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JOURNAL, R.A.S. (CEYLON). [VOL. XV. 



characters may be considered diagnostic. The hallux forms 

 a separably movable hind toe, and the greater wing coverts 

 are in a single row not extending beyond the secondaries. 

 The hind claw is the largest, and Sir Richard Owen gave as a 

 character of his Insessores " the two external toes united at 

 the base." 



ORDER PASSERES. 



The deep plantar tendons passerine ; palate aegithognathous. 



1 ... Intrinsic muscles of the syrinx 



fixed to the ends of the 



bronchial semi-rings ... Acromyodi 



2 ... The edges of both mandibles 



perfectly smooth, except for 

 the presence of a single 

 notch in many species ... — 



3 ... The hinder part of the tarsus 



longitudinally bilaminated ; 

 the laminae entire and 

 smooth ... ... — 



4 ... Wings with ten primaries, the 



first notably small 



5 ... Nostrils always clear of the 



line of the forehead; space 

 between nostril and edge of 

 mandible less than space 

 between nostril and culmen — 



6 ... Plumage of the nestling re- 



sembling that of the adult 



female, but paler ... — 



7 ... Nostrils completely covered 



by feathers and bristles ... Corvidaa 



8 ... First primary much exceeding 



half the length of second ; 

 plumage more or less glossy 

 and firm ; length of the bill 

 considerably more than its 

 depth ... ... Corvinae 



9 ... Nostrils distant from the fore- 



head about one-third length 

 of bill ; nasal bristles rigid 

 and straight reaching to 

 about the middle of the 

 bill ; rictal bristles and 

 feathers on front of face 

 altogether absent ; tail 

 much shorter than wing ... Oorvug 



361 



333 



323 

 293 



272 



95 

 18 



15 



12 



