Fam. 3. PiPUiDiE. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 283-..3i'o.) 



4. COTINGID.'E. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 327-405.) 



5. Phytotomid^. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 40G-408.) 



6. PniLEPITTIDiE. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 409-411.) 



7. PlTTID.^3. 



{Cf Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 411-449.) 



8. Xeniscid^. 



{Cf Sclater, Cat. B. xiv. pp. 450-453.) 



Section C. Tracheophonae. 



Fam. 1. Dexdkocolaptid^. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xv. pp. 2-175.) 



2. FOEMICARIID.^. 



{Cf Sclater, Cat. B. xv. pp. 176-336.) 



3. Pteroptochid*^. 



{Cf. Sclater, Cat. B. xv. pp. 3.37-352.) 



Section D. Atrichiidge*. 



The accompanying Map (Plate XI.), which is a modification of my 

 arrangement of 1890, will give some idea of the affinities of the Osciues, 

 as I conceive them. I should have been glad, had time permitted, to 

 have attempted a more definite diagnosis of the families of Passeres, 

 after the manner of Mr. Seebohm; but this is a work which will 

 require much thought and labour, and more leisure than 1 have at my 

 command at present. It has been in fact very fortunate for me that 

 Mr. Seebohm has published his summary of diagnostic characters for 

 the higher Orders and Groups of Birds, and that so much has been 

 likewise done in this direction by Dr. Stejneger, for I should never 

 have had time to compile these facts myself; and, even now, in most 

 cases I have not been able to verify my references. But I hope to be 

 able to attack the subject again at some future time, and I merely put 

 forward my present scheme as a kind of foundation for future investi- 

 gation. 



The study of the natural classification of Birds is a most absorbing 

 one, and will well repay any ornithologist who pursues this line of 



* Intrinsic muscles of the voice-organ fixed to the end of the bronchial semi-rings ; 

 sciatic artery present; furcula rudimentary. {Cf Sharpe, Cat. B. Brit. Mus. xiii. 

 p. 659.) By the removal of the Menurce as a separate group of birds, the Atrichiidce 

 stand alone. It is hardly likely that they possess the downy nestling of Menura, and 

 they are at present, therefore, the sole representatives of the Passeres Abnonnales of 

 Garrod (P. Z. S. 1876, p. 518). 



