78 



Order XXIV. CATHARTIDIFORMES *. (Neogcean.) 

 Suborder li. Pseudogryphi. 

 Fam. Cathaetid^. 



Order XXV. ACCIPITRIFORMES. 



Suborder lii. Serpentarii f. (Ethiopian.) 



Suborder liii. Accipitres|. (Cosmopolitan.) 



Fam. 1. VtTLTURiDiE. (Mediterraneo-Persic ; Ethiopian ; 



Indian.) 

 Fam. 2. Falconid^. 



Subfam. Polyhorince. 

 Subfam. Accipitrince. 

 Subfam. Buteonince. 

 Subfam. Aquilmcp. 

 Subfam. Falconince. 



* Palate desmognathous ; nostrils perforated; the maxillo-palatines wide apart, 

 and though the distance is bridged over by an ossified nasal septum, the ossification 

 does not prevent the nostrils being pierced ; basipterygoid processes present ; hallux 

 connected with the^e.ror perforans digitoi'um, small and elevated above the level of 

 the other toes. Pseudoyryphi of Forbes, Mimogypes of Seebohm. Spinal feather-tract 

 not defined on neck ; semitendinosus and accessory semitendinosus muscles are present ; 

 oil-gland nude ; caeca none. (Seebohm, t. c. p. 23.) Nest on the ground, or in hollow 

 of stump {Bhinogryphus), or at the side of a precipice {Sarcorhmnphus). Eggs two, white 

 with spots (Bhinogryphus), or entirely white {Sarcorhamphus). Young, when hatched? 

 naked (Sarcorhamphus) or covered with down {Bhinogryphus and Catharistes). 



t Palate desmognathous; basipterygoid processes present; femoro-caudal muscle 

 absent ; accessory femoro-caudal present ; semitendinosus and accessory semitendinosus 

 muscles present ; deep plantar tendons Galliue ; hallux present, connected with the 

 Jiexor longus hallucis, and not with ih.Q flexor perforans digitorum; spinal feather- 

 tract wel Idefined on the neck; oil-gland tufted. (Seebohm, if. e. p. 15.) Head crested 

 and ornamented with pendent occipital plumes ; centre tail-feathers produced ; toes 

 connected by a membrane. Habits terrestrial. Nest placed on a tree. Eggs two, 

 white with light brown dots at the obtuse end. Nestling undescribed. 



X Palate desmognathous ' ; basipterygoid process absent ; dorsal vertebrae hetero- 

 coelous- hallux present, connected with the flexor longus hallucis, and not with the 

 flexor perforans digitorum ; the two tendons bound together by a fibrous vinculum ; 

 spinal feather-tract well defined on the neck. {Cf. Seebohm, t. c. p. 16.) A cere always 

 present ; outer toe not reversible ; eyes placed laterally in the head. Female generally 

 larger than the male {cf Sharpe, Cat. B. i. p. 1). Nest in various positions, on a tree, 

 or on the ground, often on the side of a precipice. Egg varying in colour. Young 

 hatched helpless and covered with down ; fed in nest by parent birds for a considerable 

 time. 



^ Dr. Shufeldt has recently shown that Elanus has a non-desmognathous palate 

 [Ibis, 1891, p. 230], 



