THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 271 
Suborder 3. Cathartes, 
Palate desmognathous ; basipterygoid processes present and 
large ; spinal feather-tract not defined on the neck; oil-gland 
present, but nude: tarsi not very elongated ; femoro-caudal 
sometimes absent, but semitendinosus and accessory semitendinosus 
present; young soon covered with down; basal phalanx of 
third digit not greatly shortened; no organ of voice ; nostrils 
perforated through; lateral toes joined to middle one by a fold 
of skin; hallux elevated and supplied by flexor digitorum and 
not by the flewor hallucis ; no ceca. 
Suborder 4. Striges. 
Palate desmognathous; basipterygoid processes present ; 
spinal feather-tract well defined on the neck; oil-gland pre- 
sent, but nude; tarsi not elongated ; femoro-caudal present ; 
accessory femoro-caudal, senitendinosus, accessory semitendinosus, 
and ambiens absent ; outer toe reversible ; basal phalanx of third 
digit greatly shortened ; hallux supplied by flevor hallucis and 
not by the flewor digitorum ; an organ of voice present ; nostrils 
not perforated through ; eyes directed forwards. 
There are seven families of Raptorial Birds, three belonging 
to the first suborder and two to the second. 
The first family includes all the Falcons’, Eagles, Hawks, 
and Buzzards, and is accordingly termed Falconide. The second 
family contains the Ospreys, and is called from them Pandionide. 
The third family, Vultwiid@, contains the true Vultures”, 
The second suborder has but one family, termed Gypoge- 
ranide, from the generic name of the Secretary-bird *. 
The third suborder contains only a single family, which is 
composed of the American Vultures, and is named from the 
Condor, Sarcorhamphide. - 
The fourth suborder, that of the Owls, contains two families, 
The first of these is Bubonide, and contains the great majority 
of the species, including the type, the Eagle-owl*. The second 
ce Weal aR eli. 
12, 8): = Le IlesX0); 
