Genus— M EGALOPTERUS. 
Megalopterus Boie, Isis 1826, p. 980 . . . . . . Type M. tenuirostris, 
Micranous Saunders, Bull. Brit. Omith. Club, No. XXII. 
p. xix., 1895, . . , . . . . . . . . . Type M. tenuirostris. 
Medium-sized Noddies with long slender bills, long wings and tails, short 
legs and long toes. In the Nov. Zool.^ Vol. XVIII., p. 4, 1911, I have given 
the history of the nomenclature of this genus. 
In general features the culmen is of the same nature as that of Anous 
but is longer and slenderer, being longer than the head. The tail is of rather a 
different formation than that of Anous, and upon these distinctions Saunders 
introduced his Micranous, which was characterised as having the bill longer 
and thinner than in the genus Anous, and the third (from the outside) rectrix, 
longest, while the type was absolutely stated to be M. tenuirostris (Temm.). 
Examination of many specimens of M. tenuirostris (Temm.) from the Seychelles 
and also specimens of M. t. 7nelanops (Gould) from West Australia, seems to 
point to an error on Saunders’s part, as in every instance the fourth rectrix 
is as long or longer than the third ; the outside or first rectrix is shortest, 
while the second is shorter than the fifth but longer than the sixth or middle 
pair. While the differences here observed seem scarcely more than of sub- 
generic value, this genus has been constantly recognised since the introduction 
of Micranous by Saunders. 
When M. “ leucocapillus Gould ” {=A. ininutus Boie) is examined com- 
paratively, the tail-formation is again seen to be different. In this species the 
third rectrix is absolutely the longest while the second is sub-equal with the 
fourth and longer than the fifth and sixth, which are again longer than the 
first which is the shortest. This species is certainly more distinct from Anous 
and is the one which has been generally recognised as Micranous Saunders. 
I therefore introduce the new name ANOJJSELLA, with A. leucocapillus 
Gould (==A. ininutus Boie) as type, which may be used generically or sub- 
generically, according to the individual opinion of the writer. The plumage 
changes once more show convergence, as though M. “ leucocapillus ” Gould 
when adult has a very close resemblance to A. stolidus, the nestling in 
down of the former has a pronounced white cap, while the latter does not 
get its light head until after the first season’s plumage is moulted. 
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