding Mr. E. Bartlett’s suggestion “that the 
1 Pp. Z. 8. 1881, p. 838. 
2 Vide EB. Bartlett, P. Z. S. 1877, p. 292. 
3 Ann. Sci. Nat. (6) Zool. vii. 1878, art. 6. 
4 An imperfect skull, extracted from the present skin, shows that the palate 
is schizognathous, the recurved maxillo-palatines being free in the middle line, 
and the yomer small and pointed—points not evident in Milne-Edwards's figure, 
his specimen, I believe, being somewhat imperfect, 
