1892.] CLASSIFICATION OF BIROS. 241 



Legs long ; four toes, not webbed. 

 Hypotarsus complex. Flexors of type I. or VII. 

 Orthocoelous, type II. Cseca rudimentary. 

 Tracheo-bronchial muscles attached to second bron- 

 chial rings. 



1. ArdeideB. 



19 or 20 cervical vertebrae. 



Several pairs of powder-doven patches. 



11 primaries. — Cosmopolitan. 



2. Scopidce. 



16 cervical vertebrae. 



No powder-down patches. 

 10 primaries. — Ethiopian. 



III. Pelargi. 



Cosmopolitan. Waders. 



Neck long, without apteria. Nares pervious. 



Rhampbotheca simple. 



Legs lonjr. Hypotarsus simple. 



Intestinal type IV., telogyrous. 



1. Ciconiida. 



Zoophagous. Nidicolous. 



17 cervical vertebrae. 



Hallux long, toes not webbed. Flexors of type I. 



Tongue rudimentary. 



Caeca rudimentary. 



Syrinx without tracheo-bronchial muscles. 



2. Plicenicopteridce. 



Tropical. Nidifugous. 



18 or 19 cervical vertebrae. 



Hallux small, front toes webbed. Flexors of type 



IV. 

 Tongue large and thick. 

 Caeca functional. 

 Syrinx with tracheo-bronchial muscles. 



11. FALCONIFORMES. 



Cosmopolitan. Nidicolous. Zoophagous. 



Desmognathous. 



Bill raptorial. Rhampbotheca simple, with ceroma. 



Aquinto-cubital. 



Feet raptorial. Hypotarsus simple. 



Intestinal convolutions of type IV., telogyrous. Caeca 



rudimentary. 

 Coraco-humeral groove indistinct. 



