AVES» 
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Genua 15. — EPIMACHUS.— Cuvier. 
Generic Character. — Bill considerably longer than the head, 
slender, arcuated, compressed, and pointed; upper mandible 
slightly notched near the tip, and somewhat longer than the 
lower one; gape very wide, extending under the ophthalmic 
region ; nostrils basal, lateral, open to the front, half closed by a 
feathered membrane ; tongue short and cartilaginous; legs short; 
tarsus longer than the middle toe, the external one united to the 
first joint; fourth and fifth quills longer than the others. 
Epimachus superhus. — The Superb Epimachus. 
Plate XLI. fig. 5. 
Iridescent-black, reflecting violet and green; scapulars pur¬ 
plish-black on the inner webs; fine golden-green on the edges 
and tip. 
Genus 16.—DREPANIS.— Temminck. 
Generic Character. —Bill very long, rounded above, thick and 
triangular at the base, and subulate at the point; upper mandi¬ 
ble longer than the under one; nostrils half shut above; tongue 
short, cartilaginous; tarsus double the length of the middle toe; 
the lateral toes of equal length; third, fourth, and fifth quills 
longer than the rest. 
Drepanis vestiaria. — The Scarlet Drepanis. 
Plate XLI. fig. 6. 
Scarlet, with the wings and tail black; the bill greatly curved, 
which, as well as the legs, is straw-colour; tail feathers slightly 
pointed at their extremities. Five inches and a half long. In¬ 
habits the Sandwich Islands. 
Genus 17.—MELIPHAGA.— Lewin. 
Generic Character. — Bill generally the length of the head, 
shorter in some species, compressed, and somewhat arcuated ; 
nostrils lateral, ovoid, covered by an arched membrane; tongue 
long, extensible, its tip furnished with cartilaginous filaments; 
the external toe united as far as the joint of the second phalange, 
the internal one as far as the first joint; hallux very strong and 
long, with a long bent claw. 
