1891.] ON THE ANATOMY OF THE KAGU. 



3. Contributions to the Anatomy of the Kagu {Rhinochetus 

 jubatus) . By Frank E. Beddard, M.A., Prosector to 

 the Society. 



[Eeceived January 6, 1891.] 



The structure of the Kagu, so far as it is at present known, has 

 shown it to be a bird which stands in a central position with respect 

 to several groups. It cannot be included in any of the existing 

 families without doing yiolence to some one of its structural charac- 

 teristics. 



All that is known of the anatomy of this bird refers to external 

 features, to the skeleton, to the viscera, and to a few of its muscles ; 

 and opinions as to its affinities, based more or less upon these 

 characters, are varied. There can be no doubt, however, that it 

 stands somewhere in the Ardeogralline group. 



With a view to assist in the more accurate placing of Rhinochetus, 

 I offer here an account of some of the principal muscles which I 

 have dissected in a specimen that died in the Society's Gardens a 

 a few years since. 



The Kagu was described so recently as 1860 by MM. Des Murs and 

 Yerreaux [1] ; but the first account of its anatomy is contained in 

 a short paper by Prof. Parker [6] on certain points in the Osteology, 

 expanded later [7] into an elaborate description of the entire skeleton. 

 After the publication of these two papers, Dr. Murie contributed 

 to the ' Transactions ' of this Society a valuable account [8] of the 

 external characters and of the alimentary viscera, comparing the 

 bird in all these matters with Eurypijga and with the Boatbill 

 (Cancroma). More recently Prof. Garrod has remarked upon the 

 carotids and upon the muscles of the thigh [19]. The disposition of 

 the intestinal coils has been described by Dr. Gadow [16], while Mr. 

 Seebohm [9] has directed attention to a few points in the osteology. 



I am not acquainted with any other papers that deal with the 

 structure of Rhinochetus. 



The following is a list of the papers which I have consulted in 

 putting together the present notes : — 



(1) Des Murs and J.Verreaux. — Revue et Mag. de Zool. t. xiii. 



(1860) p. 441. 



(2) PoxjGET. — Note sur le Kagou. Bull. Socie't. Acclim. (3) 

 t. ii. p. 162. ' 



(3) Bartlett, a. D. — Note on the Habits and Affinities of 

 the IL&^n {Rhinochetus jubatus). P. Z. S. 1862, p. 218. 



^ In this paper the author illustrates, by some good woodcuts, the attitudes 

 of the bird— particularly the elevation of the crest, which I have myself fre- 

 quently observed at the Gardens. He also points out that the name was written 

 by the describers " Rhynochetos" and that therefore, in his opinion, their 

 spelUng should be used. 



