AVE9. 
them. The Carinat(B contain all other existing birds. The 
sternum has more or less of a keel, and ossifies (except possibly 
in Strigops) from a median centre as well as from paired and 
lateral ones. The axes of the coracoid and scapula meet at an 
acute or, as in Didus and Ocydromus, at a slightly obtuse angle, 
while the vomer is comparatively narrow and allows the ptery- 
goids and palatals, to articulate directly with the basisphenoidal 
rostrum. The Carinatce are divided, according to the formation 
of the palate, into four groups or suborders and named (i) 
Drom(Bognath( 2 j (ii) Bcliizognathaty (iii) DesmognathcSy and (iv) 
JSgithognath(B. The BromceognathtR resemble the Ratitce in their 
palatal structure, and are composed of the family Tinamidcs. 
The Schizognaihis include a great many forms usually placed in 
Gallin(R, GrallcR, and Anseres. In this " suborder the vomer, 
however variable, always tapers to a point anteriorly, while 
behind it embraces the basisphenoidal rostrum between the 
palatals j but neither these nor the pterygoids are borne by its 
posterior divergent ends. The maxillo-palatals are usually elon- 
gated and lamellar, uniting with the palatals, and, bendilig back- 
ward along their inner edge, leave a fissure (whence the name of 
the suborder between the vomer and themselves. Six 
groups of SchizognathcB are distinguished with considerable mi- 
nuteness: — (1) Charadriomorpha, containing Charadriida, Oti- 
didcBj and Scolopacida ; (2) Geranomorpha, including Gruidm and 
llallid <2 *, between which Psophia and Rhinochetus are interme- 
diate ; (3) CecomorphcBj comprising Laridae^ Procellarndm, Co- 
lymbidfs, and Alcidce ; (4) SpheniscomorphcB, composed of 
Spheniscida (5) AlectoiromorphrBy being all the Gallince except 
TinamidcB ; and, finally, (6) Peristeromorph<Bj consisting of the 
Columb(B. In^ the Desmognatlm the vomer is either abortive or 
so small as to disappear from the skeleton. When it exists it is 
always slender and tapers to a point anteriorly. The maxillo- 
palatals are united (whence the name of the ^'suborder across 
the middle line, either directly or by the ossification of the nasal 
septum. The posterior ends of the palatals and anterior of the 
pterygoids articulate directly with the rostrum. The groups of 
Desmognathcs are characterized as carefully as those of the last 
suborder and are as follows:— (1) Chenormorphis, consisting 
of Anatidcs with Palamedea {cf. Zool. Rec. iii. p. Ill, note) ; 
(2) Amphimorphdy composed of Phamicopterid(B (3) Pelargo- 
morphcHy containing Ardeidm, CiconiiddPj and Tantalida •, (4) 
Dyspoy'omorphai, coextensive with Pelecanidm ; (5) Aetomorphcn 
and (6) Psittacomorph< 2 y identical respectively with Accipitres 
and Psittaci ; and, lastly, (7) Cocci/gomorph(Sj which is held to 
include four groups, viz. : — (a) Coliidoi, (b) Musophagidm y Cu- 
culid(Sy BucconiddBy Rhamphastidcs y Capitonid(By Galbulidaey {c) 
* JDicholopbus also would appear to be referred Here (p. 465), 
