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CLASS AVES. 



re 



(Pheasants, Turkeys, etc.), and Tetraonidce (Grouse). The Gallinae 

 together with the following group of Columbae were formerly 

 bracketed together under the name of Rasores, and it is by no 

 means certain that the departure from this arrangement is an advis- 

 able one. The skull (fig. 1 1 03, p. 1 2 1 o) has peculiar palatal features, 

 a sharp curved beak, and a recurved process to the angle of the 

 mandible. Many of the genera of Gallinae (especially the males) 

 are characterised bv the presence of one or more strong bony spurs 

 on the inner side of the tarso-metatarsus 

 (fig. 1 1 18). The first two families are at 

 present unknown in a fossil condition. In 

 the Phasianidce, however, the typical genus 

 Phasianus occurs in the Allier and Gers 

 Miocene deposits, and also in the Lower 

 Pliocene of Pikermi ; Francolinus (Fran- 

 colin) is represented by remains of exist- 

 ing species in the Pleistocene of Southern 

 India (fig. n 18); Coturnix (Quail) in the 

 Montmartre Eocene gypsum ; the extinct 

 Palceortyx in both the latter deposits and 

 the Isere and Allier Miocene beds, the 

 Francolinus pondi- so-called Palceoperdix of the Mayence 

 n h t e he le pieL a toce™e et of Miocene being probably identical; while 

 «, Posterior ; b, Anterior a S p ec ies of Gallus, somewhat larger than 

 the existing Indian G. Sonnerati, is found in 

 the Pikermi Pliocene. From the Miocene of the United States a 

 Turkey (Meleagris antiqua) has been recorded, and is described as 

 equal in size to the living species now characteristic of America. 

 In the Tetraonidce. remains of the living Capercaillie (Tetrao uro- 

 gallus) occur in the Norfolk Forest-bed ; while an extinct species 

 of the same genus has been described from the Upper Eocene of 

 Languedoc. Remains of the existing Willow Grouse (Zagopus 

 a/bus) are found in the Pleistocene of Westphalia. 



Suborder ii. Columb^. — This group is taken to include the 

 existing Sand-grouse (Pterodidce), and the Pigeons (Columbidce). In 

 the first-named family a species of the type genus Pterodes has been 

 described from the Allier Miocene. The Columbidce are known by 

 a species referred to Columba from the last-named deposits, as well 

 as by another provisionally referred to the same genus from the 

 Pleistocene of Rodriguez. Of especial interest is a tarso-metatarsus 

 from the Pleistocene of Queensland described by Mr De Vis under 

 the name of Progoura, and regarded as indicating a bird allied to 

 the Crowned-Pigeons (Gourd) of New Guinea. Goura shows 

 some signs of affinities to the Phasianidce, and. these resemblances 

 are said to be more marked in Progoura, which is double the 



a 

 Fig. 1 1 18 

 cerianus. 

 tarsus ; from 

 Madras, 

 aspect. 



