268 MR. W. A. FORBES ON THE [Feb. 21, 
genus Mesites should be arranged in the Natural System next to 
Eurypyga and its near ally Rhinochetus.” 
The nostrils of Mesites are long, linear concave-upward slits, 
extending for more than half the length of the beak, and covered 
above by a well-marked membranous valvular operculum, being in 
this respect very unlike the ordinary form of nostril in the Rails. 
The tarsi have about 10 or 11 distinct transverse scutelle ante- 
riorly, best developed internally, and there nearly meeting, along 
the lateral surface, a similar but somewhat more numerous series of 
smaller scutellee, which are developed along the posterior aspect of 
the leg, but become obsolete about } inch above the metatarso- 
phalangeal joint. Externally the two series of scutellze are separated 
by a distinct space covered by smooth, non-scutellated skin. This 
tarsal scutellation extends upwards above the ‘‘knee” for about 
3 inch, for which extent therefore the tibia is bare of feathers. 
The digits are all free from their bases ; the hallux is considerably 
the smallest of them’. 
The number of remiges cannot be counted with certainty ; but 
there are certainly 10 primaries ; the wing is much rounded. 
There are 16 rectrices, a very non-passerine character * ; and both 
the upper and under tail-coverts are very long, with the last feathers 
rectriciform and extending along the tail for quite three fourths of 
its length both above and below. 
There is apparently no claw on the pollex; and the contour- 
feathers have no aftershaft—in both these respects differing from the 
Rallide. The tail in my specimen has unfortunately been so cut 
that I have been unable to ascertain for certain whether the oil-gland 
is present or not. I can find no tuft, however; and as we know that 
the gland, though present, is nude both in Rhinochetus and 
Eurypyga, such is probably its condition in Mesites too *. 
The continuous head-feathering extends about halfway down the 
neck, and then gives off the dorsal and ventral tracts of each side, 
which are separated by well-marked spaces, of which the dorsal one 
is considerably the biggest. The feathering of the lower part of the 
neck is thus quadriserial, separated by as many apteria. In the 
lower part of the neck the two dorsal tracts, which are narrow but 
strongly feathered, are widely separated, and somewhat divergent, 
including between them the anterior pair of dorsal powder-down 
patches, but converge again in the interscapular region. Here they 
suddenly become much feebler, and are then continued on as the 
much more weakly-feathered posterior part of the dorsal tract, this 
1 By soaking out the plantar tendons, I have been enabled to ascertain that 
there is a good winculwm between the flewores longus hallucis and profundus digi- 
torwm, the tendons of which are ossified near the bottom of the leg. In all 
ordinary Passeres, it will be remembered, this vimculwm is quite absent. 
2 According to Nitzsch, however, this is the number met with in the male of 
Menura superba. 
3 Tn answer to an inquiry on this subject, M. A. Milne-Edwards has been kind 
enough to inform me that his spirit-specimen of Mesites is also unfortunately 
damaged at the root of the tail, but that on an examination of a skin he finds 
apparently an oil-gland present with mo tuft. 
