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Show 1882.] ON THE TRACHEA OF MANUCODIA ATRA ETC. 347 2. On the Convoluted Trachea of two Species of Manucode (Manucodia atra and Phonygama gouldi) ; with Remarks on similar Structures in other Birds. By W . A. F O R B E S , B.A...Prosector to the Society. [Received March 21, 1882.] The subcutaneous convolution on the pectoral muscles of the trachea in the Manucodes of the genera (or subgenera) Manucodia and Phonygama, originally described and figured by Lesson in Phonygama keraudreni so long ago as 1826 ", has lately excited considerable attention, Prof. Pavesi2 having shown that a similar structure, though less developed, exists in Manucodia chalybeata, and Dr. Meyer 3 having demonstrated the same for its representative form M. jobiensis. From their figures and observations it is clear :- 1. That the trachea of Phonygama " keraudreni " 4 may he convoluted in both sexes, that of the males being most complicated, consisting, when best developed, of a complete spiral of several coils, whilst in younger males, and females, it is reduced to a simple loop with a bend to the right. Intermediate forms of all kinds are to be found, as shown by Pavesi's interesting series of figures. 2. That in Manucodia chalybeata and M. jobiensis the adult males possess a trachea provided with a simple loop, extending about two thirds down the surface of the pectoral muscles. This is apparently absent in the females and young males. The specimen, a male, of Manucodia atra, purchased by the Society on March 19, 18815, having died on March 11th inst., I have now been enabled to examine the condition of the trachea in this species also. As will be seen from the drawing I exhibit (figure, p. 348), representing it in situ, it too is convoluted, but to a much smaller extent, only forming a short loop lying on the interclavicular air-cell, between the rami of the furcula, much as in many specimens of the genus Crax. This quite confirms D'Albertis's description given by Count Salvadori6. In the female the trachea will probably be found to be quite simple. Of Phonyyama gouldi, the Australian representative of P. keraudreni, I have been enabled to examine three detached tracheae, as well as three entire birds collected at Cape York by H.M.S. 1 Voyage de la ' Coquille,' Atlas, pl. xiii. fig. 2. 2 Ann. Mus. Genova, vi. pp. 313-324, pl. x., and ix. pp. 66-77. 3 Abbildungen Vogel-Skeleten, pl. vii. a, p. 5. •» All but one of Pavesi's specimens (fig. 6 of his second paper) are, it is to be observed, really P. gouldi, having been obtained at Cape York by D'Albertis. 5 O n its arrival it was supposed to belong to the species M. viridis (seu chalybeata), and was noticed as such (P. Z. S. 1881, p. 450). « " N o n pare che questa specie possegga vere circonvoluzioni externe della trachea ma, secondo le osservazioni del D'Albertis, i maschi adulti avrebbero soltanto un' ansa piegata ad S nella fossetta della forchetta."- Ornitologia delta Papuasia c delle Molucche, ii. p. 509. |