672 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — GALLING — PEBISTEBOPODES. 



others. A siugular circumstance is a lack of the extensive vertebral anchyloses usual in birds, 

 all the vertebra3 remaining distinct. The palatal structure is curiously like that of Passeres 

 (fegithognathousj. The crop is said to be wanting in some ; as is also the hind toe, and one of 

 the carotids. There are some 30 current species of the principal genus, T'urnix, to wluch Gray 

 adds the African Orl.yxelos meiffreni, and the Australian Pedionomus torquatus. Late studies 

 of the group have resulted in the view that it should represent a distinct order, Hemipodii. 



Elimination of tliese non-conformable eleuients renders the Gallince susceptible of much 

 better definition, as follows : — 



Bill generally short, stout, convex, with obtuse vaulted tip, not constricted in the con- 

 tinuity, wholly hard and corneous except in the nasal fossa. Touiia of upper mandible over- 

 lapping the lower; culmen high on forehead, the frontal feathers there forming a re-entrance, 

 with more or less salience on either side. Nostrils scaled or feathered, in a short abrupt fossa. 

 Legs usually feathered to the suifrago, often to the toes, sometimes to the claws. Hallux 

 elevated, excepting in CracidcE and MegapodidcB, normally shorter than the anterior toes. 

 Tarsus generally broadly scutellate, when not feathered. Front toes commonly webbed at 

 base. Claws blunt, little curved. Wings short, strong, vaulted. Eectrices commonly more 

 than 13 (not more in GracideE, beyond). Head and brain small in proportion to the body, as 

 in Pigeons. Plumage with after-shafts. Oil-gland tufted. Carotids two (except in Megapodidai). 

 Nil intrinsic syringeal muscles. Sternum generally deeply doubly-notched, and furculum with 

 a bypocleidiuni. Palate schizognathous. Nasal bones schizorhinal. Sessile basipterygoid 

 processes present. Angle of mandible produced into a recurved process. Pectoral muscles, 

 three : tlie second extensive ; femoro-caudal variable ; accessory femoro-caudal, semi-tendinosus, 

 accessory semi-teudiudsus and aml^iens present. Intestinal cceca extensive ; gizzard muscular. 

 Nature jinecoeial aud ptilnpa-'die, typically p<dygamous. Chiefly terrestrial. 



The order thus defined is equivalent to the AlectoromorphrB of Huxley (1867), minus 

 Pterordetes and Hemipodii. The birds composing it fall into two series or suborders, according 

 to the structure of the feet and more essential characters. 



10. Suborder PERISTEROPODES : Pigeon-toed Fowls. 



Framed to accommodate the Old World Megapiodidce, or Mound-birds, and the American 

 Cracidte, or Curassows. 



Tlie Mr)und-Tiirds, Megnpodidtv, as the name implies, have large feet, with little-curved 

 cl-ni-s, and lengthened insistent hallux. They share this last feature with the Cracidce 

 (beyiuid) ; and the osseous structure of tliese two families, except as regards pneumaticity, is 

 strikingly similar. Both show a modification of the sternum, the inner one of the two notches 

 being less instead of more than half as deep as the sternum is long, as in typical Ganince. 

 The Megapods do not incubate, and tlie young pass through the downy stage in the egg, 

 ha.tcliing witli true feathers (p. 330). They are confined to Australia and the East Indies; 

 Megapodiu.s is the principal genus, of a dozen or more species ; there are three others, each of 

 a species or tivo. 



35. Family CRACID^ : Curassows. 



This type is pecuhar to America, where it may be considered to represent the Megapodidai, 

 though diffeiing so much in habit and general appearance. The affinities of the two are indi- 

 cated aI)ove, aud some essential characters noted. According to the latest authority on the 

 family, Messrs. Sclater and Salviu, it is divisible into three subfamilies : Craciiur, curassows 

 and hoccos, with four genera and twelve; species • OrcophasincE, with a single genus and 

 species, Ormplmsis derhiamtfi, and tlie 



