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THE AMERICAN NATTRALIST 



[Vol. XLI 



of base. The superior mandible of the skull is conspicuously 

 decurved apically, and very sharp-pointed; symphysis of mandible 

 also more or less decurved, and the articular ends of this bone, 

 truncated posteriorly. 



When the skeleton of any bird has associated in it all the osteo- 

 logical characters here enumerated, they are sufficient to indicate 

 that the species belongs to the suborder Tubinares. These char- 

 acters are thoroughly diagnostic, and typical tubinarine forms 

 possess them in the avifauna in any part of the world. 



I am of the opinion that the natural classification of the Tubi- 

 nares is as follows : — 



Suborder. Families. Subfamilies. 



Procellariidje. 



2. PufRnida?. 



Procellariinre. 

 Oceanitina^. 

 Puffininse. 

 Fulmariuje. 



3. Pelecanoididie. 

 [ 4. Diomedeidse. 



This arrangement does not include the extinct forms of this 

 suborder, but nevertheless the characters presented on the part 

 of these have been taken into consideration in connection with 

 taxonomical affinities. 



When Mr. Forbes came to sum up his conclusions in regard to 

 this group of birds, at the close of his extensive paper, cited above, 

 he said that L'Herminier, A. Milne-Edwards, and Huxley have 

 all, in describing various points in the osteology of the Tubinares, 

 pointed out similarities of various kinds between their osseous 

 structure and that of various forms of Steganopodes, though they 

 still kept them close to the Larida\ Eyton, on the other hand, 

 places the various petrels he describes in tlie family ' Pelecanidte,' 

 and gulls forming a separate family liy themselves." 



'Tkit no one will be prepared, I tliiiik, to dispute tliat the 

 Steganopodes are allied to the Ilerodiones. inchiding under that 

 name the Storks and Herons, with Sc<.pns only." 



"Thus, on ost,.)l(>oieal grounds alone, there is >nfH<-ient gn»un(l 



Herodines. And, in fact, neglecting the desmognathon.s structure 

 of the palate — the taxonomic value of which, per se, is becoming 



