540 SYSTEMATIC SYNOPSIS. — PIC ARI^. 



There are more than 1,800 species of Picarice, and the order as a whole is cosmopolitan. 

 But it is richest in geneni and species in the tropical regions of either hemisphere, and most 

 of the families occur only in limited areas, especially the Ethiopian and neotropical. Thus, 

 the Leptosomatidae are peculiar to Madagascar, and the Todidce to the Antilles. Exclusively 

 Ethiopian are the Irrisoridce, Coliidce, and Musophagidce ; Ethit)pian and Oriental are the 

 Indicator idee, Upupidre, Bucerotidce, Meropidce, Coiaciidce, and three of these families (not 

 Indicatoridte or Bucerotidce) are represented in Europe. Exclusively neotropical are the 

 Rhamphastidce, GalbuUdce, Bucconidce, Momotidie, and Steatornithidee ; while the Trochilidee 

 are characteristic of the same region, but have a few nearctic representatives. The PodargidfB 

 are Oriental and Australian. Two families, Trogonidce and Capitonida, are remarkable in 

 being represented alike in the tropical portions of both hemispheres. The Alcedinidce are 

 widely dispersed in the Old World, with one American genus. Finally, the Micropodidce, 

 Capriimdgidce, Picidce, and CucuUdce are well represented in both temperate and tropical 

 regions of both hemispheres. 



The very numerous genera fall in at fewest the foregoing 24 families, which are universally 

 recognized. The o}>en questions are, whether a family Maeropterygidce should not be dis- 

 sociated from the Micropodidce, a family Nyctibiida from the Cajn'imulgida, a family Centro- 

 podidm from the CucuUdce., and the families Picumnidce and lyngidce from the Picidce. 

 Without prejudice to these points, the 24 conceded families may be disposed in nine superfam- 

 ilies or suborders, according to the following arrangement, which is much more natural than 

 that given in former editions of the Key. The seven North American families, representing 

 as many major groups, are marked with the asterisk, and will be fouud more fully characterized 

 beyond, under their respective heads. 



Natural Analysis of Suborders and Families of Picarls;. 



A. Anomalogonatous ; ambiens absent. 



a. Formula A only, without B, X, or Y, i. e. femorocaudal present, accessory femorocaudal, semitendinosus, and acces- 



sory semitendinosus absent. Nude oil-gland and no caeca ; spinal pteryla with narrow apterium. Sternum en- 

 tire behind. Tensor patagii brevis peculiar. 

 aa. Feet anisodactylous. Palate "schizoguathous." One family, American, and specially characteristic of the 



Neotropical region I. TROCHILI 



*1. Hummingbirds. Bill tenuirostral, and tongue peculiar. Rectrices 10; secondaries only (!. A nest; 



eggs 2, white 1- Fam. Trochilid^ 



bb. Feet picarian, sympelmous and anisodactylous or pamprodactylous. Palate "aegithognathous." One family 



of both hemispheres (or two) 11. CTPSELI 



*2. Swifts. Bill fissirostral, and tongue not peculiar. Rectrices 10, often mucrouate. A nest ; eggs plural or 



single, white 2. Fam. MiCEOPODiDiE 



(Note. Sternum entire, phalanges 2-3-3-3, eggs plural, in Micropodina. Sternum entire, phalanges 2-3- 

 4-5, eggs plural, in Chieturince. Sternum fenestrate, phalanges 2-3-1-5, egg single, in Macropteryginoe or 



Fam. MACROPTERYGin>E.) 



b. Formula including X, without B ; usually A X T, sometimes A X or X Y. Oil-gland and caeca variable. Spinal 



pteryla variable. 



cc. Feet passerine, schizopelmous (to beyond bases of toes, where desmopelmous) and anisodactylous. (Formula 



A X Y.) Palate desmognathous. Manubrium sterni acute. Tufted oil-gland and no csBca. Sinistrocarotid. 



Bill tenuirostral ; tongue lipoglossine. Sternum not entire. Spinal pteryla forked in scapular region. After 



shafts rudimentary or none. Two Old World families III. UPUP.^ 



3. Wood Hoopoes. Sternum 2-fenestrate. Nostrils lateral, operculate. Plumage metallic ; no crest. Tail long, 

 graduated. African ; 3 genera, Irrisor, Scoptelus, Bfiinopomaslus 3. Fam. Irrisorid.«: 



4. Ground Hoopoes. Sternum 2-notched. Nostrils superior, non-operculate. Pliunage non-metallic ; a large 

 compressed crest. Tail short, square. African and Eurasian ; one genus, Upupa .... 4. Fam. Upupid.e 



dd. Feet picarian, sympelmous and anisodactylous, and more or less syndactylous (toes 3 in front, 1 behind ; the 

 former more or less united in a fleshy sole). Palate desmognathous. (Formula A X Y, except in Alcedinidw. 

 Oil-gland and caeca variable.) Eggs white. Five families. 



IV. HALCYONES 



5. Hornbills. Sternum 2-notched at most. Skeleton pneumatic. Tufted oil-gland and no caeca. Carotids two, 

 one or none functional. Pterylosis peculiar ; spinal tract defective in cervical region, no aftershafts, no down- 

 feathers, eyelids lashed. Rectrices 10. Bill enormous, helmeted, or otherwise peculiar. Tongue lipoglossine. 



