MOTMOTS. 



51 



of Hylomanes, which is a bird of small size, recalling the todies in general 

 appearance. 



TrueMotmots. ^^ ^ well-known example of the typical genus we select the 



Mexican motmot (Momotiis lessoni), a species with the general colour 

 of the plumage green ; this tint 

 including the tail-feathers, which 

 become blue towards their ex- 

 tremities, where they are tipped 

 with black. On the crown of 



the head is a patch of black, 



bordered with silvery blue, which 



passes into turquoise-blue, with 



an inclination to purple on the 



nape; the eyebrow, forehead, 



and cheeks are likewise black, 



the latter being ornamented with 



a band of turquoise-blue above 



and below; the under surface 



is olive-brown, becoming greener 



on the abdomen, and inclining 



to emerald-green on the throat ; 



while on the fore-neck is a tuft 



of black feathers edged with 



greenish blue. In length this 



handsome bird measures about 



15| inches from the beak to the 



tip of the tail. Writing of its 



habits, Mr. A. K. Cherrie observes 



that •" the nests are built in the 



ground, some bank, such as the 



side of a stream, being selected. 



The entrance tunnel extends 

 back horizontally sometimes for 

 a distance of six feet. At about 

 half its length there is a sharp 

 bend upward for some six 

 inches, then the course is again 

 horizontal as far as the chamber 

 occupied by the nest. The nest 

 space is twelve or fourteen 

 inches in diameter, being round, 

 and about six inches high, with 

 level floor and ceiling. A few 

 rather coarse dry twigs are 

 strewn over the floor. The eggs 

 I am not acquainted with Mr 



I- c*v.4u<;i,iiii;CLl WIUII. i.Ul . BRAZILIAN MOTMOT (J nat. slze). 



