556 ON THE ITEKYLOSIS OF THE BABBETS AND TOUCANS. [May 5, 



Of these species the last only (under the name of Biwconides rosei- 

 collis) is figured by Nitzsch, and, as I believe, inaccurately. 



Feather-tracts of Megaltfma asiatica. 

 Tlie right-hand figure shows the ventral aspect, the left-hand figure the doraal. 



The accompanying; drawings illustrate the pterylosis of Mega- 

 lama asiatica. The drawings are copied from the late Prof . Garrod'a 

 MS. As will be seen on comparing them with Nitzsch's figures 

 of Megalcema armillaris, there are considerable differences, which 

 of course may possibly exist between allied species. My own 

 observations upon the first four species of my list and those of 

 Mr. Forbes (in MS.) upon Megalmma virens agree so entirely with 

 each other and with Garrod's sketch that I cannot but think that 

 Nitzsch has fallen into error. 



The chief difference between us — it will be observed — concerlis 

 the spinal tract. In all the species of Meejalcema and Cyanops to 

 which I have referred the posterior part of that tract is, as 

 Nitzsch has correctly indicated, not in connection with the anterior 

 fork ; but instead of being a straight band ending at the base of 

 the oil-gland, it forks some little way in front of tliat gland and 

 surrounds it. Another peculiarity of Megalcema (not figured by 

 Nitzsch in M. armillaris) is a lateral band on either side which 

 commences at the fork of the anterior part of the dorsal tract and 

 runs down to a point about on a level with the middle of the poste- 

 rior fork. This is quite distinct from the more conspicuous 

 femoral tract, excepting in M. asiatica, where the lateral tract 

 joins the femoral posteriorly. This lateral tract is figured by 



