CLASS AVES. BraOS 



461 



consists of small mammals such as field 

 mice, ground squirrels, and rabbits. For 

 many years, hawks, owls, and other birds of 

 prey have been killed whenever possible be- 

 cause of the supposed destruction of poultry 

 and game birds. However, the majority of 

 the species are chiefly beneficial. 



A BRIEF CLASSIFICATION 

 OF LIVING BIRDS 



(For reference purposes only) 



Class Aves. The birds form a more homo- 

 geneous class of vertebrates than the reptiles 

 and cannot be separated into a few well-defined 

 groups. The structural differences that distin- 

 guish the orders, families, genera, and species 

 are for the most part so slight as to make it 

 impossible to state them in a brief and clear 

 manner. There are more than 8600 species of 

 birds. Their orders and phylogenetie arrange- 

 ment follow Wetmore's, A Revised Classifica- 

 tion for Birds of the World. 



It will be noted that the subspecies names of 

 birds in this text are omitted for it is now an 

 approved practice of ornithologists to use only 

 the species name except in a detailed tax- 

 jnomic work. 



Order 1. Struthioniformes. Ostriches. Ex. 



Struthio camelus, African ostrich 



(Fig. 305). 

 Order 2. Rheiformes. Rheas. Ex. Rhea 



americana, American ostrich 



(Fig. 322). 

 Order 3. Casuariiformes. Cassowaries and 



emus (Fig. 305). Ex. Casuarius 



uniappendiculatus, cassowary. 

 Order 4. Apterygiformes. Kiwis. Ex. Ap- 



teryx australis, kiwi (Fig. 305). 

 Order 5. Tinamiformes. Tinamous. Ex. 



Rhynchotus rufescens, great tina- 



mou. 

 Order 6. Sphenisciformes. Penguins (Fig. 



314). Ex. Spheniscus demersus, 



cape penguin. 

 Order 7, Gaviiformes. Loons. Ex. Gavia 



irmner, loon (Fig. 322). 

 Order 8. Podicipediformes. Grebes. Ex. 



Podilynibus podiceps, pied-billcd 



grebe. 



Order 9. Procellariiformes. Albatrosses 

 (Fig. 305), petrels, shearwaters 

 and fulmars. Ex. Diomedea ni- 

 gripes, black-footed albatross. 

 Order 10. Pelecaniformes. Tropic birds, 

 pelicans (Fig. 323), cormorants, 

 gannets, darters, boobies. Ex. 

 Pelecanus erythrorhynchos, white 

 pelican. 

 Order 11. Ciconiifomies. Long-legged wad- 

 ers: herons (Fig. 305), bitterns, 

 storks, ibises, spoonbills, flamin- 

 gos (Fig. 322). Ex. Ardea hero- 

 dias, great blue heron. 

 Order 12. Anseriformes. Gooselike birds: 

 screamers, swans, geese and ducks 

 (Fig. 305). Ex. Anas platy- 

 rhynchos, mallard duck. 

 Order 13. Falconiformes. Falconlike birds 

 of prey: vultures, secretary birds, 

 falcons, kites, eagles, hawks, cara- 

 caras, condors, and buzzards. Ex. 

 Haliaeetus leucocephalus, bald 

 eagle (Fig. 328). 

 Order 14. Galliformes. Fowl -like birds: 

 pheasants (Fig. 305), grouse, 

 ptarmigan, partridge, quail, tur- 

 keys, hoatzin (Fig. 315). Ex. 

 Bonasa umbellus, ruffed grouse. 

 Order 15. Gruiformes. Cranelike birds: 

 limpkins, gallinules, coots, rails, 

 and cranes. Ex. Rallus elegans, 

 king rail. 

 Order 16. Charadriiformes. Shorebirds, etc. 

 Great auk (Fig. 305), jacanas, 

 oystercatchers, plovers, sandpip- 

 ers, skuas, gulls, terns, skimmers, 

 auks, murres, and puEns. Ex. 

 Charadrius vociferus, killdeer. 

 Order 17. Columbiformes. Pigeons (Fig. 

 334) and doves. Ex. Zenaidura 

 macroiira, mourning dove. 

 Order 18. Psittaciformes. Parrots, parakeets, 

 macaws, etc. Ex. Conuropsis 

 carolinensis, Carolina paroquet. 

 Order 19. Cuculiformes. Cuckoos, anis, and 

 road runners. Ex. Coccyzus 

 americanus, yellow-billed cuckoo. 

 Order 20. Strigiformes. Owls. Ex. Bubo 

 virginianus, great horned owl 

 (Fig. 326). 

 Order 21. Caprimulgiformes. Goatsuckers: 

 nighthawks, whip-poor-wills, oil 



