AVIFAUNA OF LAYSAN, ETC. 



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THE GENUS OH^TOPTILA. 



(Of. Gadow in Part ii. of ' Aves Hawaiienses.') 



This remarkable form is doubtless a member of the family Meliphagidce, and its nearest 

 ally, as far as the external structure goes, seems to be Acanthochcera mellivora (Lath.) of 

 Australia. 



Bill longer than the head, distinctly curved, the edges of mandible and premaxiUa very 



distinctly serrated for about the anterior third ; not at all quite smooth, as Gadow 

 -PP 9 ye Oambiid_^e specimen, which has lost the tip of the bill. 



Nostrils as in Acanthochcera and other allied genera, situated in a large groove near 



the base of the bill, and covered with a large upper operculum. 

 The fifth and sixth primaries are. longest ; the first two are considerably shorter than the 



following ones. The tail is long and strongly graduated; all the rectrices obliquely 



pointed at their tips. 



Plumage of the body very soft, that of the head, throat, and chest fluffy; that of the chin, 

 throat, and forehead ending in hair-like bristles. Metatarsus covered in front with long' 

 more or less fused scales. Feet as in Acanthochcera. 



No trace of fleshy wattles anywhere. 



The extinct C. anguslipluma is the only species known. 



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