OCR Text |
Show 556 ON THE PTERYLOSIS OF THE BARBETS AND TOUCANS. [May 5 Of these species the last only (under the name of Bucconides rosei-collis) is figured by Nitzsch, and, as I believe, inaccurately. Feather-tracts of Megcda-ma asiatica. The right-hand figure shows the ventral aspect, the left-hand figure the dorsal. The accompanying drawings illustrate the pterylosis of Mega-lama asiatica. The drawings are copied from the late Prof. Garrod's M S . As will be seen on comparing them with Nitzsch's figures of Megalcema armillaris, there are considerable differences, which of course may possibly exist between allied species. My own observations upon the first four species of m y list and those of Mr. Forbes (in MS.) upon Megalcema virens agree so entirely with each other and with G-arrod's sketch that I cannot but think that Nitzsch has fallen into error. The chief difference between us--it will be observed-concerns the spinal tract. In all the species of Megalcema and Cyanops to which I have referred the posterior part of that tract is, as Nitzsch has correctly indicated, not in connection with the anterior fork ; but instead of being a straight band ending at the base of the oil-gland, it forks some little way in front of that gland and surrounds it. Another peculiarity of Megalcema (not figured by Nitzsch in M. armillaris) is a lateral band on either side which commences at the fork of the anterior part of the dorsal tract and runs down to a point about on a level with the middle of the posterior fork. This is quite distinct from the more conspicuous femoral tract, excepting in M. asiatica, where the lateral tract joins the femoral posteriorly. This lateral tract is figured by |