544 CHORDATA 



groups which are very different in anatomical characters. Section I. CICONI- 

 FORMES. Beak with a strong horny coat. Ardea* herons; Ibis; Ciconia, 

 storks; Phcentcoptents,* flamingo. Section II. GRUIFORMES. Beak always 

 with soft skin at the base, often extending to the tip. Grus* cranes; Rallus* 

 rails; Otis, bustards, terrestrial. Section III. CHARADRIFORMES. Allied to 

 auks and gulls. Scl;>p<.ix,* woodcock; Charadrius,* plover. 



Sub Order V. SCANSORES. Climbing birds; zygodactyle feet (fig. 594, g), 

 toes 2 and 3 directed forwards, i and 4 backwards. The forms differ much in 

 structure and their association does not rest on blood-relationship. Section I. 

 CUCULIFORMES. The PSITTACI, parrots, brightly colored tropical birds with 

 short, compressed, and strongly bent beak and fleshy tongue. But one species 

 (Conurus carolin&nsis*} in the U. S. Cacatua, Plictolophits, cockatoos; Mclo- 

 psittacus, Psittacus, parrots. CUCULI, bill slightly arched or straight; outer toe 

 usually versatile; Coccygus,* cuckoos. Section II. PICARI.E, woodpeckers; 

 long, straight, conical beak and long, protrusible tongue ;Picus.* Nearly allied 

 are the toucans (Rhamphastos) . 



Sub Order VI. PASSE RES. By far the richest in species of the groups of 

 birds. They are altrices of moderate size, with slender feathered tarsi and 

 strong, horny beak without cere. Of the three anterior toes the two outer are 

 either united or'separated to the base (fig. 594, b), the hind toe is at a level with 

 the rest. In some, noticeable for the powers of song of the males, there are 

 special muscles to the syrinx which are lacking in other birds. These are 

 called Oscines, in contrast to the crying birds, or Clamatores. These groups 

 are further distinguished by a large, freely movable hind toe in the Oscines, while 

 in the Clamatores it is restricted in its motions. 



Section I. OSCINES. All our song birds belong here: FRINGILLHXE, finches; 

 Passer domesticus* English sparrow; Loxia* crossbills; ICTERID.E; Icterus* 

 orioles; Dolichonyx,* bobolink; ALAUDID.E, Alauda,* sky-lark; SYLVICOLID^;, 

 Dendrceca,* Helminthophaga,* warblers; TURDID/E, Turdns,* thrushes; 

 Siala,* bluebirds; HIRUXDIXID.E, Hirundo* swallows; TROGLODYTID^;, wrens; 

 CORVIOE, Corvus* crows; Cyanocitta* jays. The PARADISEID.E, or birds of 

 paradise (fig. 15), with marked sexual dimorphism, are closely related to the 

 crows. Section II. CLAIIATORES. Here are frequently included a few groups 

 (COTINGID/E, TYRANNTD.E) best developed in South America and the lyre birds 

 (MENURID.E) or Australia. Earlier other forms were regarded as allied, but 

 now are separated as Cypselomorphae, or Coraciformes, and united with the 

 owls and Picariae. CYPSELED.E; Chatura* chimney 'swallow,' with adherent 

 feet (fig. 594, c). TROCHILID.E, humming birds, best developed in tropical 

 America; TrochUus* CAPRIMULGID.E, night hawks; Antrostomus rocifcrus* 

 whippoorwill. ALCEDINID.E, kingfishers, Ceryle* BUCERONTID.E, horn bills, 

 tropical. 



Sub Order VII. RAPTORES, birds of prey; strong birds of considerable 

 size; tarso-metatarsus feathered and four strongly clawed toes of the raptatorial 

 type (fig. 594, d). The beak is strong, the upper half, strongly hooked at the 

 tip, extending over the lower. The two groups probably are not closely related. 

 Section I. ^ FALCONIFORMES. Slender birds with close plumage and extra- 

 ordinary sight; related structurally to the herons. CATHARTHXE, buzzards; 

 Cathartesaura* turkey buzzard. PANDIONID.E, Pandion halieztus* fish hawk; 

 FALCONID/E: Aquila* Hali(i'tns* eagles; Bnteo* buzzards; Falco* falcons; 

 Accipiter* hawks. Section II. STRIGES, owls; compact birds with loose, 

 fluffy plumage, large eyes in a circle of feathers; related structurally to the 

 Caprimulgidae. Bubo* horned owls; Scops* screech owls; Strix* gray and 

 brown owls; Spent vln* burrowing owls. 



