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Show 504 MESSRS. SCLATER AND SALVIN ON THE CRACIDAE. [June 9, 10. Synopsis of the Cracidae. By P. L. SCLATER, M.A., Ph.D., F.R.S., and OSBERT SALVIN, M.A., F.L.S., &c. ABSTBACT OF CONTENTS. Sect. I. Introductory remarks p. 604. „ II. History of the group p. 505. ,, III. Synopsis of the speciea p. 512. „ IV. Geographical distribution p. 541. Sect. I. Introductory Remarks. In his article on the classification and distribution of the Alectoro-morphae, published in this Society's 'Proceedings' for 1868, Professor Huxley has clearly pointed out the characters which divide the Gallinaceous birds into two divisions, the Peristeropodes and the Alectoropodes. " In the former division the foot is pigeon-like, the long hallux being on a level with the other toes; while in the latter it is fowl-like, the hallux being short and raised." This difference in the structure of the feet is accompanied by well-marked osteological characters, particularly in the form of the sternum, which Professor Huxley then proceeds to speak of. The Peristeropodous Gallinae embrace only two families, the Cracidae and Megapodidee-the former peculiar to the tropics of the N e w World, the latter characteristic of the Australian region of the Old World, whence it extends into the adjacent districts of the Indian region. Professor Huxley states that he is unable to discover "any important osteological differences whatever " between these two families; and there can be no doubt that as regards the structure of their osseous skeleton they are very intimately allied. But they are exceedingly different in other respects, particularly in their nesting-habits and general mode of life. While the Megapodidee spend their existence on the ground, and lay their numerous eggs in vast mounds raised for the purpose, leaving them to be hatched out by solar heat, or by that arising from the decay of vegetable matter, the Cracidae are essentially arboreal, only occasionally descending to the earth beneath the dense forests in which they dwell. The latter also are true nest-makers, build these structures upon tbe branches of trees, lay but few eggs, and perform the duties of incubation like orthodox birds. In continuation of former papers of the same sort upon the birds of the N e w World, we have now to offer to the Society a revision of the species contained in the last-named family. This has been founded mainly upon the following collections :-(1) the collection of Messrs. Salvin and Godman ; (2) that of the British Museum ; (3) that of the Smithsonian Institution, which has been most liberally sent over to us from Washington for this purpose ; (4 and 5) those of the Museums of Paris and Berlin, which have been examined by Sclater during recent visits to those cities ; and (6) the living collection in the Society's gardens, which embraces twenty-six specimens, belonging to sixteen species. W e have likewise |