THE SUN BITTERN 



2237 



Madagascar 

 Kagu 



An allied bird from Madagascar (Mesites variegatus) differs from 

 the kagu and resembles the other members of the group in having a 

 slit (schizognathous) palate, and also in having the nostrils perforated 

 instead of completely separated. It is further distinguished from that bird by the 

 presence of a notch on each side of the lower border of the breastbone, and by the 

 more complex powder-down patches. The structure of the palate clearly shows 

 that it is a less specialized bird than the kagu, from which it is separated as the 

 type of a distinct family the Mesitidtz. It may be mentioned that in the posses- 

 sion of powder-down patches these birds approach the herons; and it is in part 

 owing to this feature that Mr. Beddard suggests a relationship between the two 

 groups. 



SUN BITTERN. 



THE SUN BITTERN 

 Family EURTPTGID^. 



The last of these aberrant crane-like birds is the so-called sun bittern (Eurypyga 

 helias), of South America, which is structurally characterized by having a notch on 

 each side of the breastbone, a naked oil gland, and powder-down patches, but shows 

 no bare tracts on the sides of the neck. It is unique among the group in having 

 helpless young. The sun bittern is a comparatively-small bird, measuring only six- 

 teen inches in length, with a long pointed beak, and a somewhat thin and elongated 



