27(i 



NAUCLPmUS. SWALLOW-KITE. 



Bill short, broader than high at the base, much compressed 

 toward the end, of moderate strength ; upper mandible with 

 the dorsal line declinato-decurvate from the base, the sides 

 nearly flat, the ridge broad as far as the edge of the cere, the 

 sharp edges with a slight festoon, the tip slender, acute, and 

 declinate ; lower mandible with the angle very wide, the dor- 

 sal line slightly convex, the ridge broad, the edges slightly in- 

 flected, much decurved toward the tip, which is rounded. 



Palate flat, with two longitudinal ridges ; upper mandible 

 with a tuberculate median ridge, lower deeply concave ; pos- 

 terior aperture of the nares oblongo-linear, with the edges 

 papillate. Tongue somewhat decurved, emarginate and finely 

 papillate at the base, flat above, its tip narrow and acutely 

 emarginate. Oesophagus of nearly uniform width, being des- 

 titute of crop, and thus resembling that of the Owls ; its walls 

 extremely thin ; stomach very large, round, slightly compress- 

 ed, 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 man- 

 ner ; no coeca ; rectum short, with a large globular dilatation. 



Head rather large, roundish, flattened above. Eyes large ; 

 nostrils round, with a central papilla ; aperture of ear roundish 

 and rather large. Neck short, body compact. Feet short ; 

 tarsus very short, robust, covered all round with scales ; toes 

 of moderate size, scutellate above, covered beneath with pro- 

 minent pointed papillae. Claws rather long, well curved, 

 slender, acuminate. 



Plumage blended, glossy, on the back and wings rather com- 

 pact. Wings extremely elongated, rather narrow, and pointed ; 

 the third quill longest ; the secondaries short and rounded. 

 Tail extremely long, very deeply forked, of twelve feathers. 



