224 



ZOOLOGT. 



eiind three or fonr feet deeii in tlie beaches of the Celebes 

 Islands, the birds going down for this purpose ten or fifteen 

 miles from the interior; and returning again, leaving the 

 eggs to hatch and the young to shift for themselves. (Wal- 

 lace.) 

 The megapods, together with the American guans and 



Flo. 2G5, — White-tailed Ptarmigan iLagopiis lejici'ms), in (upperfigure) summer 

 and (lower figure) winter plumage. 



curassows (Crdciclw), form a sort of passage from the gal- 

 linaceous to tlie columbine birds. One of the most puz- 

 zling forms for the systematic ornithologist to deal with is 

 the hoasin of Guiana {Opistliocovnis cristattis). In this 

 bii'd the keel of the breast-bone is cut away in front, the 

 wish- bone unites with the coracoid bones, and also with 



