NASITERNA. I53 



Mr. Wallace does not advise this ; he only says that in ordinary practice the 

 observation of the fleshy parts is not useful. The remedy is for students of 

 ornithology to understand them better. Even habits, though perhaps ranking 

 much lov^er in the scale, are valuable when known. Mr. R. Swinhoe says of 

 the Creeper-coloured Grasshopper Lark, Locustella certhiola (Pall.) (Ibis, 

 3rd ser. vol. iv. no. 16, Oct. 1874, p. 440), it "had its tibial tendons fleshy, 

 and not osseous as in all our other Chinese species of Grasshopper Lark. 

 So constant did I find this character that I began to think it generic. In 

 plumage, it is true, this species has a tendency towards Cisficola; but in 

 habits it is nevertheless a true Locustella." Here we have a superficial 

 resemblance corrected by a knowledge of habits. Oology does something : 

 two species of Ostrich have been differentiated by their eggs; and in 1867, 

 when only one species of Mpyornis had been discovered, I pointed out the 

 former existence of certainly another from a fragment of the shell, which, by 

 subsequent discovery, was found to be the case (P. Z. S. 1867, p. 892). In 

 so difficult a subject as ornithology, let us not reject any assistance to be 

 obtained from a legitimate source. 



The examination of the carotid artery in Nasiterna would be of the 

 greatest interest, as helping to establish the genus in its true position — at this 

 time, even with the best authorities, somewhat a matter of doubt. For though 

 at present the cause of these differences of the carotids has not been assigned, 

 yet their aid should be regarded. What we want, then, is a few examples in 

 the flesh for examination. 



Description of the Plates of Nasttern^. 



The male and female of Nasiterna geelvinkiana are from two specimens of 

 mine, exhibited at the meeting of the Zoological Society, June 15, 1875 

 (P. Z. S. 1875, pt. 3, p. 470), and are thus marked : — the female, " Rosenberg. 

 No. 231. 13 Feb. 1869. Nufoor. Nasiterna geelvinkiana S ;" and the male, 

 " Rosenberg. No. 229," with the same date &c. 



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