724 



PATAGONIAN EXPEDITIONS: ZOOLOGY. 



with their bodies lying close to the boughs, a habit which, together with 

 their green color, which closely approximates to that of the foliage, ren- 

 ders them difficult to perceive, and thus screens them from danger. Ac- 

 cording to Captain King (and an examination of the contents of the 



Fig. 373. Microsittaceferrugineiis, P.U. O. C. 7747. Outline of tail. About two-thirds 



natural size. 



stomachs of various individuals has enabled me to verify this observa- 

 tion), they feed chiefly on the seeds of the Winter' s-bark tree, to be after- 

 wards mentioned." (Nat. Hist. Str. Magell. 1871, pp. 76-77.) 



Suborder HALCYONES. 



Sharpe, Classif Bds. p. 80 (1891); Sharpe, Hand-List Bds. ii. p. 48 

 (1900). 



Family Alcedinid^. 

 Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. xvii. p. 93 (1892) ; Sharpe, Hand-List Bds. 

 ii. p. 48 (1900). 



Subfamily Alcedinin^, 

 Sharpe, Cat. Bds. Brit. Mus. xvii. p. 93 (1892); Sharpe, Hand-List Bds. 

 ii. p. 48 (1900). 



