Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidse. 181 



XXIII. — On the Upupidse and their Relationships. 

 By Dr. James Murie, F.L.S. &c. 



(Plates V., VI., & VII.) 



I. Retrospect, embodying researches and opinions concerning 

 the Hoopoes. 

 1. As grouped in conjunction with or near the Hornbills. — 

 Some five and thirty summers have come and gone since Mr. 

 Gould originally suggested the relationship of the Hoopoes 

 to the Hornbills, an idea which took root and fructified under 

 its foster-parent, Mr. Blyth. With the observations and re- 

 marks of the latter, then, I propose to approach the group. 

 When treating of the "Buceroides, or the Hornbill and 

 Hoopoe tribes," Mr. Blyth* introduces his topic by a suc- 

 cinct resume of the reasons which have caused him to look 

 upon these as two allied tribal families. The skeleton, he con- 

 ceives, separates them from the Cantores, as do the digestive 

 and vocal organs. The heart-shaped tongue, the elongation 

 of the beak, and the fetid liquid faeces show agreement be- 

 tween the Hoopoe and Hornbill. Their first plumage resem- 

 bles that of the adult, and is not renewed till after the follow- 

 ing breeding-season. They are equally Old- World groups, 

 and possess only ten tail-feathers. He then proceeds to treat 

 of the special characteristics of the Appendirostres (Horn- 

 bills), and subsequently reverts to the Arculirostres (Hoopoes) . 

 Of the latter he particularizes points in the sternal formation, 

 alludes to the stomach as a membranous bag, short widish 

 intestines destitute of caecal appendages, and infers from these 

 characters and from the smaller number of rectrices that they 

 must be separated from the Certhiadse, Promeropidse, &c. 

 Mr. Blyth further goes on to show that the intelligence of the 

 Hoopoe, its lively energetic manners, its Lark-like gait, its 

 habit of striking with the bill, together with the structure of 

 the latter, its ccenodactyle foot (i.e. outer and middle toes 

 only basally united) , and propensity to climb, like the Wood- 

 pecker, all carry it away from the Hornbills, and probably 

 from all other Syndactyli. He appears to have watched 

 * Mag. of Nat. Hist. (Charlesworth's) New Ser. 1838, vol. ii. p. 589. 



