280 ELEMENTS OP OBNITHOLOGY. 



maxillo-palatines in front, and with the pterygoids and paktines 

 behind ; feather-tracts well differentiated from the bare tracts 

 on both the upper and under parts; oil-gland tufted; cseca 

 present; basipterygoids placed very far backwards; nopygostyle. 



This order again contains but a single family named Tinamidce, 

 from the Tinamous' which compose it, and which are, their 

 structure shows, widely different from the Coursers (with which 

 we introduced them to the reader's notice) in spite of the super- 

 ficial resemblance which exists between them. They lead us 

 on, in fact, to the next and last Avian order — one which belongs 

 to the second subclass of Birds, the subclass Batitce. 



This eighteenth and last order of Birds, of about 20 species, 

 is the Order Strvihiones, which contains the suborders 1. Ap- 

 terygiformes and 2. Dromceiformes. These groups may be thus 

 characterized : — 



Subclass II. EATIT^^ 



Order XVIII. STEUTHIONES. 



Basipterygoid processes very large and placed on tne oasi- 

 pterygoid rather than on its rostrum ; oil-gland absent ; plumage 

 of neck continuous ; palatines articulating with the pterygoids 

 and not with the sphenoidal rostrum ; no power of flight. 



Suborder 1. Apterygiformes. 

 A hallux present ; bUl greatly elongated ; wing a mere rudi- 

 ment. 



Suborder 2. Dromceiformes. 

 No haUux ; biU not greatly elongated ; wing not a mere rudi- 

 ment. 



There are three families of this order. The first of these, 

 Apterygidce, is the only one of the first suborder and is consti- 

 tuted by the several species of Apteryx ' alone. The second 

 family, the Dromceidce, contains the Emeus' and the Casso- 



1 P. 51. ^ The characters of this Subclass are given above, p. 258. 

 ' P. 64. ■* P. 67. 



