340 



MR. F. E. BEDDARD ON 



[Apr. 15, 



They may be defined as follows : — 



Schizorhiiial birds with the nasals facing forwards. Suj)raorbital 

 margin rounded, but with slight depressions for the nasal glands 

 Lachrymal quite independent of the prefrontal process. Bony 

 interorbital sej)tum largely deficient. Maxillo-palatines large but 

 hardly visible from below. Foramen magnum at posterior end of 

 skull ; occipital foramina present. No postfrontal process ])resent. 



The Cranes are placed by Mr. Sclater in his group Alectorides, 

 and so far this is justified by the above definition, which shows that 

 the Cranes are intermediate between the Rallidse and Limicolae and 

 should be therefore placed apart ; but when the other families in- 

 cluded iu the Alectorides are considered, such an arrangement does not 

 a[)pear to be feasible. Psoplda is, in my opinion, sufficient to show 

 that this association of birds will not hold, unless it be entirely 

 restricted to Psophia and the Cariamidae and perhaps the Bustards 

 and (Edlcnemus. 



It appears to me, iu fact, that the natural affinities of these 

 diflFerent birds are not so difficult to make out, if we cease the 

 attempt to combine together the various families of " Alectorides " 

 and simply show the relationships of the several types in a graphic 

 form. 



Aixleida:. 



Gypogrranas. 



Cariama. 



Gruiclti'. 



