INTRODUCTION. 
GENERAL REMARKS. 
The Bee-eaters must certainly be ranged next to the Boilers, to which they are very closely allied, 
and they are also nearly allied to the Jacamars, as also, hut in a less degree, to the Kingfishers, 
Motmots, Hoopers, and Hornbills. On the whole, I 'should he inclined to range the Meropidse 
between the Coraciidae and the Galbulida; ; and this view coincides with those expressed by 
Mr. Branlc E. Beddard, to whom I am indebted for the following notes : — 
“ In endeavouring to determine the systematic position of the Meropidse it is only necessary 
to take into consideration the Coccygomorph.se, Celeomorpliee, and Coracomorphse of Prof. Huxley, 
which together nearly correspond to the Anomalogonatse of Mr. Garrod. No author, so far as I 
am aware, has indicated any special affinities of the Meropidse with families outside of this 
group of birds. 
“ Accordingly, in the following notes upon the anatomy of the Meropuhe, the only com- 
parisons made are with the other genera of the Anomalogonatag. 
“ EXTERNAL CHARACTERS AND PTERYLOSIS. 
“ The oil-gland of Merops is nude, and in this it resembles the Passeres, as well as the 
Coraciidae, Galbulidae, and Trogonidae. The rectrices are, as Is it z sell states, 12 in number. An 
aftershaft is present, as in Coracias and several allied genera. 
“ The pterylosis of Merops has been described by Nitzscli ; the following is a more detailed 
account : — 
“ The spinal tract is wide and closely feathered ; at first it is perfectly continuous round the 
neck with the ventral tract, but about halfway down the neck becomes separate. It is narrow 
and closely feathered on the neck, and terminates in a truncated or sometimes bifurcate extremity 
between the scapulae, about halfway between the two extremities of the bone; at this point 
there is a distinct break, and the rest of the spinal tract is double, composed of two slender 
bands enclosing a widish space over the spine. The form of each of the two posterior halves 
of the spinal tract is conical, the base of the cone being directed forwards ; posteriorly each 
tract narrows to the width of two feathers, and the two tracts fuse a short way in front of 
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