OCR Text |
Show 176 MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON THE CUCKOOS. [Feb. 17, sternum ; below the attachment of the humerus a stronger band is given off which runs as far as the axilla, and a few scattered feathers in front of this also connect the ventral tract with the wing ; just at the posterior margin of the sternum the feathers of the ventral tract become arranged in three rows, one deep, and the interspaces between the rows become wider and then again narrow in front of the anus ; the ventral tract ceases to be distinguishable on either side at about the end of the pubes. The upper surface of the head is completely feathered ; the spinal tract does not seem to differ much in its disposition from other Cuckoos. This description also applies to Cacomantis lanceolatus. Piaya cayana.-The inferior tract (fig. 4) is divided from the point of Fig. 4. Pterylosis of Piaya cayana. its origin at the base of the mandibular symphysis ; at the junction of the head with the neck it gives off a number of branches arranged parallel with each other joining the dorsal tract, as shown in the |