Genus EURYSTOMUS. 
Galgulus, Brisson^ Orn. ii. p. 63 (1760, partim). 
Coracias, Linn. Syst. Nat. i. p. 159 (1766, partim). 
Eurystomus, Vieill. Analyse, p. 37 (1816). Type E. orientalis. 
Colaris, Cuvier, Beg. Anim. i. p. 401 (1817). Type E. orientalis. 
Cornopio, Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. ii. p. 118 (1860). Type E. afer. 
Hab. Sontbern part of the Eastern Palsearctic Begion, Ethiopian Begion, Madagascar, Indo-Malayan Begion, 
Australian Begion. 
Bostro breviore, lato, maxilla apice hamata: alis longis, acutis, remige secunda longissima: cauda seqnali vel 
inconspicue rotnndata : pedibus brevibus, robustis. 
Bill short and broad, hooked, as broad at the base as it is long; nostrils oblique, longish, hidden 
by the feathers at the base of the upper mandible. Wings long and rather pointed, the second 
quill longest, the first not much shorter. Tail moderately long, even or slightly rounded ; tail-feathers 
twelve in number. Legs rather short and stout, the feet anisodactyle ; the outer toe united to the 
middle toe at the extreme base, the inner toe united along the basal joint; claws moderately stout, 
curved, compressed, acute. Sexes similar in coloration.—Type Eurystomus orientalis. 
The present genus contains eight species, one of which is found in the southern portion of the 
Eastern Palsearctic Eegion, two inhabit the Indo-ALalayan Begion, a third straggling just within its 
limits, three are found in the Australian Begion, and three inhabit the Ethiopian Begion. They are, 
as a rule, forest-haunting species, frequenting the more open places in large forests, and are generally 
to be found on tall forest trees. They are not gregarious, but are generally seen in pairs. Their 
call-note is harsh and unmel odious. They nest in hollows of trees, and deposit their pure white, 
glossy eggs on the rotten fragments of wood without constructing any nest. 
