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Show 254 MR. A. H. GARROD ON THE [May 5, Respecting Lopholamus, it may be mentioned that the only opportunity I have had of dissecting it has been through the kindness of Mr. Edward Gerrard, who lent m e two specimens, not well preserved, in spirit*. In these I could not find the least trace of the accessory femoro-caudal muscle, which is well developed in all other Pigeons. This peculiarity, when taken in connexion with the fact that, like Carpophaga only amongst the Phapinae, it possesses a gallbladder, makes m e disposed to make it an independent minor branch from the Carpophagine stem. Most ornithologists seem to be very unwilling to place the Ptero-clidae along with the true Pigeons in a single group, notwithstanding the evidence brought forward by Nitzsch, and the statement of M . Blanchard. M y own observations tend to show that the two families are most intimately related, and that they must be most certainly included in the same suborder, though forming two quite independent families. Commencing with the osteological evidence on this point, which has been very fully discussed by Mr. Parker and Prof. Huxley, the skull presents strong Columbine features. The pterygoid bones are peculiarly curved, in a manner seen nowhere else but among the Pigeons; and as in them, and not in the Fowls, the basipterygoid facets are situated midway between their two extremities. The nasal bones are, no doubt, peculiar; they are not at all typically schizo-rhinal, but present the extreme degree of modification of that type, probably the result of the shortness and breadth of the beak. There is, however, a nasal turbinal bone, partly occluding the osseous external nares, as in the Pigeons, whilst the premaxillary process of the nasal bone is also of considerable length. The palatine bones are perfectly Columbine in some species (e. g. Pterocles arenarius), and are not much modified in others, never so much so as are those of Didunculus. In the lower jaw there is no produced and upturned angle, like that in the Gallinae. The cranial articular end of the quadrate bone is also strongly bifurcate. The whole skull seems to be that of a Pigeon modified by the effects of a Grouse-like life. The furcula has no median symphysial plate or hypocleidium. The sternum is perfectly Columbine, the similarity extending to the direction taken by the costal processes and the non-development of any true manubrial rostrum, in both which points the Gallinae are so different. The head of the humerus presents an important character. From any number of birds' humeri those of the Columbae may be identified, if those of the Psittaci are excluded, because the pectoral lamina or the ridge for the insertion of the great pectoral muscle is peculiar. In most birds the second pectoral muscle is inserted into * An additional specimen has come into my hands since the above was written, by which the accuracy of m y previous dissections of the species is confirmed. No accessory femoro-caudal was present; there were no caeca coli; there was a large elongated gall-bladder and a small oil-gland. The gizzard was remarkably small, with irregular pads, one of which somewhat resembled that of Ptilonopus. |