167 
Genus UKUBITINGA, Lesson. 
I rubitinga Lesson, Rev. Zool. 1839, 13*2. No type!— Lafeesnaye, D’Orb. Diet. d’Hist. 
Nat. ii. 184*2, 786. Type, Falco urubitinga Gmel. 
Bypomorphnus Cabanis, Weigm. Archiv, 1844, 263. Type, II. guudlachi Caban. 
Bypomorphinns Gray, 1845. Same type. 
Cii.—O utstretched feet reaching* to or beyond the end of the tail; tar¬ 
sus more than twice the middle toe, which is not conspicuously longer 
than the lateral toes, the scutellatiou buteouine. Secondaries greatly 
developed, reaching nearly or quite to the end of the longest primaries. 
Bemiges 24-25; rectrices 12. Superior tomium of the bill with a dis¬ 
tinct lobe; anterior outline of the cere doubly curved, convex above, 
concave or straight and oblique below. Nostril very broadly oval, 
or nearly circular (if the former, of horizontal direction), showing, nor¬ 
mally, a distiuct cartilaginous tubercle. Outer toe more than three- 
tourths as long as the middle one, and decidedly, though not conspicu 
ously, longer 
the inner, 
one (first) 
continuous 
than the inner; posterior toe decidedly shorter than 
and graduation, the longest 
Claws 
not longer 
normal in 
than its 
single 
series of large 
shape 
Tarsal sen tel Ire arranged in. 
transverse plates on the front 
digit. 
and posterior faces, and those of the toes uninterrupted nearly or quite 
to the base. Plumage generally full, the remiges well developed, 
especially the secondaries, which extend nearly or quite to the ends of 
the primaries. Under surface of the wing very concave; inner webs of 
the primaries very shallowly sinuated, the number on which the cut¬ 
ting is apparent rather indefinite, but apparently varying from six to 
seven. Third, fourth, fifth, and sixth quills longest, the fourth or fifth 
usually exceeding the others. Tail moderate, more than half the wing, 
even, or very slightly rounded. 
The characters of this genus are quite difficult to define, but consist 
chiefly in those enumerated above. The genus is most closely related 
to Leucopternis , which, however, we consider distinct, at least subge- 
nerically, on account of important differences to be noticed under the head 
of that genus. The pterylosis of Urubitinga presents many points of 
resemblance to that of the Morplini (Thrasaetus and Morphnus), and it is 
likely that the genus is in other respects intermediate between the latter 
group and the true Buteones; the resemblance is especially great in the 
wings, the secondaries having a similar excessive development, while the 
shallow sinuation of an indefinite number of primaries is another poiut 
of agreement. According to Nitzsch, the pterylosis is peculiar on account 
of the narrowness of all the tracts; the jugular portion of the inferior 
tract with a very narrow inner branch, and united to the pectoral stem 
by a single row of feathers, the outer branch quite free, but narrow, with 
a hook of a single row of feathers at its extremity; the main stem some¬ 
what dilated at its extremity. The lumbar tract is perceptible. 
Besides the Falco urubitinga of Gmelin and the Falco anthracinus of 
Lichtenstein, the Asturina schistacea of Sundevall may be regarded as a 
typical member of this genus. There are also two other species which 
probably belong here, viz, Eypomorphnus gnndlaclii Cabanis and Leu¬ 
copternis plumbea Salvin; but, as we have seen neither of these species, 
we include them here provisionally only. The former of these is almost 
certainly a true Urubitinga , since it is so nearly related to U. anthracina 
that Mr. Sharpe considers them identical specifically. 
