A RAPTORIAL BIKD FKO.M DAMA11A LAND. 49 



the gape is very large, extending backwards till it reaches a 

 point directly below the centre of the eye. Between the eye 

 and the upper mandible a row of small bristles takes its rise, 

 pointing towards and extending over the upper edge of the 

 mandible as far as the nostrils, which are uncovered and of 

 a narrow oval form. As in the case of the American Vultures, 

 there appears to be no septum between the nostrils. The 

 ridge of the upper mandible is remarkably keel-shaped, and 

 there is a very noticeable depression intervening between it 

 and the cutting-edge of the mandible, which latter is entirely 

 destitute of anything in the nature of a tooth, a notch, or a 

 festoon. 



The tarsi and toes are slender in their character, and the 

 scales with which they are covered are (with the exception of 

 those covering the last joint of each toe) remarkably small. 

 The middle toe, which is considerably elongated, has a pro- 

 minent roughened pad below each end of the last joint; the 

 inner toe is similarly provided, but with the hinder pad 

 thrown further back ; the outer toe has two of these append- 

 ages situated as those on the middle toe, and two others 

 placed further back ; the hinder toe has one large pad only, 

 seated immediately behind the root of the claw. 



The inner edge of the middle claw projects laterally, and 

 appears to me to present a rudimentary pectination resembling 

 that which is found in the Owls, a tribe to which the present 

 species seems also to offer some resemblance in the form of 

 its bill and the extent of its gape. 



P.S. — 1 had intended proposing the name of Stringonyx 

 anderssoni for this singular form, supposing it to be unde- 

 scribed ; but, as has been pointed out by Mr. Bartlett since 

 my paper was read *, it is no doubt identical with the Ma- 

 chcerhamphus alcinus of Westerman f, the type of which is in 

 the Museum at Leyden. The present specimen has been 

 added to the collection in the Norwich Museum. 



* Proc. Zool. Soc. 1866, p. 324. 



t Westerm. Bijd. t. d. Dierk. i. p. 29. 



[End of reprint." 



