Q56 PERNIS. 



tliered anteriorly about half their length, covered all 

 round with flat hexagonal scales, of which the anterior 

 are very large ; those on the tarsal joint much smaller 

 Toes of moderate size, strong, the outer connected at 

 the base with the third by a pretty large web, the lat- 

 ter with the second by a rudimentary web ; the first 

 much shorter than the second, which is a little shorter 

 but stronger than the fourth ; the third much longer ; 

 all covered above with transverse series of large angu- 

 lar scales, unless towards the end, where there are a 

 few scutella ; laterally and beneath with prominent 

 rough tubercular scales. Claws long, curved, tapering, 

 acute, convex above, concave beneath, those of the first 

 and second toes nearly equal, the third largest and with 

 an inner sharp edge. 



Plumage soft but compact, and rather glossy above. 

 Cere quite bare, without any bristles ; space between 

 the bill and eye densely covered with very small imbri- 

 cated, oblong, rounded, compact feathers, as is the space 

 margining the base of the lower mandible. Feathers 

 of the head rounded, of the hind neck broad and round- 

 ed, of the rest of the upper parts broad and rounded, 

 of the fore-neck narrower and acuminate, as are those 

 of the lower parts, although they are broad. The fea- 

 thers of the abdomen and tibiae are not downy or loose 

 as in most other genera. Wings very long, broad, 

 rounded, the third quill longest, the first about the 

 length of the sixth ; the primary quills strong, broad at 

 the base, tapering, but rounded at the end, the outer 

 five abruptly cut out on the inner web; the secondary 

 quills thirteen, very long, very broad, broadly rounded, 

 with a minute acumen. Tail long, ample, even in the 



