THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 79 



GAIT. They hop when on the ground, but usually perch, 

 and do not move about much on foot. 



FLIGHT. Easy, but not protracted far. 



NOTE. A sort of hoot, like " hoo-too," whence the 

 name " Houtou " sometimes applied to some of 

 them. 



DISPOSITION AND GENERAL HABITS. They are solitary, 

 and not very active, but have some curious traits. 

 Some of the larger species bite away the webs 

 of their central tail-feathers for about an inch near 

 the tip, producing a " racket-shaped " end. They 

 often swing their tail from side to side like a pendu- 

 lum, and then jerk it up over the back. 



ECONOMIC QUALITIES. Of no particular importance ; 

 they no doubt do good in destroying insects. 



CAPTIVITY. They have done well at the London 

 Zoological Gardens. 



DISTRIBUTION AND IMPORTANT SPECIES. The two dozen 

 species of this family are confined to the warm parts 

 of America, where they inhabit forests. None can 

 be called familiar birds, but the Brazilian Motmot 

 (Momotus brasiliensis) is perhaps the best known ; 

 this and M. subrufescens having been the species 

 kept in London. The small species, with com- 

 paratively shorter tails, form the genus Hylomanes. 



MOUND-BIRDS (Megapodida). 



DIAGNOSIS. Fowl- or partridge-like birds with the two 

 inner front toes } only, connected at the base by a short 

 web, and well-developed hind-toe. 



SIZE. From that of a fowl to that of a partridge. 



FORM. Bill much as in a fowl, but with round open 

 nostrils ; feet strong, with long, nearly straight 

 claws, the two inner front toes united by web at 



