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Show 180 GENUS ELASTOJDES, VIEILLOT. Elanoides VIEILLOT, Nouv. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xxiv, 1818, 101. Type, Fako forficaiui LINN. Nauclerus AUCT., nee VIGORS, 1825. 08teological characters.*- Cranium very similar in contour and proportions to that of Pandion, but presenting important modifications in minor details. Superciliary process of the lachrymal distinct from the froutal, which is completely anchylosed with the nasal; inner convoluted edge of the palatines scarcely produced downward ; nasal* septum completely ossified; pterygoid bone narrow, and of a uniform width throughout its length. Sternum similar to that of Pandion, having, like it, a pair of indentations on the posterior margin, and destitute of foramina; the clavicle, coracoids, and scapula are also very similar. Anatomical characters.-" Palate flat with two longitudinal ridges; upper mandible with a tuberculate median ridge, lower deeply concave; posterior aperture of the nares oblongolinear, with the edges papillate. Tongue somewhat decurved, emarginate, and finely papillate at the base, flat above, its tip narrow and acutely emarginate. ( Esophagus of nearly uniform width, being destitute of crop, and thus resembling that of the owls; its walls extremely thin ; stomach very large, round, slightly compressed, its muscular coat very thin, and composed of a single series of fasciculi. Intestine short and rather wide; pylorus with three knobs, duodenum forming a loop in the usual manner ; no caeca"; rectum short, with a large globular dilatation."-( Mc- GlLLIVBAY.) Pterylographical characters.-" Inner branch on the jugular part distinct but short; outer branch entirely free. Dorsal portion of the spinal tract usually long." t-( NITZSCH.) Contour- feathers with after-shafts. Lumbar tract present. Kemiges, 23. General external characters.- Bill rather small and narrow, intermediate between that of Pandion and Elanus; compressed anteriorly, and very broad at the t> ase; the terminal hook well produced, the tomia very regular; cere ascending; nostril broadly oval, oblique; gonys nearly straight; tomium of the lower mandible very convex. Lores densely feathered, the feathers bristle- like. Feet robust; tarsus a little longer than the middle toe, covered with large, irregular, hexagonal scales; toes with transverse scutellae nearly to the base; claws short, strong, abruptly flattened beneath, the edges very sharp, the middle claw bent laterally, the inner side very convex, the projecting edge sharp and entire. No web between the toes. Primaries and rectrices excessively elongated and narrow, the former more than twice the length of the secondaries. Outer tail- feathers about equal to the primaries, and more than twice as long as the middle pair. Apparently more nearly related to Pernis, Cymindis, Regerhinus, and allied forms than to any other genera, the genus JElanoides yet stands isolated from these by the absence of many characters common to them, and by the possession of features peculiarly its own. In general external form, it approaches quite nearly the genus Milvus, but when com- * Of this genus we have seen only the skull and sternum. t NITZSCH gives the above characters of a group in which he inoludes Milvu* regalia, M. ater, and Elanoides forfloatus. |