1886.] 



GEOCOCCYX CALIFORNIANUS. 



489 



structure of the Cuculidse 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 



or types 



compared. 



Geococcyx cali- 

 fornianus. 



OiiculidoB 



Oj)isthoco7nus 



Gallinse 



Corrida 



Oil- 

 Etland. 



Not tufted. 



Not tufted. 



Tufted. 



Tufted. 



Not tufted. 



Tendon 



of tensor 



patagii brevis, 



&c. 



Differs from 

 Cuculus. 



Lacks the 

 humeral slip. 



As T 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 Coccygin^. 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 ; ill other words, they clearly point to the correctness of 

 Garrod's suggestions, who proposed that the Cuculidse should form 

 two Subfamilies, the Centropodina and the Ouculince — 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 CUCULID^. 

 Subfamily CROTOPHAGiN.a:. (Anis.) 

 Genus Crotophaga. 

 Species : C. ani. 



C. sulcirostria. 



