PAM. MEROPIDAl 3 
2 
p. 1568 (1888); Seebohm, Classif. of Birds, p. 21 (1890); Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 17, 
p- 41-92 (1892); Oates, Handb. Birds Brit. Burmah, Vol. 2, p. 63-69 (1883); Newton, Diction. 
of Birds, p. 29 (1893); Bronn-Gadow,. Klassen und Ordnungen des Thierreichs, V6gel, 2. Syst. 
Theil, p. 232 (1893); Blanford, Fauna Brit. Ind. Birds, Vol. 3, p. tog-117 (1895); Kuschel, 
Journ. f. Ornith. 1895, p. 223 ff. (Oology); Meyer & Wiglesworth, Birds Celebes, Vol. 1, 
p- 247-261 (1898): Sharpe, Hand-list Gen. and Spec. Birds, p. 72-75 (1900); Neumann, Journ. 
f. Ornith. T900, p. 217-220; 1905, p. 191-193; Finsch, Notes Leyd. Mus. Vol. 23, p. 1-14 
(1901-03); Reichenow, Vogel Afrikas, Vol. 2, p. 301-332 (1902-03) (Review of the African 
Species); Naumann, Naturgesch. Végel Mitteleuropas, 3. (Folio) Aufl. Vol. 4, p. 330; von 
Erlanger, Journ. f. Ornith. 1905, p. 452-457; Hesse, ibidem 1907, p. 225 (Anatomy). 
Two subfamilies of the Meropidae can be distinguished. 
SUBFAM. A. — MEROPINA= 
The breast-plumes of normal shape, the nostrils partially covered by bristles. Birds of 
slender build and small or moderate size. Sociable in their habits, they frequent open places, 
steppes and plains, breeding as arule in colonies and wandering from place to place, according 
to the change of season or, when inhabitants of temperate regions, performing regular migrations. 
SUBFAM. B. — NYCTIORNINAE 
The breast-plumes broad, elongated and pendent; the nasal apertures hidden by dense 
bristles ; birds of rather stout shape and of medium or large size; inhabitants of dense forests, 
even in the mountains, sociable or living in couples, but not strictly migratory. 
A. MEROPINA® 
The Meropinae are conveniently divided into four genera. 
KEY TO THE GENERA OF THE MEROPINA=: 
i. Furst primary much longer than the primary coverts . 
De 
— First primary shorter or but slightly longer than the primary coverts; central 
Lip eatexSmelOon cate (a em see an enn een CenuSeViERORS: 
2. Central tail-feathers elongated 2. Genus AZEROPS. 
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3}. Dien) wengy alastamule Ea gg ee ek kk og 9 de GEMS IDIGROORREUE, 
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1. GENUS MEROPS LINNEUS 
Merops Linnzus, Syst. Nat. Vol. 1, p. 182 (1766) (type: M. afiaster); cf. Sharpe, Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. 
Vol. 17, p. 58 (1892). 
Characters. Bill long, curved and pointed, with the culmen ridged, the sides compressed, 
the tip very acute; gape-line curved, the gonys very long and arched; nostrils basal, lateral, 
