1894.] OS THE MTOLOGT OF BODENTS. 251 



" The bird-forms connecting the Paliulicolce with other avian 

 groups are mostly not far to seek. It is plain that we have in the 

 Jacanidce a small group of birds that unmistakably link the present 

 suborder with the Limicolce, through certain species in the Plover- 

 Sandpiper line. Through Podica and Heliornis it is equally clear 

 that they lead in this direction towards the Pygopodes, and such 

 existing ancestral types as C'hionis probably connect them \^-ith 

 theLongipennes. Less remotely than through this latter affinity, 

 however, they are probably connected by various links \\ith the 

 Herodiones, through Bhinochetus and Eurypyga. By some it 

 has also been claimed that the Paludicolce may also have Accipitrine 

 kinships through a line in which would occur such forms as the 

 Seriema and the Secretary-bird {Serpentari'us). 



" Professor Fiirbringer believes that the Apteryges are far more 

 closely related to the Pallida than has heretofore been realized ; 

 and if this prove to be true, another linking line for the Palu- 

 dicolce is opened up to the Struthious types — with all the Gallina? 

 likewise only a little more remotely related." 



The following papers were read : — 



1. On the Myology of the Sciuromorphine and Hystrico- 

 morphine Rodents. By F. G. Parsons, F.U.C.S., 

 F.Z.S., F.L.S., Lecturer on Comparative Anatomy at 

 St. Thomas's Hospital. 



[Keceived February 12, 1894.] 



In commencing this series of dissections nearly three years ago, 

 I intended to work out the musculatiu-e of all the Eodents which I 

 could collect. Before long, however, the size of my manuscript 

 made it evident to me that I must be content to take up the 

 subject in two parts, and I have accordingly devoted my first 

 attention to the Hystricomorpha and Sciuromorpha because I was 

 able to obtain a more representative series of animals in these 

 groups. 



The follovring is a list of the animals which I have dissected ' : — 



Aulacodus sivindernianns. I SpJiingunis preheymlis. 

 Capromys piloricUs. Lagostomus trichodactylus. 



2Iyop>otamus coyp)us. 

 Octodon cumingii. 

 Hystrix ci-istata. 



Chinchilla lanigera, 

 Dasyprocta cristata. 

 Ccelogenys paca. 



^ For the opportunity of dissecting these animals I am indebted to the 

 kindness of the Prosector to the Society, Mr. F. E. Beddard. F.R.S. 



