Genus— P 0 0 D Y T E S. 
POODYTES 
Cabanis, Mus. Hein, Vol. I., p. 42 
Oct. 23) 1851. Type (by mono- 
(after 
typy) 
Sphenoeacus gramineus Gould. 
This form has been confused with Megalurus, to which the succeeding genus 
is more nearly related. Compared with Dulciornis these are smaller birds 
with weaker bills, more pointed wings, weaker legs and smaller feet. 
The bill is short, but nearly as long as the short head, laterally compressed 
and with very little basal expansion, the nasal apertures linear, the nasal 
groove prominent and the frontal feathers a little encroaching ; the lower 
mandible rather shallow, the interramal space, which is feathered, less than 
half the length of the mandible ; the rictal bristles obsolete, scarcely 
appreciable. 
The wing is rounded, the third, fourth, fifth and sixth primaries sub- 
equal and longest, the second a little shorter and equal to the seventh, the 
secondaries long, reaching to the ninth primary, the first primary small, less 
than half the length of the second. 
The tail is long and wedge-shaped, the feathers narrow and the outer 
about half the length of the middle one, the tail-coverts short. 
The legs are short and not very stout ; the tarsus shows clearly four scutes 
in front and is bilaminate behind ; the toes are slender, the middle toe and 
claw a little longer than the inner toe and claw, which exceeds the outer toe 
and claw ; the hind-toe stouter and the hind-claw longer, the hind-toe and 
claw being longer than the middle toe and claw. 
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