Dr. J. Murie on the Motmots and their Affinities. 409 



reflections away from the direct purport of the present commu- 

 nication *. 



From my studies I look upon the Motmots, Tody, Kingfishers, 

 Rollers, and Bee-eaters as a most natural assemblage, whereof 

 one type of structural form is predominant. Skeletally they 

 present a radical agreement ; their pterylosis rests on a nearly 

 uniform base, the soft parts of their anatomy are of a kind im- 

 plying similarity of stock. With this stem to build a genealo- 

 gical tree on, the branches and ofi"slioots of necessity pursue 

 multiform directions, and, where numerous and favoured by 

 secondary influences, impress a character masking their ori- 

 ginal derivation and merging into that of neighbouring tribes. 

 Blyth^s arrangement of the Syndactyli, supported by the general 

 organization of the birds so far as then known to him, is most 

 excellent, although from his insertion of the Galbulidse and 

 separation of the Todidse and Prionitidse I dissent. Elsewhere 

 I shall treat of their rank as a group cutting up Huxley's 

 Coccygomorphse, and in some points rather agreeing with the 

 divisions adopted by Alph. Milne-Edwards. Meantime I re- 

 strict myself to bringing two families into juxtaposition, and suc- 

 cinctly noting their characters. If to these a term is necessary, 

 Blyth's Serratirostres may be accepted. 



The Serratirostres. 



A section of the Syndactyle birds, composed of two families, 

 and together possessing the subjoined attributes : — 



The mandible denticulate; bill long, broadish, and tapering, 



* There are other topics hinging on the natural history of the ^lomo- 

 tidse of an equally interesting kind, and well worthy of ventilation and 

 discussion. Mr. Salviu, who drew my attention to Salvadori's genus and 

 has otherwise tendered useful hints, surmises the possibility of a progenitor 

 (Momotus prisons ?) with 12 rectrices, and tells me of many circumstances 

 in elucidation of geographical range, feather-spatulation, &c., which might 

 cause me to modify opinions herein enunciated as to Momotiue genera. 

 On the other hand such conversation evokes latent thouglits of mine re- 

 specting omitho-subdivisions and the physiological bearing of many sub- 

 sidiary points. At all events, I trust he and other competent authorities 

 on the group may supply a fresh chapter incorporating the latest data, be 

 they subversive of my conclusions or the reverse. 



SER. 111. VOL. II. 2 G 



