1892.] CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 245 



No basipterygoid processes. 

 No ecfepicondylar process. 

 Flexors of type I. or IV. 

 Peri-orthocoelous, type I. 



I. EURYPYG^. 



Neotropical. 



"With powder-down patches. (Unique among Grui- 



formes.) 

 Oil-gland nude. Schizorhinal. 



1. Eurypygidee. 



Aquinto-cubital. No lateral cervical apteria. 



Schizognathous. Nares pervious. 



18 cervical vertebrae. 



Sternum with one pair of notches. 



Nidicolous. 



2. RhinochetidcB. 



New Caledonia. 



Quinto-cubital. Lateral cervical apteria. 



Desmognathous. Nares impervious. 



16 cervical vertebrae. 

 Sternum solid. 

 Hypotarsus with high ridges. 



3. Mesitidte. 



Madagascar. 



Cubital. Lateral cervical apteria. 

 Schizognathous. Nares pervious. 

 Sternum with long simple posterior lateral pro- 

 cesses. Clavicles rudimentary. 



1 7 cervical vertebrae. 



Spina interna alone developed. (Unique among 

 Gruiformes.) 



II. Ralli. 



Aquinto-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. 



