SKULL OF THE AGITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 309 
and a little more bony development would have made both this bird and the Kagu 
‘‘indirectly desmognathous.” “Ihe mandible of the Sun-Bittern is a mere miniature of 
that of Anthropoides and Rhinochetus (Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vi. pl. xci. fig. 1, & pl. xcii. 
figs. la & 3a). 
I would suggest that here be facts helpful towards a fuller conception of the ‘* Gera- 
nomorphe,” an enlargement of the borders of that very natural group, and at the same 
time a breaking down of every thing save most frail palings between that group and the 
more highly specialized Pelargomorphs, above, and the more simple and general Chara- 
driomorphs, below. 
Also let it be considered that I have but dug a little about the roots of the group, 
not doing any final work, but rather showing to a coming generation where the spade 
is to be applied. 
If it were permitted me to lend a helping hand to those before whose eyes and for 
whose inspection the endless forms of birds have been marshalled, I would suggest 
such a scheme as the following for the Geranomorphe :— 
la. Typical Cranes, or those with the fullest degree of specialization. 
Example. Grus anthropoides. 
14. Subtypical Cranes, less modified. 
Example. Balearica. 
2. Ralline Cranes with a Tinamine character, ¢.g. the bony superorbitals. 
Example. Psophia. 
3. Ardeine Cranes with an almost Struthious sternum and a skull approaching Nycticoraw. 
Example. Rhinochetus. 
4. Ardeine Cranes with same Pluvialine characters, but leaning most to Botaurus. 
Example. Eurypyga. 
5. Pluvialine birds with Grwine characters, mixed with what is seen in the Dromeognathaw and Agitho- 
gnathe. 
Examples. Thinocorus, Attagis. 
6. The Rails. 
There would be, in short, subdivisions of the Geranomorphe under the following 
names :— 
1. Gruide. 
la. Gruine. 
16. Balearicine. 
2. Psophiide. 
2u 2 
