70 REPORT—1843. 
On the Structure and Affinities of Upupa, Lin., and Irrisor, Lesson. 
By H. E. Srrickiann, F.G.S. 
The African genus Irrisor of Lesson has been classed by various authors in the 
genera Upupa, Merops, and Epimachus, but as it is distinct from all these, and also 
from Brisson’s genus Promerops, by which name later authors have called it, the 
term Irrisor of Lesson becomes its legitimate appellation. 
Most authors have placed Jrrisor very near Upupa, but the Baron Lafresnaye (in 
Proc. Zool. Soc. 1840, p. 124), maintains that they have no immediate affinity, and 
places Irrisor among the Nectariniide, and Upupa in the same family with Upucer- 
thia and its allied genera. It is true that there are considerable differences between 
these genera. In Upupa the plumage is ferruginous, the head crested, the tail even, 
with ten rectrices, the lateral tees nearly equal, the outer and middle ones divided to 
their base, the anterior claws short and blunt, and the hind claw nearly straight, a 
structure conformable to its terrestrial habits. In Irrisor the plumage is metallic 
black, the head not crested, the tail graduated, with twelve rectrices, the outer toe 
longer than the inner, united to the middle one by its basal joint, and the claws 
curved and sharp, indicating arboreal habits, But on the other hand, the beaks of 
these genera possess in common two peculiarities of structure, overlooked by pre- 
vious naturalists, but which are believed to occur in no other known group of birds. 
These are, first, the perfect flatness of the inner surfaces of both mandibles, so that 
when closed they are brought into perfect contact, leaving only a small space at the 
base for a short obtuse tongue; and secondly, a narrow groove along the ridge of 
both mandibles towards the apex. In Upupa this groove is single, in Irrisor it is di- 
vided by a fine longitudinal ridge. 
The author of this paper contended that the peculiar characters of the beak, common 
to Upupa and Irrisor, but found in no other known group of birds, indicate, not an ana- 
logy, but a real affinity between them, and must therefore, taken in connection with 
mninor points of agreement in the form and style of colouring of the wings, and in the 
mode of nidification, be considered to preponderate over the various points of differ- 
ence. We must therefore continue to class Upupa and Irrisor (together with Rhinopo- 
mastus, which is hardly distinguishable as a genus from the latter), in one and the same 
superior group, Upupide. The next question is, in what part of the natural system the 
group Upupide, so restricted, is to be placed? They are certainly a very insulated 
group, bat the combination of a long beak with a short tongue seems to show an 
affinity in one direction to the Alcedinide, and in another they probably lead through 
Epimachus to the Paradiseide. We require, however, much fuller details respecting 
the habits and anatomy of these birds before their true place can be determined with 
certainty. 
Mr. Strickland read to the Section a Catalogue of the Birds found in Corfu and the 
Tonian Islands, by Capt. H. M. Drummond, 42nd R.H.—In this list, which is of con- 
siderable extent, Capt. Drummond has inserted many valuable observations on the 
habits and migrations of the birds which occur in the Ionian Islands. The total num- 
ber of species in the list is 200 ;—of these 160 are British, 39 are found on the Euro- 
pean continent, but not in Britain, and 1, the Calamoherpe olivetorum, Strickland, has 
hitherto been found only in the Ionian Islands, where it is very common during the 
summer, _-—— 
Mr. Strickland presented a similar list, by the same gentleman, of the birds of Crete, 
made during a visit to that island in May and June 1843, in company with Capt. 
Graves of H.M.S. Beacon —From the shortness of the author’s stay in Crete, this list 
is less complete than the last, but embodies many interesting facts. The total of 
species observed was 105, of which 86 are British and 19 continental. It is remark- 
able that the common sparrow of Crete is the Fringilla cisalpina, while, in the Ionian 
Islands, it is replaced by the #. domestica. Mr. Strickland expressed his pleasure at 
the progress of Capt. Drummond’s ornithological researches. Such lists were of great 
value in forming tables of the distribution of animal life, and he bore testimony to 
the accuracy of Capt. Drummond’s observations. 

Mr. Strickland exhibited to the Section the beautiful work of the Prince of Canino, 
called Fauna Italica, the fruit of ten years’ labour. The Prince had, unfortunately, 
been prevented from attending this meeting, in consequence of the approaching 

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