OCR Text |
Show 1892.] CLASSIFICATION O F BIRDS. 249 1. Cuculidce. Insectivorous. Caeca large. Oil-gland nude. Vomer present. Coracoids separate. 14 cervical vertebrae. 2. Musophagidce. Ethiopian. Frugivorous. Caeca absent. Oil-gland tufted. Vomer absent. Coracoids overlapping. 15 cervical vertebrae. II. PSITTACI. Tropical. Nestlings downy. Phytophagous. Downs of adults very complex, on apteria and pterylae. Aquinto-cubital. Bill globular, hooked. Rhamphotheca with basal, soft ceroma surrounding the nostrils. 13 or 14 cervical vertebrae. Syrinx with 3 pairs of muscles, and of unique structure. Intestinal convolutions of type IV.; telogyrous. Caeca absent. 1. Psittacidce. 19. CORACIIFORMES. Cosmopolitan. Nidicolous. Feet four-toed, not zygodactylous, not webbed. Metatarsus short. Flexors of type I., V., VII., or VIII. Holorhinal. Nares impervious. Sternum solid, or with small notches or fenestrse. 13, 14, or 15 cervical vertebrae. Intestinal convolutions of type VI. or VII. I. STRIGES. Cosmopolitan. Zoophagous. Nestlings downy. Downs of adults restricted to apteria. Plumage soft. Feet raptorial, fourth toe reversible. Flexors of type I. Hypotarsus simple. Tibia without bony bridge for extensor tendons. No spina interna. 14 cervical vertebrae. Bill raptorial, without ceroma. Schizognathous, with desmognathous tendency. Basipterygoid processes complete. Intestinal convolutions of type VI. Caeca functional. 1. Strigidce. |