xiv SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS 
SUB-FAMILY IYNGINB 
Nostrils partly covered by a membrane. 
53. I¥nx (Wryneck). Bill shorter than the head, straight, conical; 
tongue long and extensile ; nostrils without bristles, partly closed 
by a membrane; wings with the second primary somewhat the 
longest; tail-feathers soft and flexible. Page 131 
FAMILY ALCEDINIDZE 
(KINGFISHERS) 
Bill long, stout, and pointed, with angular sides, not serrated ; feet small 
and feeble, the outer and middle toes united to the last joint ; wings rounded 
and hollow, ill adapted for protracted flight; form robust, with a large 
head and usually a short tail. Predatory birds, feeding on fish, insects, 
and even reptiles, birds, and small quadrupeds. Scattered over the world, 
but Australia and South America contain the greatest number of species. 
54. Atcépo (Kingfisher). Bill long, straight, quadrangular, sharp; 
wings short with the third primary the longest; tail very short. 
Page 132 
FAMILY CORACIID 
(ROLLERS) 
Bill corvine in shape ; culmen rounded ; nostrils near base of upper mandi- 
ble and hidden by bristly feathers; tail feathers twelve. 
54. CorActas (Roller). Bill compressed, straight, with cutting edges; 
upper mandible slightly hooked at the point; sides of the gape 
bristled ; tarsus short; wings long; first primary a little shorter 
than the second, which is the longest. Page 134 
FAMILY MEROPIDZE 
(BEE-EATERS) 
Billlong ; culmen with sharply defined ridge ; toes joined for part of length 
55. 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; centre tail feathers elongated. Page 135 
FAMILY UPUPIDZ 
(HoopPoEs) 
56. Upupa (Hoopoe). Bill longerthan the head, slender, slightly arched, 
compressed; feathers of the head long, forming a two-ranked 
crest; tail even at the extremity. Page 136 
FAMILY CUCULIDZ 
(Cuckoos) 
Bill moderate, rather deeply cleft, both mandibles compressed, and more 
or less curved downwards ; nostrils exposed ; wings for the most part short; 
tail of ten feathers lengthened; toes four, two pointing backwards and 
two forwards, but the outer hind toe of each foot is capable of being placed 
at right angles with either the inner or outer front toe. A tropical family 
of birds, many of which migrate to the temperate regions in summer. Not 
so decidedly climbers as the Woodpeckers and Creepers, yet having great 
power of clinging. Their flight is feeble, their food soft-bodied insects, 
