Ml 



Family Mcropida (Bee-eaten). 



Genus Eurystomta. 

 The skeleton of the Southern Eurystome (Euryatwim* atutralu). 



The tibise and inrtaUni are very long and slender : the procnemial prooeMet ibnn vertirnl 

 equilateral triangular plates : the ectocnemial processes are short and hooked downward*. 

 There are 1 7 vertebra; between the skull and (801101, the last sis of which bear movrahlr 

 ribs ; and of these the last four pairs are articulated to the sternum by hajnupophyses. Then- 

 is a pair of sacral ribs. 



HimtrriaK. 

 Genus Coracitu. 



1484. The skeleton of the Roller (Coracia* garrula). 



The mastoid process is obsolete : the postfrontal is unusually long, and descend* vertically 

 to the squamosal or sygomatic process of the upper jaw : the sternum has four notches 

 posteriorly. There are 19 vertebra; between the skull and sacrum, the last six of which liear 

 moreable ribs ; and of these the last five pairs are joined to the sternum : there is a pair of 

 Mcral ribs, the haemapophyses of which join those of the but dorsal pair. There are H cau- 

 dal vertebra?. 



Mu* South. 



1485. The skeleton of the Bengal Roller (Coracia* lirngtileiutui). 



There are 17 vertebne between the skull and sacrum, the pain of moveable rib* attached 

 to the last four of which unite with the -ten mm. The false ribs anterior to these are want- 

 big. There is one pair of sacral ribs. The long descending postfrontal joins the sqiumosal. 



Mm*. .VowAi. 

 Genus Bvcero*. 



1486. The skeleton of the Pied Hombill (tiucero* vioiaceiu). 



The atlas and axis vertebne are wanting : of the 1 7 remaining vertebrae between the knll 

 and sacrum, the six posterior bear moveable ribs ; of these the second, third and fourth pain 

 unite with the sternum : there is one pair of sacral ribs, the hsetiiapophyses of which join 

 those of the hut dorsal pair of ribs. 



The chief characteristic of the bird* of this genus is the unusually Urge siie of the beak, 

 and the development of a bony process from its up|H*r part ; the horny covering* of both are 

 preserved in this skeleton. The nostrils are small, and are pierced at the back part of the 

 base of the upper mandible in the interspace between it and the superimposed bony pro- 

 cease*. The mastoid and postfrontal are moderately long and slender, but do not meet. The 

 xygomatic processes of the upper mandible are thicker than usual in relation to its pii|>erior 



