jaca:m AKS. 



lo: 



curved bill, hooked at the tip in the >;euus Bncco (1533-45), and tliiekly 

 beset with bristles. There is no after-sliaft to tlie contour-feathers. 

 They inliabit the dense forests, and are said to resemble Bee-eaters or 

 Flycatchers in their liabits, most of the insects on which they feed being- 

 captured on the wing. Very little is known of their nesting-habits, but 

 theBrasilian Swallow-wing {('/lel/i/ojj/era /jrasi//i-/isi>!) (1532) is kriownto 

 breed in jioles iu banks and lay wliite eggs, ilorc than forty species 

 are rccoguiscd and grouped into seven genera, and representatives ot 

 four of tliese are exhibited iu the Case. 



Family VI. (JAi.BULro.E. Jacamaks. 



The distribution of this family, like that of the nearly allied Biirco- L' 'i^^« '^'-j 

 niche, is Central and South American. In general appearance they 

 resemble the Bee-eaters. Tlie bill is long, slender and pointed, the 

 plumage often metallic, and the contour-feathers have an after-shalt. 

 The feet are zygodactylous, and iu the genus Jncamara/ci/o/i (1560) the 

 hind toe is absent. Their habits and mode of feeding are very similar 

 to those of the Puft'-birds, but the Jacamars more often frequent the 

 outskirts of forests in the neighbourhood of streams. They nest in 

 holes in banks, and possibly in holes in stumps, and lay white eggs. 

 About twenty species are known belonging to six genera, all of which 

 will be found represented. All belong to the subfamily (utHmlina' except 

 the Great Jacamar {Jaca/iicru^'s gruiiJh) (1561), which, on account of 

 its curved bill and other structural characters, is placed in a second 

 subfamily, Jucmnoperiiue. 



Order XXIX. EURYLEMIFORMES. 



The members of this order a])pear to form a connecting-link between 

 the Picarian Birds and the Passeres. They resemble the latter in having 

 the palate segithoguathous and in other anatomical characters, but differ 

 iu having the deep plantar tendons which serve the toes united by a 

 vinculum or band, the hind toe being thus incapable of independent 

 action. Only one family is recognised. 



Family Euryl.emid.e. Bhoad-bills. 



-\s their name implies, these birds are characterised by their broad ('asu 67.] 

 flat bill. They inhabit the forests of South-eastern Asia and the adjacent 

 islands, feeding mostly on insects, or, in some eases, on berries and 

 fruits, and leading a quiet inactive existence. The nest — a large oval 

 structure, composed of grass, moss, and fibres — has an opening at the 

 side and is suspended from a thin branch. The eggs are wh'te or 



