466 DR. R. W. SHUFELDT ON NoV. 16, 



2. Contributions to the Anatomy of Geococcyx californianus. 

 By R. W. Shufeldt, C.M.Z.S. 



[Eeceiyed June 28, 1886.] 

 (Plates XLII.-XLV.) 



The investigations I am enabled to record iu 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 hiin 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 remeuibered by those who are familiar with my work 

 that I have already published a full account of (he skeleton of 

 Geococcyx elsewhere ', and to that paper the present memoir 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 Grouud-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 Geococcyx 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 Cuculidae 

 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 : — 



' Joum. of Auat. and Physiology, Loud. vol. xx. pt. 2, Jan. 1886, pp. 244- 

 266, pis. vii., viii., and ix. 



