xiv SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT OF THE GENERA OF BIRDS 



SVB-FAMILY lYNGIN^ 

 Nostrils partly covered by a membrane. 



53. Iynx (Wryneck). Bill shorter than the head, straight, conical! 



tongue long and extensile ; nostrils without bristles, partly closed 

 by a membrane ; wings with the second primary somewhat the 

 longest; tail-feathers soft and flexible. Page 131 



FAMILY ALCEDINID^ 



(Kingfishers) 



Bill long, stout, and pointed, with angular sides, not serrated ; feet small 

 and feeble, the outer and middle toes united to the last joint ; wings rounded 

 and hollow, ill adapted for protracted flight ; form robust, with a large 

 head and usually a short tail. Predatory birds, feeding on fish, insects, 

 and even reptiles, birds, and small quadrupeds. Scattered over the world, 

 but AustraUa and South America contain the greatest number of species. 



54. Alc£do (Kingfisher). Bill long, straight, quadrangular, sharp ; 



wings short with the third primary the longest ; tail very short. 



Page 132 



FAMILY CORACIID^ 



(Rollers) 



Bill corvine in shape ; culmen rounded ; nostrils near base of upper mandi- 

 ble and hidden by bristly feathers ; tail feathers twelve. 



54. CorAcias (Roller). Bill compressed, straight, with cutting edges ; 

 upper mandible slightly hooked at the point ; sides of the gape 

 bristled ; tarsus short ; wings long ; first primary a little shorter 

 than the second, which is the longest. Page 134 



FAMILY MEROPID^ 

 (Bee-eaters) 

 Bill long ; culmen with sharply defined ridge ; toes joined for part of length 



55. Merops (Bee-eater). Bill long, compressed, sUghtly curved, slender, 



with cutting edges, broad at the base ; upper mandible keeled, 

 the tip not hooked ; tarsus very short ; wings long, pointed, second 

 primary the longest ; centre tail feathers elongated. Page 1 35 



FAMILY UPUPID^ 



(Hoopoes) 



56. Upupa (Hoopoe). Bill longer than the head, slender, slightly arched, 



compressed ; feathers of the head long, forming a two-ranked 

 crest; tail even at the extremity. Page 136 



FAMILY CUCULID^ 



(Cuckoos) 



Bill moderate, rather deeply cleft, both mandibles compressed, and more 

 or less curved downwards ; nostrils exposed ; wings for the most part short • 

 tail of ten feathers lengthened ; toes four, two pointing backwards and 

 two forwards, but the outer hind toe of each foot is capable of being placed 

 at right angles with either the inner or outer front toe. A tropical family 

 of birds, many of which migrate to the temperate regions in summer. Not 

 so decidedly climbers as the Woodpeckers and Creepers, yet having great 

 power of clinging. Their flight is feeble, their food soft-bodied insects, 



