AVES. 
59 
The author states that in the male of this species^ at the 
approach of the breeding-season,, when the genital organs be- 
come exceedingly enlarged,, the vasa deferentia are contorted 
into two clusters, which hang down at either side of the anus in 
two pouches formed by the skin of the bird, and supported by 
the os pubis. In the autumn this seasonal exaggeration entirely 
disappears. 
Owen, 11. On the Skeleton of Alca impennis. Proc. ZooL Soc. 
^ 1864, p. 258. 
Professor Owen^s observations were founded on a specimen 
sent from Funk Island to Mr. A. Newton, by the Bishop of New- 
foundland (P. Z. S. 1863, p. 435) ; and the memoir will be pub- 
lished in the ^ Zoological Transactions.^ 
Parker, W. K. On the Osteology of Gallinaceous Birds and 
Tinamous. Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. v. part 3. pp. 149-241. 
pis. xxxiv.-xlii. 
The object of this paper is to throw light on the affinities of 
the Gallinoiy both among themselves and in relation to the 
surrounding groups. The chief difficulty lies with the Ptet'oclidce, 
HemipodiuSy and the Tinamid(e. Fii’st of all the author dismisses 
the ColumbcBy which must be made to stand by themselves, and 
then the Tinamidce, in which exist ‘^no very nascent Plover 
qualities. Of those that are left he considers that in the 
Megapodidm '^the Rasorial qualifications reach their highest 
point,^^ and that this might be called the ultratypical group. 
The TeiraonidcR differ from the Phasianidce just as Ducks differ 
from Geese. Crax is a true and normal link between the Phasi- 
anidoi and Palamedetdce. Talegalla and the other Megapodidae 
are not only related to Crax and Palamedea, but also to Ocy- 
dromus and Rhinochetus. The Turnicidoi and Pteroclida he 
regards as inosculant groups, the first connecting the true 
Gallina by means of Coturnix with Tinamus, JEgialiteSy and 
Chama^pelia (the author does not appear to have compared 
Turnixy^ith Crex), the second passing from the Tetraonidat to i\m 
Charadriidas and ColumbtE. Tinamus, according to Mr. Parker’s 
views, is essentially Struthious, though in its structure closely 
related to Dendroriyx •, and in arriving at this result he seems 
chiefly influenced by the character of the os quadratum,, which, 
he says, ^Gs thoroughly Reptilian in the Tinamou as in the 
Ostriches.” 
Parker, W. K. On the Osteology of the Kagu [Rhinochetus 
jubatus). Proc. Zool. Soc. 1864, pp. 70-72. 
To Mr. Parker Rhinochetus seems to connect Eurypyga and 
P Sophia, but whether it be most of a Grus, a Nycticorax, or an 
Ocydromus, he will not say ; it also has a more distant relation- 
