360 j-alconidJ: melieeax 



Genus XXII. MELIERAX. 



Type. 

 Melierax, Gray, List Gen. £. i, p. 6 (1840) M. canorus. 



Bill moderate, the edge of the upper mandible slightly festooned, 

 sides of the face feathered ; nostrils exposed, rounded, well ■within 

 the cere and provided with a bony tubercle ; wings long and 



Fig. 124. — Foot of Melierax canonis. x \. 



pointed ; tail square or slightly graduated ; tibia and tarsus almost 

 equal in length ; tarsus covered with well-marked transverse plates 

 in front and behind, with smaller scales between ; middle toe of 

 moderate length, without claw almost equal to or less than twice 

 the ridge of the culmen. 



This is a purely African genus containing seven species, four of 

 which are found in South Africa. 



Key of the Species. 



A. Larger, wing over 10-0. 



n . Upper tail-coverts pure white M. canorus, p. 361. 



h. Upper tail-coverts white, closely bai-red with 



slaty-giey M. mechoivi, p. S6S. 



B. Smaller, wing under 8'0. 



