

MEROPINjE. 



Nyctiornis Swains .* 



Bill long, curved, and pointed, with the culmen curved, rather flattened, and grooved along the 

 middle for some distance from the base ; the sides sloping and compressed to the tip, which is acute ; 

 the gonys moderate and arched ; the nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, and covered with short plumes. 

 Wings reaching beyond the base of the tail, and rounded, with the first quill half the length of the 

 fourth, the second and third graduated, and the fourth the longest. Tail long, broad, and slightly 

 emarginated. Tarsi very short, robust, and covered in front with narrow transverse scales. Toes long, 

 the lateral ones unequal, the outer one the longest, and united to the second joint, and the inner to the 

 first joint, of the middle toe : the hind toe long, strong, and padded beneath ; the claws moderate, 

 curved, and acute. 



It is in the islands of the Indian Archipelago, and also on the continent of India, that the species of this genus are 

 found. They inhabit the dense jungles, and are generally seen singly or in pairs, perched on the top branches of the 

 lofty trees, where they remain quietly "seated watching the casual approach of an insect, which they pursue and capture, 

 and then usually return to the same perch to await the appearance of others. 



1. N. amicta (Temm.) Swains. PI. col. 310., Swains. Zool 

 Illustr. n. s. pi. 56. 



2. N. Athertoni (Jard. & Selby), Illustr. Ornith. pi. 58. — Nyc- 



tiornis caeruleus Swains. ; N. Amherstianus Royle, 111. Him. Bot. ; 

 Bucia nipalensis Hodgs. ; Alcemerops paleazureus Less. ; Merops ? 

 cyanogularis Jerd. ; M. assaraensis M'Clell. 



* Mr. Swainson established this genus in 1831 {Zoological Illustrations, new series). It is synonymous with Alcemerops of M. I. Geoffroy 

 (1832), and Bucia of Mr. Hodgson (1836). This name he changed to Napophila (1841). 



July, 1846. 



