156 NASITERNINiE. 



of a particular chimney ; entering the aperture they cling to the wall with 

 their claws, supporting themselves by their sharp tail." 



Mr. Wallace (as above quoted) continues, respecting Nasiterna pygmeea, 

 " According to the observation of my collector, Mr. Allen, it makes a hole in 

 arboreal white-ants' nests." Query, therefore, does it use its tail to keep 

 itself up against the side of the hole, as described in Chcetura pelasgia } 



At all events it is suggestive that two birds, structurally so diverse, 

 should resemble each other in these spinous tail-feathers, which, in Nasiterna, 

 are so remarkably different from any other Psittacine form. In the Chimney- 

 Swifts (^Chaeturd) the mucronate rhachis is strongly displayed ; but in Nasiterna 

 the rhachis projects so far from the barb, and is proportionally so strong, as 

 to become quite exceptional. There is nothing to equal it in the Rice-Troopial 

 (^Dolichonyx oryzivorus~), though called the Sharp-tailed Finch. In fact the 

 genus Nasiterna, both as regards its beak and tail, is a very remarkable one. 



The example of N. pusio in the British Museum was stuffed by "the 

 artistic hands of Mr. Bartlett;" and Dr. Murie gave the following notes, 

 inserted by Dr. Sclater in his article : — 



" Muscles: Pectoralis major. — Very strong and well developed. Origin, 

 whole front of sternum, overlapping the outer edge and clavicular interspace. 

 Insertion, by tendon into forearm. 



" Pectoralis minor. — Smaller and narrower. Origin, anterior edge of 

 sternum, tapering to a point at the clavicle. 



" Suhclavius. — Narrow below the bone ; anterior muscles of neck long 

 and strons;. 



" Contents of Stomach. — Only a number of minute dark-coloured stony 

 particles, but no other food " [or, rather, no food]. 



It might be well to mention that "Geelvink" was the name of a 

 Dutch exploring vessel which, in 1705, first entered the bay. Willem 

 Schouten and Jacob le Maire, however, in 1616 apparently touched it, as they 

 landed on Seek and Biak, the Schouten Islands in the north of the bay. 



