

Order II. PASSERES. » Tribe II. Fissirostres Diurnje. 



9 ^ 



The fourth Family, 



MEROPID^, or Bee-eaters, 



have the Bill longer than the head, with both mandibles curved and acutely pointed ; the sides 

 compressed, and sloping from the culmen ; the Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and partly hidden by the 

 short bristles ; the Wings more or less long and pointed ; the Tail long, broad, and the middle feather 

 sometimes prolonged beyond the lateral ones ; the Tarsi very short ; the Toes long, with the lateral 

 ones more or less united to the middle toe ; the hind toe long, and broadly padded beneath. 



The only Subfamily, 



MEROPIN.E, or Bee-eaters, 



have the same characters as previously given for the family, 



Merops Linn* 



Bill long, curved, and pointed, with the culmen curved, keeled, and the sides much compressed to 

 the tip, which is very acute; the sides sloping from the culmen to the lateral margins for its entire 

 length ; the gonys very long and arched ; the nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and covered with a few 

 short hairs. Wings reaching two thirds the length of the tail, and pointed, with the first quill spurious, 

 and the second the longest. Tail long, broad, more or less even, with the ends of the two middle 

 feathers more or less prolonged beyond the others. Tarsi very short, robust, and covered in front with 

 narrow transverse scales. Toes long, the lateral ones unequal, the outer the longest, united as far as 

 the second joint, and the inner as far as the first joint, of the middle toe ; the hind toe long, strong, and 

 broadly padded beneath ; the claws moderate, curved, and acute. 



The species that compose this genus are found in most parts of the old continent, migrating from place to place 

 according to the change of season. They seek the warmer portions of the globe during the winter, and in summer the 

 temperate localities, as their food entirely consists of insects. They usually perch themselves singly or in small parties 

 on some prominent branch, or on any object from which they can see around them. When an insect is observed to 

 approach, they fly and capture it while on the wing, and then generally return to the same perch that they have just 



* Established by Linnaeus in 1756 (Systemu Nature?). Brisson in 1760 used the name of Jpiaster for these birds. 



