INTRODUCTION. 
lxvii 
Genus ACANTHIDOSITTA, Lafresnnye. Endemic. 
Gen. char. — Bill long, straight, and very slender, with the culmen straight and slightly curved at the tip, the 
sides compressed, and the gonys long and gradually advancing upwards ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and placed in a 
deep, broad groove, with the opening linear and near the culmen. Wings moderate, with the third and fourth quills 
the longest, the first shorter than the second, which is shorter than the third and fourth. Tail short and rounded. 
Tarsi shorter than the middle toe, and covered in front with an almost entire scale. Toes long and very slender, 
the lateral toes unequal, the outer longest and united at its base, the hind toe nearly as long as the middle one ; 
the claws long, compressed, and curved. 
Order PICARI^E. T 
Family CYPSELID^l. Swifts. 
Genus CYPSELUS, Illiger. Warmer parts of the World. 
Gen. char. — Bill short and depressed, with the gape very wide,, and the sides gradually compressed to the 
tip, w'hich is curved ; the nostrils basal, lateral, and large, with the opening longitudinal, on each side of the 
culmen, and the margins beset with small feathers. Wings lengthened, with the second quill longest. Tail 
moderate, forked or uneven. Tarsi very short, and feathered to the base of the toes. Toes all directed forwards, 
short, thick, and armed with short, curved, and compressed claws. 
Family CORACIIDiE. Rollers. 
Genus EURYSTOMUS, Vieillot. The warmer parts of the Old World, Australia, 
New Guinea, and the Malay Archipelago. 
Gen. char. Bill strong, depressed and broad at the base, sides much compressed towards the tip, which is 
hooked ; nostrils basal, oblique, partly covered by a plumed membrane. Wings long and pointed, reaching to end 
of tail ; second quill the longest. Tail moderate and even. Tarsi shorter than middle toe, and covered with 
transverse scales. Toes long, united at the base ; hind toe long ; claws moderate, curved, and acute. 
Family ALCEDINIDiE. Kingfishers. 
Genus HALCYON, Swainson. Africa, India and its Archipelago, Australia, New Zealand, 
and the islands of the South Pacific. 
Gen. char. — Bill long, broad at the base, sometimes depressed, with the sides gradually compressed, and the 
culmen more or less straight to the tip, which is acute ; the lateral margins usually straight, and the gonys more 
or less straight and ascending ; the nostrils basal and lateral, placed in a small membranous space, with the 
opening small, longitudinal, and partly concealed by the projecting plumes. Wings moderate, with the first 
quill long, and the third the longest. Tail moderate, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi very short, rather slender, 
and covered in front with transverse scales. Toes moderate and unequal, with the outer toe long and united to 
the third joint, and the inner to the second joint, of the middle toe ; the claws moderate, compressed and acute. 
i 2 
