CUCULIDJE. XLI. 101 



egated; L. 31; W. If; T. H; B. f. E. N. Am.; 

 abundant in summer. 



FAMILY XL. ALCEDINID^E. 



(Jl .it Kingfishers.) 



Head large; bill long, straight and strong, usually 

 longer than head; gape deep, tomia not serrate. Wings 

 long; tail short. Legs quite small; feet syndactyle 

 the outer and middle toes united to their middle, a con- 

 tinuous sole beneath; tibia naked below. Tail leathers 

 twelve. Species about one hundred, chiefly of the tropical 

 parts of the Old World and Australia. Many of them 

 feed upon fishes, and nearly ail are remarkable for their 

 brilliant coloration. 



* Head crested CERYLE, 1. 



/. CERYLE, Boie. KINGFISHERS. 

 > Ispida, Swainson. 



1. C. alcyon, (L.) Boie. BELTED KINGFISHER. Ashy 

 blue above, a bluish band across breast; white below; 

 9 with sides and band across belly chestnut; tail barred 

 with white; L. 13; W. 6; T. 3; B. 2, or more. N. 

 Am.; everywhere. 



FAMILY XLI. CUCULIDJS. 



(The Cuckoos.) 



Bill compressed, lengthened, decurved; usually with- 

 out rictal bristles or nasal tufts. Tail long and soft, of 

 eight to twelve feathers. Tongue not extensible. Feet 

 zygodactyle, by reversion of fourth toe. Species about 

 two hundred, in various parts of the world. 



* Plumage lustrous olive gray or drab ; arboreal. COCCYGUS, 1. 



