Puff-birds 579 



As is the case with the Jacamars, very little appears to be known regarding 

 the nesting habits of the Puff -birds; in fact, the only species of which the nests 

 appear to have been found are the so-called Swallow-wings (Chelidoptera), 

 the two forms of which range from Venezuela to southeastern Brazil. The nests 

 were located in holes dug to a depth of two feet in perpendicular sand-banks 

 along streams, the two shining white eggs being placed on a slight lining of 

 feathers at the end. The habits of the other species are presumably similar, 

 although Dr. Richmond mentions having shot a female of a Panama Soft-wing 

 (Malacoptila panamensis] in eastern Nicaragua, which was about ready to 

 deposit eggs, and from the fact that it was shot from a twig directly in front of 

 a hole in a bamboo, he inferred that this was probably where the nest was located. 



The Puff birds are included in seven genera and about forty-five species, 

 and have their center of distribution in Amazonia, whence they range in decreas- 

 ing numbers to Guatemala on the north and Paraguay on the south. The typical 

 and largest genus is Bucco with twenty-one species, known by the nearly straight 

 bill which is widened at the base and hooked at the tip. In coloration the species 

 are black, brown, or rufous above and white below, where they are often crossed 

 by one or more dark bands; the usual length is between six and eight inches. 

 Closely allied but differing in the weaker and more-incurved bill and larger and 

 more-rounded tail are the Soft-wings (Malacoptila), of which there are eight 

 species extending from Guatemala to Brazil. They are brown or rufous above 

 and fulvous, usually striated with darker below; several have a spot or band of 

 white on the breast. The Banded Soft-wing (M. torquata] Burmeister states 

 to be the commonest species in certain parts of Brazil. "It comes into the 

 village gardens, and sits by the roadside without taking the least notice of what 

 is going on around it. The impression made on a stranger by one of these 

 curious birds is rather startling, as seen at a distance through the thick forest 

 with its white breast shining and when one approaches it seems to stare at the 

 traveler with its great open eyes as if not to know what to do. Stupidity and 

 simplicity are so evidently impressed upon it that the Brazilians naturally call 

 it Joao doido Silly John." 



The smallest and most delicate members of the subfamily are the Nunlets 

 (Nonnula), none of the five species exceeding five and two thirds inches in 

 length; in color they are brown above and fulvous or ferruginous below. One of 

 the best known of the five species is the Red-capped Nunlet (N. ruficapitta) 

 of central Brazil and upper Amazonia, which is known by its chestnut cap. 

 It is a rather solitary bird, found usually on low bushes, or branches near the 

 ground, at the edge of the forests. Nearly twice the length of these are the 

 Nunbirds (Monasa), so called from the somber black or slaty plumage, which, 

 however, is somewhat relieved by a bright red or yellow bill, and in some 

 there is white at the bend of the wing and about the bill. The final genus 

 contains the two species of Swallow-wings (Chelidoptera}, the most aberrant 

 members of the group. They are small birds about six inches in length, 

 bronzy black above, with the exception of a white rump, and cinereous or 

 chestnut below. 



