200 STRUCTURE AND CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS 



Gaee'od pointed out, precisely that of Momotus. But in 

 Halcyon vagans the two tendons blend completely before 

 the branches to the toes, all arising approximately at the 

 same level, are given off. The structure of the conjoined 

 tendon, however, seems to suggest that the flexor hallucis is 

 concerned with the supply of digits III., IV. 



In some kingfishers there is a myological peculiarity not 

 found in any other group of birds. Dr. E. 0. Cunningham 

 discovered in Ceryle stellata a strong transverse tendon 

 uniting the two biventri cervicis close to the upper belly of 

 the muscles. He failed to find this junction in Alcedo ispida 

 and Dacelo gigantea. Tanysiptera and Cittura ' have this 

 link, but not Sy ma, Halcyon, or Sauropatis? 



The following table gives the intestinal lengths of two 

 species : — 



Ceryle amazona . . . .24 inches 

 Halcyon sp. . . . . 14^ ,, 



The right lobe of the liver sfeems to be always larger 

 than the left. 



I have examined the syrinx in Dacelo oervina. The last 

 tracheal rings are completely fused in front to form a bony 

 box, which shows no traces of the number of rings of which 

 it is composed. These rings appear to be five or six in 

 number, and, with the exception of the last, are fused 

 together in the middle line behind. In front of this box the 

 tracheal rings interlock in the usual fashion. The first 

 bronchial semi-ring, which is ossified, is firmly united to, but 

 not fused with, the tracheal box ; the succeeding rings are 

 cartilaginous. The syrinx has two pairs of intrinsic muscles ; 

 the most anterior is the more slender; the wider muscle 

 arises from the trachea, just where the extrinsic muscles are 

 given off, and is attached to the first and apparently also to 

 the second bronchial semi-ring. 



In Ceryle alcyon there are no great differences, but the 



' In one of two specimens of S. vagans it was present. 

 ^ ' Notes on some Points in the Anatomy of the Kingfisher,' P. Z. 8. 1870, 

 p. 280. See also Beddahd, P. Z. S. 1896, p. 603. 



