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Show 234 DR. H. GADOW ON T H E [Mar. 15, Intercondylar tubercle. Hypotarsus. Striges raptorial type. Thigh-muscles. Striges very specialized. Syriux. Striges more primitive, Cuculiform. Intestinal convolutions. i Food. ) _ . .. , C a Y rarrots specialized. These differences are important enough, not only on account of their number but also on account of their value, to remove Psittaci and Striges far from each other. Striges are perhaps on the whole more primitive, but both groups have been specialized in two different directions. Some of the agreements (e. g. absence of a bony tibial bridge, the sternal configuration) are most likely referable to the numerous organic links which connect the Coraciiformes and Cuculi-formes with each other. IV. Comparison of Psittaci with Pici. Curiously enough these two groups have many characters in common, namely 29 against 11. The differences are:- 1. Woolly nestlings, although both breed in holes. 2. Presence of downs in adult. 3. Dorsal pterylosis. 4. Large aftershaft (intermediate are, however, Capita and Indicator). 5. Aquinto-cubital. 6. N o vomer. 7. Flexor tendons of toes. 8. Procoracoid process. 9. Cervical haemapophyses. 10. Syrinx. 11. Intestinal convolutions. Of these differences Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 are of great importance. Of the 29 positive characters or resemblances the form of the spina externa stemi alone is remarkable, otherwise nothing which cannot be explained equally well by the affinity of the Psittaci to the Coccyges or to the Coraciiformes, of which latter order, moreover, the Pici are an offshoot. The resemblances between the Pici and Psittaci have therefore chiefly to be looked upon as convergent analogies. Final Conclusion.-The sifting of all these characters shows an undoubtedly close affinity between the Psittaci and Coraciida;, but less intimate than with the Coccyges. The latter are, however, closely |