INTRODUCTION. XIX 



Family ALAUDID.-E. 



Alauda, Linmvus. — Bill moderate, slightly compressed at the edges ; upper 

 mandible more or less arched from the middle and without notch. Nostrils 

 basal, oval, covered by bristly feathers directed forward. Gape straight. 

 Wings long : first primary short but unmistakably developed ; second, third 

 and fourth nearly equal, but the third longest. Tail moderate and slightly 

 forked. Tarsus blunt and scutellated behind as well as before, longer than 

 the middle toe ; claws slightly curved and moderate, except that of the hind 

 toe, which is generally elongated and nearly straight (p. 239). 



Otocorys, Bonaparte. — Bill rather short, subconic ; upper mandible slightly 

 arched and without notch. Head — in the adult male — with a tuft of long, 

 erectile feathers on either side of the occiput. Wings long ; the first primary 

 so small as at first sight to seem wanting, the second the longest but the 

 third nearly its equal, the fourth decidedly shorter, outer secondaries short 

 and emarginate at the tip. Tail rather long, slightly forked. Tarsus blunt 

 and scutellated behind as well as before, shorter than the middle toe ; 

 claws moderate and very slightly curved, that of the hind toe being com- 

 paratively straight (j3. 249). 



Order PICARI^. 



Family CYPSELIDyE. 



Cypselus, Illigcr. — Bill very short, wide, triangular at its base and depressed ; 

 culmen and commissure much decurved ; gape extending beyond the eyes. 

 Nostrils longitudinal, the edges raised and furnished with small feathers. 

 Wings with ten curved primaries, very long and pointed, the first shorter 

 than the second, but a little longer than the third. Tail, of ten feathers, 

 somewhat deeply forked. Tarsi very short, feathered in front ; toes four, all 

 ordinarily directed forwards, the middle and outer with three phalanges 

 only ; claws short, large and much curved (p. 251). 



AcANTHYLLlS, F. Boie. — Wings very long, narrow and pointed. Tail short, even ; 

 the feathers terminated by long sharp spines. Tarsus bare in front and not 

 scutellated ; one toe directed backwards. Otherwise much as in preceding 

 genus (p. 255). 



Family CAPRIMULGID/E. 



Caprimulgus, LJnmzHS. — Bill very short, flexible, broad at the base, much 

 compressed at the point ; gape very wide, extending behind the large eyes ; 

 upper mandible decurved at the tip, and beset on each side with a row of 

 moveable bristles directed forward ; lower mandible upturned at the tip, so 

 as to meet the upper at the point, leaving an open space further back. 

 Nostrils basal, with a prominent membranaceous rim, clothed with very 

 small leathers. Wings long, with ten primaries ; the first shorter than the 

 second, which is the longest. Tail of ten feathers, long and slightly rounded. 

 Legs weak ; tarsi short, feathered in front for two-thirds of their length ; 

 feet with three toes before, one behind, the anterior united as far as the first 

 joint, the posterior turned inwards at right angles, inner and outer toes 

 equal, the latter with but four phalanges ; claws short, except that of ihe 

 middle toe, which is long and serrated on the inner edge (p. 257). 



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