Order II. PASSERES. 
Tribe IV. Conirostres. 
Family III. Sturnidje. 
The third Subfamily, 
BUPHAGINiE, or Beef -EATERS, 
have the Bill moderate, broad, with the culmen slightly depressed and curved to the tip, which 
is entire; the lateral sides of the lower mandible broad, and the gonys short and ascending; the 
nostrils basal, small, and partly closed by a membrane : the Wings long and pointed : the Tail long 
and graduated, with the end of each feather pointed : the Tarsi short and strong : the Toes moderate, 
strong ; and armed with moderate, much compressed, curved, and acute claws. 
BuPHAGA Linn* 
Bill strong and broad at the base, with the culmen slightly depressed and curved to the tip, which 
is entire ; the lateral sides of the lower mandible broad, projecting posteriorly under the eyes and 
rounded ; the gonys moderate and curved upwards ; the nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening 
small and partly closed by a membrane. Wings long ; with the first quill very short, and the second 
nearly as long as the third, which is the longest. Tail long, broad, and wedge-shaped, with the 
end of each feather pointed. Tarsi as long as the middle toe, strong, and covered with broad scales. 
Toes moderate and strong, with the lateral toes nearly equal, the outer united at the base, and the 
inner free ; the claws much compressed, curved, and acute. 
The species of this genus are found on the continent of Africa. They are always noticed in company with the 
cattle, on whose backs they are generally seen clinging, while seeking for the parasitical insects that annoy those 
aninaals. 
1. B. africana Linn. PI. enl. 293., Levaill. Ois. d'Afr. t. 97., i 2. B. erythrorhyncha (Stanl.) Salt's Trav. App. p. lix,, PI. col. 
Vieill. Gal. des Ois. t. 93. — Buphaga rufescens Vieill. \ 465. — Buphaga habesinica Ehrenb. Symb. Phys. t. 9- 
* Established by Linnteus in 1766. Buphagus of Brisson (1760) is synonymous. 
December, 1847. 
