Broad-bills 605 



THE UNITED-TOED PERCHING BIRDS 



(Suborder Desmodactyli) 



The characters of this suborder have already been set forth. It includes 

 only 



THE BROAD-BILLS 



(Superfamily Eurylcemidtz) 



As so frequently happens in groups representing anomalies of structure, 

 there are differences of opinion as to the correct systematic position, some hav- 

 ing placed the present group among picarian birds and near the Puff-birds, 

 while others have supposed them to be related to the Flycatchers; but since 

 the researches of Garrod, Forbes, and others, the Eurylamida have been shown 

 to have a close alliance with the passerine group, of which they are now re- 

 garded, at least provisionally, as forming a distinct suborder as well as super- 

 family. More recently Pycraft has studied the osteology of the group and 

 has found that in addition to the primitive characters usually recognized, it is 

 really an extremely specialized group, this specialization being particularly 

 conspicuous in the skull. His conclusion is that the Eurylamida belong with 

 the Passer if ormes, and further that there seems scarcely sufficient ground for 

 .separating them so widely from the remaining Passeres as is usually done. "It 

 is quite possible," he adds, " that further investigation will show that the Eury- 

 l&midot are entitled to rank no higher than a subfamily of the Cotingida." 

 They are confined entirely to the Old World, where they seem to take the place 

 of the New World Cotingas, which they so much resemble. They may once 

 have been more numerous, but from their present small numbers and restricted 

 distribution they must be regarded as a waning type. They are small birds, 

 approximating eight or ten inches in length, with very broad, flat bills, as in 

 some Flycatchers, whence their common name of Broad-bills. They have 

 rather rounded, often graduated tails, but the most pronounced characters are 

 in the feet. While these are adapted for perching, the tendons are of the 

 desmopelmous type, with the hind (first) toe very large, and the front toes 

 more or less joined at base, the outer and middle (third and fourth) ones having 

 only the terminal phalanx free. They agree with most Passeriformes in the 

 nude oil-gland and two-notched sternum, but differ in the unforked manubrium 

 sterni. 



The Broad-bills are forest-loving birds, haunting the tops of the highest 

 trees and usually going about in small parties. In disposition they are very 

 tame and unsuspicious, not to say stupid, in which respect at least they resemble 

 the Puff-birds, and like them permitting several members of a flock to be killed 

 one after another without those remaining taking alarm. Their food consists 

 largely of insects, although one species is said to subsist entirely on fruits. 

 Their nests are among the marvels of bird architecture, being large, round 



