AVES. 575 



Genus 'Z.—nnEA.—Ih-issnn. 



Generic Character. — Bill nearly straight, slightly hollowed iu the midiili', 

 c.f medium length, soft, strong at the base, depressed, and covered by a 

 membrane ; rounded at the point ; nostrils towards the point, longitmii. 

 nally cleft and open ; legs long ; front of tai-sus furnished with large scaler, 

 and small circular ones behind, with a distinctly developed heel at bottom ; 

 feet with three anterior toes, furnished with strong, long, obtuse claws, 

 ridged on their sides; wings short, provided with plumes of different lengths, 

 and having a spur at their point ; without a tail. 



H/iea Americana. — American Ostrich. Plate xl*. fig. 5. Described, vol. 

 iii. p. 39, as the Emiu 



Genus X—TtROyiAlV^.— yieillot. 



Generic Character. — Bill straight, the edges much depressed, somevvhat 

 carinated at the top, and rounded at the point ; nostrils large, oblique, sit- 

 uated forward near the e.iges of the upper mandible, and covered by a mem- 

 brane ; legs strong; tarsus ,=caly, with a heel at bottom; feet with thn-e 

 toes directed forward, furnished with strong, slightly bent claws ; wings 

 very short. 



Dromaius ater. — Emu. Plate xxxvi. fig. 2. Described, vol. iii. p. %■>. 



Genus i.—ChSV AVAVS.—Brisson. 



Generic Character.— ViiW straight, of medium length, narrow, compressed, 

 with a keeled ridge ; crown and front surmounted by an upright, sub.conic, 

 bony crest, somewhat bent towards the point, the tip turned down ; lower 

 mandible soft, flexible, and angular near the point ; nostrils round, situated 

 in the lateral part, near the point of the bill ; legs robust, muscular ; tibia 

 naked a little way above the knee ; tarsus reticulated, with a heel at base 

 not much developed ; feet with three anterior toes, furnished with strong, 

 smooth, conical nails ; intermediate toe longest, external and internal toes 

 nearly of equal length ; wings short, not fitted for flight ; the remiges resem- 

 bling the barbs of feathers. 



Casuarius galcatus.—Ga.\fciXedi Cassowary. Plate xli. fig. I. Described, 

 vol. iii p. 39. 



Genus 5. — OTIS. — Linn<EUS. 



Generic Character. — Bill of medium length, nearly straight, compressed ; 

 point of upper mandible slightly arcuated ; nostrils lateral, oval, open, aud 

 removed from the base ; legs long, naked above the knee; tarsus reticulat- 

 ed; feet with three anterior toes only, united at the base, and bordered by 

 membranes ; wings of medium length ; the third quill longest. 



Otis tarda.—The Great Bustard. Plate xli. fig. 3. Described, vol. iii. 

 p. 131. 



Cemj^ 6.— CVRSORIVS.— Latham. 

 Generic Character.— BiU shorter than the head, depressed at the ba=e, 

 somewhat ciu-ved near the point, and sharp at the tip ; nostrils ovate, 

 with a small callosity behind them: legs long and slender; feet with 

 three anterior toes only, entirely divided, the interior one shortest; 

 claws small, obtuse; wings extending htyond the tail; second quill tho 

 longest. 



3c 2 



