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Show 147 GENUS MORPHNUS, CUVIER. Morphnua CUVIER, Reg. AD. 1H17,318. Type, Falco guianensis DAUDIN. uMorphinu$ FLEMING, 1822",/ de GRAY. CH.- Form similar to that of Thrasaetus, but weaker and more slender. Tarsus more than twice the length of the middle toe; toes very short, the lateral ones about equal in length ( the outer not appreciably longer), the hind toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claws large, but greatly graduated in size, that of the hind toe exceeding its digit, the outer much less than half its length. Scut ell at ion of the feet much more distinct and regular than in Thrasaetw, the tarsus having distinct and continuous frontal and posterior rows of broad, regular, transverse scatellse, and those of the toes uninterrupted nearly to the base; those OD the outer side of the tarsus, between the frontal and posterior series, are larger than those on the inner side. Wings and tail as in Thrasaetus, bat the latter longer and more rounded. Plumage generally the same, bnt occupital crest composed of narrower feathers. The genera Thrasaetus and Morphnus have so many characters in common, while in the same they differ so much from all the Falconidw more nearly related to them in other respects, that they may be considered as forming a group by themselves, which may be designated by the term Morphni. They are very closely related to the Spizaeti, to which Thra-mttus exhibits a very close approach through the equally large and powerful African species & bellicosus and S. coronatits, which, with the present bird, constitute the largest and most powerful eagles in the world. It is a question whether the African species just named are not in reality more nearly related to Thrasaetm than to the smaller Spizaeti; bat this we cannot decide at present, having no specimens of either at hand. The two genera under consideration differ, however, from all the Spizaeti, including the species above named, in the nudity of the tarsus, which, instead of being densely feathered all round, as in Aquila, is feathered only on the upper portion in front, the rest being roughly scaled, with larger scutellse before and behind. The " group Morphni," composed of these two genera alone, may be characterized as follows:- CH.- Tarsus naked, except for the upper half, or less, of the frontal iwtion, roughly scaled, the smaller scutellae being irregularly hexagonal, the larger forming a frontal and a posterior series; those behind often irregularly twisted or contorted. Toes very short, the middle one less than two- thirds the tarsus, the lateral ones shorter and equal; posterior and inner toes short and very robust, armed with powerful claws equal to or exceeding their digits in length, and outer toe very weak, with a claw less than half the length of the posterior one. Nostril broadly oval, obliquely vertical, the anterior side gradually beveled off to the edge of the cere.* Primaries very short, scarcely exceeding the greatly-developed and broad secondaries; fourth or fifth quills longest, first shortest; their inner webs very slightly sinuated, the sinuation being perceptible on the sixth, or seventh, or even the eighth quill. Tail very long, three- fourths or four- fifths the wing, even, or slightly rounded. Feathers of the occiput elongated into a conspicuous depressed crest of broad ronnd- tipped feathers, and feathers of the neck developed into an , * It is our impression that the nostril is similarly formed in " Spizaetns" coronatus and • s'. fcetticM « « ; but we have no specimens for examination and therefore canuot be positive. |
