278 Dr. J. Murie on the Genus Colius. 



wedged in, and plausibly too. Not only is it entitled to be con- 

 sidered aberrant, but to aflford the strongest proof of the inter- 

 linking of type — not in the chain- series so often advocated, but, 

 like- the Isle of Man tripodal coat-of-arms, kicking its legs about, 

 and whichever alighting upon, there it stands. 



But if, in the true spirit of ornithology, we take the bii-d in 

 its completeness, it will be allowed it does not so closely re- 

 semble any acknowledged individual group as to come under 

 its definition. 



Without advocating its proper place, I propose equally to 

 exclude it from the old Fissirostral and Scansorial, and the 

 Passerine groups, the recent Coccygomorphse and Coracomor- 

 phse. It, as I conceive, is equally with tlie Woodpeckers and 

 Goatsuckers, Celeomorphse and Cypselomorphse, annectent be- 

 twixt the Coccygomorphse and Coracomorphse. 



Professor Huxley, in his severely heterodox arrangement (Z. c), 

 gave a brief diagnosis of his Coccygomorphre. With several of 

 its essentials the Coly does not agree, no skeleton having pro- 

 bably been seen by the above writer. With prescience he hints 

 the said groups may hereafter be required to be divided ; and in 

 this I acquiesce, the Coliidse here being the first slice I have 

 removed, the Todiidse* partly taking its place. 



Before adding characteristics of the Coliomorphse I may curtly 

 allude to genera of the Colics. Apart from synonyms, Colius, 

 Briss., Urocolius, Bp., Rhahdocolius, Bp., and Hypocolius, Bp., 

 are admitted by some. Skins and stuffed specimens of the first 

 three of these I have carefully examined. To ornithologists 

 these genera may be good; but I think, if bird-genera are so 

 feebly defined. Heaven help the coming generation of workers ! 



Characters of the ColiOxMorph^. 



In these the rostrum is arched, slightly bent at the tip, and with 

 a frontal movable hinge. Nares large ; external aperture basal, 

 naked, linear, and oblique. Maxillo-palatines diminutive, wide 

 apart. Palatines are narrow, rod-like in front, and posteriorly 

 expand into large, partially horizontal, truncate plates. Only 



* Paper lately read bj- mo before the Zoological Society, May 1872. 



