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Genus URUBITINGA, Lesson. 



Unihitiufia Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, 132. No type !— Lafjiesnaye, D'Oi'b.Dict. d'Hist. 



Nat. ii, 1842, 786. Type, Falco nruhitimia Gmel. 

 Eypomorphnns Cahaxis, Weigiii. Arcliiv, 1844, 263. Type, H. gimdlacM Caban. 

 Ilypomorplttnns Gkay, 1845. Same type. 



Cii. — Outstretched feet reaching to or beyond the end of the tail ; tar- 

 sus more than twice the middle toe, which is not conspicuously longer 

 than the lateral toes, the scutellation buteonine. Secondaries greatly 

 developed, reaching nearly or quite to the end of the longest primaries. 

 Eemiges 24-25 ; rectrices 12. Superior tomium of the bill with a dis- 

 tinct lobe ; anterior outline of the cere doubly curved, convex above, 

 concave or straight and oblique below. Nostril very broadly oval, 

 or nearly circular (if the former, of horizontal direction), showing, nor- 

 mally, a distinct cartilaginous tubercle. Outer toe more than three- 

 fourths as long as the middle one, and decidedly, though not conspicu- 

 ously, longer than the inner; posterior toe decidedly shorter than 

 the inner. Claws normal in shape and graduation, the longest 

 one (first) uot longer than its digit. Tarsal scutellffi arranged in 

 continuous single series of large transverse plates on the front 

 and posterior faces, and those of the toes uninterrupted nearly or quite 

 to the base. Plumage generally full, the remiges well developed, 

 especially the secondaries, which extend nearly or quite to the ends of 

 the primaries. Under surface of the wing very concave ; inner webs of 

 the primaries very shallowly sinuated, the number on which the cut- 

 ting is apparent rather indefinite, but apparently varying from six to 

 seven. , Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth quills longest, the fourth or fifth 

 usually exceeding the others. Tail moderate, more than half the wing, 

 even, or very slightly rounded. 



The characters of this genus are quite difficult to define, but consist 

 chiefly in those enumerated above. The genus is most closely related 

 to Leucojjiernis, which, however, we consider distinct, at least subge- 

 nericaliy, on account of important differences to be noticed uiider the head 

 of that genus. The pterylosis of Uruhitinga presents many points of 

 resemblance to ihntoi the Mor2)hii {Thrasaetus 'dnd Morphnus), and it is 

 likely that the genus is in other respects intermediate between the latter 

 group and the true Buteones ; the resemblance is especially great in the 

 wings, the secondaries having a vSimilar excessive development, while the 

 shallow sinuation of an indefinite number of primaries is another point 

 of agreement. According to Nitzsch, the pterylosis is peculiar on account 

 of the narrowness of all the tracts; the jugular portion of the inferior 

 tract with a very narrow inner branch, and united to the pectoral stem 

 by a single row of feathers, the outer branch quite free, but narrow, with 

 a hook of a single row of feathers at its extremity; the main stem some- 

 what dilated at its extremity. The lumbar tract is perceptible. 



Besides the Falco uruhitinga of Gmelin and the Falco anthracimis of 

 Lichtenstein, the Asfurina schistacca of Sundevall maybe regarded as a 

 typical meml)er of this genus. There are also two other species which 

 probably belong here, viz, Hypomorphnu)^ gundlachi Cabanis and Leu- 

 copternis plumhca Salvin; but, as we have seen neither of these species, 

 we include them here provisionally only. The former of these is almost 

 certainly a true Uruhitinga, since it is so nearly related to U.anthracina 

 that Islv. Shaipe considers them identical specifically. 



