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CUCULIDE, CUCKOOS.—GEN. 126, 127. 189 
Subfamily CROTOPHAGIN A. Anis. 
Tail of eight feathers, graduated, longer than the rounded wings. Bill exceed- 
ingly compressed, the upper mandible rising into a thin vertical crest, the sides 
usually sulcate, the tip deflected. Plumage uniform (black), lustrous, the feathers / 
of the head and neck lengthened, lanceolate, distinct, with scale-like margins; face 
naked. Terrestrial. Nest in bushes. One genus, and two or three species, of the 
warmer parts of America. 
126. Genus CROTOPHAGA Linnzus. 
Ani. About a foot long; wing 6; tail 8. Florida (and Gulf?) coast, 
southward; accidental north to Philadelphia. C. ani and C. rugirostris 
RIPPLES TEE SL UrAN oe 3) Ge som (ee tas Latta) to. athe, INTs 
Subfamily SAUROTHERIN4. Ground Cuckoos. 
Tail of ten feathers, graduated, longer than the short, rounded, concave wings. 
Bill about as long as the head, compressed, straight at base, tapering, with deflected 
tip, gently curved culmen, and ample rictus. Feet large and strong, in adaptation 
to terrestrial life ; tarsus longer than the toes, scutellate before and behind. One 
West Indian genus, Saurophaga, with three or four species, and the following, 
with one or two :— iv 
127. Genus GHOCOCCYX Wagler. 
Ground Cuckoo. Chaparral Cock. Road Runner. Snake Willer. 
Paisano. Most of the feathers of the head and neck bristle-tipped ; a naked 
area around eye; crown crested; plumage coarse. Above, lustrous bronzy 
green, the crest dark blue, everywhere sharply 
streaked with whitish or tawny brown; sides and 
front of the neck tawny, with sharp black streaks ; 
other under parts dirty white; quills and_ tail 
feathers much edged with white; central rectrices 
like the back, others darker green, violet, etc., with 
broad white tips. Nearly 2 feet long; tail a foot or 
more; wing 6-7 inches; tarsus 2; bill 13. Sexes 
nearly alike. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Cali- } 
fornia and southward. <A bird of remarkable 
aspect, noted for its swiftness of foot; aided by its wings held as outriggers, 
it taxes the horse in a race; feeds on reptiles, insects and land mollusks. 
@ass., Ill. 213, pl. 36; Bp., 73; Coor., 363. . . . . CALIFORNIANUS. 
Fic. 1225. Ground Cuckoo. 
Subfamily COCCYZINA. American Cuckoos. 
Tail of ten soft feathers, much graduated, little longer than the wings, which 
are somewhat pointed, although the first and second quills are shortened. Bill 
about equalling or rather shorter than the head, stout at base, then much compressed, 
curved throughout, tapering to a rather acute tip; nostrils basal, inferior, exposed, 
elliptical; feet comparatively small, the tarsus naked, not longer than the toes. 
