THE MOTMOTS 



1815 



V 



tremities, where they are tipped 

 with black. On the crown of 

 the head is a patch of black, bor- 

 dered with silvery blue, which 

 passes into turquoise blue, with 

 an inclination to purple on the 

 nape; the eyebrows, forehead, 

 and cheeks are likewise black, 

 the latter being ornamented with 

 .a band of turquois blue above 

 and below; the under surface is 

 olive brown, becoming greener 

 on the abdomen, and inclining 

 to emerald green on the throat; 

 while on the fore neck is a tuft 

 of black feathers edged with 

 greenish blue. In length this 

 handsome bird measures about 

 fifteen and one-half inches from 

 the beak to the tip of the tail. 

 Writing of its habits, Mr. A. K. 

 Cherrie observes that ' ' the nests 

 are built in the ground, some 

 bank, such as the side of a 

 stream, being selected. The 

 entrance tunnel extends back 

 horizontally sometimes for a dis- 

 tance of six feet. At about 

 half its length there is a sharp 

 "bend upward for some six 

 inches, then the course is again 

 horizontal as far as the chamber 

 occupied by the nest. The nest 

 space is twelve or fourteen 

 inches in diameter, being round, 

 and about six inches high, with 

 level floor and ceiling. A few 

 rather coarse dry twigs are 

 strewn over the floor. The eggs 

 I am not acquainted with. Mr. 

 Jose C. Zeledon, to whom I 

 am indebted for the above 

 notes, also tells me that if 



one of these nests be opened at about the time the young are ready to leave the 

 nest, it is found to be one of the dirtiest, most foul-smelling places that can be 



V t 



BRAZILIAN MOTMOT. 

 (One-half natural size.) 



