| OCR Text |
Show 1867.] PROF. HUXLEY ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 457 1. The CHARADRIOMORPHLE. The rostrum is always elongated and comparatively slender. The base of the skull possesses narrow and prominent basipterygoid processes. The maxillo-palatines are concavo-convex and lamellar, never swollen or spongy. The angle of the mandible is produced into a slender and abruptly recurved process. The sternum is sometimes singly, but, more usually, doubly notched. The hallux, always small, is sometimes absent. The phalanges of the anterior toes diminish in length from the basal to the penultimate. The pterylosis of this group, which nearly corresponds with the pressirostral and longirostral Grallae of Cuvier and with the Limicolce and Scolopacina; of Nitzsch, has been carefully described by the latter writer, who remarks that, " next to the Passerina; and Gallinaceee, this group appears to present the smallest pterylographic differences " *, and that in the form of the tracts it closely approaches Psophia and Grus. The feathers always cease above the suffrago, though sometimes the bare area is very small ; and the webs between the front toes are large only in Recurvirostra. 2. The GERANOMORPHTE. The rostrum is relatively stronger than in the preceding group, and may even be short and arched. Basipterygoid processes are absent (ex. Grus antigone). The maxillo-palatines are concavo-couvex and lamellar. The angle of the mandible is truncated. In the typical groups the sternum is comparatively narrow and elongated, and may be deeply notched or entire. The feet vary greatly, but the toes are never completely or even extensively webbed; and the ratio of the length of the phalanges of the toes is as in the preceding division. A greater or less space above the suffrago is devoid of feathers ; but there appears to be nothing characteristic about the pterylosis of this group. I consider the Cranes and the Rails (between which Psophia and Rhinochetus are intermediate) the typical forms of this group. Otis connects it with the Charadriomorphae, and Dicholophus with the birds of prey ; but it is a question whether these two genera may be better included in this group, or made types of separate groups. 3. The C E C O M O R P H S E. The rostrum varies greatly in shape ; but is very generally compressed from side to side, and hooked at the extremity. Procellaria gigantea alone has presented basipterygoid processes. The maxillo-palatines are usually lamellar and concavo-convex as * See Nitzsch, ' Pterylography ' (Ray Society's Edition), p. 134. |
