Letters f Extracts from Correspondence, Notices, b^c. 411 



Sir, — In the * Ibis/ p. 124, antea, it is remarked that " the 

 true BucconidcE and Capitonida are very distinct families," and 

 that " these groups differ not only in external form, but also in 

 internal structure and in habits. The error of uniting them 

 was first pointed out by Dr. Cabanis, and has since been com- 

 mented upon by Professor Burmeister, by ourselves, by Mr. 

 Wallace, and by other writers. The Capitonidce are closely allied 

 to the Toucans in habits and structure. Like them, they have 

 but ten tail-feathers, and the furcula imperfect at the junction 

 of the rami. The Bucconidce, on the other hand, are essentially 

 allied to the Trogons and Jacamars, with which indeed they are 

 united by Burmeister into one family." 



I am not aware of the date of Dr. Cabanis's remarks upon 

 the subject, but have myself expressed any time within the last 

 thirty years the same opinion, and in print so long ago as 1838, 

 in the old ' Magazine of Natural History,' n. s., when edited by 

 Charlesworth (vol. ii. p. 317). It is true that I there designated 

 the families 5MCComW« and Tamatiadce; but the Green Barbets were 

 then generally considered to exemplify typical Bucco. I think, 

 too, that I was the first to point out the affinity between the Capi- 

 tonidce and the Rhamphastidce, which observation I made upon 

 dissecting my first Barbet, about the second day of my holding 

 charge of the Calcutta Museum in 1841. In 1838 or 1839 I 

 further pointed out that in the Musophagida also the clavicles do 

 not unite — at least as a general rule ; for I have since ascertained 

 that they do so occasionally. The genus Colius I have never 

 yet had the opportunity of examining, except externally; but 

 Chizcerhis approximates, it very closely in shape of bill and feet, 

 and even colouring of plumage, differing chiefly in the form of 

 the tail ; and perhaps the Madagascar genus Coua may prove, 

 upon anatomical examination, to appertain to the Musophapdcp. 

 The habits of the Buccoiiidce, or " Puff-birds," are well described 

 in Swainson's 'Zoological Illustrations'; and I approximate to 

 these birds the Madagascar genus Leptosomus, with its twelve 

 tail-feathers, and the genus Indicator to the Picidce; so that the 

 Cuculine series, as I recognize it, presents no instance of more 

 than ten rectrices, the Crotophagce having only eight. I have 

 but slightly modified my opinion of the respective affinities and 



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