RASORES. 487 



entirely rudimentary, and are quite concealed by the feathers, 

 each terminating in a sharp claw. ' The feathers are long and 

 narrow, and the tail is short and inconspicuous. The Apteryx 

 is wholly confined to New Zealand, and is nocturnal in its 

 habits, living upon insects and worms. Three species of 

 Apteryx have been described, of which A. australis (fig. 190) 

 is the best known. 



Fig. igo.^-Apteryx a7istraLs. (Gould.) 



Besides the above-mentioned living forms, the order Cursores 

 comprises several gigantic extinct forms, which will be treated 

 of when describing the- geological distribution of Birds as a 

 class. 



Order IV. .Rasores. — The fourth order of Birds is that of 

 the Rasores, or 'Scratchers, often spoken of collectively as the 

 " Gallinaceous " birds, from the old name of " Gallinae," given 

 to the" order by Linnaeus. Ttis Rasores zxe. characterised by 

 the convex, vaulted upper mandible, having the nostrils pierced 

 in a membranous space at its base. The nostrils are covered 

 by a cartilaginous scale. The legs are strong and robust, 

 mostly covered with feathers as far as the joint between the 

 tibia and tarso-metatarsus. There are four toes, three in front 

 and one behind, the latter being short, and placed at a higher 

 evel than the other toes. All the toes terminate in strong 



