Dr. J. Murie on the Upupidte. 191 



[Creepers], Cinnyrimorphse [Sunbirds], Chelidonomorphse 

 [Swallows] . The second series Scutelliplantares has for co- 

 horts Holaspideae [Larks and Hoopoes], Endaspidese [Tree- 

 runners], Exaspidete [Tyrant Shrikes and Todies], Pycnas- 

 pidese [Chatterers], Taxaspidcse [Bush-Shrikes and Lyre- 

 bird]. By this collocation Sundevall clearly throws apart 

 the Irrisors and Hoopoe, still associating the former with 

 the Crows and Paradise- birds, the latter with the Larks. 



M. Le Baron de la Fresnaye* also regarded Upupa as having 

 affinities with the Larks, but more strongly connected with 

 Upucerthia, Irrisor belonging to the Sunbirds. Enough 

 has been said to show how diverse are the opinions of orni- 

 thologists f on this subject. 



II. Additional data, structural and otherwise, hearing on the 

 Upupidce and pseudo-genera. 



1. Upupa. — My copious allusions to and quotations of prior 

 labours on the common Hoopoe, both as to its exterior and 

 interior, plainly debar me from having much to say thereon. 

 Withal a few points may bear annotation, and a word on U. 

 minor may be of interest. 



As regards U. epops, specimens examined on my own ac- 

 count indorse Nitzsch's pterylographic remarks. In one 

 adult $ I specially noted primaries 10 (5th the longest), 

 secondaries 8, rectrices 10. Oil-gland large, broader than 

 long, and tipped with a considerable bunch of feathers. No 

 trace of powderdowns. Viscera, excepting length of gut, 

 agreeing with what has been related. 



Of vertebrae there are 12 to the neck. The 13th bears a tiny 

 riblet, and therefore may be reckoned along with the dorsal ; 



* P. Z. S. 1840, p. 124. 



t I may further observe that Drs. 0. Finsch and G. Hartlaub (Von der 

 Decken's ' Reisen in Ost-Afrika,' vol. iv.) place the Hoopoes, Promerops, 

 and Creepers among the Tenuirostres. Their Upupidse comprise Upupa, 

 viz. XI. epops and U. africana ; Irrisor=I. erythrorhynchus, 1. minor, I. 

 cyanomelas, and I. aterrimus. They moreover do not recognize five species 

 of Irrisor, — /. sibilator, Vieill., /. cauclacutus, Vieill., I. lamprolophus, 

 Wagl., I. ceendeut, Vieill., and /. cyaneus, Vieill. 



