609 



CYPSELUS. SWIFT. 



Bill extremely short, depressed, broad at the base, narrowed 

 to the point, so as to present a triangular form when viewed 

 from above ; upper mandible slightly longer, its dorsal outline 

 convex, the ridge convex, the sides sloping at the base, convex 

 at the end, the edges sharp and incurved, the nasal sinus very 

 large ; lower mandible much smaller, very broad, its angle 

 very large and wide, the dorsal outline convex, the edges invo- 

 lute, the tip narrow but obtuse ; gape line commencing nearly 

 beneath the posterior angle of the eye, ascending to near the 

 nostrils, then slightly arched. 



The mouth very wide ; the upper mandible shallow, with a 

 slight prominent central line, the lower also shallow, with a 

 similar line ; the palate flat, but slightly arched, with two 

 faint lateral lines ; the posterior aperture of the nares linear, 

 papillate behind, and having its lateral spaces also covered with 

 small papillae. Tongue short, sagittate, papillate at the base, 

 its tip bifid. The oesophagus is rather narrow, wide at the 

 commencement ; the proventriculus oblong, with short glan- 

 dules. The stomach is elliptical, somewhat compressed ; its 

 muscular coat rather thin, its tendons moderate, its cuticular 

 coat thin, tough, and longitudinally rugous. The intestine is 

 very short ; the duodenal portion much wider than the rest, 

 excepting the rectum, which gradually dilates to a very largo 

 pyriform sac ; no cocca. Plato XXII, Fig. 5. 



The nostrils are prominent, oblong, with an elevated mar- 

 gin, oblique, in the fore part of the large nasal membrane, which 

 is feathered behind. The eyes are rather large ; the eyelids 

 bare, but with two submarginal rows of feathers, the bare 

 edges crenate. External aperture of the ear large and roundish. 



The general form is rather full ; the body of an elongated 

 flattened shape ; the neck very short, the head broad. The 

 feet are extremely short, but strong, and more resemble those 



