572 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — GALLING — PERI STEROP ODES. 



others. A singular circumstance is a lack of the extensive vertebral anchyloses usual in birds, 

 all the vertebrae romaiuJng distinct. The palatal structure is curiously like that of Passeres 

 (aegithognathous). The crop is said to be wanting in some ; as is also the hind toe, and one of 

 the carotids. There are some 20 current species of the principal genus, Turnix, to wliich Gray 

 adds the African Ortyxelos meiffreni, and the Australian Pedionomus torquatus. Lute studies 

 of the group have resulted in the view that it should represent a distinct order, Hemipodii. 



Elimination of these non-conformable elements renders the GallincE susceptible of much 

 better definition, as follows : — 



Bill generally short, stout, convex, with obtuse vaulted tip, not constricted in the con- 

 tinuity, wholly hard and corneous except in the nasal fossa. Touiia of upper mandible over- 

 lapping the lower ; culmen high on forehead, the frontal feathers there forming a re-entrance, 

 with more or less salience on either side. Nostrils scaled or feathered, in a short abrupt fossa. 

 Legs usually feathered to the suffrago, often to the toes, sometimes to the claws. Hallux 

 elevated, excepting in Cracidce and Megapodidee, normally shorter than the anterior toes. 

 Tarsus generally broadly scutellate, when not feathered. Front toes commonly webbed at 

 base. Claws blunt, little curved. Wings short, strong, vaulted. Rectrices commonly more 

 than 12 (not more in Cracidce, beyond). Head and brain small in proportion to the body, as 

 in Pigeons. Plumage with after-shafts. OU-glaud tufted. Carotids two (except iu Megapodidee). 

 No intrinsic syriugeal muscles. Sternum generally deeply doubly-notched, and furculum with 

 a hypocleidium. Palate schizoguathous. Nasal bones schizorhinal. Sessile basipterygoid 

 processes present. Angle of mandible produced into a recurved process. Pectoral muscles, 

 three; the second extensive ; feinoro-caudal variable ; accessory femoro-caudal, semi-tendinosus, 

 accessory semi-tendinosus and ambiens present. Intestinal coeca extensive ; gizzard muscular. 

 Nature prsecocial and ptiloptedic, typically polygamous. Chiefly terrestrial. 



The order thus defined is .equivalent to the Alectoromorphrs of Huxley (1867), minus 

 Pterocletes and Hemipodii. The birds composing it fall into two series or suborders, according 

 to the structure of the feet and more essential characters. 



10. Suborder PERISTEROPODES : PiCxEOn-toed Fowls. 



Framed to accommodate the Old World Megapodidee, or Mound-birds, and the American 

 Cracidce, or Curassows. 



The Mound-birds, Megapodidee, as the name implies, have large feet, with little-curved 

 claws, and lengthened insistent hallux. They share this last feature with the Cracidce 

 (beyond) ; and the osseous structure of these two families, except as regards pneumaticity, is 

 strikingly similar. Both show a modification of the sternum, the inner one of the two notches 

 being less instead of more than half as deep as the sternum is long, as in typical Gallince. 

 The Megapods do not incubate, and tlie young pass through the downy stage in the egg, 

 hatching with true feathers (p. 226). They are confined to Australia and the East Indies ; 

 Megapodius is the principal genus, of a dozen or more species ; there are three others, each of 

 a species or two. 



35. Family CRACID^ : Curassows. 



This type is peculiar to America, where it may be considered to represent the Megapodidee, 

 though diSei-ing so much in habit and general appearance. The affinities of the two are indi- 

 cated above, and some essential characters noted. According to the latest authority on the 

 fanaily, Messrs. Sclater and Salvin, it is divisible into three subfamilies : Cracinee, curassows 

 and hoccos, with four genera and twelve species • 0>-eophasinee, with a single genus and 

 species, Oreophasis derbianus, and the 



