Sclater o>i the Systema Avium. 37 



Nitzsch, as Prof. Huxley has shown.* although he appears not to 

 have fully realized the structure of the palate in the Trochilidae.f 

 In the • Nomenclator' four families are assigned to the Order 

 Macrochires — the Trochilida.', Cypselidae, Caprimulgidae, and 

 Steatornithidaa. Of these it is now quite certain, from Garrod's 

 researches, that the last named must be removed to another situ- 

 ation, the palate being strongly desmognathous. \ The best 

 place, therefore, for Stcatoniis. according to my present opinion, 

 is either as a family next to the PodargicUe. or. as the form pre- 

 sents so many strong peculiarities, as an independent order next 

 to the Striges. 



The Macrochires will therefore consist only of three families — 

 the Trochilida*. Cypselidae, and Caprimulgidae. No one, I be- 

 lieve, will now denv the close alliance of the first two of these 

 families. As regards the Caprimulgidae, they differ from the 

 tvpical Macrochires not only in the lesser comparative develop- 

 ment of the manus, but also in possessing caeca, and their posi- 

 tion will require further consideration. 



3. The Pici were first constituted a separate order by Sunde- 

 vall in iS3v§ to consist of two families, the Picidae and Iyngidae. 

 They are the exact equivalent of Prof. Huxley's Celeomorphae. 

 Garrod (P. Z.S. 1874, p. 123 et alibi) would associate with 

 them the Rhamphastidae and Capitonidae, as "not in any point 

 presenting family differences ;" but if we follow Prof. Huxley in 

 assigning a high value to the structure of the palate, it is quite 

 evident that they should stand alone {cf. Huxley, P. Z. S. 1867, 

 p. 468). There is no difficulty in distinguishing the Pici from all 

 other birds — the structure of the tongue and of the feet is quite 

 peculiar : and I think thev must remain as an independent order 

 or suborder. 



[To be continued.] 



* P. Z. S. 1867, p. 468. 



t Cf Parker, Trans. Linn. Soc. ser. 2, Zool. i. p. 116. 



% Cf. Garrod, P. Z. S. 1873, p. 530. 



§ K. Vet. Ak. Handl. 1835, p. 68. 



