ALCEDINES 201 



rings forming the box are not so completely fused, and the 

 larger intrinsic muscle arises n 

 the commencement of the box. 



larger intrinsic muscle arises much lower down in fact, at 



COLII 



Definition. Aftersliaft present ; oil gland tufted. Muscle formula, 

 AXY ; biceps slip present. Caeca absent. Skull desmognathous. 



Of the family Coriidse there is only a single genus, African 

 in range and including something like nine species. 



The toes aTe remarkable for the fact that the zygodacty- 

 lous condition can be assumed ; the first toe can be directed 

 forwards, 1 the fourth backwards. There are ten rectrices ; a 

 tufted oil gland and an aftcrsJiaft are present. 



The ptcrylosis described by NITZSCH is remarkable for 

 the width of the pterylae. The ventral tract almost com- 

 pletely covers the ventral side of the body ; towards the 

 outside the feathers are stronger, but there is no outer branch. 

 The spinal tract is narrow and strongly feathered upon the 

 neck ; on the occiput is a bare space, reminding one of that 

 in a similar position in the Trochilidse. There is no median 

 spinal apterion. 



In their myoluyy the colies are remarkable for possessing 

 a fleshy biceps slip. The tensor patagii brevis muscle is very 

 extensive, and reaches nearly AS far as the fore arm. Its 

 very short and single tendon sends back a ' passerine ' slip, 

 oblique in direction, and is also continued over the arm. 



The pectoralis slips to both longus and brevis are present. 



The deltoid, as in so many allied birds, is very extensive. 



The leg muscular formulaic AXY . There is only one 

 peroneal. 



The seinimembranosus is inserted below and indepen- 

 dently of the semitendinosus. The latter gives off a tendinous 

 slip to the gastrocnemius. 



The deep flexor tendons blend before giving off branches 

 to the toes. 



1 Hence the term ' .pamprodactylous,' sometimes used for this family. 



