FAMILY THE FIRST. 



SERPENTARIID^, or SERPENT-EATERS. 



This family consists of two sub-families — each of which 

 comprises a single genus. 



The more typical of these, the Socvetavj fSerpentariusJ con- 

 stitutes without doubt the most abnormal genus of Aecipitrine 

 or Eaptorial birds, exhibiting a very singular affinity to some 

 non-aquatic genera of the order Grallte, and especially to the 

 genus Cariama of South America, on which account the family 

 of Serpentariidce may properly be placed at one extremity of 

 the Eaptorial series, which is thus naturally connected with the 

 order Grallse, whilst the opposite extremity of the series is 

 similarly connected with the order Insessores by the family of 

 Strigidce or Owls, with which I propose to conclude the present 

 catalogue. 



