EURYLAEMIDAE 467 



hallux to the front toes, and Eleutherndactyli, where the hind toe 

 is free. The former contained only the Ettrylaemidae ; the latter 

 the Mesomyodi (where the syringeal muscles join the bronchial 

 semi-rings in their middle or lateral portion), and the Acromyodi 

 (where they are attached to the extremities). The subdivisions 

 need not be discussed here ; but it should be noticed that, as 

 opposed to Miiller, the attachment, and not the number, of 

 muscles was the point relied upon. Want of space forbids an 

 account of the suljsequent labours of Mr. Sclater,^ Professors 

 Newton ^ and Filrbringer,^ and others ; but the last-named no douljt 

 influenced considerably the views of Dr. Gadow, mainly accepted 

 below. This author* takes into consideration not only the 

 attachment, but also the disposition of the muscles of the syrinx, 

 and distinguishes his Fasseriforines as (1) Fasseres anisomyodae, 

 where the syringeal muscles are unequally inserted, either in the 

 middle, or upon the dorsal or ventral end only, of the bronchial 

 semi-rings ; (2) Fasseres diacromyodae, where some of the muscles 

 are attached to the dorsal, and some to the ventral ends. The 

 former of these groups may be subdivided into A. Stihclamatores 

 and B. Clamatores ; the latter into C. Suboscines and D. Oscines. 

 Even the groups (1) and (2) are expressly stated not to rise to 

 the rank of Sub-Orders, while the Oscines and other equivalent 

 divisions are of hardly more than Family value. 



The great number of species in the Order Fasscriformes 

 makes it necessary to treat the various sections less fully than 

 has been the case in the foregoing portion of the work, while the 

 Families are not, of course, on the same level here as elsewhere. 



1. Passekes aniso:myodae. 



A. Suhclamatores. 



Fam. Eurylaemidae. — The Broad-bills, a curious Old World 

 group, have been by various authors regarded as allied to the 

 Rollers or to the Flycatchers. They are distinguished from all other 

 Passerine forms l)y the fact tbat the hallux is connected with the 

 front toes by a vinculum or band joining the deep plantar tendons, 

 and is thus incapable of independent motion. The beak is very 



^ Ibis, 1880, pp. 340-349. " Did. Birds, 1896, Introduction. 



^ Untersudiumjcn zur Morphologie und Systematik der Vocjel, Amsterdam, 1888. 

 ■* Bronn's Thicr-Iieich, Avcs. Sijsi. Theil, 1893, pp. 270-273. 



