98 CORACIIN.T. CORACIAS. 



FAMILY XI. CORACILOS. CORACIINE 

 BIRDS, OR ROLLERS. 



Bill stout, of moderate length, broad at the base, gra- 

 dually compressed toward the end ; upper mandible with 

 the dorsal outline convex, the ridge indistinct, the sides 

 convex, the edges thin, with a faint sinus close to the 

 tip, which is slender and deflected. Mouth wide, the 

 gape-line commencing beneath the eyes. Nostrils basal, 

 rather large, partially concealed by the feathers. Eyes 

 of moderate size. Head large, roundish, or broadly ovate ; 

 neck short ; body moderately full. Feet small ; tarsus 

 very short, rather stout, with seven broad scutella ; toes 

 moderate, the second shorter than the fourth ; claws 

 moderately curved, much compressed, laterally grooved, 

 acute. Plumage moderately full, blended ; bristles at the 

 base of the bill generally strong ; wings of moderate 

 length, broad, with the first quill little shorter than the 

 second, the third longest ; tail of twelve feathers, of mo- 

 derate length. 



The birds of this family are inhabitants of warm cli- 

 mates, and for the most part gaudily coloured. They are 

 nearly allied to the Laniinse and Myiotherinse on the one 

 hand, and to the Turdinse and Thremmaphilinse on the 

 other. One species occurs in Britain, but only as a strag- 

 gler. 



GENUS XXVII. CORACIAS. ROLLER. 



Bill nearly as long as the head, rather broad at the base, 

 but presently compressed, and higher than broad ; upper 

 mandible with the dorsal line slightly arched and declinate, 

 the ridge obtuse, the edges sharp, with a slight sinus close 

 to the small, deflected, rather acute tip ; lower mandible 

 with the tip narrow and obliquely truncate ; gape -line 

 slightly arched, commencing beneath the eyes. Nostrils 



