ISO 



PANDION. 



ing instruments ; the outer toe is versatile, and 

 the lower surface of the whole foot, particularly 

 on the raised pads which are placed under the 

 joints, have the surface studded with hard and 

 sharp pyramidal points, which enables them to 

 hold their prey, however slippery, whether pierced 

 by the claws or not ; the claws are very strong, 

 curved so as to form a part of a circle, and 

 remarkably sharp, while they exhibit another 

 peculiarity in being perfectly rounded, a struc- 

 ture which will allow either an easy piercing, or 

 a quick retraction or loosening of the hold, if the 

 prey should prove too weighty. 



PANDION. Generic character. Bill strong, 

 rather straight at the base, the edges of the 

 mandible, with an abortive lobe, or slight 

 angular projection near the centre ; nostrils 

 oblong-ovate, placed obliquely, and extend- 



