186 Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidse. 



terior ; a large pneumatic foramen is situate mesially forwards, 

 a marked elevation bounding it anteriorly. In general con- 

 tour there is a certain middle compression with regular curved 

 sides. The coracoid facets are salient, with deep gutters, and 

 are continuous but for the perforated rostral septum. The 

 large obtusely pointed and obliquely set costal processes have 

 a backward tilt and five rib-facets. There are only a pair of 

 deep xiphoid notches, the external processes having enlarged 

 tips ; and lie specially calls attention to two pointed denticles 

 at the posterior margin of the middle piece. Basing judg- 

 ment on the posterior sternal configuration, excepting the two 

 denticles above spoken of, according to Blanchard it agrees 

 directly with the Finches ; but anteriorly there are striking 

 differences. The development of the keel inclines to Finches, 

 but there are other points in perfect contrast ; in the Hoopoe 

 the rostrum is obtuse, in the Passeraux acuminate. 



In allusion to Irrisor he mentions that the skeleton exam- 

 ined by him was in bad condition, but sufficient in his opinion 

 to justify assigning to this genus close affinity to Upupa. His 

 remarks on the sternal characters I shall not quote, as further 

 on I treat of this and other bones not hitherto described. 

 Blanchard names the genera Fregilupus, LamproJophos, Rhi- 

 nopomastus, and Falculia as having great interest from pro- 

 bable relationship to the Hoopoes and Irrisors ; but their os- 

 teology he was ignorant of. 



The superior rank and isolated character of the Hoopoes 

 have been indorsed by another excellent naturalist and coun- 

 tryman of the above, Prof. Alphonse Milne-Edwards*. Re- 

 serving for a future communication his reasons for adopting 

 the subjoined classification, he thus subdivides the Pas- 

 seres : — 1. Aedorninse ( = Oscines, Bonap.); 2. Epopsinae; 

 3. Ocyptilinae ( = Cypselidse, &c.) ; 4. Syndactylinae ; 5. Dys- 

 campterinae (=Musophagidse) ; G. Trogoninae ; 7. Phloe- 

 odrominae (=Picidae, Rhamphastidae, &c). Respecting the 

 Hoopoes he urges, " Les Epopsinae ont ete parfaitement ca- 

 racterises par Lherminier, ils ne renferment que le genre 

 Huppe, auquel M. Blanchard a adjoiut les Irrisors/' 

 * Oisoaux Foesiles, torn. ii. 



