A Manual of Philippine Birds

by Richard C. McGregor

A MANUAL OF PHILIPPINE BIRDS.

By Richard C. McGregor.

Class AVES.

Oviparous, warm-blooded, amniotic vertebrates which have their anterior extremities transformed into wings. Metacarpus and fingers carrying feathers or quills. With an intertarsal joint. Not more than four toes of which the first is the hallux. (Gadow.)

Subclass CARINATÆ.

Sternum with a keel; scapulæ and coracoids fused forming an acute or a right angle; foramen ischiadicum present; distal six or seven vertebræ fused to form the pygostyle.

Orders.

• a¹. Hind toe connected by a web to the inner toe Pelecaniformes (p. [200])
• a². Hind toe not connected by a web to the inner toe.
  • b¹. Nostrils tubular.
    • c¹. Bill strong and decidedly hooked at the tip Procellariiformes (p. [84])
    • c². Bill weak, very small, gape very wide Caprimulgi in Coraciiformes (p. [295])
  • b². Nostrils not tubular.
    • c¹. Cutting edges of bill more or less distinctly fringed or serrated, tip of bill rounded Anseriformes (p. [184])
    • c². Cutting edges of bill not fringed.
      • d¹. Rectrices rudimentary; or if evident not prominent, being short, soft, and hidden by the upper coverts.
      • d². Rectrices not rudimentary; if short not hidden by upper coverts.

Order GALLIFORMES.