46 MK. r. E. BEUDAH J) ON THE ANATOMY [Eeb. 1, 



certain of the uiembranes partitioning the cceloin was observed 

 that is not at all common among birds. The two liver-lobes were 

 concealed behind transverse partitions extending across the body- 

 cavity. On the right side of the body the partition \\as denser 

 than on the left, with tough strands of connective tissue running 

 in it. Anteriorly these vertical transverse partitions are attached, 

 like the oblique septa and the umbilical ligament, to the pericardium. 

 A structure of this kind seems to have been up to the present 

 only met with in certain Picarian birds, in Owls and in Parrots. 

 It seems now to be the prevalent opinion that the Owls, Parrots, 

 and Coccyges are not so far away from the Pico-Pasierine division 

 as Garrod attempted to prove. 



As to the alimentary tract the gizzard is large ; the intestines 

 are capacious but short, the measurements being as follows : — 

 Large intestines 4-5 inches ; small intestines 21) inches ; csBca 

 6-5 inches. 



Of the two lobes of the liver the right is very much the larger. 

 There is a gall-bladder. 



The organ of chief classificatory importance, however, among the 

 viscera is the syrinx. The sjTinx is of quite the typical tracheo- 

 bronchial form, the intrinsic muscles being attached to the second 

 bronchial semiring. The membraua tympaniformis is well 

 developed. The bronchidesmus is incomplete, i. e. it does not 

 extend up to the junction of the bronchi. 



The structure of the syrinx, therefore, combined %\ith the 

 characteristics of the pterylosis and the muscles of the leg, shows 

 that Scythrops is an ally of Eudynamis and Phcenicophaes, 



§ The Skeleton. 



The skull of ScythrojJS has been studied by the late Prof. Parker', 

 who, ho\\e\er, did not compare it much with the skull of other 

 Cuckoos. I have compared Seythrops M'ith the following genera : 

 Cnculus, Coccystes, Ceutropus, Pyrrhocentor, Croto2>Jtaya, Saurothera, 

 Piaya, Guira, Geococcy.v, Diplopterus, Eudynamis, PJioenicopliaes, and 

 lihinococcyx. 



The skull is not only larger than in any of the Cuckoos mentioned, 

 but it is more massively constructed. This is seen especially in 

 the face region. The external parts, for instance, are more reduced 

 than in any other Cuckoo. In no Cuckoos are the external nares 

 extensive, and in all they are impervious save in Cuculus and 

 Pyrrhocentor, where the osseus septum is partly defecti\e. In 

 Scythro])S they are relatively very small round orifices, immediately 

 and almost completely occluded by a flap of bone running obliquely 

 inward. In Crotophaya the nares are nearly as much reduced. 



The massiveness of the skull is also seen in the interorbital 

 septum, which is complete, save that the optic foramina are fused 

 into one. In all other Cuckoos there are one or more vacuities 

 in the bony wall. The large massive bill has also brought about a 



» Op. cit. 



