ORDER CARINAT.E. 1 239 



ably also in the Indian Siwaliks ; remains of the existing Cormorant 

 {P. carbd) being found in the Norfolk Forest-bed. Sula (Gannet) 

 occurs in the Miocene beds of Colorado and of Ronzon (Puy-en- 

 Velay) ; while Pelagornis, of the Allier Miocene, is provisionally 

 placed in this family. In the Fregatidce remains of a Diomedia, 

 apparently closely allied to the Albatrosses of the Southern seas, 

 have been described from beds at the top of the Suffolk Crag ; 

 while it is considered probable that Argillornts, of the London 

 Clay, indicates the existence of this family in the Lower Eocene. 

 In the Pelecanidce remains of true Pelicans {Peleca?ius) occur 

 in the Miocene of Allier and Bavaria, as well as in the Indian 

 Siwaliks. 



Suborder 18. Accipitres. — The Accipitres, or Diurnal Birds 

 of Prey, are characterised by their curved beak (fig. 1122, b), the 

 absence of a circle of feathers round the eye, and the powerful 

 talons of the foot (fig. 1122, a), as well as by many osteological 

 features, and especially the nearly straight line formed by the three 



Fig. 1122. — a, Foot of the Peregrine Falcon ; b, Head of Buzzard. Reduced. 



terminal trochlea of the tarso-metatarsus (fig. n 23), and the ab- 

 sence of a bony bridge over the extensor tendons at the distal 

 extremity of the tibia. The probability of this group being related 

 to the Steganopodes has been already noticed. The Cathartidcz, 

 or American Vultures, are represented by existing species of Cath- 

 artes and Gyparchus in the Pleistocene of the Brazilian caves. It 

 has also been considered that this group is represented in Europe 

 by Lithornis vulturinus, of the London Clay ; an opinion which, if 

 confirmed, will be of considerable interest from a distributional 

 point of view. The peculiar Serpe?itariid<z, or Secretary Vultures, 

 of Africa, are known by a species of the one existing genus Ser- 

 pentarius from the Allier Miocene. The Falconidce. include all the 

 remaining genera, which are grouped in several subfamilies. Of 

 these the Vulturince, or true Vultures, are represented in the Pleis- 

 tocene breccia of Sardinia by remains of the type genus Vidtur ; 

 while those of the existing Afro-Indian Neophron percnopterus are 

 vol. 11. z 



