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Show 1892.] CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 235 related to the Coraciidae, and are (as indicated by the Opisthocomus- Gallidae connexion) the lowest of the three groups of Psittaci, Coraciidae, and Coccyges. Cuculidae, as well as Coraciidae, are zoophagous, chiefly insectivorous. The Striges, as a lateral branch of the lower Coraciine stock, explain the considerable number of characters which connect the Striges with the Coccyges, 28 against 12, and with the Psittaci, 22 against 18. In our hypothetical tree the Psittaci would combine with the Coccyges into one bigger branch-Cuculiformes; the Psittacine twig to stand between that of the Musophagidae and looking towards the branch of the Striges, which again come out of the bigger branch of the Coraciiformes. This big branch and that of the Cuculiformes would ultimately combine into a still bigger branch ; below this bifurcation would come off Opisthocomus and lower still that of the Gallidae. Thus the Psittaci permit us a glimpse at a large part of the Avine tree, namely at that big branch which downwards points towards the Galliformes and towards the Gallo- Ralline and Rallo-Limicoline region of the tree, while the same branch upwards ends not only in all the so-called Picarias but also in the Pico-Passeres. The laborious process exemplified in these comparisons wras applied to all the families and was not without results, because certain - families were gradually found to assume a central position towards which a number of others gravitated. Thus, for instance, the Coraciidae had to be compared with not less than 10 other families ; the Gallidae with 8, &c. Notoriously difficult forms, as, for instance, Trogons and Colies, naturally caused more trouble than others, since the number of comparisons had to be increased. The result of all this is the following classification. In the mode of denomination of the various smaller and larger combinations I have followed Fuerbringer's plan. I am sorry that m y classification does not bear greater resemblance to his, but nobody who has really studied Fuerbringer's work will fail to perceive that I stand on my friend's shoulders, or rather on his two fundamental volumes in addition to m y own work. The subfamilies, which have been mentioned whenever desirable, end in ince. The families end in idee. The Families are combined into Suborders,indicated by substantival names. The Suborders are combined into O R D E R S , ending in formes, with a Latin substantive stem. The Orders could, if necessary, be combined into P H Y L A , ending in morphce, with a Greek substantive stem; these would correspond with Fuerbringer's Orders, while my Orders are equivalent to his Suborders. The whole of the Class Aves has been divided into 2 Subclasses, to which the names of Archornithes and Neornithes have been given, the equivalent names of Saururae and Ornithurae being objectionable, because there is no difference in the skeletal part of the tail of Archceopteryx and that of the Ratitae, Crypturi, and Hesperornithidae. The Neornithes are separated into the two Divisions of Ratitae and |