THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 139 



Puff-birds [BncconidcB): 



Diagnosis. — Perching birds, with curved or hooked beak 

 of moderate lengthy and small feet with toes in pairs, 

 the front pair united. 



Size. — From that of a dove to smaller than a sparrow. 



Form. — Bill moderate in length, strong, with hooked 

 tip or cm'ved throughout, surrounded by bristles 

 at the base ; feet small, with short shanks, fourth 

 toe turned back as well as the first, the two front 

 toes united ; wings usually short and rounded ; 

 tail moderate. Head large. 



Plumage and Colouration. — Feathering full and loose, 

 whence their name ; colours sober, brown variegated 

 with black, black-and-white, or nearly all black. 

 Sometimes a sex difference, but no seasonal change. 

 Bill often red or orange. 



Nest. — In the case of the Swallow -winged Puff-bird 

 {Chelidoptera tenebrosa), a hole in a bank. 



Eggs. — White, and two in number, in the above 

 species. 



Food. — Insects, captured on the wing as a rule. 



Gait. — They do not move about much, but sit quietly 

 perched ; on the ground they hop. 



Flight. — Not long protracted, apparently, except in 

 the swallow-winged species, which has long wings. 



Note. — They are generally silent, but some utter loud 

 cries. 



Disposition and General Habits. — They are sluggish 

 and remarkably tame ; the common Brazilian 

 species [Malacoptila torquata), a brown buff- 

 streaked bird of the size of a thrush, is locally 

 known as Joao doido (Silly Johnny). 



Economic Qualities. — They are, no doubt, useful in a 

 small way as insect-destroyers. 



Captivity. — I do not know that any have been kept. 



