36 THE AUSTRAL AVIAN RECORD [Vol. IV. 



Opisthocomiformes, Craciformes, Galliformes, Turniciformes 

 and Attagidiformes. Here, again, morphological study has 

 complicated the classification through the incompetence of 

 the workers to comprehend osteological and anatomical varia- 

 tion. Thus OpistJiocomus is purely an old associate of the 

 Craciformes, and in any scheme whatever it must be placed 

 alongside. Similarly, the Turniciformes and Attagidiformes 

 are near relations of the Galliformes, having developed a little 

 in different directions, but certainly neither have the former 

 any close Ralline affinity nor the latter a Charadriine relationship. 

 To place the Attagidiformes with the Chionidiformes among 

 the Lari is a peculiarly unscientific proceeding, and every 

 morphological item denies this association. The suborder 

 Galliformes we have separated into two subfamilies, the 

 Megapodioidea and the Phasianoidea, the former with one 

 family only, the latter divisible into six families. Between 

 the Galli and the Columbse as usual appear the Syrrhaptes, and 

 the Columbse include the Columbiformes and Raphiformes. 

 At this point there is a hiatus just as in every other system, 

 and we have been unable to bridge it, as next come the 

 Anates, which covers the Anatiformes and the Anhimiformes, 

 a combination which has been accepted for over fifty years 

 without question ; but still it may not be incontrovertible. 



The Phcenicopteri must be regarded as of ordinal value, as 

 they combine a generalised Anatine form with many features 

 of Ardeine affinity. They constitute one of the best marked 

 groups, superficially and internally, and their relegation to 

 any other group in a subordinate degree would imply complete 

 ignorance of avian evolution. Their fossil remains confirm 

 their early divergence from the forms named. The next order, 

 Herodiones, has given trouble on account of the generalised 

 nature of the few species, and though we have simply recognised 

 six families, these have been given various rank up to ordinal, 

 and the chief trouble is that we know too much about their 

 morphology, and the characters vary in each form, so that 

 " preconceived ideas " as to the value of the items have been 

 destroyed. The succeeding order, Falcones, is a more trouble- 

 some one still, as here again specialisation has taken place on 



