CHAPTER V 



NEORNITHES CAPJNATAE CONTINUED 



BRIGADE II LEGION I (aLECTOROMORPHAE). ORDERS : TINAMI- 



FORMES GALLIFORMES GRUIFORMES— CIIAPvADItllFORMES 



Order VIII. TINAMIFORMES. 



The primitive Neotropical Order Tinaniiformes, with the Sub- 

 Order TiNAMi, and sole Family Tinamidae or Crypturidae, 

 is classed here in accordance with Dr. Gadow's carefully-weighed 

 decision ; ^ yet the position must not be considered absolutely 

 certain, most systematists placing it near the Eatitae. The com- 

 plete fusion of vomer and palatine bones is unique among Birds, 

 though partially noticeable in Dromaeus and Apteryx ; the con- 

 formation of the skull, the single head of the quadrate, the 

 separation of the ischium and ilium, the absence of a pygostyle, the 

 reduced tongue, the functionless tail, the gait and bearing are 

 Struthionine features ; but other points of structure, the ptery- 

 losis and the haljits generally, are Galline. 



The furcula is U-shaped; the sternum long and slender with 

 well-developed keel ; the head small ; the neck thin and elon- 

 gated with short plumage ; the beak fairly strong, varying in 

 length, and composed of more than one piece, the culmen being 

 flattened and usually arched; the moderate metatarsus is 

 transversely or hexagonally scutellated, and may be rough or 

 smooth behind, while the hallux — wanting in Calopezus and 

 Tinamotis — is elevated, and the anterior toes are long or short, 

 with moderate claws. The short wings are concave and rounded, 

 with ten primaries and from thirteen to sixteen secondaries ; the 



> Cf. H. Gadow, Bronn's Thier-Reich, Aves, Sijst. Theil. 1893, p].. 160-164. 



