ALTERNATIVE SCHEME. 

Ir is quite possible that in the foregoing scheme too much importance has been 
given to the arrangement of the palatine bones and the condition of the feather- 
tracts of the neck. In the following alternative scheme the Orders and Suborders 
remain the same, except that their sequence is slightly altered. Three of the 
Subclasses also remain the same—the Passeriformes, the Coraciiformes, and the 
Struthioniformes. The other three—the Falconiformes, the Anseriformes, and the 
Galliformes—are rearranged in two subclasses, the Ciconiiformes and the Galli- 
formes. The arrangement of the palatine bones and the condition of the feather- 
tracts of the neck are omitted from the diagnoses, but the condition of the young at 
birth and the disposition of the deep plantar tendons are retained. 
The Ciconiiformes may be diagnosed as follows:—A. Young born helpless and 
requiring to be fed by their parents for many days. (This excludes the Galliformes 
and the Struthioniformes.) B. Young passing through a downy stage before 
acquiring feathers. (This excludes the Passeriformes.) ©. Mlexor perforans digi- 
torwm never leading to hallux. (This excludes the Coraciiformes.) 
The Galliformes as rearranged may be diagnosed as follows:—A. Young born 
able to run ina few hours. (This excludes the Passeriformes, the Coraciiformes, 
and the Ciconiiformes.) B. Keel of sternum well developed. (This excludes the 
Struthioniformes.) 
In many respects the alternative scheme arranges the Orders and Suborders more 
satisfactorily than the original one. The choice between them may be narrowed 
down to one or two simple questions :—Are the Tubinares and Impennes, in spite of 
their schizognathous palates, more nearly allied to the desmognathous Pelecano- 
Herodiones, because they agree with them in having the young born helpless and 
requiring to be fed by their parents for many days, than they are to the schizo- 
gnathous Gallo-Grallz, which differ from them in having the young born able to 
run and feed themselves in a few hours? Or, to take a second example, Are the 
Lamellirostres, in spite of their desmognathous palates, more nearly allied to the 
schizognathous Gallo-Grallz, because they agree with them in having the young 
b 
