564 AVES. 



SU8 longer than the middle toe, the external toe united to the first joint ; 

 fourth and fifth quills longer than the otliers. 



Epimachus superbtis. — The Superb Epimachus. Plate xxix*. fig'. 5. Irides. 

 cent-black, reflecting- violet and green ,- scapulars purplish-black on the 

 inner webs ; fine golden-green on the edges and tip. 



Geniw 16.— DREPANIS.— TeOTWimcA. 



Generic Character. — Bill very long, rounded above, thick and triangular 

 at the base, and subulate at the point; upper mandible longer than the 

 under one ; nostrils half shut above ; tongue short, cartilaginous ; tarsus 

 double the length of the middle toe ; the lateral toes of equal length ; third, 

 fourth, and fifth quills longer than the rest. 



Drepanis vestiaria. — The Scarlet Drepanis. Plate xxix*. fig. 6. Scarlet, 

 with tlie wings and tail black ; the bill greatly curved, which, as well as the 

 legs, is straw-colour; tail feathers slightly pointed at their extremities. 

 Five inches and a half long. Inhabits the Sandwich Islands. 



Genus 17.— MELIPHAGA.— /.e^'ra. 



Generic Character. — Bill generally the lengtli of the head, shorter in some 

 species, compressed, and somewhat arcuated; nostrils lateral, ovoid, cover- 

 ed by an arched membrane ; tongue long, extensible, its tip furnished with 

 cartilaginous filaments ; the external toe united as far as the joint of the se- 

 cond phalange, the internal one as far as the first joint ; hallux very strong 

 and long, with a long bent claw. 



Meliphaga Phrygius. — The Embroidered Meliphaga. Plate xxxvii. fig. 9. 

 Black ; nearly the whole feathers are margined with rich golden-yel. 

 low ; round the eyes there is a naked granulated yellow skin ; back and 

 breast with numerous undulated yellow or whitish crescents. Nine inches 

 long. Inhabits New Holland. 



ORDER VII.— ALCYONES. 



Bill of medium size, long in some species, pointed, and nearly quadrangn. 

 lar, sometimes slightly arcuated, and at others straight ; tarsus very short ; 

 three toes before, adhering, and one behind. 



Genus 1.— MEROPS.— Xjnnorus. 



Generic Character.~'B\\\ slightly curved, pointed, mandibles sharp at the 

 edges ; nostrils basal, lateral, ovoid, and hidden by protruded nuchal bristles; 

 tarsus short ; the three front toes united, the exterior one as far as the se. 

 cond joint, and the interior as far as the first joint of the intermediate toe ; 

 hallux broad at its base ; the second quill the longest. 



Merops cceriilocepkah'S. The Blue- Headed Bee- Eater. Plate xxxvii. fig. 10. 

 Upper and under parts of a beautiful red, betwixt scarlet and crimson, with 

 clouds of green ; crown of the head, throat, rump, and crissum, verdigris, 

 blue; remiges and quills green, the iimer webs of the latter tinged with 

 red ; tail of a rich reddish-brown, the feathers tipped with green, the two 

 middle feathers tapering, double the length of the others ; a black strips; 



