1836.] On a New Genus of the Meropida. 361 



one and two considerably and subequally gradated. Nares entirely 

 concealed by incumbent setaceous tufts. Tail longish, quadrate, 

 strong. Feet and tongue as in Merops. In the family of the Mero- 

 pid<E but one genus has heretofore been recognised. If the above 

 characters be admitted to differ materially from those of Merops, and 

 if the birds to which they apply are distinguished by a marked and 

 consequent diversity of manners, I presume the propriety of the generic 

 separation will not be questioned. 



Now, the bee-eaters proper, according to my experience, have 

 invariably a long and acuminated wing, and aerial swallow-like habits 

 corresponding to that form of wing. Again, their bill is considerably 

 spread laterally except towards the tip ; the general form being tetra- 

 gonal, and the ridge acute. 



In Bucia, on the contrary, the wing is not so much acuminated as 

 in the thrushes. It is distinguished for considerable, uniform, breadth ; 

 not at all for length ; and the habits of the bird are quite foreign to per- 

 petual questing on the wing in the open country : they lead it to seek 

 the deep recesses of the forest, — and there, tranquilly seated on a high 

 tree, to watch the casual advent of its prey, and, having seized it, to 

 return directly to its station. The bill, again, is greatly compressed 

 with vertical sides and ridge flat towards the base, convex towards the 

 tip. This organ is, moreover, strong, longer, and more arched than 

 in Merops. The Bucia are of rare occurrence, and are solitary wood- 

 landers ; whereas the bee-eaters proper are gregarious, and common 

 tenants of the champaign. Our birds are found in the lower and cen- 

 tral regions of Nepal ; but seldom or never in the northern. The Nipa- 

 lese call them Bukay-chera ; chera being merely a corruption of chiria, 

 or bird. I latinise the former word to procure a generic appellation. 

 I have as yet discovered but one species, of which the following is the 

 specific name and character. 



Bucia Nipalensis. Nipalese Bucia, Mihi. Bright parrot green, shad- 

 ed on the belly and vent with bright buff: lining of the wings and 

 lower tail covert, pure buff : wings internally and basally, and tail 

 on the inferior surface, the same : forehead and gular hackles, blue : 

 the last, formed of a double series of long, composed, drooping 

 plumes, ranged opposite to each other on either side the trachea : 

 bill plumbeous, with black tip : iris brown : legs greenish yellow. 

 Length thirteen to fourteen inches : breadth between the wings seven- 

 teen to eighteen : weight three to four oz. : sexes alike. 



The bill is more than twice as long as the head. It has a consider- 

 able and uniform arcuation throughout ; is hard, strong, entire, very 

 moderately excavated internally ; at base scarcely broader than high ; 

 3 A 



