ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY. 37 
Garrod, a. H. On some points in the anatomy of the Columbce. Tom. 
cit. pp. 249-259. \_Columhai.'\ 
. On some points in the anatomy of the Parrots which bear on the 
classification of the sub-order. Tom. cit. pp. 586-598, pis. Ixx. & 
Ixxi. \^Psittaci.'] 
. On the “Showing off’’ of the Australian Bustard {Eupodotis 
australis). Tom. cit. pp. 471-473. 
The sexual and periodical great swelling of the throat in this species, 
heretofore ascribed to the development of a gular pouch, is shown to be 
due to an enlargement of the oesophagus, and there is no separate sac in 
front of the trachea, as obtains occasionally in Otis tarda. 
. Further note’ on the mechanism of the “ Show 6ff ” in the Bus- 
tards. Tom. cit. pp. 673 & 674. 
In a young pouchless male of Otis larda.^ instead of a frenum lingucc^ 
two slight, lateral vertical folds and a median depression were found ; in 
another specimen, supposed to be a female, a frenum linguce was present. 
It is inferred, therefore, from these conditions with superadded strain on 
the distended pharynx, that in the adult male alone the stretching of the 
parts permits of the formation of a true gular pouch. 
Gervais, H. Note sur un cas de Metopagie, compliqu(5 de pro-encephalie 
observe chez le Canard domestique. J. Zool. hi. pp. 380-385, 
pi. xiii. 
The abnormality in question is among the rarest, four instances alone 
being as yet recorded ; three human (Mus. and Hist. Cat. Coll. Surg., 
in which case the cranially united beings lived till 9 years old), the fourth 
avian (Tiedemann, 1829). In the present case, the crown and entire 
upper parts of head and beak are joined together, but without absolute 
fusion, the brains being each comparatively perfect and separate, though 
bridged by a more or less continuous layer of dura-mater. 
Hector, J. On Cnemiornis calcitrans., Owen, showing its affinity to the 
Lamellirostrate Natatores. Tr. N. Z. Inst, vi, pp. 76-84, pis. x.-xiv.A. 
A descriptive account of the major portion of the skeleton of this 
New Zealand bird. The skull, 12 cervical and 4 dorsal vertebrae, sternum, 
furcula, right humerus, right metacarpal, sacrum, femur, both tibiae, tarso- 
metatarsal, and 6 ribs, are passed in review and figured. The humerus 
equals the femur in length, instead of being l-9th less, as in Owen’s 
specimen. From its structure, and the form of the skull and sternum, 
the author concludes that its affinities lie with the Geese {Coreopsis).^ the 
power of flight becoming obsolete. It differs from them, however, in its 
short, lofty head, very solid palate, and characteristic tympanic cavity, 
which is bridged by a bony process between the mastoid process and 
basi-occipital. Except part of the sternum, all the bones are close- 
grained, and in the fresh state possibly contained oily matter. 
In P. Z. S. 1874, p. 307, the author corrects a clerical error in the above 
communication (and in P. Z. S. 1873, p. 763) to the effect that in Crte- 
miornis calcitrans the humerus is relatively to its bulk much heavier 
than in the genera Ocydromus, Stringops, Nestor, and IJieracidea. 
