106 



NORTH AMERICAX lURDS. 



a proii, input modinn angular riiljro. SiiiuTciliiiry pioccss »{' the lachrymal con- 



eistin,;,' (if a sin-rlc i)icc'C'. (FaieuiiiiKc}) 



B. Sciipiilar prowss of tlio conicoid not jiroiliiccd forwanl so as to iiici-t lliu 



clavicle (IIcxi.kv). N'„sa; bonis im;onii)lctcly ossiliod, the nosti'iis bLMMi.' very 



'"•■ge, ai.d wiliior.L bony rim or 'nberck'. Inferior surlace ol' the suprannixillary 



bone witliont a median riil.u^e. Snperciliary process of the lachrymal variable. 



I^Accipilrinvu.) 



a. Superciliary process of the laehryn^al composed of a single, excessively 

 abbreviateil pi(!ce ;' posterior margin of the slernnni with a pair of inden- 

 tations, and without foramina. {I'uiidum and Xaiichnis.) 

 h. Superciliary process of the lachrymal double, or conijjnsiMl of two pieces, 

 joined by a cartilaginous "hinge," and reaching nearly across the orbit'. 

 Posterior margin of the sterninn without indentations, and usually with a 

 pair of foramina. (.Vll except Pnndion and NnncJenis.) 



t Septum of the orl'its and nostrils incompletely ossified (the former 

 always and the latt(.T usually) and with foramina; posterior margin 

 of the sternum most prodneed backwards laterally, and incompletely 

 ossified, thei'c being usually a pair of foramina. Intestinal canal short, 

 broad, with the duodenum simple, foi'uiing a single loop (McGii.lvi!av). 

 A well-developed "web" between the outer and middle toes. (All 

 but Ilaliwtiis.) 



tt Septum of the orbits and nostrils completely ossified, and without 

 any trace of foramina; post(>ri(u- margin of the sternum produced 

 nifdially into a convex lobe, and without any trace of foramina. In- 

 testinal canal extremely elongated, attenuated, with the duodenum 

 arranged in several convolutions (.McGn.LVKAY). No trace of a web 

 between outer and middle toes, (^llaliwfm.) 



SUBFA.MILY PALCONIN.ffi. 



Genus PALCO, Adct. 



Gk\. Cn.vR. Bill strong, its breadth at the base equalling or exceeding its height; 



upper outline of cere on a level with, or rather lower than, the base of the "eul- 

 nien ; gonys much arched, the chord of the arch equalling 

 aliout half that of the culmen. Near the tip of thr- upper 

 mandilile is a ])rominent tooth ou the commissure, and near 

 the end of the lower mandible, which is trmicated, is a 

 deep notch corresponding ; the end of the upper mandible is 

 compressed, giving the situation oftlu; tooth an iullated appear- 

 ance when viewed from above. Nostrils circular, with a con- 

 .spicuons central tubercle. Orbital region bare ; projecting 

 superciliary shield conspicuous, arched, but not very prominent. 

 Tail shorter than wing, the feathers hard and stiff. Primaries 

 very strong, elongated, tapering rapidly toward their points; 

 only the first or first and .second with their inner webs emar- 

 ginatcd, the cutting being angular, and near the end of the 



quill. Tarsus never with a single series of transverse .scutelUc either in front or behind ; 



middle toe very long. 



' Embracing besides the Fakonc.i nil the P&lyborine genera, besides Iferpctotlicrcs and Micraatur. 

 * As in the Polyhoriiic i'ornis of the Fii/nmiiitv. 



