OF GENERA. xix 



56. CoRVTJS (Eaven, Crow, Rook). Bill not longer than the 

 head, strong, straight at the base, cutting at the edges, and curved 

 towards the point ; nostrils oval ; feet strong, tarsus longer than the 

 middle toe ; wings pointed, first primary moderate, second and third 

 shorter than the fourth, which is the longest; tail moderate, 

 rounded. Page 239. 



57. Pica (Magpie). Bill, nostrils, and feet as in Corvus ; 

 wings short and rounded ; tail long, graduated. Page 259. 



58. Garrulus (Jay). Bill shorter than the head, conical ; both 

 mandibles ecpially curved, the upper notched near the tip ; crown 

 feathers forming a crest ; wings rounded, fourth, fifth, and sixth 

 primaries nearly equal, and the longest ; tarsus longer than the 

 middle toe ; tail moderate, slightly rounded. Page 263. 



59. NuciFRAGA (N"utcracker). Bill about as long as the head, 

 straight, conical, the base dilated, and dividing the feathers of the 

 forehead ; mandibles blunt, the upper somewhat the longer ; nostrils 

 round ; wings rather long and pointed ; first primary shorter than 

 the second and third, fourth longest ; tail nearly even. Page 265. 



Tribe III. FISSIROSTRES. 



(wide-gaped BIRDS.) 



Bill broad, more or less flattened horizontally, often hooked at 

 the tip, with the mouth very deeply cleft ; upper mandible not 

 notched ; feet small and feeble. Most of the species feed on insects, 

 which they capture on the wing, but one genus subsists on fishes. 

 The tropical regions are the principal home of the fissirostral birds ; 

 such species as reach to the temperate zone are, for the most part, 

 migratory visitors.* 



Family I. Meropid^. 



(bee-eaters. ) 



Bill of moderate length, slightly curved ; toes four, three in front, 

 one behind, the outer and middle united ; wings long and pointed, 

 the first primary, for the most part, being neaiiy or quite as long as 

 any other. Bu'ds of moderate size, confined to the eastern hemi- 

 sphere, generally of a green colour varied with blue, and resembling 

 Swallows in their flight, habits, and food. 



60. Coracias (Roller). Bill compressed, straight, with cutting 

 edges ; upper mandible slightly hooked at the point ; sides of the 

 ga.pe bristled ; tarsus short ; wings long ; first primary a little shorter 

 than the second, which is the longest. Page 266. 



61. Merops (Bee-eater). Bill long, compressed, slightly curved, 

 slender, with cutting edges, broad at the base ; upper mandible 

 keeled, the tip not hooked ; tarsus very short ; wings long, pointed, 

 second primary the longest ; tail long. Page 267. 



* Gosse's Natural Histoiy, Birds p. 30. 



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