State of the Systema Avium. 341 
Sectio Zracheophone. 
xix. Dendrocolaptide. xxii, Tyrannide. 
xx. Pteroptochide. xxili, Cotingide. 
xxi. Formicariide. xxiv. Phytotomide. 
Ordo FisstRosTREs. 
i. Momotidee. vi. Trogonidee. 
ii, Todidee. vii. Caprimulgide. 
iii, Alcedinidee. viii. Cypselidee. 
iv. Galbulidee. ix, Trochilide. 
v. Bucconidee. 
Ordo ScANSORES. 
i, Cuculide. iv. Picidee. 
ii, Rhamphastide. v. Psittacidee. 
iii. Capitonide. 
This arrangement of the three first orders of birds I em- 
ployed until 1872, allowing the Accipitres to succeed, and the 
remaining orders to follow, according to the Grayian system. 
But in 1872 it was necessary to decide what arrangement 
should be employed for the remaining orders in the list of 
Neotropical birds (‘ Nomenclator Avium Neotropicalium ’) 
which I was then preparing together with Mr. Salvin*. Inthe 
mean time the famous investigations of Prof. Huxley on the 
bones of the palate in the class of birds had taken place, and 
an entirely new arrangement of the class, consequent upon 
these investigations, had been promulgated. Having long 
entertained serious doubts as to the validity of the Grayian 
system, especially as to the groups associated together in the 
orders Gralle and Anseres, I was pleased to find an alterna- 
tive which had the sanction of high authority. Prof. Huxley 
had commenced his “ Systema” + with the lowest and most 
reptilian birds, and had ended it with the highest and most 
specialized. But it seemed to me that, by exactly reversing 
this arrangement, I should obtain a scheme which would 
not very far deviate from that which I had already employed 
as to the first three orders, and would offer many improve- 
* [The arrangement adopted in the ‘Nomenclator’ is entirely Mr. 
Sclater’s. I was forced to desert my colleague when I visited Central 
America in 1873-4, a portion only of this work having been then printed 
and the Introduction unwritten.—O, 8. ] 
t P.Z.S. 1867, p. 456. 
