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Show 1886.] GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS. 489 structure of the Cuculidae and allied forms, together with the facts brought to light in the present article, we can arrange in a tabular form a number of the anatomical similarities and differences existing among Geococcyx californianus and the groups with which it is more or less nearly related; so that we may gain some idea as to its probable position in the system, at least as correctly as our present knowledge of its morphology seems to indicate. The group or types compared. Geococcyx californianus. Opisthocomus GrallinaB Corvidas a CD 2 + + + + d •a a CD + + + ± + 6 6 0 < + ± + + d a CD CD EG + + + + + 1 CD m 3 + 4- + H- .•d ra 0 GQ peculiar. ? + - { EC *4^ O h oS O 2 norm. 2 2 2 right - left + a •I-I Xi 0 Oval. Triang. Triang. Triang. j Oval. s* 0 0 ? + + + + Oil-gland. Not tufted. Not tufted. Tufted. Tufted. Not tufted. Tendon of tensor patagii brevis, &c. Differs from Cuculus. Lacks the humeral slip. As I have already said, in the opinion of the American Ornithologists' Union, so far as it is expressed in their published Code and Check- List, the genera Geococcyx and Coccyzus are contained in the one and same subfamily C O C C Y G I N ^ E . N O W a careful examination of the structure of the subject of this memoir undoubtedly demonstrates, beyond cavil, that its anatomical characters are essentially very different from the corresponding ones as we find them in the true Cuckoos. Taking into consideration the weight which we are obliged to attach to important morphological differences in Aves, I can only remark here that these differences are certainly super-generic; in other words, they clearly point to the correctness of Garrod's suggestions, who proposed that the Cuculidae should form two S U B F A M I L I E S , the Centropodinm and the Cuculinai-the first to contain the Ground-Cuckoos, and the latter the true Cuckoos. The studies of the structure of the forms in question demonstrate that this change in classification is a sound one and should be adopted. The classification of the family of North-American Cuckoos would then b e :- Family CUCULIDiE. Subfamily C R O T O P H A G I N ^ E . (Anis.) Genus C R O T O P H A G A. Species: 0. ani. C. sulcirostris. |