PLATYSTERA. 
183 
is but slightly compressed towards the tip, and the 
under mandible, instead of being stout, is flat and 
thin; the wings are longer, which gives them a more 
pointed appearance; their structure is also different, 
the first quill being only half as long as the third; 
the toes are considerably smaller than those of the 
Lepturus, and the claws, instead of being slender 
and pointed, are broad, and much curved. Now, 
as these peculiarities of the wings and feet are 
typical of Platystera, we can have no hesitation in 
placing Platystera longipes in this, rather than in the 
last sub-genus. Nevertheless, it is an aberrant 
species, just as is Todas meyacephalus in the sub- 
genus ToUus; for independant of all other con- 
siderations, it has one distinguishing character, — the 
lateral toes are perfectly equal, whereas in all the 
other species of Platystera we yet know of, they are 
unequal. This latter structure, in fact, we see in 
the next modification of form, instanced by the 
Prit-prit of Le Yaillant, figured in the same work : 
here the hill is considerably broader, yet still gra- 
dually narrowed towards the end ; the wings are 
longer, the tail shorter and even, and the feet dif- 
ferently formed ; the inner toe is the shortest, and 
the outer connected to the base of the middle toe, 
as far as the first joint. This second modification 
brings us at once to the typical species of the group 
represented by the Platystera lobata, Sw. The 
bill now puts on the aspect of that of a genuine 
Tody ; it is broad along its whole length, but with 
a sharp culmen; the rictus, or gape, is strongly 
