64 



like that of many Jccipit7-es, I keep them as a separate group^ 

 Pandiones. The placing of Polioaetus along with Pandion in the 

 ' Catalogue of Birds ' was an error^ based on a misconception of facts. 



Leading from the Pandiones we should next come across the Striges, 

 but at a far distance with regard to space^ for the Owls form a well- 

 marked group by themselves. As a rule they lay white eggs in the hole 

 of a tree or a wall; but the day-flying Owls^ Nyctea and Surnia, and 

 some others are exceptions, and therefore several illustrative groups 

 would be necessary to show the very different forms which make up the 

 aggregate of the Striges. 



Further away still we should find the Pseudogrypln* {Mhnogypes, 

 Seebohm) or American Vultures. Their habits as carrion-eaters make 

 them the representatives of the Vultunda in the New World ; but 

 there are so many characters in which they difiFer essentially, even to the 

 arrangement of the deep plantar tendons, which induces Mr. Seebohm 

 to place them near the Bucerotes, that it is impossible to locate them 

 very close to the true Accipitres. The egg of Rhinogryphus, too, is 

 very different from that of any true Accipitrine bird, being white, 

 spotted all over with black. 



On the other side of the Accipitres, the visitor to my ideal Museum 

 would find the Frigate Birds [Fregata;), the most Aquiline of the great 

 division of the Steganopodes, or birds which have their four toes con- 

 nected by a web. All the groups are well characterized, but I would 

 also keep the Gannets distinct as a group {Sulce) of equal value to the 

 Pelecani, Fregatce, and Phaet/wntes, the latter in their mode of life, nidi- 

 fication, and colour of their egg being decidedly different from all the 

 others. If the Sida are allowed to represent a group, the same rank 

 cannot be denied to the Cormorants (Phalacro cor aces) . 



Of the Heron-like birds, at least Scopus and Balceniceps, as well 

 as the Ciconii or Storks, must be considered to rank as distinct 

 from the general mass of the Herons [Ardece], and instructive groups 

 illustrating the mode of life of all these birds would be necessary. 



From the Herons we should pass to the grouj) of Platalece, of which 

 the Spoonbills and Ibises are the examples, and groups of both these 

 forms of bird-life would have to be provided. 



Then to the right of the Platalece would come those curious and 

 anomalous birds, the Flamingoes, with some characters Duck-like, 

 others Stork-like, which, combined with a nest and mode of life alto- 

 gether peculiar, justify us in regarding them as an isolated group, which 

 can be called Phoenicopteri. Their Anserine affinity is proved by the 

 nestling and by many other well-known features. 



The Anseres may probably have to be split up into several minor 

 groups of higher rank than is now generally admitted. As they are birds 

 * Forbes's name has priority {vide anteci, p. 9). 



