572 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — GALLING — PEBISTEBOPOBES. 



others. A singular circumstance is a lack of the extensive vertehral anchyloses usual in birds, 

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

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

 the carotids. There are some 20 current species of the principal genus, Tiirnix, to which G-ray 

 adds the African Ortyxehs meiffreni, and the Australian PedAonomus torguatus. Late studies 

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



Elimination of these non-conformable elements renders the GalUruB susceptible of much 

 better definition, as follows : — 



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

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

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

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

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

 elevated, excepting in Craddm and Megapodidce, normally shorter than the anterior toes. 

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

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

 than 12 (not more in Craddee, beyond). Head and brain small in proportion to the body, as 

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

 No intrinsic syringeal muscles. Sternum generally deeply doubly-notched, and furculum with 

 a hypocleidium. Palate sohizognathous. Nasal bones schizorhinal. Sessile basipterygoid 

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

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

 accessory semi-tendinosus and ambiens present. Intestinal coeca extensive ; gizzard muscular. 

 Nature praecooial and ptilopsBdie, typically polygamous. Chiefly terrestrial. 



The order thus defined is equivalent to Hie AlectoromorphiB of Huxley (1867), minus 

 Pterocletes 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 PERISTEEOPODES : Pigeon-toed Fowls. 



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

 Craddee, or Curassows. 



The Mound-bii'ds, MegapodidcB, as the name implies, have large feet, with little-curved 

 claws, and lengthened insistent hallux. They share this last feature with the Craddee 

 (beyond) ; and the osseous structure of these 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 Gdllinee. 

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

 hatching with true feathers (p. 236). They are confined to Australia and the East Indies ; 

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

 a species or two. 



35. Family CRACID.iE : Curassows. 



This type is peculiar to America, where it may be considered to represent the Megapodidee, 

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

 cated above, and some essential characters noted. According to the latest authority on the 

 family, Messrs. Sclater and Salvin, it is divisible into three subfamilies : Cradme, curassows 

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

 species, Oreophasis derhia/nus, and the 



