SKULL OP THE ^GITHOGNATHOUS BIRDS. 309 



and a little more bony development would have made both this bird and the Kagu 

 "indii-ectly desmognathous." *l'he mandible of the Sun-Bittern is a mere miniature of 

 that of Anthropoides and Ehinochetus (Trans. Zool. Soc. vol. vi. pi. xci. fig. 1, & pi. xcii. 

 figs. 1 a & 3 a). 



I would suggest that here be facts helpful towards a fuller conception of the " Gera- 

 nomorphae," an enlargement of the borders of that very natural group, and at the same 

 time a breaking down of every thing save most frail palings between that group and the 

 more highly specialized Pelargomorphs, above, and the more simple and general Chara- 

 driomorphs, below. 



Also let it be considered that I have but dug a little about the roots of the group, 

 not doing BJiy Jinal work, but rather showing to a coming generation where the spade 

 is to be applied. 



If it were permitted me to lend a helping hand to those before whose eyes and for 

 whose inspection the endless forms of birds have been marshalled, I would suggest 

 such a scheme as the following for the Geranomorphse : — 



1 a. Tj-pioal Cranes, or those with the fullest degree of specialization. 

 Example. Orus anthropoides. 



1 b. Subtypical Cranes, less modified. 

 Example. Balearica. 



2. EaUine Cranes with a Tinamine character, e. g. the bony auperorbitala. 



Example. Psophia. 



3. Ardeine Cranes with an almost Struthious sternum and a skull approaching Nycticorax. 



Example. Ehinochetus. 



4. Ardeine Cranes with same Pluvialine characters, but leaning most to Botaurus. 



Example. Eurypyga. 



5. Pluvialine birds with Cfruine characters, mixed with what is seen in the Dromaeognathae and JEgitho- 



gnathse. 



Examples. Thinocorus, Attagis. 



6. The Kails. 



There would be, in short, subdivisions of the Geranomorphae under the following 

 names : — 



1. Gruidse. 



1 a. Gruinae. 

 1 b. Balearicinse. 



2. Psophiidse. 



2u2 



