12 ANATOMY OF VERTEBRATES. 



Fam. 1. Ramphastidce. Ex. Tucan. 



2. Bucconidce. Ex. Barbet. 



3. CuculidcB. Ex. Cuckoo. 



4. PicidcB. Ex. Woodpecker. 



5. 3Iusophagid(B. Ex. Touraco or Plantain-eater. 



6. Coliidce. Ex. Coly. 



7. Psittacidce. Ex. Parrot. 



Order VII. EAPTOPvES. 



Rapacious Birds. Beak, strong, curved, sharp-edged, and 

 sharp-pointed, fig. 9 ; legs short and robust, Avith three toes before 

 and one behind, armed with long, strong, crooked talons, fig. 10. 



10 



Head of Eagle. 



Raptorial foot of Eagle. 



Fam. 1. Nocturnes. Ex. Owl. 



2. Diurnes. Ex. Hawk, Eagle, Vulture. 



An eighth group of birds has been characterised under the name 

 CuESOEES, Coursers, or * Running-birds,' ^ by the arrested deve- 

 lonement of the wings unfitting them for flight, and by the com- 

 pensating size and strength of the legs, by which they are enabled 

 to run swiftly on the ground. This is not, however, a natural 

 order ; some of its exponents have demonstrably closer aflfinities to 

 other groups of which they are wingless members, just as the 

 Peno;uins and Auks bear relation to families of the Natatorial 

 order. Thus the Notornis is a modified Coot. The Ostrich bears 

 the same relation to the Bustards. The extinct Didus and Pezo- 

 phaps are most nearly allied to the Columbaceous group of 

 Rasores. Apteryx and the allied extinct Dinornis and Palapteryx, 

 bear aflBnity to the Megapodial family of Gallhice. 



* Piuceri, Illi< 



