Suborder UPUPiE. 



(By OSBERT SALYIN «.) 



The history, general anatomy, and classification of the Family 

 Upupidw -were carefully examined by Dr. Mnrie in 1873 (Ibis, 1873, 

 pp. 181 et seq.) ; several additional points were subsequently bronght 

 forward by Garrod (' Collected Scientific Papers '), and the relation- 

 ship of the Family to its supposed allies was again discussed by 

 Stejneger in J. S. Kingsley's ' Standard Natural History ' (iv. 

 pp. 408 et seq., 1885). 



The general opinion of these authors as to the systematic position 

 of the Upupcv is that their nearest allies are the JSuceroiidcr, an 

 alliance first suggested by Gould and worked out by Blyth and 

 others. 



That the Ujmpce find a place immediately after the Passercs, and 

 are associated with the Humming-Birds, is due to the high, the very 

 high, value placed upon the structure of the foot, which is Passerine 

 in the arrangement of the plantar tendons. 



The points of resemblance to the Hornbills are subordinated iu 

 favour of this character at the expense of the natural afiinities of 

 the group, for with the TrochUi the Upupct: have little else that I 

 know of in common. 



Key to the Families. 



A. Nostrils open, round, semidorsal, without over- 



hanging edge: tail square, shorter than the wings ; 



plumage dull, without shining gloss Uptipidae, 



B. Nostrils more or less elongated, lateral, and with [p. 3. 



an overhanging edge or well-developed oper- 

 culum ; tail cuneate, longer than the wings ; 



plumage more or less glossy Irrisoridse, 



[p. 16. 



Family I. UPUPIDiE. 



This Family contains the single genus Upvpa, comprising sis 

 more or less closely-allied species. 



The peculiar habits of the Hoopoes and their structure have been 

 very fully described by various authors, and a careful summary of 

 the literature of this subject is contained in Dr. Murie's paper 

 already referred to. 



* The references to tlie literature of the Tarious species of this Suboi'der 

 hare been collected and arranged for me by Mr. K. Bowdler Sharpe. 



b2 



