Genus-G Y G I S . 
Gygis Wagler, Isis ] 832, p. 1223 . . . . . . . . Type G. alba. 
Small Noddies with long stout bills, long wings, medium tails and very short 
legs, and long toes with indented webs. The diagnostic characters of the 
genus are the shape of the bill and the very short legs, and long toes with 
deeply indented webs. The bill is longer than the head with the culmen 
straight or even slightly upturned, while it is very deep at the base propor- 
tionately. The tail is less than half the length of the wing and the outer 
rectrix is shorter than the second which is longest. The middle toe is 
almost twice as long as the metatarsus though not much more than half 
the culmen. 
The bird described as Gygis microrJiyncha by Saunders differs from the 
above in having a long slender bill and a proportionately shorter tail of different 
formation, the third rectrix from the outside being the longest, while the first 
is absolutely shortest. In members of the genus Gygis the outside rectrix 
is longer than the two centre pairs, the centre feather being the shortest. 
As such a difference has been considered worthy of generic rank in connection 
with the Noddies of large size, I propose the genus name LEU C ANGUS 
with G. microrJiyncha Saunders as type. 
I have the less hesitation in so doing as many may consider Gygis 
Wagler, 1832, to be invalid through the prior introduction of Gyges (Bory de 
St. Vincent, Ency. Meth., p. 449, 1825). 
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