720 SYSTEMA TIC SYNOPSIS. — GALLING — PERISTEROPODES. 



There are some 20 species of the wide-ranging principal genus, Tiirnix, and the single Austra- 

 lian Pedionomus torquatus. The singular Ortyxelus meiffreni is ranged here by some authors, 

 by others referred to the Limicolce. Late studies of the group have resulted in the view that it 

 should represent a distinct order, Hemipodii or Turnices. 



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 continuity, 

 wholly hard and corneous except in the nasal fossa. Toinia of upper mandible overlapping 

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

 or less salience on both sides. Nostrils scaled or feathered, in a short abrupt fossa. Legs 

 usually feathered to suffrago, often to toes, sometimes to claws. Hallux never absent, elevated 

 (except in Cracidce and Megapodidce), normally shorter tlian anterior toes. Tarsus generally 

 broadly scutellate, when \wi feathered. Front toes commonly webbed at base. Claws blunt, 

 little curved. Wings short, strong, vaulted. Kectrices commonly more than 12 (not moi'e in 

 Cracidce). Head and brain small in proportion to body, as in Pigeons. Plumage with after- 

 shafts. Wings quintocubital. Oil-gland tufted, nude, or absent. Carotids two (except in 

 Megapodidce). No intrinsic syringeal muscles as a rule. Sternum generally deeply doubly- 

 notched, external xiphoid process flaring out over the ribs, its end expanded ; furculum witli a 

 hypoeleidium. Palate schizognathous. Nasal bones holorhinal. True basipterygoid proc- 

 esses absent, but represented by sessile facets situated fiir forward on the basisphenoidal ros- 

 trum. Angle of mandible produced into a recurved process. Cervical vertebrae 16. Pectoral 

 muscles 3 ; the 2d extensive : fetnorocaudal variable ; accessory femorocaudal, semitendinosus, 

 accessory semitendinosus, ambiens and expansor of the secondaries present. Feet desmopelmous 

 in the usual way. Intestinal coeca extensive ; gizzard muscular ; crop large ; gall bladder 

 present. Nature prsecocial and ptilopsedic, typically polygamous ; eggs numerous. Chiefly 

 terrestrial. 



The order thus defined is equivalent to Alectoromorphce of Huxley (1867), minus Ptero- 

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

 structure of feet and more essential characters. 



Suborder PERISTEROPODES : Pigeon-toed Fowls. 

 (Suborder Penelopes, A. 0. U.) 



Framed to accommodate Old World Megapodidce, or Mound-birds, and American Cracidce^ 

 or Curassows. 



The Mound-birds, Megapodidce, as the name implies, have large feet, with lirtle-curved 

 claws, and lengthened insistent hallux. They share this last feature with Cracidce (beyond) ; 

 and the osseous structure of these two families, except as regards pneumaticity, is strikingly 

 similar. Both show a modification of the sternum, tlie inner erne of the two notches being less 

 instead of more than lialf as deep as the sternum is long, as in typical Gallince. The oil-gland 

 is nude (tufted in Cracidce). The wing is aquintocubital (contrary to the rule in Gcdlincc). 

 Megapods do not incubate, but bury their eggs in the ground ; the young pass through the 

 downy stage in the egg, hatching with true feathers and able to fly almost immediately 

 (p. 2.32). They are confined to Australia, Oceania, and the East Indies ; Megapodius is the 

 principal genus, of 12 or more species ; others are Leipoa ocellata of Australia ; Tcdegcdlus 

 cuvieri and other Papuan species ; Catlieturus lathami of Australia ; the Papuan J^jji/podim 

 bruijni and ^. arfakianus ; with MegacejjJialon mcdeo, the mallee-bird of Celebes. 



