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Show 514 MR. P. L. SCLATER O N A [June 6, views upon the position of Stringops. He regards it, it is true, a member of a subfamily (Stringopince) distinct from the Cacatuince; but both these subfamilies are within one family, Palceornithidce. W e quite agree with Prof. Garrod's remark about Stringops (P. Z. S. 1874, p. 596) that " as a Parrot it is not so strikingly peculiar as many seem to think. Its wings are useless, and the carina sterni is correspondingly reduced, it is true; but as points of classifica-tional importance, I regard these as insignificant." The association of Cacatua with Microglossa and Calyptorhynchus is confirmed, though Cacatua is perhaps farther off either of these two than they are from each other. Ara, too, we find to be rather nearer than some have thought it to certain of the Old World genera, such as Nestor, Stringops, and Calyptorhynchus. Considering the superficial resemblance which the Macaws bear to the Cockatoos, this result is of not a little interest. EXPLANATION OF PLATE XL. SYRINGES OF PARROTS. n \ Eos reticulata. 3. Stringops hahroptilus. f I Cacatua cristata. 6. Ara leari. 7. Chrysotis erythrura. 8. Psittacus temneh. 9. Pionus violaceus. In figs. 2 & 3 only the intrinsic muscle (m) is shown. 2. O n some Horns belonging, apparently, to a new Form of African Rhinoceros. By P. L. S C L A T E R , M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., Secretary to the Society. [Received June 2, 1893.] M y friend Mr. Frederick Holmwood, C.B., C.M.Z.S., H.B.M. Consul-General at Smyrna, has kindly lent m e for examination two very remarkable horns of an African Rhinoceros, which he obtained at Zanzibar, when Consul-General there a few years ago. Mr. Holmwood gives m e the following account of them:- " From a very careful description of the country I gathered that they came from the country of ' Udulia,' situated at the N.E. point of LTsukuma, 50 miles S. of Speke Gulf. The native traveller whom I bought them of thought, however, that the district, which is a jungle interspersed with grassy plains, might form part of the large pastoral country to the W . of Udulia, called by various names, but known generally by caravans as ' Uturu.' He said it was the only district where this Rhinoceros was known. It is only inhabited by hunters whom he described as dwarfs, but I do not take this for granted." |
