Order III. SCANSORES.
The fourth Family,
CUCULID.E, or Cuckows,
have the Bill of various lengths, generally slender, and more or less compressed on the sides ; the culmen
curved to the tip, which is more or less emarginated ; the Nostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous
groove : the Wings long, and generally pointed : the Tail lengthened and rounded : the Tarsi more or
less long, and covered with broad transverse scales : the Toes long and unequal : the Claws moderate, and
more or less curved.
The first Subfamily,
INDICATORINiE, or Honey-Guides,
have the Bill short, broad at the base, with the culmen curved, and the sides compressed to the tip,
which is entire ; the Nostrils lateral, and placed near the culmen in a membranous groove : the Wings
long and pointed : the Tail moderate and emarginated : the Tarsi very short, and covered with
transverse broad scales : the Toes unequal, and the outer anterior toe the longest : the Claws moderate
and strong.
Indicator Vieill.*
Bill more or less short, and broad at the base, with the culmen curved, and the sides compressed to
the tip, which is entire ; the lateral margins nearly straight ; the gonys moderate and ascending ; the
nostrils lateral, and placed in a membranous groove, with the opening linear, and near the culmen.
Wings long and pointed ; with the first quill nearly as long as the third, fourth, and fifth, which are
equal and longest. Tail moderate, emarginated in the middle, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi shorter
than the outer anterior toe, and covered with broad scales. Toes unequal, the outer anterior toe the
longest, the anterior pair united at their base ; the claws moderate, compressed, and curved.

• Established by Vieillot in 1816 .Analyse, p. 28.). Prodotes of Nitzsch is synonymous.