XX INTRODUCTION. 



Subfamily PiciN^.. 

 Gecinus, Boie. — Bill about as long as the head, hard, broad at the base, com- 

 pressed at the tip ; upper mandible slightly arched, ending abruptly, with a 

 shallow groove on each side running parallel to and near the culmen, and 

 longer than the lower mandible, which is pointed, and has the gonys nearer 

 the tip than the base, and the tomia rounded. Nostrils basal, oval, covered 

 with hair-like feathers directed forwards. Tongue capable of great protru- 

 sion, beset at the tip with horny barbs. Wings moderate ; the first primary 

 very short, the fourth longest, but the fifth nearly equal to it. Tail of twelve 

 graduated feathers ; the outer pair very short and overlying the next, which, 

 with the rest, are pointed and have stiff, decurved shafts with hard webs. 

 Tarsus strong, slightly feathered above in front ; toes, two before and two 

 behind, the fourth — which is turned backwards — equal to the third ; claws 

 strongly hooked, grooved and very sharp. Prevailing colour of the plumage 

 greenish (p. 273). 



Dendrocopus, K. L. Koch. — Bill pyramidal, laterally bevelled at the tip. The 

 fourth toe much longer than the third. Otherwise much as in preceding 

 genus. Prevailing colours, black, white and red (p. 275). 



Family ALCEDINID^. 



Alcedo, Liiinmts. — Bill long, hard, straight, quadrangular and acute. Nostrils 

 basal, oblique, nearly closed by a bare membrane. Wings short and rounded, 

 of ten primaries ; the second or third the longest, but the first nearly equal 

 to them and longer than the fourth. Tail very short, of twelve feathers. 

 Tarsus short ; toes, three before and one behind, the middle united to the outer 

 toe as far as the second joint and to the inner as far as the first joint, hind 

 toe not much shorter than the inner (p. 279). 



Family CORACIID.-E. 



CORACIAS, LinniTiis. — Bill stout, hard, compressed, with cutting edges slightly 

 inflected ; upper mandible decurved at the tip ; gape wide. Nostrils lateral, 

 linear and oblique, partly hidden by a plumose membrane. Lores beset in 

 front by a row of stiff bristles. Post-ocular space bare. Wings long, of ten 

 primaries ; the first a little shorter than the second or third — which are the 

 longest — but rather longer than the fourth. Tail of twelve feathers, rather 

 long. Tarsus short, broadly scutellated in front ; toes free, three before and 

 one behind ; claws stout (p. 281). 



Merops, Linmviis. — 'S\\\ rather long, slightly decurved, and tapering to a point, 

 the culmen elevated. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, covered by hairs directed 

 forwards. Wings long, of ten primaries ; the second and third the longest. 

 Tail rather long, of twelve feathers, the central pair elongated and pointed. 

 Tarsus short ; toes small, three before and one behind, the middle united to 

 the outer toe as far as the second joint, and to the inner as far as the first 

 joint (p. 283). 



Family UPUPID^. 



Upupa, Linnaiis.—l^xW long, slender, slightly arched, sharp, and much com- 

 pressed. Nostrils basal, oval, partly concealed by feathers. Tongue very 

 short and heart-shaped. Head with an erectile crest of oblong feathers set 



