AYES. 323 



imaginable. Another species, C. auriceps, is common in the north of 

 Brazil, and in addition to the beautiful green of the plumage of its body, it 

 has the head of splendid golden, almost appearing to be gilded artificially. 

 The genus Trogon, T. viridis (pi. 97, fig. 7), and the Curuc-ui, T. curucui 

 (pi. 97, fig. 6) are common in collections. 



Suh-fam. 2. Harpactince, or Asiatic Trogons. Bill stronger than in the 

 preceding, both mandibles notched at their tips ; nostrils partially covered ; 

 tarsi slightly feathered, short; anterior toes united. Colors gay, usually 

 brown or reddish, fulvous, and scarlet. 



India and the Malay Archipelago are the countries of the birds of this 

 sub-family. They are showy, but not so splendid as their American 

 relatives, though they appear to be very similar in all other respects. 

 They are usually noticed sitting quietly . on a dead tree, occasionally 

 darting after an insect and» returning to the same position, or wandering 

 about from tree to tree. Harpactes malabariciis, rutilus, and diardii, are 

 amongst the most common species ; while one large species, H. gigas, well 

 established as having been known* to the older ornithologists, is unknown 

 in modern collections. 



One species only, which constitutes a genus of its own, has been found 

 in South Africa ; it is the Apaloderma narina, and it appears to differ in 

 no respect from the general characters of the Trogons. 



Fam. 5. Alcedinid^. General form, short, thick, and strong. Bill long, 

 and mostly adapted to striking as well as seizing their prey. Wings 

 generally moderately strong ; tail generally short ; tarsi short ; toes long. 



A very extensive family, composed of the kingfishers, puff-birds, and 

 jacamars, distributed amongst a large number of genera. They inhabit all 

 parts of the world, and far the gi'eater part show a disposition to frequent 

 the vicinity of water. 



Suh-fam. 1. Bucconincs, or Puff-hirds. Bill rather long, elevated, and 

 broad at the base, with the tip curved and frequently emarginated or 

 fissured. Wings mostly rather short ; tail moderate ; tarsi short, covered 

 with scales. Size various, never large ; plumage plain. 



The birds of this sub-family derive their name from the habit of raising 

 or puffing up their profuse plumage, which, it appears, is more or less the 

 «ase in all the species. Southern America is their native country, and 

 their habits appear to be very similar to those of the birds of the last 

 sub-families. They live upon coleopterous and other insects, which they 

 capture upon the wing. 



Bucco viacrorhynchus {pi. 97, fig. 8) is the best known species. Monasa 

 tranquilla and leucops are, however, common in collections of South 

 American birds. 



Suh-fam. 2. Halcyonince, or Broad-hilled Kingfishers. Bill broad, long, 

 and nearly quadrangular, with the lateral margins straight, or curved 

 slightly upwards. Wings broad, short, and rounded ; tail moderate ; tarsi 

 very short, robust. Size various ; plumage generally containing more or 

 less blue and gi'een colors. 



This sub-family may be said to comprise the kingfishers which frequent 



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