1892.] CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 245 



No basipterygoid processes. 

 No ectepicondylar process. 

 Flexors of type I. or IV. 

 Peri-orthoccelous, type I. 



I. EURYPYG^. 



Neotropical. 



With powder-down patches. (Unique among Grui- 



formes.) 

 Oil-gland nude. Schizorhiual. 



1. Eurypygidee. 



Aquinto-cubital. No lateral cervical apteria. 



Schizognathous. Nares pervious. 



18 cervical vertebrae. 



Sternum with one pair of notches. 



Nidicolous. 



2. Rhinochefidee. 



New Caledonia. 



Quinto-cubital. Lateral cervical apteria. 



Desmognathous. Nares impervious. 



1 6 cervical vertebrae. 

 Sternum solid. 

 Hypotarsus with high ridges. 



3. MesitidcB. 



Madagascar. 



Cubital. Lateral cervical apteria. 

 Schizognathous. Nares pervious. 

 Sternum with long simj)le posterior lateral pro- 

 cesses. Clavicles rudimentary. 



1 7 cervical vertebrae. 



Spina interna alone developed. {Unique among 

 Gruiformes.) 



II. Ralli. 



Aqninto-cubital. With lateral cervical apteria. 



Oil-gland tufted. 



Schizognathous. Holorhinal. 



14 or 15 cervical vertebrae. 



Sternum with long simple posterior lateral processes. 



Hypotarsus without canals but with high ridges. 



III. Grues. 



With lateral cervical apteria. 



Oil-gland nude. 



Schizognathous. 



17 to 20 cervical vertebrae. 



Sternum solid. 



Hypotarsus complex. 



