MUSOPHAGID.^. 263 



FAMILY Yl. 

 MusoPHAGiD.E.* The Plantain-eaters. 



Gek. Charac. — Bill moderate, broad at the base ; the culmen much elevated, 

 curved, and the sides much compressed towards the tip, which is strongly 

 emarginated ; the wings more or less lengthened and rounded; the tail long 

 and broad; the tarsi moderate, strong, and covered in front with broad 

 transverse scales ; the toes long, and the outer one sometimes versatile. 



Among the many adaptations of a more general 

 character whereby the ornithologist is enabled^ from 

 the mere examination of a skin, or a glance at a stuffed 

 specimen, to indicate the usual food and general 

 habits of birds submitted to inspection, it occasion- 

 ally happens that special peculiarities are observable, 

 the object of which it is difficult to understand 

 without a knowledge of the circumstances under 

 which a given species subsists. Many localities 

 produce delicious fruits in rich abundance, and to 

 obtain these more conveniently, the birds appointed 

 to feed upon them present remarkable modifications 

 of structure. The plantains, for example, throughout 

 many regions of tropical countries, afford a supply 

 of food so plentiful, that a whole family of the 

 feathered creation has been named from its predi- 

 lection for this particular diet. 



This family embraces the Plantain-eaters and the 

 Hoaitzins. 



* Musa, the plauUxin ; (})dyuj, phago. to >''d. 



