412 CURSORES. 



ORDER V. 



CuRSORES. 



It lias long been the wish of Ornithologists to 

 unite as a distinct Order, and under a common 

 designation, certain birds that are strictly terres- 

 trial in their habits, and are entirely deprived of 

 the power of flying. Nevertheless, notwithstanding 

 the high authority of those naturalists who have 

 endeavoured to establish such an Order, it is 

 obvious, from the uncertainty of its limits as de- 

 fined by different authors, that it is not by any 

 means marked out by any special peculiarities of 

 structure, and forms rather an arbitrary assemblage 

 than a group distinguishable by clearly recognizable 

 features. In Cuvier\s classification they form a 

 simple division of the Order of Stilted Birds (Grral- 

 latores) characterized by the shortness of their 

 wings, and hence named Brevipennes. It is quite 

 evident that, owing to their great size, any natural 

 exertion of muscular power would have been insuf- 

 ficient to raise them from the ground, and hence 

 the power of flight has been denied to them alto- 

 gether.* 



They form but a single family — 



Struthionid^. TlhQ Ostriches. 



This family comprehends the true Ostriches, the 

 Bustards, and the Apteryx. 



* See " Animal Creation," page 449. 



