456 CLASS xvi. 



fig. 2; Indicator albirostris TEMM., PI. col. 367, &c. Small African 

 cuccoo-species, which feed principally on honey, and from their constant 

 cry are easy to follow, so that they guide the natives to the resorts of the 

 wild bees. 



Leptosomus VIEILL. Bill moderate, depressed at the base, com- 

 pressed at the tip, deflected; nostrils oblique, placed in the middle 

 of bill. Tarsus thick, equalling the outer toe, covered with a double 

 row of scutes in front. Wings with third and fourth quills longest 

 of all. Tail even, broad. 



Sp. Leptosomus viridis VIEILL., Cuculus afer GM., BUFF. PL enl. 587, 588, 

 LESS. Ornith. PI. 20, fig. i, ODER. Iconogr., Ois. PI. 32, fig. i ; at Mada- 

 gascar; this bird lives on fruits and makes its nest in old trees. It differs 

 from the rest of the cuccoo-tribe by its habitus and the straight truncated 

 tail. 



Family XXV. SagittiUngu&s (Picidce GRAY, exclus. of Capi- 

 tonince). Bill straight, elongate and conical, with margins very 

 entire. Tongue jaculatorial. Tarsi covered anteriorly with a single 

 row of transverse scutes. Feet for climbing, with posterior outer 

 toe often longer than anterior outer. Claws curved, compressed. 

 Tail with twelve feathers, the first minute. (Cubital coverts short, 

 not covering the secondary quill-feathers beyond the middle.) 



The arrow-tongued birds. Their tongue can be extended far 

 from the bill and serves to catch insects, on which they chiefly 

 feed. The cornua of the hyoi'd bone are so long, that when the 

 tongue is not extended they mount over the cranium as far as 

 the bill, and often even pass forward into a cavity (mostly on the 

 right side) of the upper mandible. The two cceca at the commence- 

 ment of the large intestine are wanting, or are quite rudimentary, 

 and so closely attached to the intestinal canal that they may easily 

 escape observation. These birds keep principally in woods. 



Yunx L. Bill short, conical, somewhat round, acuminate. 

 Nostrils basal, approximate, narrow, surrounded by membrane. 

 Tongue round, vermiform, with extremity simple, acute. Feet 

 short. Tail moderate, rounded, with feathers flexile. Wings 

 short, with first quill very small, second and third subequal, third 

 longest of all. 



Sp. Yunx torquilla L., BUFF. PL enl. 698, LESSON Ornith. PI. 28, fig. 2, 

 GUEBIN Iconogr., Ois. PI. 30, fig. 5, NAUM. Taf. 138; the wryneck, le 

 tourcol, der Wendehals; in Europe migratory; feeds on insects, especially 



