A consideration of the distribution of the various genera of Phthiraptera occurring on Galliformes suggests that, while Megapodidae, Cracidae, Tetraonidae, Phasianidae, Numididae and Meleagrididae form a natural group of related hosts, Opisthocomidae, Tinamidae, Turnicidae and Pedionomidae do not fall .within the same host group. Evidence also suggests that Galliformes is more closely related to Columbiformes than is generally accepted.