PERONEAL MUSCLES IN BIRDS. 1065 



strand which in a fresh example of Dendrocojnis formed the usual 

 slip to III, but which in the other Woodpeckers, of which I had 

 only very old spirit specimens, I covild not trace completely to 

 their insertion. The P. brevis was strong, arising from the distal 

 three-quarters of the shaft, and ending in a short tendon which 

 flattened out to the usual insertion. 



The Ooraciiform birds form an interesting and difficult series, 

 but it is clear that the general tendency in the group is for the 

 P. brevis to increase and for the P. longus to be reduced. The 

 series, however, is not very coherent. A certain number liave 

 remained ahnost in the generalized condition with the P. longiis 

 possibly slightly reduced in its origin and equal to or weaker 

 than the P. brevis, but showing the anchor and slip to III, a.nd 

 with the P. brevis a strong but not excessively strong muscle. 

 These central types are the Ooracite, Momotidae, Meropida?, 

 PofZrtr(7^ts amongst the Caprimulgi, and the Trogones, Oapitonidae, 

 and Rhamphastida?. In others the P. longus is still further reduced 

 a,nd has lost the slip to III, whilst the P. brevis has relatively 

 still further increased. These are the Alcedinidse (Dr. Gadow, 

 however, states that Pelargopsis has proceeded still further to 

 the complete loss of the P. longus), the Colli, the Galbulida? 

 (probably), and most of the Picidae. In yet another set the 

 specialization has proceeded to the complete loss of the P. longus, 

 and the P. brevis is always very strong. These are the Buce- 

 rotidae, (jpupidsB, Striges, and, amongst the Caprimulgi, Sieatornis 

 and jEgotheles, the Cypselidse and the Trochilidse. Finally, in 

 Nyctidromus and Caprimulgits^ although the P. longus is partly 

 reduced, the P. brevis is absent. 



Passeriformes. 



Passe res Anisomyodse. 



Subclamatores. Eurylcevius ocJiromelas . Cymhirhynchus 



macrorhynchus. 



Clama,tores. Picola'ptes affinis. Cha sonority nchus nudicollis. 

 Tyrannus melancholicus. Myiarchus tyrannidus. Pitangtts 

 sulfuraUis. Pitta strepitans. 



Pas seres Diacromyodfe. 



Suboscines. Menura superha. 



Oscines : — 



Corvidfe. Cracticus destructor. Creadion carunczdatus. Cyano- 

 corax luxuosus. 



Paradiseidse. Parotia Imoesii. uEhiroedus rnelanocephcdus. 



Sturnidse. Enodes erythrophrys. Mimo dumonti. Acrido- 

 theres fuscus. 



Icteridfe. Icterus jamaiccci. Ostinojys decumanus. 



Ploceidse. Estrelda phcenicotis. 



Tanagridfe. Tanagra sayaca. Rhamphocadus brasilius. 



Coerebidse. Ccereba cyanea. 



Meliphagidse. Entomyza cyanotus. Acanthorhynchus (2 

 species). 



