CUCULID.E — THE CUCKOOS. 459 



The three families next in order are those generally known as the Zijgodac- 

 tyli, in their more restricted sense, that is, naving the toes arranged in pairs, 

 two before and two beiiind. In tiie present case the anterior toes are tlie 

 inner and the middle (the second and third), the posterior being the hinder 

 and outer (the first and fourth) ; where, as is sometimes the case, a liind toe is 

 wanting, it is the first, or tlie hind toe proper. 



By tliis definition we exclude the Trofjonidw, the Bucconifkc, and the 

 Galhiulida; which liivcwise have the toes in pairs, but in which they are dif- 

 ferently condjined. 



The North American families, the Cncidkhc, the Fidda; and the Psittncida, 

 are defined as follows : — 



A. Upper mandiblu not movable nor hinged. Tai'.siis with transverse scntellnc. 

 Bill without a naked skin, or cere, at the ba.se; lower mandible mueh longer 

 than deep, the end not truncated. 



a. Tongue short, and not extensible ; not barbed at the point. 



Bill hooked or curved at tip ; not constructed for liammcring. No 



nasal tufts Cuculidcc. 



h. Tongue long and cylindrical, and generally capable of great extension ; 

 barbed at the point. 



Bill not hooked, liut nearly straight; strong, and constructed for ham- 

 mering. Thick nasal tufts at base of the bill (except in the XiidiiiKres), 



Pindce. 



B. Upper numdiblo movable 01 hinged. Tarsus without transverse scntelkv;. 

 Bill with a naked skin, or cere, at the base ; lower mandible not longer than 

 deep, its end truncated. 



c. Tongue short and thick, fleshy. 



Bill enormously large, much curved, the upper mandible hooked, both 

 much arched Psiltacida: 



