ORDER COCCYGES — THE CUCKOOS, ETC. 389 



Order COCCYGES.— The Cuckoos, etc. 



Characteks. Bill variable in form, but never oliiset-shaped at tip, the culmon 

 usually more or less curved; tongue not extensile nor barbed at tip; feet zygodactyle. or 

 else the middle and outer toes connected for at least half their length. 



Family ALCEDINID^.— The Kingfishers. 



"Chak. Head large, bill long, strong, straight, and sub-pyramidal, usually longer 

 than the head. Tongue very small. Wings short; legs small, the outer and middle toes 

 united to their middle. Toes with the usual number of joints (2, 3, 4, 5). 



"The gape of the bill in the Kingfishers is large, reaching to be- 

 neath the eyes. The third primary is generally longest ; the first 

 decidedly shorter; the secondaries vary from twelve to fifteen in 

 number, all nearly equal. The secondaries cover at least three 

 quarters of the wing. The tail is short, the feathers twelve in 

 number; they are rather narrow, the outer usually shorter. The 

 lower part of the tibia is bare, leaving the joint and the tarsus un- 

 covered. The tarsus is covered anteriorly with plates; behind, it 

 is shagreen-like or granulated. The hind toe is connected with the 

 inner, so as to form with it and the others a regular sole, wliich 

 extends unbroken beneath the middle and outer as far as the latter 

 are united. The inner toe is much shorter than the outer. The 

 claws are sharp ; the middle expanded on its inner edge, but not 

 pectinated." {Hist. N. Ani. B.) 



Genus CERYLE Boie. 



CeryJe Boie. Isis, 1828, 316. Type, Alcedo rudis Finn. 

 "Gen. Chak. Bill long, straight, and strong, the oulmen slightly advancing on the 

 forehead and sloping to the acute tip; the sides much compressed; the lateral margins 

 rather dilated at the base, and straight to the tip; the gonys long and ascending. Tail 

 ratlier long and broad. Tarsi short and stout. 



"This genus is distinguished from typical Alcedo (confined to the 

 Old World) by the longer tail, an indented groove on each side the 

 culmeu, inner toe much longer than the hinder instead of equal, 

 etc." {Hist. N. Am. B.) 



Only one species occurs in eastern North America, except in 

 southern Texas, where the G. cahanisi, of tropical distribution, is 

 found. 



