Family MEROPID^ 
Genus NYCTIORNIS. 
Merops, apud Jar dine & Selby, 111. Orn. pi. 58 (1829), nec Linn. 
Nyctiornis, Swainson, Zool. 111. 2nd ser. vol. ii. pi. 56 (1831-32). Type Merops amictus, Temm. PI. Col. 310. 
Nyctinomus, Swainson, ut supra (1831-32). Type M. amictus, ut supra. 
Alcemerops, Isid. Geoffr. St.-Hil. Nouv. Ann. dn Mus. dTIist. Nat. i. p. 395 (1832). Type M. amictus, ut supra. 
Bucia, Hodgson, J. As. Soc. Beng. v. p. 360 (1836). Type Merops athertoni, J. & S. 111. Orn. ii. pi. 58. 
Napophila, Hodgson, op. cit. x. p. 29 (1841) . Type M. athertoni, ut supra. 
Hab. India ; Burmah and the Malay peninsula, down to Sumatra and Borneo. 
Alis brevibus, rotundatis ; remige prima brevissima, quarta omnium longissima, tcrtia vix breviore : cauda vix 
emarginata : rostro longo, curvato, robusto : juguli plumis elongatis, attenuatis : pedibus brevibus, robustis. 
Bill long, curved, pointed ; culmen curved, flattened and grooved laterally from the base for 
some distance, compressed towards the tip, which is acute. Nostrils basal, lateral, rounded, 
covered with short stiff feathers. Tarsi short, stout, anteriorly scutellate. Toes long, the lateral 
ones slightly unequal ; hind toe long, stout, padded beneath. Wings short, broad, but reaching 
beyond the base of the tail ; first quill short, somewhat shorter than the secondaries; the third and 
fourth longest, the latter slightly longer than the third. Tail long, broad, somewhat emarginate. 
Feathers on the crown slightly elongated, those on the throat much more so, somewhat attenu- 
ated towards the tip. — Type Nyctiornis amictus. 
This genus contains only two species, Nyctiornis amictus and Nyctiornis athertoni, which in 
general habits do not differ much from the species included in the genus Merops. They frequent 
the vicinity of woods, feed on insects, which they capture chiefly on the wing, and, like their 
allies, are frequently to be seen seated on a dead bough or in some open place, from whence they 
sally forth to capture their prey. Nothing certain is known respecting their nidification ; but they 
are supposed to nest in holes in trees or banks and to deposit pure white glossy eggs. 
B 
