1862.] ON THE OSTEOLOGY OF PTEROCLES, ETC. 253 



ia the same garden, and brought to me ; it measured 4 feet 6 inches 

 in length. 



" These Snakes were formerly designated ' Cobra Manil ' by the 

 Portuguese, in consequence of their bite proving as rapidly fatal as 

 that of the Cobra. The word Manil is a corruption of the Tamil word 

 Mannunippamhoo, which literally means Earth-eating Snake, and is 

 the name given by the natives to the JJropeltis grandis, commonly 

 termed ' Double-headed ' Snake, and which they believe lives entirely 

 on earth, from its being frequently found underground." 



Mr. W. K. Parker read the following abstract of a Memoir on 

 the Osteology of the genera Pterodes, Syrrhaptes, Hemipodiiis, and 

 Tinamus, intended for publication in the Society's ' Transactions :' — 



"The classification of the gallinaceous birds would be easy enough 

 if it wei'e not for certain outliers, which refuse to conform to that 

 particular plan of structure with which we are all so familiar in that 

 very convenient and natural type of the group — the Common Fowl. 



" Agreeing with this bird in all essential respects are the genera 

 Phasianiis, Polyplectron, Lophopliorus, Tragopan, Pavo, Meleagris, 

 Numida, and many others, the species of which are in many instances 

 creatures of unsurpassed beauty. This properly typical group has, 

 amongst other characteristics, its species provided with a robust body, 

 short rounded wings, and very strong legs ; whilst the tarsi are 

 naked, provided with one or two spurs, and having the generally 

 small heel elevated above the anterior toes. 



" Notwithstanding the more subdued style of colouring, and 

 the rudimentary condition of the spur, the Red Partridge (Perdix 

 rubra) ought to be placed with the Francolins in the typical group. 



"Still further, if we are to be guided by the structure of the ske- 

 leton, and especially by that of the skull, the dwarfs of the family, 

 the Quails (Cofwnix), ought to stand in the same inner circle as the 

 gigantic species, the Turkey and the Peacock. 



" In a subtypical group all those forms ought to be placed, in 

 which, besides the quiet style of colouring, we find feebler legs, often 

 with the tarsi feathered, a more depressed pigeon-like form of the 

 body, and a skull with thinner and more fibrous walls, combined with 

 a much enlarged tympanic cavity. The spur is also obsolete. 



"The Grey Partridge (Perdix cinerea) should be classed with this 

 subfamily — the Tetraonidce. 



" This beautiful and valuable bird is, as is especially shown in the 

 structure of its skull, much more nearly related to the Ptarmigans 

 {Lagopus) than to Perdix rubra, with its very thick-walled cellular 

 skull, small tympanic cavities, and rudimentary spur. 



" There is a group of very majestic birds inhabiting the warmer 

 parts of the New World, which differs so much from the Gallince 

 proper and from the Tetraonidce, that it must be considered to be- 

 long to an outer or aberrant place in the great gallinaceous family. 

 I allude to the CracidcB. 



" These birds, less ornate indeed than their normal relations, are 



