EURTLjEMID^. 



The relations of the Eiirylcemi or Broadbills to other birds have 

 long been in dispute. At one time members of the present group 

 were referred to the neighbourhood of Coracias. But, chiefly 

 through the researches of Blanchard, Garrod, and Forbes, the close 

 a,lliance^between the Eurylcemi and Passerine birds has now been 



Fig. 2. — Left foot of Cymhorhynchus macrorhynchus, from behind. The skin 

 has been turned aside and the sujjerficial flexors removed, so as to show the 

 deep plantar tendons. I, II, III, IV, first, second, third and fourth toes; 

 f.l.h., flexor lovgus JiaUucis ; f.'p.d., flexor prof undus digitorum ; V, vinculum. 

 (Forbes, P. Z. S. 1880, p. 382.) 



ascertained, and the only question remaining is whether the 

 Broadbills should be included in the Passerine group as a distinct 

 section, or whether they should form a suborder or order apart. 

 The latter is the view advocated by Seebohm and Sharpe, and 

 accepted, as a provisional arrangement, in the present work. 

 There is but a single family, confined to the Oriental region. 



Family EURYL^MID^. 



Bill normally broad and flat as in some Muscicapidce. Feet 

 adapted for perching ; hind toe large, anterior toes joined at the 

 base, the outer and middle toes (third and fourth) having only the 

 last phalanx free (fig. 2). Tarsi reticulated behind, transversely 

 scutellated in front, the scutellation often ill-marked and in some 

 genera disappearing entirely on the inner anterior side of the 

 tarsus. Tail generally rounded, often graduated. 



