CLASS II. AVES: ORDER 2. PASSERES. 



93 



in the room with the greatest freedom. Its holes for nestling are dug in banks to the depth 

 sometimes of eight inches or a foot. 



Genus MOTMOT : Prionites or Momotus. — Of this there are several species in tropical Amer- 

 ica; they are heavy in form and slow in movement, living retired in the depth of the forests, 

 where they remain perched on trees near old buildings, the head drawn back between the shoul- 

 ders, and every now and then emitting a sort of hoarse croak. In the mornins: and evenino- 

 however, they show a greater degree of activity in pursuit of the insects which constitute their 

 principal sustenance ; these they take by pouncing upon them after a short flight. They do not 

 confine themselves to such small game, but seem able to prey upon lizards and small snakes, 

 and even occasionally upon small birds. They are said to take these larger objects in the bill, 

 throw them up into the air, and swallow them as they fall. Fruits also form a portion of their 

 food. They are remarkable for a curious sort of mutilation which they are supposed to practice 

 on themselves. The two middle featliers of the tail are considerably elongated, and in most speci- 

 mens, the barbs are wanting on a portion of the stem a little before the tip, so that a portion of 

 the shaft is left quite bare at this point. There seems to be no other way of accounting for this 

 than by supposing that the birds, probably from some mistaken notion of elegance, deliberately 

 pick oft" the barbs of this part of the feathers. The best known species is the Brazilian Motmot, 

 M. Brasiliensis, which is about the size of a thrush, and of a deep, rich, green color, with the 

 forehead bluish, the back of the head violet, and the crown black. 



Other species are the IIoutou Motmot, F. momotay and the Tutu Motmot, P. hitu. 



THE JAVA EUIIYLAME. 



Genus EURYLAIMUS : Eurylaimus. — Of this there are several species, noted for their large 

 bill ; they are nearly allied to the todies, their principal diff"erence consisting in the structure of 

 the feet, the outer toe only being united to the middle one. The nostrils also are placed near the 

 base of the bill. They are generally of small size, but adorned with beautiful and brilliant colors, 

 and live in the most retired parts of the countries occupied by thom, principally in marshy places 

 and along the margins of lakes and rivers. They inhabit Java, Sumatra, and New Guinea. They 

 are usually seen in small flocks, and feed for the most part on insects and worms, although the 

 stomachs of some of the species have been found to contain nothing but vegetable substances. 

 Their nests, v/hich are composed of small twigs, are suspended from the extremities of the branches 

 of trees, usually those overhanging the water, and the number of eggs is said to be only two. 

 The Java Eurylame, E. Javanicus^ has the head and neck of a bright venous red ; the back and 

 wings black, flamed with golden yellow ; the under parts venous red. 



There are beside several genera of allied birds, inhabiting the same regions, as the Cym- 

 birrhynchus, Erolla, and Corydon, 



