Subfamily leptosomina:. 
Genus LEPTOSOMUS. 
Cuculus, Herm. (nec Linn.) Tabl. Affin. Animal, p. 186 (1783). 
Bucco, Stepli. (nec Linn.) in Shawls Gen. Zool. ix. p. 25 (1815). 
Leptosomus, Vieill. Analyse^ p. 28 (1816). Type L. discolor. 
Crombus, Reiclienb. Meropinse, p. 51 (1852). Type L. discolor. 
Hab. Madagascar and some of tbe Comoro Islands. 
Rostro robusto^ apice deflexo, hamato: naribns in parte centrali maxillse : alis longis^ remigibus 4 et 5 longissimis^ 
prima quam secnnda 1'''5 breviore: canda aequali; pedibus robustisj brevibus : plaga pulverulenti-lanuginosa 
utrinque in nropygii lateribus : sexns coloratine dissimiles. 
Bill moderately long, the tip decurved and slightly hooked, gonys straight at the base and curved 
upwards on the terminal portion ; nostrils not basal, but situated in the middle of the upper mandible, 
and having a horny plate across the nasal opening; no bare space behind the eye. Wings rather long 
and pointed, the fourth and fifth quills longest, the first 1-5 inch shorter than the second and 2-6 
shorter than the fourth. Tail long, even. Legs rather short and stout; feet anisodactyle, but the 
fourth toe looks inwards'and slightly backwards at its apex, there being as it were a slight twist in 
its axis ; claws moderate, curved, acute. A powder-down patch on each side of the rump, which is 
absent in all other genera of Rollers. Sexes dissimilar in coloration.—Type Le])tosomus discolor. 
The present subfamily and genus contain only two very closely allied species, one of which inhabits 
Madagascar and the other the adjacent island of Grand Comoro. In their habits they are arboreal, 
therein resembling the true Rollers. They frequent the outskirts of the forests and bush-covered 
plains. Their flight is strong and tolerably swift, and, like the members of the genus Coracias, they 
frequently, during the pairing-season, execute aerial evolutions on the wing. They feed on insects 
and small reptiles and nest in the hollows of trees, depositing white eggs. 
