130 CRATEROPODIEJE. 



be possible when the colour of the eggs of all the other genera is 

 known ; but at present the position of the genus is uncertain, and 

 I have placed it in the present subfamily provisionally. 



In none of the Timeliince is the head crested ; the feathers of 

 the crown are frequently lengthened and erectile, but in no case 

 do they form a full crest. 



In the Timeliince the sexes are invariably alike. They possess 

 to the fullest degree the characters of the typical Crateropodidce, 

 namely the short, rounded wing and the strong feet. The young 

 birds resemble the adults from the earliest age, more closely so, 

 indeed, than any other group of birds I am acquainted with. 



In India this subfamily is represented by 25 genera, of which 

 four are now proposed to be separated for the first time, and by 

 53 species. 



Key to the Genera. 



a. Tail much longer than the wing. 



a'. Shafts of feathers of crown rigid and 



glistening. 



a". Bill as long as head, deep and black. TIMELIA, p. 131. 

 b". Bill shorter than head, slender and 



pale coloured DUMETIA, p. 133. 



b'. Shafts of feathers of crown soft and 



not separable from webs. 

 c". Wing about three and a half times 



length of tarsus j bill notched .... GAMPSORHYNCHUS, p. 134. 

 d" '. Wing about two and a half times 



length of tarsus j bill entire PYCTORHIS, p. 137. 



b. Tail equal to, or shorter than, wing, but 



always much longer than half the wing, 

 c'. Bill stout and straight ; base of culmen 

 straight ; closed bill deeper at middle 

 than at nostrils. 



e". Nostrils long, protected by an over- 

 hanging membrane. 

 a . Rictal bristles weak or moderate. 

 a 4 . Wing and tail about equal in 



length PELLORNEUM, p. 139. 



b 1 . Tail much shorter than wing. 

 a 5 . Rictal bristles shorter ; upper 



plumage plain DRYMOCATAPHUS, p. 144. 



6*. Rictal bristles longer; upper 



plumage squamated OORYTHOCICHLA, p. 148. 



b'". Rictal bristles long and strong. 

 c*. Tail shorter than wing by not 



more than length of hind toe . GYPSOPHILA, p. 149. 

 d*. Tail shorter than wing by much 

 more than length of hind toe. 

 c 5 . Wing more than three times 



length of tarsus MALACOPTERUM, p. 150. 



