

vi GALBULIDAE 445 



green tinge on the former and on the chest ; the vent crimson. 

 Three other species range from Colombia to Bolivia. The decora- 

 tive feathers of the Quezal were reserved for chiefs in olden times. 

 Trogons are ancient forms which once occurred within the 

 Palaearctic countries, as is shewn by the discovery of the fossil 

 Trogon galliciis in the Lower Miocene of France. 



The Sub-Order Pici contains, according to Dr. Gadow, the 

 Families Gallulidae, or Jacamars and Puff- birds, Capitonidae, 

 or Barbets and Honey-guides, Ehamphastidae or Toucans, and 

 Picidae, or Woodpeckers and Wrynecks. All these un- 

 doubtedly belong to that author's Order Coraciiformes, though 

 Garrod and W. A. Forbes included the Gallulidae and several 

 of the allied Families in their Passer i formes. 



Fam. XV. Galbulidae. 1 This may be divided into the Sub- 

 families, (1) Gallulinae, or Jacamars, and (2) Bucconinae, or Puff- 

 birds. 2 The former have a long straight bill, compressed and pointed, 

 with angular genys ; Jacamerops, however, having it curved, ridged, 

 and dilated basally. The feet are weak, the metatarsi being 

 scutellated in front and smooth behind, with the toes zygodactyl- 

 ous ; while Jacamaralcyon alone lacks the hallux. The rounded 

 wings have ten primaries, with the outer much reduced, and from 

 ten to twelve secondaries ; the tail of twelve feathers is some- 

 times short and square, sometimes long and more or less graduated, 

 the external pair of rectrices being diminutive or absent. The 

 furcula is U-shaped, the tongue long, tapering, and membranous; 

 the nostrils are slightly bristly, with an internal membrane in 

 Jacamerops; the aftershaft is rudimentary ; and there is no down on 

 the adults or the blind nestlings. The plumage is particularly soft. 



Sub-fam. 1. Gallulinae. Jacamars are ordinarily brilliant 

 coppery- or golden-green above, and more or less rufous below ; 

 though the upper parts may be metallic blue, chestnut, or greyish- 

 black. The bill and feet are generally blackish ; but in Galbalcy- 

 rhynclius, Brachygalba albigularis, and R melanosterna, the bill 

 is white, in Galbula albirostris and G. cyaneicollis it is yellow and 

 black. The largest species (Jacamerops grandis) is not eleven 

 inches long. The females resemble the males, or are paler below, 



1 For the Family generally, see Sclater, Monograph of the Jacamars and Puff- 

 birds, London, 1879-82 ; and Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xix. 1891. 



2 This is Dr. Gadow's view ; but two separate Families are decidedly preferable. 



