1886. ] GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS. 489 
structure of the Cuculidz and allied forms, together with the facts 
brought to light in the present article, we can arrange in a tabular 
form a number of the anatomical similarities and differences existing 
among Geococcyx californianus and the groups with which it is 
more or less nearly related; so that we may gain some idea as to 
its probable position in the system, at least as correctly as our present 
knowledge of its morphology seems to indicate. 
The group {S| slsls ce i Tendo 
n 5 : wi 43 ch pal 
or types & $ % B g 8 zg 4 : Oil of tensor 
Erey |r ey ot Wa & 2 ro} : os gland. .* . 
compared, alS|slElg 2 = x 3 patagii brevis, 
<q | |< 0 |< <) Ono &e, 
Geococcyx cali-|+-\|+|+}+|/+) — 2 norm. | Oval. ?| Not tufted.) Differs from 
fornianus. Cuculus, 
Cuculide ...... +}+]+/+]+) peculiar. 2 Triang. |+] Not tufted.) Lacks the 
humeral slip. 
Opisthocomus |+\+|+|-+|+ ? 2 Triang. |+] Tufted. 
Galline ......... yl] +I+ ae 2 Triang. |+| Tufted. 
Corvide......... SS ee ee ne ae \ Oval. |-++-| Not tufted. 
As [ have already said, in the opinion of the American Ornithologists’ 
Union, so far as it is expressed in their published Code and Check- 
List, the genera Geococcyx and Coccyzus are contained in the one and 
same subfamily Coccyeinm. Now a careful examination of the 
structure of the subject of this memoir undoubtedly demonstrates, 
beyond cavil, that its anatomical characters are essentially very 
different from the corresponding ones as we find them in the true 
Cuckoos. Taking into consideration the weight which we are 
obliged to attach to important morphological differences in Aves, I 
can only remark here that these differences are certainly super- 
generic; in other words, they clearly point to the correctness of 
Garrod’s suggestions, who proposed that the Cuculide should form 
two SuBFAMILIEs, the Centropodine and the Cuculine—the first 
to contain the Ground-Cuckoos, and the latter the true Cuckoos. 
The studies of the structure of the forms in question demonstrate 
that this change in classification is a sound one and should be 
adopted. 
The classification of the family of North-American Cuckoos would 
then be :— 
Family CUCULIDA. 
Subfamily CroropHaGin2. (Anis.) 
Genus CROTOPHAGA. 
Species: OC. ani. 
C. sulcirostris. 
