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CURSORIUS. COURSER. 



The species, few in number, which constitute this genus, 

 are of small size and slender form, with the neck rather 

 short, the head oblong and little elevated in front. Bill 

 somewhat shorter than the head, slender, tapering, nearly 

 straight or a little arched, a little broader than high at the 

 base, compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with the 

 dorsal line straight for two-thirds of its length, then arcuato- 

 declinate, the ridge somewhat carinate, the edges sharp, the 

 tip acute, without notch ; lower mandible with the angle 

 long and narrow, the dorsal line decurved, the back convex, 

 the edges sharp, the tip narrow, but rather blunt. Tongue 

 slender, emarginate and papillate at the base, flattened above, 

 with a medial groove, the tip thin, narrow, but obtuse. 



Nostrils sub-basal, lateral, oblong, in the fore part of the 

 shortish nasal sinus. Eyes of moderate size. Aperture of 

 ear rather large. Legs long, slender ; tibia bare for a third, 

 scutellate before, and with two rows of scales behind ; tarsus 

 slender, compressed, anteriorly scutellate. Hind toe wanting ; 

 anterior toes short, the fourth much longer than the second 

 or inner, all scutellate above, the middle and outer connected 

 by a narrow basal membrane. Claws small, slender, little 

 arched, acute, that of the third toe with a dilated inner edge. 



Plumage moderate, soft, and blended; feathers of the 

 fore part of the head very short. Wings long, narrow, and 

 acute ; primaries broad and tapering, the first and second 

 about equal ; inner secondaries much elongated. Tail short 

 or moderate, slightly rounded or even, of twelve obtuse 

 feathers. 



The Coursers are natives of the warmer regions of the 



