A MANUAL 

 OF THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA, 



CLASS AVES. 



THREE subclasses are admitted in this class, all of which are represented in the 

 Australian Ornis ; these are the Dromaeornithes, the huge flightless forms previously 

 known as Ratitse or Palaeognathae ; the Impennes or Penguins ; and the Euornithes, 

 or normal flying birds. 



All existing birds are clothed with feathers, have two wings, a tail, two legs 

 and a horny -covered beak. In a few cases the wings have degenerated and become 

 flightless, only remnants being recognisable, in a few others the wings have become 

 specialised into swimming paddles in the majority they are very noticeable and 

 capable of flight. In a few instances the tail has become almost obsolete, and in 

 these instances the flying power of the birds is generally lessened ; in others, the tail 

 has become extremely lengthened and generally this is associated with greater powers 

 of flight. Though two legs are absolutely constant, the number of toes varies, four 

 being the general number, three not uncommon, two in one case only, and no reduction 

 to one is yet known, nor are five met with in nature. The legs may be so short as 

 to be almost useless for walking purposes, or they may be so extremely long as to 

 seem disproportionate. The beak shows many modifications in different ways, 

 according to the feeding methods of the birds. Birds have been generally classified 

 by the variations in these characters, and by means of judicial consideration of all 

 these a fair appreciation of the relationships may be attained. When the results 

 are checked by means of osteological and anatomical research we may prepare a 

 definite system of arrangement with due deference to phylogenetic considerations. 

 As all the subclasses are represented, we refer to the detailed figures and descriptions 

 given throughout the work for amplification of the items above mentioned. 



SUBCLASS DROMMOENITHES. 



This subclass is composed, as to recent birds, of three orders : Struthiones, Rhese 

 and Casuarii. ft The former is confined to Africa and the Syrian Desert, the second 

 to South America, and the last named to the Papuasia-Australian Region. The 

 differences between the orders are so marked that a very close relationship might be 

 justifiably denied. As a matter of fact many more differential features can be cited 

 than characters proving alliance, and it is now being accepted that these maj represent 

 specialised forms. Superficially they are all very large birds with stout bodies, 

 long necks and long stout legs, but no wings capable of flight, or distinct tail. 

 The order Casuarii only interests us, as to discuss its non-affinity with the others 

 would occupy too much space in a work like this. 



ORDER CASUARII, 



This is coequal with the suborder Casuariiformes which covers two families, 

 Dromioeiidae and Casuariidae. These are superficially easily distinguished by the 



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