300 CLASS AVES. 



rinus), is known only through Francois Cauche, who 

 considers it to be the same as the hooded dodo, 

 and gives it nevertheless but three toes, while all 

 authors speak of the hooded dodo as having four. 



No one has seen a specimen of these birds since 

 the above-named travellers. 



Of all birds, that which appears to have the wings 

 most reduced to a mere vestige is the Apteryx, 

 figured by Dr. Shaw, Nat. Mis. 1056 and 1057. Its 

 general form is that of an aptenodytes, its size that 

 of a goose. The feet would also be those of apte- 

 nodyteSi but they are said not to be palmated. The 

 bill is extremely elongated, slender, marked on each 

 side with a longitudinal furrow, and furnished with a 

 membrane at the base. The wing is reduced to a 

 little stump, terminated with a hook. It inhabits 

 New Zealand. 



The Family of Pressirostres 



Includes certain genera with elevated legs, without 

 a thumb, or at least with the thumb too short to 

 touch the ground. The bill is moderate, but strong 

 enough to penetrate the ground for worms ; hence 

 the species which have it the weakest frequent mea- 

 dows and newly cultivated lands, in search of this 

 sort of food. Those, on the other hand, which have 

 a stronger bill, feed on grains, herbs, &c. 



The Bustards. Otis, Lin. 



Have, together with the heavy appearance of the 



