OCR Text |
Show 254 MR. ST. GEORGE MIVART ON [M>r- ^-> 37- TINNUNCULUS SPARVERIUS (Linn.). A\ single male, from the plain of Valencia, has the body below wholly without spots, as the bird described by Swainson as Falco isabellinus (An. in Men. p. 281). See v. Pelzeln's remarks on this supposed local race in his List of Falconidee in the Imperial Collection (Verh. zool.-bot. Ges. 1863, p. 627). 41. MICRASTUR ZONOTHORAX. Climacocercus zonothorax, Cab. Journ. f. O. 1865, p. 406. A single skin, immature, but no doubt referable to this northern form of M. ruficollis sive xanthothorax as described by Cabanis. Whether it is really distinct we have not yet sufficient materials to give a decided opinion. 47. CRYPTURUS STRIGULOSUS. Tinamus strigulosus, Temm. Pig. et Gall. iii. p. 594. Mr. Goering's skin agrees generally with the specimens in the British Museum thus marked (cf. Gray, List of Gall. p. 100), but has the middle of the throat pure white. 3. Notes on the Myology of Menopoma alleghaniense. By ST. G E O R G E M I V A R T , F.L.S., Lecturer on Comparative Anatomy at St. Mary's Hospital. Having; been eno-aged for some months in working* at the Urodele Batrachians, the liberality of the authorities of the Royal College of Surgeons, and the kindness of my friend Air. W . II. Flower, have placed at my disposal certain specimens well preserved in spirit of wine. One of these is the subject of the following notes. In describing the muscles I think it better to give each a distinct name. In doing so, however, I by no means intend to imply that there is necessarily a real relation of homology between the several muscles oi Menopoma and those of Mammals and Sauropsidans. It may well be that in many cases the resemblance is merely one of analogy, resulting from similarity of conditions. The general form of this species is well known, with its broad and flat body, its very wide and flat head, and rounded muzzle. The tail has a rather deep cutaneous fin both above and below ; but while it is continued along the whole length jf the dorsum of the tail, it only extends along about the hindmost sixth of its inferior border. The skin is nearly smooth all over, and is destitute of any tubercles or prominences. It is smoothest on the middle of the crown of the head and on the middle of the belly. Numerous short transverse wrinkles, however, extend, at short intervals, across the throat and along the whole back and belly ; on the tail, on account of the great lateral compression of that organ, these wrinkles assume a vertical direction. |