CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. 687 
The American ostrich (hea) is represented by three species in the 
S. American Pampas. In the Rhea there are three toes, all clawed, 
and the ischia form a ventral symphysis. There are no clavicles, 
Only here among Ratitee is there a well-developed syrinx. The cxeca 
are large. The male excavates a shallow nest in the ground, and 
there, surrounded by a few leaves and grasses, the numerous eggs are 
usually laid. It seems that the male bird alone hatches the eggs. 
Single eggs are often laid here and there on the plains, but these are 
not incubated. 
The Emu (Dromeus) is represented by two species in Australian 
deserts and plains. The fore-limb is greatly reduced, the feathers have 
long aftershafts. Nearly related are the Cassowaries (Caswarzus) living 
in the Austral-Malayan region, eight species in the Papuan Islands, one 
in N.-E. Australia, and one in Ceram. They live in the forests and 
scrub. The fore-limb is very small, with the shafts of the wing feathers 
reduced to spines; the ordinary feathers have long aftershafts. On 
the top of the skull there is a horny helmet, covering a core of light 
spongy bone ; this protects the bent head as the bird rushes through the 
scrub. There are three toes, the inner one with a long sharp claw—a 
formidable weapon. In Emu and Cassowary the clavicles are repre- 
sented by separate rudiments and the czeca are small. 
The Kiwi (4f¢eryx) forms a very distinct genus of Ratitee, represented 
by four species, restricted to New Zealand. It is not larger than a 
hen, and has simple hair-like or bristle-like feathers, a long bill and 
terminal nostrils, a very rudimentary wing and no clavicles, and no 
distinct tail feathers. There are four clawed toes. The czeca are large. 
It is a nocturnal bird, swift and noiseless in its movements, feeding in 
great part on earthworms. The egg is very large for the size of the bird. 
Among the extinct Ratite are the gigantic Moas (Dzwornis), which 
seem to have been exterminated in New Zealand in comparatively recent 
times. The fore-limbs were almost completely reduced, the hind-legs 
were very large, and some forms attained a height of 10 ft. or even more, 
Another recently lost order of giant birds is represented by remains 
of pyornds found in Madagascar. Some of these indicate birds as 
large as ostriches, but eggs have been found holding six times as much 
as that of an ostrich. ; 
We may think of the Ratite, according to W. K. Parker, as ‘‘ over- 
grown, degenerate birds that were once on the right road for becoming 
flying fowl, but through greediness and idleness never reached the 
‘ goal,’—went back, indeed, and lost their sternal keel, and almost lost 
their unexercised wings.” 
2. Division ODONTOLC&. Represented by Hesperornds from N. 
American Cretaceous strata, somewhat like a swimming ostrich, 
with sharp teeth sunk in a groove, with saddle-shaped cervical 
vertebrze as in modern birds, with a rudimentary fore-limb, but 
with a powerful swimming leg. In an English representative— 
Enaliornis—the vertebrae are chiefly biconcave. These extinct 
birds have many Ratite skeletal characters, and they have also 
interesting resemblances to some old-fashioned living Carinate, 
notably the divers (Colymbidz). 
