Order VIII. COCCYGES. 



This order is distinguished from all other zygodactyle groups, 

 except the Parrots, by possessing the ambiens muscle, a character 

 to which a very high importance was attached by Garrod, and by 

 the deep plantar tendons being arranged as in Gallinaceous birds, 

 and only differing in arrangement from the Passerine plan by 

 being connected by a vinculum ; the flexor longus haUiccis leads 

 to the hallux alone, the Jfexor perforans digitorum serves the other 

 three digits. The palate is desmoguathous ; basipterygoid pro- 

 cesses are wanting. 



Two families are included — the CucuUdce and Musophagidce ; the 

 latter, however, is entirely African, and the former alone requires 

 notice here. 



By Garrod, Newton, and other recent writers, the Coccyges 

 have been regarded as having Galline affinities. The aberrant 

 type Opisthocomus appears to be a link between GalUnm and 

 Musojihagidce. 



Family CUCULID^. 



Feet zygodactyle, the first and fourth toes directed backward ; 

 caeca present ; both carotids present ; contour-feathers without 

 any aftershaft ; dorsal feather-tract divided between the shoulders, 

 and enclosing a lanceolate naked space on the back ; an oil-gland 

 present, but nude. Young hatched naked, and not passing 

 through a downy stage before acquiring feathers. Tail-feathers 10 

 in number (except in some American genera, which have only 8). 



The members of this family have almost a world-wide range, but 

 are most numerous in tropical countries. They vary greatly in 

 nidification and breeding-habits. 



The Cuculidce have been variously divided. The Indian forms 

 have by different writers been classed sometimes in two, sometimes 

 in three subfamilies. On the whole the first arrangement appears 

 preferable, as there is no doubt that the PhcenicophaincH and 

 Centropodino' are more closely allied lo each other than either of 

 them is to the true Cuckoos. I therefore class them thus : 



a. Tarsus feathered anteriorly (only at the base 

 in Coccystesj ; no accessory femoro-caudal 

 muscle CucuUnce. 



h. Tarsus naked ; accessory femoro-caudal 



present Phoenicophaince. 



