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Show 114 MR. P. L. SCLATER ON THE BREEDING OF [Feb. 4, Diagram to show position of Opisthocomus. This diagram indicates that the Galliform ancestor, besides giving rise to the at this moment irrelevant Rallidae and Psittaci, varied also in a strictly Gallinaceous direction, the ancestor of Opisthocomus leaving the parent stem very shortly before the true Gallinae first appeared, and at about the same time as the independent pedigree of the Cuculidse and Musophagidas commenced. That the Muso-phagidse and the Cuculidse are very closely related to the Gallinae is proved by facts brought forward by me in an earlier paper1; and the anatomy of the Hoatzin seems to still further favour this hypothesis, by showing that there exists a bird which helps to fill the gaps between them. 2. On the Breeding of the Argus Pheasant and other Pha-sianidye in the Society's Gardens. By P. L. S C L A T E R, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Received December 11, 1878.] (Plates VII. & VIII.) Although the hopes entertained some twenty years ago of establishing the whole of the Indian Phasianidee as permanent denizens in our aviaries2 have been disappointed, and some of the species 1 P. Z. S. 1874, p. 121. * Cf. Mitchell, P. Z. S. 1858, p. 554. |