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Show 152 GENUS LEPTODON, SUNDEVALL. Cymindis CI* VIER; Rfcg. Aiv i, 1817, 319. Type. Falco cayennenris GMEL. ( Not of LATR. 1806.) Lepiodon SUNDEVALL, K. Vet. Akad. Hand!. 1835, 114. Same type. Odontriorchis KAUP, Mas. Senck. iii, 1845, ' 262. Same type. CH.- Bill strong, swollen laterally, much hooked, the upper outline of the cere gradually ascending, and moderately arched; superior tomiam with a more or less distinct tooth behiud the strong, but rather short, booked tip. Membrane of the cere somewhat tumid, the nostril narrow, oblique, slit- like, nearly covered by a tumid membrane, and touching the anterior edge of the cere. Lores and eyelids naked, but uniformly bristled. Feet small but robust, the tarsus about equal to the middle toe. Top of the toes with regular transverse scutellae; tarsus covered with rather large hexagonal scales. Claws rather small, very broad, and slightly hollowed beneath, the edges sharp and prominent. Feathers of the crown and occiput distinct, rather lengthened, nearly cuneate, but with rounded tips. Secondaries much developed, reaching nearly to the end of the primaries. Third to fifth quill longest; first shorter than seventh, sometimes shorter than the ninth. Inner webs of outer four to six very slightly sinuated. Tail lengthened, about twotbirdsas long as the wing, rounded, the feathers very broad. This subgenus is so very similar to Avicida that there is considerable doubt as to the propriety of separating the two; the only difference is in the proportionate development of the primaries and secondaries, in the slightly more rounded tail, and in the less developed crest and larger size of Leptodon. These two genera, along with Baza, Pernis, and Reg* rhinu8, form a most natural group, which may be termed the Pernes, and to which we are doubtfully inclined to refer the genus E'amides as an aberrant member. This group may be characterized as follows :- Group PERNES. CH.- Superciliary process of the lachrymal simple and much abbreviated, as in Pandion, but ( as in the Polybori) not anchylosed with tbe frontal bone. Outer toe not reversible, and the claws normal ( i. e. graduated in size, and flattened, or slightly concave beneath). Feet small, the tarsus very short, scarcely exceeding the middle toe; outer and middle toes not united at the base by a membrane. Tarsus covered with irregular, usually hexagonal, scales- never scutellate; middle claw with its inner edge much produced, convex, sharp, sometimes with rudimentary pectinations. Plumage soft, full; sides of the head densly feathered close up to the eyelids, the eyes prominent, and not protected by a superciliary shield. The more strongly- marked genera of the group may be characterized as follows:- A. Cere tumid, the nostril slit like, overhung by a soft membrane. Tail even or rounded, much shorter than the wing. Inner webs of outer two to six primaries with inner webs sinuated; third to fifth quill longest; first shorter than seventh, a. Bill only moderately hooked and not conspicuously compressed. Feathers of the pileum rather firm, distinctly defined; several of those on the occiput more elongated, forming more or less of a crest. |