BIRDS. ANISODACTYLI. 



E. erythrorhynchos, Tern. (Upupa, Lath.) Plumage black, with a 

 green and purple gloss ; bill and legs red ; tail very long, all the 

 feathers, except the two middle ones, marked near the tip by an 

 oval white spot on each side of the web. 15 inches long. In- 

 habits Africa. Shaw, viii. pi. 18. 



Gen. 16. DREPANIS, Tern. >Certhia, Lath. 



Bill very long, rounded above, thick and triangular at the base, 

 subulate at the point ; upper mandible longer than the under ; 

 tongue short, cartilaginous ; nostrils half closed above; tar- 

 sus twice as long as the middle toe ; the lateral toes equal ; 

 wings with the third, fourth, and fifth feathers longest. 



D. Pacifica, Tern. General colour black, with rump, lower part 

 of the belly, and thighs bright yellow ; spurious wing yellowish 

 white ; bill greatly curved, brownish black. 8 inches long. In- 

 habits South Sea Islands. Shaw, viii. 227- 



D. vestiaria, Tern. General colour bright scarlet, with the wings 

 and tail black ; tail-feathers slightly pointed at their extremi- 

 ties ; bill stout, considerably curved; pale yellow. 6 inches long. 

 Inhabits Sandwich Islands Shaw, viii. pi. 33. 



Gen. 17. MELIPHAGA, Lewin. Philedon, Vieill. 



Bill of the length of or shorter than the head, compressed, rather 

 arcuated, emarginate towards the tip, acute ; nostrils lateral, 

 ovoid, covered by an arched membrane ; tongue Jong, exten- 

 sible, terminated by cartilaginous filaments ; toes, the ex- 

 ternal united to the second joint, the internal to the first ; 

 back toe very strong, long. 



This genus is very numerous in species. 



M. cyanops, Tern. (Merops, Lath.) Blue-faced Honey-Sucker. Plu- 

 mage brown above, white beneath ; crown and throat black ; eyes 

 surrounded by a blue patch ; bill black ; legs blue. 16 inches 

 long. Inhabits New Holland. Lewi?i's New Holl. Birds, pi. 25. 



M. Phrygia, Tern. (Merops, Lath.) Plumage black, elegantly va- 

 riegated with bright and pale yellow ; a granulated naked yel- 

 low skin round the eyes ; back and breast undulated by nume- 

 rous pale or whitish yellow crescents. Size of a thrush. Inhabits 

 New Holland. Shaw, viii. pi. 20. 



ORDER VII. ALCYONES. 



Bill middle sized or long, pointed, almost quadrangular, and 

 either slightly arched or straight ; tarsus very short ; three 

 toes before, united, and one behind. 



The birds of this order, instituted by Temminck, fly with great celerity, 

 movements are quick and abrupt, and they neither walk nor climb. 



