CUCULID^E. 271 



ORDER COCCYGES. THE CUCKOOS, ETC. 



(PageS.) 



Families. 



a 1 . Toes 2 before, 2 behind. 



b l . Bill as long as head, compressed, with cutting-edges smooth ; nostrils ex- 

 posed ; no distinct rictal bristles ; tarsus nearly or quite as long as longest 

 anterior toe (sometimes longer), naked for greater part of its length ; 

 anterior toes separated to extreme base ; plumage without bright or . 



metallic colors. (Suborder Cuculi.} < Cuculidae. (Page 271.) 



6 2 . Bill much shorter than head, thick and broad at base, with cutting-edges 

 serrated ; nostrils concealed by antrorse bristles ; gape with strong bris- 

 tles ; tarsus much shorter than longest anterior toe, chiefly or entirely 

 feathered; anterior toes united for basal half; plumage with bright or 

 metallic colors (except in young). (Suborder Trogones.*) 



Trogonidae. (Page 275.) 

 a". Toes 3 before, 1 behind. (Suborder Alcyones.) 



b l . Bill not longer than head, the culmen gently but decidedly curved, the cut- 

 ting-edges sei'rated; tail (in typical genus) much longer than wing, with 

 middle pair of feathers much longer than the rest, and usually with the 

 webs interrupted near end ; tarsus longer than middle toe. 



Momotidse. (Page 277.) 



6 2 . Bill longer than head, with straight outlines, the cutting-edges smooth (in 

 all American species) ; tail much shorter than wing, with middle feathers 

 (in American species) not longer than the rest; tarsus only about hajf as 

 long as middle toe Alcedinidse. (Page 278.) 



FAMILY CUCULID^. THE CUCKOOS, ANIS, ETC. (Page 271.) 



Genera. 



a 1 . Tail-feathers 8 ; bill nearly as deep as long, the culmen elevated into a much 

 compressed convex crest ; plumage (in typical genus) uniform blackish. 



(Subfamily Crotophagince.} Crotophaga. (Page 272.) 



a 7 . Tail-feathers 10; bill less than half as deep as long, the culmen not elevated nor 



compressed ; plumage more or less varied. (Subfamily Coccygince.} 

 b l . Bill longer than head, straight to near the rather abruptly decurved tip ; 

 loral feathers stiff, bristly, and plumage generally coarse or harsh ; tarsus 

 much longer than outer anterior toe, with claw ; very large (wing more 

 than 6.00, tail 12.00 or more), and plumage much striped. 



Geococcyx. (Page 272.) 



b*. Bill not longer than head, the culmen gently curved for the greater part of 

 its length ; loral feathers and general plumage soft and blended ; tarsus 



