THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 79 



Gait. — They hop when on the ground, but usually perch, 

 and do not move about much on foot. 



Flight. — Easy, but not protracted far. 



Note. — A sort of hoot, like " hoo-too," whence the 

 name " Houtou " sometimes applied to some of 

 them. 



Disposition and General Habits. — They are solitary, 

 and not very active, but have some curious traits. 

 Some of the larger species bite away the webs 

 of their central tail-feathers for about an inch near 

 the tip, producing a " racket-shaped " end. They 

 often swing their tail from side to side like a pendu- 

 lum, and then jerk it up over the back. 



Economic Qualities. — Of no particular importance ; 

 they no doubt do good in destroying insects. 



Captivity. — They have done well at the London 

 Zoological Gardens. 



Distribution and Important Species. — The two dozen 

 species of this family are confined to the warm parts 

 of America, where they inhabit forests. None can 

 be called familiar birds, but the Brazilian Motmot 

 {Momotus hrasiliensis) is perhaps the best known ; 

 this and M. subrufescens having been the species 

 kept in London. The small species, with com- 

 paratively shorter tails, form the genus Hylomanes. 



Mound -birds {MegapodidcB). 



Diagnosis. — Fowl- or partridge-like birds with the two 

 inner front toes, only, connected at the base by a short 

 web, and well- developed hind-toe. 



Size. — From that of a fowl to that of a partridge. 



Form. — Bill much as in a fowl, but with round open 

 nostrils ; feet strong, with long, nearly straight 

 claws, the two inner front toes united by web at 



