176 



MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE CUCKOOS. [Feb. 17, 



sternum ; below the attachment of the humerus a stronger baud is 

 given off which runs as far as the axilla, and a few scattered feathers 

 in front of this also connect the ventral tract with the wing ; just at 

 the posterior margin of the sternum the feathers of the ventral tract 

 become arranged in three rows, one deep, and the interspaces between 

 the rows become wider and then again narrow in front of the anus ; 

 the ventral tract ceases to be distinguishable on either side at about 

 the end of the pubes. 



The upper surface of the head is completely feathered ; the spinal 

 tract does not seem to differ much in its disposition from other 

 Cuckoos. 



This description also applies to Cacomantis fanceolatus. 



Piaya cayana. — The inferior tract (fig. 4) is divided from the point of 



Fie. 4. 



Pterylosis of Piaya cayana. 



its origin at the base of the mandibular symphysis ; at the junction of 

 the head with the neck it gives off a number of branches arranged 

 parallel with each other joining the dorsal tract, as shown in the 



