234 DR. H. GADOW ON THE [Mar. 15, 



Intercondylar tubercle. 

 Hypotarsus. Striges raptorial type. 

 Thigh-muscles. Striges very specialized. 

 Syrinx. Striges more primitive, Cuculitorm, 

 Intestinal convolutions. 



Food. 1 _, . ,. , 



Ca-ca I "^"ots specialized. 



These differences are important enough, not only on account of 

 their number but also on account of their value, to remove Psittaci 

 and Striges far from each other. Striges are perhaps on the whole 

 more primitive, but both groups have been specialized in two different 

 directions. Some of the agreements (e. ff. absence of a bony tibial 

 bridge, the sternal configuration) are most likely referable to the 

 numerous organic links which connect the Coraciiformes and Cuculi- 

 formes with each other. 



IV. Comparison of Psittaci with Pici. Curiously enough these 

 tvi'o groups have many characters in common, namely 29 

 against 11. The differences are: — 



1 . Woolly nestlings, although both breed in holes. 



2. Presence of downs in adult. 



3. Dorsal pterylosis. 



4. Large aftershaft (intermediate are, however, Cajjito and 



Indicator) . 



5. Aquinto-cnbital. 



6. No vomer. 



7. Flexor tendons of toes. 



8. Procoracoid process. 



9. Cervical haamapophyses. 



10. Syrinx. 



11. Intestinal convolutions. 



Of these differences Nos. 1, 2, 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 are of great 

 importance. 



Of the 29 positive characters or resemblances the form of the 

 spina externa sterni alone is remarkable, otherwise nothing which 

 cannot be explained equally well by the affinity of the Psittaci to 

 the Coccyges or to the Coraciiformes, of which latter order, 

 moreover, the Pici are an offshoot. The resemblances between the 

 Pici and Psittaci have therefore chiefly to be looked upon as con- 

 vergent analogies. 



Final Conclusion. — The sifting of all these characters shows an un- 

 doubtedly close affinity between the Psittaci and Coraciidse, but less 

 intimate than with the Coccyges. The latter are, however, closely 



