246 FORK-TAILED GAPER. 



colour is bright but dark crimson, while the belly 

 and under tail-covers are the same ; the wings are 

 lengthened and reach to half the length of the tail, 

 the latter being slightly forked ; the thighs are 

 black, and the bill and feet blackish-brown. 



Total length, about 7 inches ; bill, gape, 1 ; 

 front, T 7 3 ; wings, 3 ; tail beyond, 1^ ; depth of 

 the fork, / s ; tarsus, J. 



We haye now described the last type of form, which, 

 to establish the circularity of the Eurylaimince, should 

 not only represent one of the primary types of Nature, 

 but also show a disposition to unite with Cymbir- 

 hynchus, which was our first type. Now this is a 

 demonstration which can very rarely be made good 

 where the species, as in the present instance, are 

 very few. But here, again, we hope to deter- 

 mine not only the primary types of the Eurylai- 

 mince, but of proving their circularity. The ge- 

 nus CymUrhynchus, it will be remembered, differs 

 from all the others we have noticed in one very pe- 

 culiar character, the base of the bill being marked 

 by a thickened rim. Now this is precisely one of 

 the characters of the type before us ; and these two 

 birds are the only instances in the group of the rictus 

 being strongly bristled. If any other evidence was 

 necessary to show this union, it may be drawn from 

 the feet of M. Lesson having actually brought Cym- 

 lirhynchus and Platystomus into one genus, distinct 

 from the other Eurylaimince^ which he names 



