PARI. 



e 5 . Never run, but watch from a 

 bough for the passing insects 

 which form their entire food. 

 Bill : generally broader than 

 deep at the nostrils, and 

 furnished with well developed 

 rictal bristles. Nestlings with 

 fine hairs setting flat over the 

 bill. Legs rather weak ... 8. MusciCAPiE. 

 b. Feed entirely during flight. Wings powerful 

 and long ; legs weak. 



c 1 . Wing of only nine primaries. Bill, from 

 gape to tip, viewed from above nearly 



an equilateral triangle 9. Hirundines. 



d 1 . Wing of ten primaries 10. Abtami. 



Section I. PARI. 



Bill variable but neither Finch-like nor Thrush-like. Wing with ten 

 primaries. Tail of twelve feathers. Tarsi scutellated and short, with the 

 feet graceful but powerful and the claws sharp and curved ; consequently 

 they are not adapted for feeding on the ground, but probably all feed at 

 times with their backs downwards. 



The eggs vary from two to ten in a nest. 



Generally but not always the members of this section have : — Tongue 

 split at the end ; young similar in colouring to the adult female. 



KEY TO THE FAMILIES. 



Tarsus decidedly longer than the hind toe with 

 claw ; foot not adapted for climbing up the 

 trunks of trees. 



a 1 . Nostrils placed in a groove, covered by a 



membrane and opening in a slit. 



«'-. Bill longer, narrower, and more slender, 



generally not shorter than the tarsus. 



a 3 . Frontal feathers rounded; tongue 



extensile and split into two towards 



the end Nectariniid.e. 



b 3 . Frontal feathers lanceolate; tail of 

 soft flexible feathers, very long and 

 graduated Promeropim:. 



