VERTEBRATA. 



235 



eagle-owl (Bubo maximus), screech-owl, tawny owl, or ivy-owl 

 (Syrnium aluco), snowy owl (Nyctea nivea), and burrowing-owl 

 (Athene cunicularia). 



The Accipitres are sometimes divided into diurnal and noctur- 

 nal. Huxley's Gypaetidse comprise Vulturidaa and Falconidse. 

 Dicholopkus is a very aberrant form, frequently classed with the 

 Grallse ; by Sundevall it is placed with Polyborus to form his 

 Polyborinse, which, with " Cnthartege," constitute his fourth 

 cohort of Accipitres (Necroharpages). Harpagornis is a large 

 extinct New-Zealand form. 



*Harpagornis. 



Order XI. PSITTACI. 



PREHENSORES. PSITTACOMORPH^. 



Bill short, stout, arched, hooked at the tip ; a cere at the base. 

 Tongue fleshy. Tarsi short, reticulate. Outer and inner toes 

 turned backwards. 



The upper mandible is articulated with the frontal bones by a 

 complete hinge-joint ; the nostrils are pierced in the cere. The 

 tongue is unusually soft and fleshy, and has a brush at the end in 

 Trichoglossidae. The inferior larynx has three pairs of muscles. 

 The clavicles are comparatively weak, and are sometimes absent. 



