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Show 136 GENUS HERPETOTHERES, VIEILLOT. " t Fhyseta VIRIIXOT, 1816 ( suppressed in 1818)." IFide G. R. Gray.] Herpetotheres VIEILL. NOUV. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. xviii, 1817, 317 ( type Falco cachinnaw Linn.). Cachinna FLBM. Phil. Zool. ii, 1822, 236 ( same type). Managua LESS. Traite* d'Orn. 1831, 68 ( same type). Osteology.- Scapular process of the coracoid produced forward so as to meet the clavicle. Nasal bones almost completely ossified, leaving ouly a small circular nasal orifice with a firm bony rim and inclosed bony tubercle. Inferior surface of the supramaxillary with a median angular ridge. Superciliary process of the lachrymal greatly developed, consisting of a single broad piece extending nearly across the orbit. Posterior margin of the sternum truncated, entire, without foramina. General appearance and size of the skull exceedingly like that of Falco communis, but the supero- frontal width much greater, and the palatine surface correspondingly narrower; interorbital width of the frontal bone more than half the length of the skull from the base of the maxillary; width of the superciliary processes more than one- third their length;, width of the conjoined palatines less than twice the width of the superciliary process, and less than half their own length; tomiuin of the suprainax-illary without tooth or notch; nostril opening against the anterior edge of the cere, its bony rim much elevated on the posterior side. Mandible very broad and strong, with a large, longitudinal, oblong- ovate vacuity. Keel of the sternum about equal in length to the scapula, much longer than the coracoids and furcula; greatest width of the sternum about two- thirds its length.* General external features.- Bill much compressed, very short and deep, its height through the base beiug about equal to the chord of the culmeu, whose curve forms about one- third the circumference of a circle; gonys very convex, ascending abruptly terminally; superior tomium very slightly sinuated; end of the lower, mandible divided frontally by an angular notch. Cere short, almost concealed by the rigid bristles of the lores and forehead. Nostril large, circular, against the anterior edgeot the cere, its bony rim much elevated superiorly and posteriorly, and its bony tubercle not prominently exposed. Feet very robust; tarsus longer than the middle toe; lateral toes nearly equal, but the outer appreciably the longer; membrane between middle and outer toes well developed. Covering of tarsus and toes consisting of irregularly hexagonal, roughly imbricated, small scales, with no tendency to larger size on any part; terminal joint of the toes with three broad scntellre. Claws normal, of moderate length and curve, the edges unusually sharp. Pterylosis.- Distribution of the tracts much as in Falco9 but with the dorsal stem of the spinal tract enlarged on all sides, undivided, and sparsely feathered. Lumbar tracts distinct, but short and separated from the crural tracts. Iuferior tract narrow in all its parts, inner branch indistinct at the end of the gular portion; outer branch completely separated from the pectoral stem, somewhat broader than the parrow main stem itself, and distinct from it; ventral portion of the main stem removed far outward, running along the margin, and terminating laterally in front of the anus.-( NITZSCH.) Plumage full and soft, except about the head; feathers of the crown developed into a full depressed crest of lanceolate feathers with very rigid shafts; orbital region with scattered hairs; eyelids strongly * There are no other bones of this remarkable form accessible for examination. |