240 



CLASS AVES. 



recorded from the equivalent cave-deposits of southern India. In 

 the other groups we have evidence of a species of either Milvus or 



Circus (fig. 1 1 23) from the last-named 

 deposits, the figure being given in order 

 to show the form of the distal end of the 

 tarso-metatarsus so characteristic of this 

 || I i suborder. Milvus is recorded from the 



R /if \ Allier Miocene ; and Falco from the 



■1 ill *%v Montmartre Eocene. Species referred 



to Aquila are mentioned both from the 

 Miocene of Allier and Gers, and the 

 Sardinian Pleistocene ; while Haliaetus 

 is recorded from Gers. Of extinct 

 genera Palceohierax, from the Allier 

 Miocene, is regarded as being allied to 

 Aquila ; while Palceocircus, of the Montmartre Eocene, is described 

 as showing affinity to the Buzzards (Buteo), and the Osprey (Pan- 

 dion) ; Teracus, from the Ronzon Miocene, being an imperfectly 

 known form. The largest known member of this suborder is 

 Harpagornis, from the Pleistocene of New Zealand, which was 

 apparently allied to Circus, Finally, several existing species of 

 Falconidce are recorded from the Pleistocene of the Brazilian 



Fig. 1 123. — (?) Milvus or Circus, 

 sp. The distal half of the left tarso- 

 metatarsus, from the anterior (a) 

 and posterior (b) aspects ; from the 

 Pleistocene of Madras 



caves. 



Suborder 19. Striges. 



-The Striges, or Owls, were formerly 



' A 

 Fig. 1124.— a, Foot of the Long-eared Owl (Otus vulgaris); b, Head of the same. Reduced. 



grouped with the Accipitres, but are now regarded as being prob- 

 ably more nearly allied to the Parrots. Comparatively few fossil 

 forms are known ; but in the Asionidce^ or Eagle-Owls, we have the 



