

CORACIAN.E. 



rounded, with the lateral feathers sometimes lengthened. Tarsi much shorter than the middle toe. 

 Toes moderate, free at the base, with the outer toe nearly as long as the middle one ; the hind toe long ; 

 the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



These birds are found in Africa, India, New Guinea, and Australia, and, owing to their migratory habits, are sometimes 

 obtained in various parts of Europe, and even in England. Their food, which consists chiefly of insects and fruits, 

 causes them to move about from place to place ; and they are generally observed in wooded districts, solitary or in pairs, 

 perched upon one of the top branches, usually selecting a dead one, and occasionally taking flight to a short distance to 

 seize an insect on the wing, and then returning again to the same spot or one very near it. The nest is placed in 

 holes of decayed trees ; the female lays from four to seven eggs. 



1. C. garrula Linn. Pl.enl. 4.86., Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 32. 

 33. 



2. C. caudata Linn. PI. enl. 88. — Coracias senegalensis Gmel. 

 Edwards's Birds, pi. 327. ; C. senegala Lath. ; C. abyssinica Gmel. 

 PL enl. 626. ; C. albifrons Shaw, Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 25. ; 

 C. abyssinus Bodd. 



3. C. indica Linn. Edwards's Birds, pi. 326. — Coracias benga- 

 lensis Linn. Pi. enl. 285. ; C. naevia Hand. ; C. pilosa Lath. ; C. 

 crinita Shaw, Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 27, 28, 29. 



4. C. viridis Cuv. Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 31. — C. vivida 

 Lath. ? 



5. C. Temminckii (Vieill.) Wagl. Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 6. — 

 Coracias papuensis Quay et Gaim. Voy.de l'Astrol. Ois. t. 16. 



6. C. cyanogaster Cuv. Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 26., Jard. & 

 Selby's 111. Orn. pi. 123., Swains. Birds of W. Afr. ii. pi. 13. 



7. C. nuchalis Swains. Birds of W. Afr. ii. p. 110. 



8. C. qffinis M'Clell. Proc. Z. S. 1839- 164. 



Eurystomus Vieill* 



Bill short, strong, depressed and broad at the base, the sides much compressed towards the tip, which 

 is hooked ; the nostrils basal, lateral, oblique, and partly covered by a plumed membrane. Wings long 

 and pointed, with the second quill the longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi much shorter than 

 the middle toe, and covered with transverse scales. Toes long, united at the base, with the lateral toes 

 unequal, the outer the longest, and the hind toe long ; the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



The warmer parts of the Old World and Australia are inhabited by the birds that compose this genus. They are 

 usually seen perched on the top of some high tree or decayed branch, whence they dart more easily upon their prey, 

 which consists principally of insects and fruits. They are very noisy birds while on the wing, and even when 

 perched. Their flight is like that of the swallow, and is mostly performed during the evening. 



1. E. orientalis (Linn.) Pl.enl. 619., Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 

 36. — Eurystomus fuscicollis et E. cyanicollis Vieill. 



2. E. madayascariensis (Gmel.) Pl.enl. 501., LeVaill.Ois.de 

 Parad. t. 34. — ■ Eurystomus violaceus Vieill. 



3. E. afra (Lath.) Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 35. — Eurystomus 

 purpurascens et E. rubescens Vieill. 



4. E. gularis (Vieill.) Le Vaill. Ois. de Parad. t. 56. 



5. E. viridis (Wagl.) Syst. Avium, sp. 5. 



6. E. pacificus (Lath.) Lamb. Icon. ined. ii. 83. — Eurystomus 

 australis Swains. Gould's B. of Austr. pi. ; E. orientalis Vig. et 

 Horsf. 



7. E. collaris Vigors, Zool. Journ. v. p. 273. 



This genus was established in 181 6 by Vieillot {Analyse, p. 37.), and in 1817 Cuvier published Colaris, which is coequal. 



June, 1845. 



