594 



U. S. p. K. E. EXP. AND SURVEYS — ZOOLOGY — GENERAL REPORT. 



As already remarked, however, I shall not attempt to introduce any special innovation in the 

 usual arrangement of the orders of American hirds, but merely indicate what has been done by 

 more modern writers. The combination of Columbae and Gallinae in one order, (after Keyserling 

 and Blasius,) is an unnatural one in some respects, but it makes little difference in the present 

 case. Both have a peculiar character of plumage ; the feathers large and coarse, the shafts 

 thickened, and inserted by a fine point, so as to be easily detached. Both have the short bill ; 

 the hard vaulted apex of the bill, with its blunt point, and the nostril protected by a fleshy 

 or leathery, sometimes tumid, scale, projecting over its upper edge, except in the Crypturidae 

 and Megapodldae, where the nostrils are elongated and open. This latter exception is another 

 instance of the difficulty of expressing the peculiarities of a group by a single character. 



The following characters will serve, in a general way, to distinguish the Columbae from the 

 Gallinae. 



Columbae. — Hind toe on the same level with the rest, and short. Toes free, or the membrane, 

 when present, extending only between the middle and outer toes. Legs weak. Nasal valve 

 and skin at base of bill soft. Feathers of forehead extending in a point on the base of bill 

 along the culmen. 



Gallinae. — Hind toe usually elevated above the level of the rest ; when on the same level 

 much lengthened. Toes generally connected at base by a membrane. Legs very stout, and 

 sometimes greatly lengthened. Nasal valve and base of bill hard. Feathers of forehead parted 

 by the backward extension of the culmen. 



Tahle of orders of birds, with their parallelism, according to Bonaparte. 



ALTRICES. 

 I. PsiTTAcr. 



American, Old World. 



II. ACCIPITRES. 



III. Passeres. 



Osciues, Volucres. 



IV. Columbae. 

 Inepti. 

 Gyrantes. 



V. IIeuodiones. 



VI. Gaviae. 

 Totipalmi, Longipeunes. 



PRAECOCES. 



VII. Struthiones, 

 VIII. Gallinae. 



Passeripedes, Grallipedes. 



IX. Grallae. 



Cursoies, Alectorides. 



X. Anseres. 



Lamellirostres, Urinatores, Ptilopteri. 



