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Genus— S A U R 0 P A T I S. 
Sauropatis Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., Vol. II., 
p. 158, 1860 . . . . . . . . . . Type S. sancta. 
Small Dacelonine birds with long bills, long wings with short secondaries, 
long tails, and small feet, and pecuhar coloration. 
I have considered this genus in connection with the genus Lazulena 
and noted that it was recognised on account of the diastataxic condition 
of the wing. By morphologists the diastataxic form is considered a* 
the older, the eutaxic as now seen being a reversion to the probably 
eutaxic original state. If this be admitted, then this group would be older 
than the eutaxic Halcyons^ and this appears to be the case, judging from 
coloration, structure and geographical distribution. Thus, Sauropatis ranges 
from Abyssinia to the Central Pacific, with scarcely any recognisable 
differences in colour or structure. Yet coincident in the latter locality is 
found the Todiramphus series, which is separable only by the flattening of 
the bill and the rounding of the wing, the colour remaining constant. The 
exact value of the former is problematical, though admittedly very old. 
I make this note, as the type of Sauropatis ranges into the islands of the 
South Pacific, and we have subspecies which show similar evolution, 
though, of course, not to the same extent, else they would be classed in 
Todiramphus. 
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