THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
The wing is very long and pointed with a very minute first primary, 
the second longest, the rest regularly decreasing to the ninth, which is equal 
to the short secondaries. 
The tail is long and square, almost emarginate. 
The legs are very short but stout, the feet stout ; the front of the tarsus 
is strongly scutate, seven scutes being easily counted, the hinder portion 
bilaminate with a notable warty heel-pad. The middle toe is the longest, 
the claws sharp and strongly curved, the hind claw much the biggest ; 
the outer and inner toes subequal, the claw of the former longest, and outer 
toe and claw exceeds the middle toe alone, the hind toe is stout and with 
long claw is about equal to the middle toe and claw. 
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