BY T. C. EYTON, Esq., F.L.S., &c.
SERPOPHAGA ALBO-CORONATA. Gould. (Male.)
Tongue pointed, furnished with a few short bristles at the sides near the base. Trachea with the same muscles as among the warblers generally. Æsophagus slightly funnel-shaped; proventriculus much expanded at its entrance into the gizzard, which is rounded, not very muscular, inner coat slightly hardened, smooth. Intestine of moderate size, furnished with two rudimentary cæca.
| Inches | |
|---|---|
| Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus | 1 |
| of gizzard | ⅜ |
| Breadth of ditto | ⁵⁄₁₆ |
| Length of intestine from gizzard to cloaca | 3¼ |
| from cæca to cloaca | 3¼ |
The skeleton of this bird is precisely that of the smaller and weaker species of Laniadæ.
| lines | |
|---|---|
| Length of sternum | 5 |
| Breadth anteriorly | 3 |
| posteriorly | 4¼ |
| Width of fissures | 1 |
| Depth of ditto | 1½ |
| Depth of keel | 2 |
| Length of pelvis | 5½ |
| Width anteriorly | 2½ |
| posteriorly | 5½ |
| Length from occiput to point of bill | 12 |
| Breadth of head | 5¾ |
| Length of coracoids | 4½ |
| No of cervical vertebræ | 11 |
| dorsal ditto | 7 |
| sacral ditto | 9 |
| caudal ditto | 6 |
| Total | 33 |
| No. of false ribs | 1 1? |
| true ditto | 5 |
| Total | 7 |
FURNARIUS CUNICULARIUS. G. R. Gray. (Male.)
Tongue, trachea, and œsophagus, as in Uppucerthia. Proventriculus longer, and slightly contracted at its entrance into the gizzard, which is large, flattened, and muscular, more rounded than in Opetiorhynchus, lined with a rugose hardened coat, and filled with small seeds, and the remains of insects; intestines of small diameter, and furnished with two rudimentary cæca.
| Inches | |
|---|---|
| Length of œsophagus, including proventriculus | 1¾ |
| of gizzard | ¾ |
| Breadth of ditto | ⅝ |
| Length from gizzard to cæca | 5 |
| cæca to cloaca | 1½ |
Sternum of nearly equal breadth, both posteriorly and anteriorly, but much narrowed in the middle, the portion to which the ribs are attached much elongated beyond their junction; posterior margin furnished with two deep fissures, slightly narrowed at their exit; keel deep, slightly rounded on its inferior edge, and much scolloped out anteriorly; pelvis broad and short, the os pubis projecting far backwards; the ischium terminating posteriorly in an acute process.