176 



NORTH AMERICAN UIRDS. 



Genus POLYBORUS, Vieillot. 



Polyboms, Vif.ii.l. ISKi. (Tj'pe, Fako brasilicnsis, Gmeli.n'. P. tluinis, Molina.) 

 Caracara, CuviKit, 1817. (Same type.) 



Gen. Guar. (Scnicral aspect somewhat viiltiirine, but bearing and manners almcst gallina- 

 ceous. Neck ami legs very long. Bill very high and miiuh compressed, the commissure 

 very straight and regular, and nearly parallel witli the superior outline ; cere very narrow, 

 its anterior outline vertical and straight. Nostril very small, linear, obliquely vertical, its 

 upper end being the posterior one ; situated in the upper anterior corner of the cere. 

 Lateral and under portions of the head naked and scantily haired, the skiu bright-colored 



f 



37871,?. ,; ,^^- ,,^-..:^ 



37871,?. 



Wing and tail. 



Polyhorits aiultiboni. 



(reddish or yellow in life). Occipital feathers elongated. Wings and tail long, the latter 

 rounded ; five outer quills with inner webs sinuated ; third to the fourth longest ; first 

 shorter than the sixth, sometimes shorter than the .seventh. Feet almost gallinaceous, 

 the tarsus nearly twice as long as the middle toe, but stout ; outer toe longer than the 

 inner; posterior toe much the shortest; claws long, but slender, weakly curved, and 

 obtuse. Tarsus with a frontal series of large transverse scutelte, the lower fourth to 

 sixth forming a single row, the others disposed in two parallel series of alternating plates ; 

 the other parts covered by smaller hexagonal scales. 



This well-marked genus contains but a single species, the P. tharus, ]\Iol., 

 which extends its range over the M-liole of tro))ical and subtropical America, 



