278 



SYNDACTYL.E. 



Dr. Azara describes some of these birds kept in 

 captivity as lieaA'^^ and stiff in their movements, 

 shuffling along on the ground by sudden and oblique 

 leaps, with their legs very wide apart ; their tail 

 was in constant motion. They were fed with bread 

 and raw meat, the latter of which they preferred. 

 If a small bird or a mouse were let loose in the 

 chamber in which the Motmots were kept, they 

 would pursue it in a determined manner ; and when 

 possessed of their prey, would strike it violently 

 against the ground with their bill. This did not 

 appear to be done merely for the purpose of killing 

 it, but to break the bones, in order to swallow the 

 whole more easily. 



The type of this sub-family is — 



The Motmot (Prionites Momota). 







