FULICARIiB. 355 



I cannot sec any specific difference between T. pugnax from Java 

 and T. taigoor from India^ or between T. plumbipes from India 

 and T. rostrata from China and Formosa. Both forms occur in the 

 Burma peninsula. The size and thickness of the bill appear to be 

 only individual characteristics, and vary greatly in both forms. 



Suborder XXIX. FULICARIjE. 



Palate scliizognathous ; nasals holorhinal ; dorsal vertebra hetero- 

 coelous ; episternal process not perforated to receive the feet of the 

 coracoids ; posterior processes of the ilia separated sufficiently to 

 show a broad sacrum; young born able to run in a few hours. 



The Fuliearise, or Holorhinal Grallse, comprise six families, two 

 of Avhich are represented in Japan. The Otididce are a small family 

 (about 25 species) distributed in most suitable localities in the Old 

 World, one species ranging as far east as Japan. The Opisthocomida 

 consist of only one species found in Brazil. The Cariamidce consist 

 of only two species, also found in Brazil. The Heliornithida may 

 comprise half a dozen species — one in tropical America, four in 

 tropical Africa, and one in Borneo. The Psophiidte are also found 

 in Brazil, and number half a dozen species. The Rallidce are almost 

 cosmopolitan, and number nearly 150 species, of which eight are 

 recorded from the Japanese Empire. 



The Grallae (scliizognathous Grallai) and the Fulicarise (liolorliinal 

 Grallse) are very closely allied, and are the remains of a group which 

 was probably once very numerous. 



359. OTIS DYBOWSKII. 



(EASTERN GREAT BUSTARD.) 



Otis dybowskii, Taczanowslri, Journ. Orn. 1874, p. 331. 



The Eastern Great Bustard is found in Japan ; but as the only 

 examples procured were shot in November and December, it is 

 uncertain whether it be a resident or only a winter visitor from 



•2 A 2 



