452 BULLETIN" 50, UNITED STATES NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



on branches of trees, whence the Spanish vernacular name Boho 

 (fool). Their food consists chiefly of insects, small reptiles, and 

 fruits, but in captivity they are said to become decidedly omniv- 

 orous, even small birds, mice, cockroaches, and other living creatures, 

 as well as bread, raw meat, and various fruits being equally acceptable 

 to them. Like their near allies the Kingfishers and Todies, the 

 Motmots excavate holes in the banks of streams and lay therein 

 their glossy pure white eggs, though some species frequent also caves 

 or other natural openings among rocks. 



The Momotidse are peculiar to continental Tropical America, and 

 embrace about 18 species, belonging to 7 genera, of which 6 genera 

 and 12 species occur in the area from Panama northward. 



KEY TO THE GENERA OF MOMOTIDjE. 



a. Bill compressed (deeper than -wide at nostrils), the tomia more coarsely serrate. 



b. Rectrices 12 Momotus (p. 453). 



hh. Rectrices 10. 

 c. Tomial serrations much larger, most distinct on anterior half of tomia; tarsus 

 much longer than middle toe with claw; middle pair of rectrices (normally) 

 with webs denuded subterminally and with racquet-shaped tip (as in 



Momotus) TTrospatlia (p. 467). 



cc. Tomial serrations much smaller, obsolete on anterior half of tomia; tarsus not 

 longer than middle toe with claw; middle pair of rectrices always with 



webs continuous (normal) Baryphthengus (oxtralimital).a 



aa. Bill depressed (wider than deep at nostrils), the tomia more finely serrate. 



b. Culmen strongly carinate, the adjacent sides of maxilla distinctly depressed or 



concave; bill more strongly decurved, as long as head; tarsus miich less than 



one-fourth as long as wing; middle pair of rectrices with webs denuded or at 



least contracted subterminally. 



c. Bill broader, its width at nostrils equal to nearly half the distance from nostril 



to tip of maxilla; tarsus one-sixth as long as wing; middle rectrices only 



one-third longer than next pair, the denuded portion shorter than commis- 



siu'e, the terminal "racquet" small (shorter than culmen); no superciliary 



tufts nor narrow, brightly colored, feathers on throat Electron (p. 470). 



cc. Bill narrower, its width at nostrils much less than half the distance from 

 nostril to tip of maxilla; tarsus more than one-fifth as long as wing; middle 

 rectrices nearly twice as long as next pair, the denuded portion much longer 

 than commissure, the terminal "racquet" very large (much longer than 

 culmen); conspicuous superciliary tufts, and narrow, brightly colored, 



feathers on tliroat. „ Eumomota ( p. 476). 



bb. Culmen not carinate (though indistinctly ridged), the adjacent sides of maxilla 

 not depressed or concave; bill less decurved, shorter than head; tarsus nearly 

 to quite one-fourth as long as wing; middle pair of rectrices with webs con- 

 tinuous (normal) . 

 c. Tail much longer than wing, the lateral rectrices less than one-third as long as 

 middle pair, the latter exceeding next pair by more than length of culmen; 



a Baryphthengiis Cabanis and Heine, Mus. Hein., ii, Dec, 1859, 114. (Type, 

 Baryphonus ruficapillus Vieillot.) 



Southern Brazil. (Monotypic.) Very distinct from Urospatha, with which it is 

 united by some authorities, 



