INTRODUCTION. XV 



Family AMPELID.E. 



Ampelis, Linmciis. — Bill strong, short and straight; broad at the base; both 

 mandibles slightly hooked at the tip, and the upper one notched. Gape 

 wide, without bristles. Nostrils basal, oval and large, partly concealed by 

 closely-set feathers directed forwards. Feathers of the head forming an 

 elongated erectile crest. Wings long, with ten primaries, the first very 

 minute, the second the longest, but the third nearly equal to it. Tail short 

 and almost even. Tarsus scutellated in front, and shorter than the middle 

 toe with its claw ; toes stout. Plumage very soft (p. 147). 



Family MUSCICAPID.-E. 



MusciCAPA, Limiaus. — Bill of moderate length, broad and depressed at the 

 base ; compressed and slightly curved towards the point. Nostrils basal, 

 lateral, and partly concealed by the frontal plumes. Gape beset with bristles. 

 Wings long and pointed ; the first primary very short, the second rather 

 shorter than the third, fourth and fifth, which are the longest in the wing. 

 Feet small, the tarsus about the same length as the middle toe, which is 

 much longer than the lateral toes (p. 149). 



Family HIRUNDINID^. 



(Wings with nine primaries, long and pointed.) 



HiRUNDO, Linnans. — Bill short, depressed, and very wide at the base, com- 

 missure straight. Nostrils basal, oval, partly closed by a membrane. Tail 

 deeply forked, of twelve feathers, the outermost greatly elongated and 

 abruptly attenuated. Legs and feet slender and bare ; toes rather long, 

 three in front, one behind; claws moderate (p. 155). 



Chelidon, F. Bote. — Bill short, depressed, and very wide at the base, com- 

 missure slightly decurved. Nostrils basal, oval, partly closed by a mem- 

 brane and opening laterally. Tail forked, of twelve feathers, the outermost 

 not abruptly attenuated. Legs and feet slender, closely feathered above, toes 

 rather long, three in front, one behind ; claws moderate, sharp (p. 157). 



COTILE, F. Bote. — Bill short, depressed, and very wide at the base, commissure 

 straight. Nostrils, wings and tail as above. Legs and feet slender, and bare 

 except a tuft of feathers on the tarsus just above the hallux ; toes moderate, 

 three in front, one behind ; claws strong (p. 159). 



Family FRINGILLID/E. 



Subfamily Fringillin^. 



LiGURiNUS, K. L. Koch. — Bill hard, short, conical, compressed towards the tip, 

 with a scarcely perceptible notch at the point ; nostrils basal, concealed by 

 stiff feathers directed forwards ; wings rather pointed, the first quill obsolete, 

 the second, third and fourth nearly equal and the longest. Tail rather short, 

 slightly forked. Tarsus scutellate in front ; toes moderate ; claws arched and 

 laterally grooved (p. 161). 



COCCOTHRAUSTES, Brissoii. — Bill nearly conical, very thick at the base, tapering 

 rapidly to the point ; culmen more or less rounded ; the mandibles nearly 

 equal, edges inflected and slightly indented. Nostrils basal, lateral, oval, 

 nearly hidden by projecting and recurved frontal plumes. Wings with the 



