Xlll 



Here this branch nearly, but not quite, unites with a similar row of somewhat weaker feathers, 

 which runs obliquely outwards and backwards from the main tract, arising at about the same level 

 as the inwardly-directed gular tract in common with the narrow tract that connects the cervical 

 with the patagial and humeral tracts. Between the main tract and its two outer branches are a 

 few small semiplumes on the breast. There is no specialized hypopterum ; but the lower surface 

 of the wings has a scanty covering of semiplumes, a few of which are also found on the apteria. 



Nitzsch, in his ' Pterylographie,' places the Galbulidae along with Coracias, Merops, 

 Momotus, and Todus in his third group ("Todidse" or " Cuculinge calopterse") of the Picarise, 

 the gular branch of the pectoral tract separating the Galhulce from the other members of the 

 group. But he does not appear to have observed the tendency to a break between the scapulse 

 in the dorsal tract, the retrocurrent line of feathers between its posterior part and the lumbar 

 tracts, or the connexion between the outer pectoral branch and the main inferior tract by meatus 

 of the forward- and backward-running feathers above described. All these features approximate 

 the Galbulidae to the Bucconidse, which latter were included by Mtzsch together with the true 

 Capitonidge under the Picinse. 



The Bucconidse, however, differ from the Galbulidae in having no aftershaft to the feathers, 

 and in wanting the gular branch to the pectoral tract. 



b. Visceral Anatomy and Myology*. 



The interior of the mouth is smooth, except round the opening of the nares, where there 

 are a number of very small, slightly elevated spines. The larynx, behind the glottis, is also 

 spiny superiorly. The tongue is very long (an inch in length in G. rufoviridis), thin, and flat ; it 

 tapers anteriorly, and is membranous for the greater part of its extent. The base is emarginate, 

 and beset with a few spines, one or two of which just extend onto the lateral margin of the 

 organ. 



There is no crop. The proventriculus is zonary ; the gizzard fairly muscular, globose in 

 shape, and lined internally with hard plicated " epithelium." The liver has its right lobe larger ; 

 and I have not been able to discover any gall-bladder f. 



The intestines are not voluminous, and very short, measuring in length 5 inches in Galhula^ 

 6 inches in Urogalha ; of this, about 0*76 inch is large intestine. The caeca are large (about as 

 long as the large intestine) and capacious, of the same shape as in the Cuckoos, Coraciidae, 

 Caprimulgidae, and allied groups, being dilated and globose at the apex, and somewhat narrowed 

 basally. The spleen is oval. 



There are always two carotid arteries; and, as in nearly all birds, the main artery of the 

 thigh accompanies the sciatic nerve. The syrinx has a single pair of intrinsic muscles. The 

 sterno-tracheales run to the end of the costal processes. 



Myologically, the pectoralis secundus extends about two thirds down the sternum ; but the 

 pectoralis tertius is absent. The pectoraUs primus sends slips to the tendons of both the tensor 

 patagii longus and hrevis. The terminal tendon of the latter, where it meets the extensor 

 metacarpi radialis longior muscle, sends back a recurrent slip of tendon to the lower end 



* The species examined are — Galhula rufoviridis (two specimens), G. alhirosiris, and Urogcdba paradisea. 

 t As Burmeister also found no gall-bladder in the Bucconidae, this organ is probably absent. 



