CORACIAS. ROLLER. 



Generic Character, 



JRostrum cultratum, apice 

 incurvatum, basi pennis 

 denudatum. 



Lingua cartilaginea, bifida. 



Pedes ambulatorii. 



Bill nearly strait, bending a 

 little towards the end, 

 cultrated at the edges. 



Nostrils narrow, naked. 



Tongue cartilaginous, bifid. 



Legs generally short: toes 

 divided to their origin, 

 three forwards and one 

 backwards. 



JL HE genus Coracias is in general distinguished 

 by peculiar elegance and splendor of colours. In 

 some species the tail is nearly even, the exterior 

 feather on each side extending very little beyond 

 the rest; while in others it is lengthened to a very 

 considerable distance, rendering the tail strongly- 

 forked. It happens however, somewhat unfortu- 

 nately for the exact discrimination of the species, 

 that some of the long-tailed division, in their less 

 advanced period of growth, have the tail nearly 

 €ven; the lengthening of the side-feathers not 

 taking place till the birds have attained their full 

 perfection of plumage. It may also be strongly 

 suspected that in some species the males and 

 females may differ in this respect; and hence a 

 very excusable uncertainty must continue to per- 



