86 ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF BIRDS. ‘ 
Todus, the pre-eminent or typical subgenus, by a beauti 
ful gradation of forms, which leaves not a single game i 
the series. In Todus, the bill exhibits that length and 
boat-shaped appearance before alluded to (fig. 146. a), 
together with a remarkably short tail, and delicate although 
lengthened legs. These latter characters are continued 
to Platyrynchus (fig. 147.), but the bill has now become 
short, and so broad as to presen 
a miniature resemblance to that — 
of Eurylaimus: thelegsarelong, 
but so remarkably delicate as to 
show they are not at all adapted 
for walking. In the next type, 
however, represented by the 
subgenus Conopophaga, the legs - 
are not only long, but unusually : 
stout, thus indicating that they 
| .,\/}, ave much used, and probably 
NY ek a a7 on the ground. The bill is still 
| | ” short, but by no means so broad 
or SO ets as in the last, while the base is destitute of 
bristles. Finally comes Platystera, the most aberrant 
group of the todies, and altogether peculiar to Africa. — 
, These birds are known at once 
from all the American forms, 
by being larger, more robust in 
their general shape, and having 
certain modifications in the 
form of their bill, wings, and 
tail, altogether peculiar: a 
glance at the most typical spe- 
‘cies, P. lobata ( fig. 148.), at 
once reminds the ornithologist 
of Monacha, which, together 
with Psaris and Hyliota, these — 
Beitr birds appear to represent in — 
their own circle. .The union of Platystera to Lepturus — 
is effected by the Migniotte of Le Vaillant*; and its — 
* Ois. d’A frique. + 
