THE BIRDS OF AUSTRALIA. 
the genera, which consequently were polyphyletic. This was recognised 
by the footnote, p. 59 : “ From the strong contrast of its colours and from 
its general appearance, tliis species looks like a MelittophaguSf in which 
genus it has been placed by Mr. Dresser ; but if Melittophagus is to be 
kept distinct from M crops, then M. muelleri must be referred to the latter 
genus, as it has the central tail feathers elongated.” 
To define all the genera admissible would have necessitated a mono- 
graphic review of the Order, which could not be undertaken for the 
purpose of systematically placing only one bird. A short examination of 
Meropine birds, however, compelled the admission of the present species 
as representative of a genus Cosmaerops. It may be here recorded that 
the early monographers concluded that the only method of classifying 
Bee-eaters was to separate them into many genera. However, Sharpe 
admitted two genera for the bulk of the Bee-eaters, viz., Melittophagus and 
Merops, the former “ with the centre tail feathers not elongated : the 
tail square ” the latter “ with the centre tail feathers elongated.” 
This division had been made by Boie in the year 1828. 
Sundevall in 1849, separated another generic division, Meropiscus, for 
Merops gularis Shaw, and then Reichenbach, the splitter, monographed the 
group in 1852 : he named eight additional subdivisions to which Bonaparte 
in 1854 added ; and then Cabanis and Heine in 1860 still further extended 
the divisions. It is obvious then that there must be some peculiarities 
evident in the group to account for such action, and it is certain that 
lumping will not relieve the situation. Thus the tail characters cannot be 
contrasted against coloration as the latter is certainly more valuable. There 
is, however, little variation in coloi’ation through a large number of 
species. To particularise, the present species is not very different in 
coloration and little in colour scheme from M. apiaster, the type of 
Merops, The latter is a larger bird, with a proportionately shorter bill, 
and the attenuate centre tail-feathers shorter and broader. Such a 
difference could justly be minimised, were it not for the fact that two 
species, M. leschenaultU and swinhoi, are quite comparable in coloration 
with Cosrruaerops ornatus, but differ in lacking the attenuation to the 
middle tail-feathers. On this account they were placed by Dresser and 
Sharpe in Melittophagus, but they are very closely allied to C. ornatus, 
agreeing in structural characters also. Thus, these species have the first 
primary minute, whereas true Melittophagus have it noticeable, though 
small. Dresser and Sharpe placed M. gularis in Melittophagus, but it 
differs so absolutely in coloration that Meropiscus must be considered the 
most distinct genus in the group : as a matter of fact, its wing formation, 
206 
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