134 THE STORY OF THE BIRDS 



tropical forests of the Neotropical, Ethiopian, and 

 Oriental Regions. One of the most remarkable of 

 these birds is the Quezal (Pharomacrus mocinno) 

 of Guatemala, in which the wings are overhung 

 by lanceolate scapulars, and the tail more or 

 less concealed by flowing rump plumes between 

 three and four feet in length. The seventh sub- 

 order, the Pici, is a composite and heterogeneous 

 one, and includes no less than five families, 

 each very distinct, and mostly of tropical or 

 sub-tropical distribution. Taking these in the 

 sequence given in the previous chapter (conf. 

 p. 94), we have first the Jacamars (Galbulidae). 

 They are a small family of mostly metallic- 

 plumaged birds confined to the Neotropical 

 Region. Even here their range is comparatively 

 a limited one, extending from Mexico in the 

 north to Brazil in the south. None of the 

 species appear to be found west of the Andes. 

 The Puff Birds (Bucconidae) come next, another 

 small group of about fifty species, which, like 

 the Jacamars, are confined to the Neotropical 

 Region, ranging therein from Guatemala in the 

 north to Argentina in the south, but most 

 abundant in the great virgin forests near the 

 Equator. Puff Birds occur west of the Andes, 

 but are absent from the West Indies. The 



