CHAPTER V 



NEORNITHES CARINATAE CONTINUED 



BRIGADE II LEGION I (ALECTOROMORPHAE). ORDERS : TINAMI- 



FORMES GALLIFORMES GRUIFORMES CHARADRIIFORMES 



Order VIII. TINAMIFORMES. 



THE primitive Neotropical Order Tinamiformes, with the Sub- 

 Order TINAMI, and sole Family Tinamidae or Crypturidae, 

 is classed here in accordance with Dr. Gadow's carefully- weighed 

 decision; 1 yet the position must not be considered absolutely 

 certain, most systematists placing it near the Eatitae. The com- 

 plete fusion of vomer and palatine bones is unique among Birds, 

 though partially noticeable in Dromaeus and Apteryx ; the con- 

 formation of the skull, the single head of the quadrate, the 

 separation of the ischium and ilium, the absence of a pygostyle, the 

 reduced tongue, the functionless tail, the gait and bearing are 

 Struthionine features ; but other points of structure, the ptery- 

 losis and the habits generally, are Galline. 



The furcula is U-shaped; the sternum long and slender with 

 well-developed keel; the head small; the neck thin and elon- 

 gated with short plumage ; the beak fairly strong, varying in 

 length, and composed of more than one piece, the culmen being 

 flattened and usually arched; the moderate metatarsus is 

 transversely or hexagonally scutellated, and may be rough or 

 smooth behind, while the hallux wanting in Calopezus and 

 Tinamotis is elevated, and the anterior toes are long or short, 

 with moderate claws. The short wings are concave and rounded, 

 with ten primaries and from thirteen to sixteen secondaries ; the 



1 Cf. H. Gadow, Bronn's Thier-Reich, Aves, Syst. Theil. 1893, pp. 160-164. 



