synallaxinæ

pl. [Mod. Lat.synallax(is); Lat. fem. pl. adj. suff. -ine.] Ornith.: A sub-family of Dendrocolaptide, with twelve genera, ranging from Patagonia to Mexico. The outer toe is long, and is joined to the middle toe nearly as far as the first joint; the hinder toe is long and powerful, and all the claws are sharply curved, pointed, and strong; tail long, and always pointed. Although these birds are small, they build nests as large as those of the hawk or the crow; in the majority of cases these consist of a bundle of sticks loosely thrown together, in the middle of which the nest proper is made, consisting of two rece es, and in the inner one the eggs are laid on a bed of soft feathers. [See extract under SYNAL LAXINE.] syn-al-lăx'-ine, adj . [Mod. Lat. synallax (is); Eng.adj. suff.- ine .] Of or belonging to the Synallaxine; having the outer and middle toes partially united. "The Synallaxine birds are generally found upon the trees, which they traverse with great rapidity in search of the various insects on which they feed, and may often be seen running about upon the ground, peering anxiously into every little hole and cranny and dragging slugs, snails, worms, and beetles from the rece es ir which they are accustomed to conceal themselves during the hours of daylight."- Wood: Illus. Nat. Hist., ii. 260. syn-al-lăx-Is, s . [Greek syn all axis =commerce, exchange.] Ornith.: The type genus of Synallaxine (q.v.), with fifty-five species. They are divided into two groups (1) with ten and (2) with twelve rectrices. syn-ăn-çel-a, s. [Greek synangkeia = a narrow valley in which streams meet. Named from their habitat.] Ichthy .: A genus of Scorpænide: the general appearance of the species, especially of the head, monstrous; scalele , soft warty protuberances or filaments on skin; mouth directed upward, wide, villiform teeth in jaws, sometimes on vomer; eyes small; from thirteen to sixteen dorsal spines; pectorals very large. There are four species from the Indo-Pacific, attaining a length of eighteen inches at most. They are greatly dreaded on account of the wounds they can inflict with their dorsal spines, each of which, in its ter B Poison-organs of Synanceia. ver. A. Dorsal spines of Synanceia ver. rucosa (from specimen in Nat. Hist. Museum, South Ken sing showing poison-bag. ton). B. Spine di ected, minal half, is provided with a deep groove on each side, at the lower end of which is a pear-shaped bag containing the venom, and prolonged into a synarthrosis membranous duct, and open at the point of the spine. Persons wading with naked feet in the sea often step on these fish, which lie hidden in the sand, when the spines enter the skin, and the poison is forced into the wound by the pre ure of the foot on the poison-bag. Many cases are on record in which such wounds have been fatal.