404 ZOOLOGY SECT. 



ORDER 16. PTEROCLETES. 

 Including the Sand-grouse (Pterocles and Syrrhaptes). 



ORDER 17. COLUMB^E. 



Including the Pigeons and Doves (Columba, Turtur, &c.), Crowned 

 Pigeons (Goura), and the extinct flightless Dodo (Didus) and Solitaire 

 (Pezophaps). 



ORDER 18. PsiTTACi. 1 



Including the Parrots (Psittacus, &c.), Parrakeets (Platycercus), 

 Cockatoos (Gacatua), Lories (Lorius), and Macaws (Am). 



ORDER 19. STRIGES. 

 Including the Owls (Strigidce). 



ORDER 20. PICARL^E. 



A somewhat heterogeneous group including the Cuckoos (Cticu- 

 lidce), Plantain-eaters (Musophagidoe), Rollers (Coraciidcs), Motmots 

 (Momotidce), Kingfishers (Alcedinidce), Bee-eaters (Meropidca), 

 Hoopoes (Upupidce), Goat-suckers (Caprimulgi), Swifts (Cypselidce), 

 Humming Birds (Trochilidce), Colies (Colii), Trogons (Trogones), 

 Woodpeckers and Hornbills (Pici), &c. 



ORDER 21. PASSERES. 



Including the Lyre-birds (Menum), Larks (Alaudidce), Starlings 

 (Sturnidce), Finches (Fringillidce), Swallows (Hinmdinidce), Black- 

 birds and Thrushes (Turdidce), Birds of Paradise (Paradiseidce), 

 Crows (Corvidce), &c. 



Systematic Position of the Example. 



The numerous species of Columba belong to the family Columbidce, 

 of the order Columbce. 



The -following are the chief characters of the Columbse : There 

 are eleven primary remiges, the first very small ; the skull is 

 schizognathous (see p. 415) ; the oil-gland has no tuft of feathers ; 

 the vomer is vestigial ; there is a large crop ; the caeca are vestigial ; 

 and the young are non-precocious. 



Of the two families of Columbae the Columbidce, or Doves and 

 Pigeons, are distinguished from the Dididce, including the Dodo and 

 Solitaire, by the power of flight and the accompanying typical 

 carinate characters of the sternum and shoulder-girdle. 



In Columba there are twelve retrices ; the second primary remex 



1 Sometimes combined with the Cuckoos. 



