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Genus ELAjSTOIDES, Vieillot. 



Elanoides Vieillot, Nout. Diet. d'Hist. Nat. sxiv, 1818, 101. Type, Falco forficatus 



Linn. 

 Naitclerus auct., nee Vigors, 1825. 



Osteological characters.* — Cranium very similar ia contour and pro- 

 portions to that of Pandion, but presenting important modifications in 

 minor details. Superciliary process of the lachrymal distinct from the 

 frontal, which is completely auchylosed with the nasal ; inner convo- 

 luted edgeof the palatines scarcely produced downward ; nasal septum 

 completely ossified; pterygoid bone narrow, and of a uniform width 

 throughout its length. Sternum similar to that of Pandion, having, like 

 it, a i>air of indentations on the posterior margin, and destitute of for- 

 amina; the clavicle, coracoids, and scapula are also very similar. 



Anatomical characters. — "Palate flat with two longitudinal ridges; 

 upper mandible with a tuberculate median ridge, lower deeply con- 

 cave; posterior aperture of the nares oblongo-linear, with the edges 

 papillate. Tongue somewhat decurved, emarginate, and finely papil- 

 late at the base, flat above, its tip narrow and acutely emarginate. 

 CEsophagus of nearly uniform width, being destitute of crop, and thus 

 resembling that of the owls ; its walls extremely thin ; stomach very 

 large, round, slightly compressed, its muscular coat very thin, and com- 

 posed of a single series of fasciculi. Intestine short and rather wide ; 

 pylorus with three knobs, duodenum forming a loop in the usual man- 

 ner; no cfeca ; rectum short, with a large globular dilatation." — (Mc- 



GlLiLIVRAY.) 



Pterylographical characters. — " Inner Jbranch on the jugular part dis- 

 tinct but short ; outer branch entirely free. Dorsal portion of the 

 spinal tract usually long."t — (Nitzsch.) Contour-feathers with after- 

 shafts. Lumbar tract present. Eemiges, 23. 



General external characters. — Bill rather small and narrow, interme- 

 diate between that of Pandion and Elanus; compressed anteriorly, and 

 very broad at the base ; the terminal hook well produced, the tomia 

 very regular ; cere ascending ; nostril broadly oval, oblique ; gonys 

 nearly straight ; tomium of the lower mandible very convex. Lores 

 densely feathered, the feathers bristle-like. Feet robust ; tarsus a little 

 longer than the middle toe, covered with large, irregular, hexagonal 

 scales ; toes with transverse scutellse nearly to the base ; claws 

 short, strong, abruptly flattened beneath, the edges very sharp, the 

 middle claw bent laterally, the inner side very convex, the projecting 

 edge sharp and entire. No web between the toes. Primaries and 

 rectrices excessively elongated and narrow, the former more than twice 

 the length of the secondaries. Outer tail-feathers about equal to the 

 primaries, and more than twice as long as the middle pair. 



Apparently more nearly related to Pernis, Cymindis, EegerMnus, and 

 allied forms than to any other genera, the genus Elanoides yet stands 

 isolated from these by the absence of many characters common to them, 

 and by the possession of features peculiarly its own. In general exter- 

 nal form, it ai)proaches quite nearly the genus Milvus., but when com- 



* Of this genus we have seen only the skull and sternum. 



t Nitzsch gives the above characters of a group in which he includes Milvus regalis, 

 M. ater, and Elanoides forficatus. 



