78 MANUAL 



The general appearance of both bird and plumage is peculiar 

 and unmistakable. There is but a single individual included 

 in our Xorth American fauna, yet this is enough to character- 

 ize fully the family. It has the, Bill broad, stout, short, and 

 with the tip hooked and dentate ; the antrose feathers at base 

 extending over the nostrils ; tarsus broadly plated and con- 

 cealed by the feathers ; feet small, weak, and with the inner 

 anterior toe reversible ; wings short, couvexed, and more or 

 less falcate-shaped ; tail of twelve feathers, long, and broad. 

 Genus Trogon, Tbe Copper-tailed Trogon. One species without synon3-m. 

 Some authorities give the 3Iomotus (or Motmot) a position in 

 the fauna of North America. It is known instantly by the 

 long, slightly curved, serrated-edged mandibles, and the long 

 central tail feathers ; the feet are " syndactyle." (These birds 

 have been also associated with the Alcedinidce, w^hich they re- 

 semble strongly). 



FAMILY XXIV ALCEDINIDAE THE KING- 



FISHERS 



Latin alcedo \^alcyon\ Greek alkuua [halcyon] " the kingfisher." 

 This is another family easily distinguishable at sight. It is 

 one, also, difficult to place with accuracy ; yet the same gene- 

 ral similarity of many of its important features with other 

 birds of the order associates them, and we cannot reject the 

 likeness. They come naturally in their present position, al- 

 though high authority has associated them with the Clamato- 

 res, as well as after the Woodpeckers. They are a familiar 

 feature of water scenes, and their harsh, rattling cry not easily 

 mistakable. Their general characteristics are : Bill usually 

 longer than head, strong, straight, tough and hard, and like a 

 somewhat compressed cornucopia very sharp at the tip and 

 with immense gape ; lower part of tibia bare, tai'sus reticu- 

 late plainly in front and like the feet small and weak, the toes 

 more or less united at their base, inner toe very short ; wings 

 of ten primaries, long compared to the rest of the body, with 

 third quill generally the longest ; tail of twelve feathers, short 



