ORDER 



STRUTHIONES. 



Rb&TRUM mediocre, rectum, depressum, culmine aut Icevo nut 



carinato, apice rotundato^ obtuso vel acuto» 

 CkFVT calvum aut plumosum. 



Pedes cursorii, didactyli vel tridactyli ; Femora S7ipra genua 



plumis denudatd. 

 Alm breves, volatu inepice. 



Beak medial, straight, depressed ; the ridge smooth or keeled, 



the tip rounded, obtuse, or acute. 

 Head naked or feathered. 



Feet formed for running, four-toed or three-toed ; the thighs 



above the Jcnee destitute of feathers. 

 Wings short, unfit for flight. 



This order embraces some of the largest of the 

 class, containing only the ostrich-like birds : they 

 are all noted for the rapidity with which they run, 

 in which they are assisted by their wings, which 

 are very short. 



Cuvier observes that the birds included in this 

 order differ from all other birds, in that the sternum 

 is destitute of a ridge or keel. The muscles of 

 the breast are so small as not to have power 

 enough to expand the wings sufficiently to enable 

 them to support the body of the bird in the air : 

 on the contrary, those of the legs and thighs are 

 very large, and remarkably strong, being well 

 adapted for long and powerful strides. 



