37 



future, Didus and Pezophups are degenerate ColumbsB; not necessarily 

 very old forms," Mr. Seebolun [vide infra) places his Columbse in his 

 Subclass Passeriformes, and this he does in both his " Schemes." 



Lastly we have the Psittaciformes of Prof, Flii'bringer, an Inter- 

 mediate Suborder placed by him between the Alectororuithes (like the 

 Columbiformes) and Coracornithes. Mr. Seebohm makes them an 

 Order of his Falconiformes. 



Prof. Fiii'briuger has given an arrangement of his Orders, which I 

 have put into the form of a map (p, 38) for the sake of comparison 

 with Mr. Seebohm's arrangement, for which I have also prepared a 

 map [vide infra, p, 48). 



The model on the table will give the best idea of the phylogenetic 

 scheme which Professor Fiirbringer has constructed for the elucidation 

 of the probable evolution of Birds. By his kind permission I am also 

 able to reproduce here (Plates III., lY.) reduced figures of the " Stamm- 

 baume " in his celebrated work, from which the model has been taken. 

 He strikes three horizontal sections through his '' tree," and the diagrams 

 of these he has also given me leave to reproduce (Plates V., VI., \II.). 

 In the first section (Plate V.) we find that the Archornithes (represented 

 by ArchcEopteryx) have not survived, but that the Struthiornithes, 

 Kheornithes, Hippalectryornithes, and probably also the vEpyornithes 

 have branched off from the main body of the tree. The stems of the 

 Alectororuithes (with the Apterygidee, Diuoruitliidi\i, Crypturiformes, 

 Galliformes, and Ralliformes), Charadriornithes, and Pelargoruithes 

 are already flourishing, and independent branches show that the Pala- 

 medeiformes, Aptenodytiformes, Procellariiformes, Ichthyornithiformes, 

 Gruiformes, Columbiformes, and Psittacifonnes have developed for 

 themselves- a separate growth. The Coracornithes are only commencing 

 to be evolved. 



The second or middle section of the tree (Plate VI.) shows us that 

 several forms have not persisted. Dead branches indicate the Enali- 

 ornithes, Dinornithidae, and the Ichthyornithiformes, but all the other 

 branches have developed new twigs, many of gi'eat size. Thus the 

 Galliformes have developed four '' family " branchlets, and the Gallidse 

 alone have four large twigs ; and so on Avith all the larger groups. 



The third or topmost section (Plate VII.) shows the development 

 of the Coracornithes, with the Striges as a large outlying group of 

 the Coraciiformes. I do not proceed further with the subject of 

 Professor Furbringer's pedigree of the Class " Aves," as, by means of 

 his courtesy, the readers of this Addi-ess will be able to study for them- 

 selves the maps which he has drawn up for the explanation of his views. 

 They can of course be still better studied in the Professor's larger work ^, 

 but I must tender him my sincere thanks for allowing me to place the 

 accompanying illustrations before my readers. 



* <Bijdrageu tot de Dierkuude,' Amsterdam, Afl. xv. (1888). 



