INTRODUCTION 113 



the Aledoromorfh^- \(jraUin3i\ and the Peristeromorphse. [Gohimhx]. They 

 cannot be inclnded within either of these groups without destroying its 

 definition, while they are perfectly definable themselves." Hence he 

 would make them an independent group of equal value with the other 

 two. Both Prof. Fiirbringer and Dr. Gadow consider the Pigeon- 

 alHance the strongest, and indeed the general resemblance of most parts 

 of the osteology of the two groups, so well shewn by M. Milne-Edwards, 

 combined with the Pigeon-like pterylosis of the Sand-Grouse, leaves no 

 room for doubt ; but the many important points in which they difter 

 from the more normal Pigeons, especially in the matter of their young 

 being clothed with down, and their coloured and speckled eggs,^ must be 

 freely admitted. Young Sand-Grouse are not only "Dasypaedes" but 

 even " Preecoces " or Nidifugge. at birth, while of course every one knows 

 the helpless condition of " Pipers " — that is, Pigeons newly-hatched from 

 their white eggs. Thus the opposite condition of the young of these 

 two admittedly very near groups inflicts a severe blow on the so-called 

 " physiological " method of dividing Birds before mentioned (page 7 J/), and 

 renders the Pterodidx so instructive a form. The Columhse considered in 

 the wide sense suggested, possessed another and degenerate subdivision in 

 the Dodo and its kindred, though the extirpation of those strange and 

 monstrous forms will most likely leave their precise relations a matter of 

 some doubt ; while the third and last subdivision, the true Golumbee, is 

 much more homogeneous, and can hardly be said to contain more than 

 two Families, Golumbidx and Didunculidas — the latter consisting of a 

 single species (the absurdly -named "Dodlet"), and having no direct 

 connexion with the Dididae," though possibly it may be found that 

 the Papuan genus Otidiphaps presents a form linking it with the 

 Golumbidse. 



The Gallinse would seem to hold a somewhat central position among 

 existing members of the Carinate division,^ whence many groups di\^rge, 

 and one of them, the Opisthocomi or Heteromorphas of Huxley, indicates, 

 he hinted, the existence of an old line of descent, now almost obliterated, 

 in the direction of the Musophagidss and thence, it has been inferred, to 

 the Goccygomorphse of the same authority. But these " Coccygomorphs " 

 would also appear to reach a higher rank than some other groups that 

 we have to notice, and therefore, leaving the first, we must attempt to 

 trace the fortunes of a more remote and less exalted line. 



It is impossible with our present knowledge to thread the maze in 

 which the taxonom€r now finds himself. The Pelargomorphae, of Huxley 

 will be seen to difi'er much from Dr. Gadow's group of the same name ; 

 and, though it has been shewn that " Desmognathism " must be aban- 

 doned as a bond of union, just as " Schizognathism " has to be relinquished 

 as a broken alliance, the difiiculty of finding a place for the Anseres seems 

 as hard as ever. That ancient form, Palamedea (Screamer), which is 



^ This fact tells in favour of the views of those who hold the Sand-Grouse to be 

 allied to the Plovers ; hut the eggs of the Pigeons tell as strongly the other way, as 

 do the young. 



- Phil. Trans. 1867, p. 349. 



3 Cf. Parker (Pkil. Trans. 1850, p. 755). 



