334 ETTEYPYGID^. 



Fam. EURYPYGIDiE. 



Among the osteological characters which distinguish the Sun-Bitterns may be 

 mentioned the absence of occipital foramina, basipterygoid processes, and supraorbital 

 impressions, as well as the presence of a notch on each side of the posterior margin of 

 the sternum. The rectrices are twelve in number, but there are only ten primaries 

 present. The oil-gland is nude, and there are powder-down patches on the body. 

 The bill is like that of a Rail, being a little longer than the head, the nostrils 

 horizontal and pervious, but overhung by a slight opercular membrane, situated in a 

 long groove which extends for nearly three-fourths of the length of the bill, while the 

 lower mandible is grooved along the sides. 



The nestlings and eggs somewhat resemble those of a Scolopax, and the former 

 are covered with down and are fed by the parents for some weeks. Only one genus 

 is known. 



EURYPYGA. 



Eurypyga, Illiger, Prodr. p. 257 (1811) ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xxiii. p. 240 (1894). 



The generic characters have already been noticed under the family, and the species 

 are readily distinguished by their peculiar colour. K helias inhabits Brazil and 

 extends to Bolivia, Guiana, and Venezuela, while E. major represents it in Central 

 America, Colombia, and Ecuador. 



1. Eurypyga major. 



Eurypyga major. Hart!. Syst. Verz. Mus. Bremen, p. 108'; Lawr. A.iin. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 478 = ; 



ix. p. 142 ' ; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 371 * ; Salv. Ibis, 1866. p." 205 '" ; P. Z. S. 1867,' 



p. lei''; 1870, p. 218'; v. Frantz. J. f. Ora. 1869, p. 377 ^ Zeledon, An. Mus. Nac! 



Costa Rica, 1887, p. 131 ' ; Pr. U. S. Nat. Mus. viii. p. 113 " ; Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. 



Mus. xxiii. p. 242". 

 Eurypyga helias (nee Pallas), Sol. & Salv. Ibis, 1859, p. 227 '' ; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y vii 



p. 301 ". 



Griseo-brunnescens, nigro late transfasciata ; dorso imo et supracandalibus saturatius griseis, albo anguste 

 transfasciatis ; tectricibus alarum et ala spuria sohistaceis, nigro fasoiatis et maculis albis' plus minusve 

 celatis ornatis ; remigibus variegatis, ad basin ochraceis griseo vermieulatis, primariis alternatim castaneis 

 et nigris, fascia mediana et altera subtenninali albis griseo marmoratis, apicibus nigris- tectricibus 

 majonbus et secundariis plerisque ochraceis griseo marmoratis, pogonio externo basin vere'us castaneo 

 fascia lata nigra, apicibus cinereis, albido marmoratis, fascia terminal! nigricante; rectricibus sohistaceis' 

 albido nigroque transvermiculatis, fascia dupMci nigra, supra castanea angustins marginata ornatis- nileo 

 et nucha cum facie laterali, nigris, fascia angusta superciliari antice castanea, postice alba; fascia'altera 

 infraoculan alba ; gu^a alba ; genis anticis nigris, genis posticis et gutturis lateribus nigris anguste albo 

 transvermiculatis; colli latenbus, pr^pectore et pectore summo sordide rufescentibus, nigro fasciatim 

 transvermiculatis; corpore reHquo subtus pallide fulvescente, subcaudalibus magis cer^iis, pectoris 

 latenbus ochraceis fusco transfasciatis ; subalaribus sordide plumbeis, medianis ochraceis • maxilla ni<.r7 



