KANSAS ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. 63, 



NOTES ON THE HABITS OF CERTAIN MOMOTID^. 



BY GEO. F. GAUMER, SANTA FE, NEW MEXICO. 



The family of Momotidse is a small family of birds, all the species of which 

 are inhabitants of tropical America. Only seventeen species and varieties 

 have been described, and so closely are these allied each to the other that it 

 is often with great difficulty that any difference can be distinguished between 

 them. Yet a careful study of these birds in their native country shows that 

 each species has its peculiar mode of living and also its particular cry, which 

 are always distinct and well-defined characteristics. 



This family of birds is wholly American and tropical, not a single species 

 being known to iuhabit the eastern hemisphere, nor do those of the western 

 ever roam beyond the tropics; and while these birds are found from the 

 West Indian islands to the Pacific ocean, and from central Mexico to Bra- 

 zil, yet rarely are more than two species found in the same locality, and gen- 

 erally only one is common. 



The Momotidee belong to the sub-order of Anisodactyli, or those birds 

 which have uneven feet. The outer toe is much longer than the inner, and 

 is united to the middle in such a way as to form a common sole one-half of 

 its entire length.' The sole of the hind toe is widened, and forms a continuous 

 sole internally with the inner toe. 



The characteristics of the family may be briefly given as follows: The 

 bill is as long as the head, gently tapering and decurved near the tip, but 

 not hooked. Both mandibles have the cutting edges serrated, except at the 

 tip and base. The nostrils are small, circular, and situated near the frontal 

 feathers. The wings are short and rounded; the inner secondaries in the 

 closed wing reach the tips of the primaries. Of the ten primaries, the ex- 

 posed portion of the first is scarcely one-half of the fourth or longest. The 

 secondaries are mostly ten, but sometimes twelve in number. The tail con- 

 sists of ten or twelve feathers; the middle feathers are spatulate, or with a 

 portion of the lateral web wanting. Just how this web became mutilated is 

 a question of no less wonder to the naturalist than to the ignorant native who 

 has sought in vain to solve the problem. 



But, omitting the more absurd theories, which have their'origin only in the 

 imagination, without any foundation in truth, there are one or two which 

 deserve our careful consideration. Some of the natives believe that the web 

 is worn off by the bird itself, while on the nest — that the nest is so con- 

 structed that the tail rests upon its walls just where the web is wanting. As 

 it is the custom of these birds to keep the tail in perpetual motion, swinging 

 it from side to side like a pendulum, it is but natural to suppose that this 

 would, after awhile, wear away the web of the feather. But were this the 



