366 MR. F. E. BEDDAED OK THE [Apr. 16, 



It has, however, been placed in a subfamily — and even in a family ! — 

 by itself, contrasting with the remaining genera, Ciconia, Mycteria, 

 Xenorliynchus, &c. I find no sanction for this separation of 

 Anastomus after an examination of its structure, unless, indeed, the 

 peculiar formation of the quadrate bone, to which I shall refer later, 

 is considered to necessitate so wide a divorce from other typical 

 Storks. The viscera, muscles, and the skeleton in general, conform 

 to the Ciconiine plan in every particular. And for my part I am 

 disposed to regard Xenorhynelms, Dissura (ejnscoints), and Ahdimia 

 as niore anomalous Storks than is Anastomus. The peculiar fringing 

 of the bill in Anastomus lameUigerns is perhaps respoasible for 

 this separation of the genus from its allies. But lamellae of a 

 similar character are found in Phoniicopterxis, which is in my opinion 

 to be clearly regarded as a Stork. Moreover, they do not exist 

 at all in the species which forms the subject of the present com- 

 munication. The muscle-formula of the thigh is the typically 

 Ciconiine one ; no muscles are missing as is the case with Ahdimia, 

 Xenorhynclius (in part), on the one hand, or in Leptoptilus on the 

 other; while the syrinx, so characteristic an organ in the Stork 

 tribe, though peculiar in sonse respects — as I shall explain imme- 

 diately — is constructed upon the Ciconiine plan, and does not 

 diverge towards the Ardeine syrinx, as do those of Scojnts, 

 Balceniceps, and — to a less extent — Xenorhynelms, Ahdimia, and 

 Dissura. The skeleton, moreover, with the exception of the 

 quadrate, is quite that of a Stork in every respect, though naturally 

 details permit of a definition of this genus Anastomus. 



Anastomus diifers from some Storks in possessing no aftershaft. 

 The rectrices, in the present sjjecimen, although several are missing, 

 appear to have been 12. The oil-gland is of course tufted. 



The alimentary viscera appear to be quite Stork-like. The two 

 lobes of the liver are subequal as usual. The small intestine is 

 particularly long; it measured 7 feet 8 inches, the large intestine 

 being only 3 inches and the caeca mere "nipples." As a rule the 

 intestinal canal in Storks appears to be shorter. 



The ivindpijpe (text-figs. 89, 90, p. 367) is also quite Stork-like. 

 The last 13 tracheal rings in front of the pessulus are short and 

 delicate, and form as in other Storks a definite area of the trachea. 

 The pessulus itself is ossified ; with it are fused four rings as on 

 the ventral side, but only two on the dorsal. There is no trace 

 whatsoev^er of a membrana tympaniformis. The bronchial rings 

 are thus complete, and beginning with the last, which is connected 

 with the syringeal box (on the ventral side), are partly ossified. 



As regards the muscular anatomy, I have paid special attention 

 to those muscles which differ among the Herodiones. 



Tensores patagii. — The tensor brevis is quite Stork-like in the 

 arrangement of its tendons. The tendon is flat and broad with a 

 thickened anterior part ; the contrast between this and the rest of 

 the tendon dies away as the tendon approaches its insertion, 

 It l)ifurcates, as usual, into a double tendon a little before insertion. 



