147 



GepsUS MOPtPHNUS, Cuvier. 



A!'or2)liiii(s CcviER, E^^. An. 1S17,31S. Type, FaJco (jnianeusls Daudix. 

 ^' Morphinns Fleming, lS'22",_/!fZe: Geay. 



Cn. — Form similar to tbat of Throsaetus, but weaker and more slen- 

 der. Tarsus more tliau twice the leugth of the middle toe; toes very 

 short, the lateral ones about equal in length (the outer not appreciably 

 longer), the hind toe decidedly shorter than the inner. Claws large, but 

 greatly graduated in size, that of the hind toe exceeding its digit, the 

 outer much less than half its length. Scutellatiou of the feet much 

 more distinct and regular than in Thrasai't'iis, the tarsus having distinct 

 and continuous frontal and posterior rows of broad, regular, transverse 

 scutellne, and those of the toes uninterrupted nearly to the base ; those 

 on the outer side of the tarsus, between the frontal and posterior series, 

 are larger than those on the inner side. Wings and tail as in Tlirasaetus; 

 but the latter longer and more rounded. Plumage generally the same, 

 but occupital crest composed of narrower feathers. 



The genera Tlirametus and Morphnus have so manj" characters in 

 common, while in the same they differ so much from all the Falconidw 

 more nearly related to them in otherrespects,thatthey may be considered 

 as forming a group by themselves, which may be designated by the term 

 Morphni. They are very closely related to the Spisaeti, to which Thra- 

 saetus exhibits a very close approach through the .equally large and 

 powerful African species S. heUicosus and >S'. cownatns, which, with the 

 present bird, constitute the largest and most powerful eagles in the 

 world. It is a question whether the African species just named are not 

 in reality more nearly related to Thrasaetus than to the smaller Spizaeti; 

 but this we cannot decide at present, having no specimens of either at 

 hand. The two genera under consideration differ, however, from all 

 the >Spi::a(^'fi, including the species above named, in the nudity of the 

 tarsus, which, instead of being densely feathered all round, as in Aquila^ 

 is feathered only on the upper portion in front, the rest being roughly 

 scaled, with larger scutellne before and behind. The " group Morplmi^^^ 

 composed of these two genera alone, may be characterized as follows: — 



Ch. — Tarsus naked, except for the upper half, or less, of the frontal 

 portion, roughly scaled, the smaller scntelhB being irregularly hexago- 

 nal, the larger forming a frontal and a posterior series; those behind 

 often irregularly twisted or contorted. Toes very short, the middle one 

 less than two-thirds the tarsus, the lateral ones shorter and equal; pos- 

 terior and inner toes short and very robust, armed with powerful claws 

 equal to or exceeding their digits in length, and outer toe very weak, 

 with a claw less than half the length of the posterior one. ^STostril broadly 

 oval, obliquely vertical, the anterior side gradually beveled off" to the 

 edge of the cere.* Primaries very short, scarcely exceeding the greatly- 

 developed and broad secondaries; fourth or fifth qnills longest, first 

 shortest ; their inner webs very slightly sinuated, the sinuation being- 

 perceptible on the sixth, or seventh, or even the eighth quill. Tail very 

 long, three-fourths or four-fifths the wing, even, or slightly rounded. 

 Feathers of the occii)ut elongated into a conspicuous depressed crest of 

 broad round-tipped feathers, and feathers of the neck developed into an 



* It is our impression that the uostrilis similarly formed in " Spizaetut^' coroiiaiits and 

 ^*?. heUicosus; but we have uo specimens for examination, and therefore caunot be 

 positive. 



