1. CALYPTOMENA. 455 



In 1880 Forbes took up the subject, and gave us accurate de- 

 scriptions of the trachea of the Eurylcemidce *, which had not been 

 previously examined. He proved by his study of this organ that the 

 Eurylcemidce are Mesomyodians of the non-Tracheophonine division. 

 But, looking to the important points of the retention of the plantar 

 vinculum and to the non-forked manubrium sterni, Forbes concluded 

 that, as had already been suggested by Garrod, the Eurylcemidce 

 ought to form a main division of the Passeres by themselves under 

 the title " Desmodactyli," while all other Passeres should be 

 denominated " Eleutherodactyli." f 



This view as to the position of the Eurylcemidce is nearly what is 

 adopted in the present volume, except that it seems more convenient 

 to place them at the end of the other Oligomyodian Passeres, instead 

 of after the Tracheophonce. 



The Eurylcemidce may be considered as one of the typical 

 families of the Oriental Region, to which they are strictly confined. 

 They are most developed in Malacca, Sumatra, and Borneo, but extend 

 westwards into the sub-Himalayan forests of Northern Bengal and 

 eastwards into the Philippine Islands. 



Key to the Subfamilies. 



A. Frontal plumes projecting forwards and 



covering the nostrils ; tail very short, 



nearly square ; bill short ; chin-angle 



carried forward 1. CALYPTOMENINjE, 



A. Frontal plumes recumbent, not covering [p 455, 



the nostrils; tail long, much rounded; 



bill longer; chin-angle not carried 



forward 2. EURYLjEMIN^E, 



[p. 457. 



Subfamily I. CALYPTOMENINtE. 



1. CALYPTOMENA. 



Type. 

 Calyptomena, Raffles, Trans. Linn. Soc.sm. p. 295 (1822). . C. v'iridis. 



This genus, which has been variously placed by the older authors, 

 is no doubt closely related to the Eurylcemi, of which it is an aberrant 

 form. In the structure of the tarsi, pterylosis, form of the sternum, 

 and othor essential points, the two groups nearly approximate, 

 although, as Mr. Davison tells us, they by no means agree in habits, 

 food, or note. To the typical species, which extends from Tenas- 

 serim to Borneo, a second, highly developed form from Kinabalu 

 has recently been added. 



* P.Z.S. 1880, p. 383. 



t Forbes, P.Z.S. 1880, p. 391. 



