3234 AVES. 
We should approximate to the. Be: eaters certain long-tailed 
birds, with metallic-coloured plumage, hitherto classed with Pro- 
“merops, but whose two external toes are almost as extensively 
united as those of the former.(1) ° a 4 
There appears to be none of this genus in America, where they 
are represented in some respects by the ; 4 
; 
Prionires, Illig. 6 
The Motmots have their feet and carriage,. but differ in the beak 
which is stronger, the edges of both mandibles being serrated, and in 
their tongue, which, like that of the Toucans, is barbed. They are 
beautiful birds, as large as the Magpie; the plu age on the head, 
loose as in the Jays, and a long cuneiform tail; the stems of the two 
middle quills being stripped of their barbs for a short distance near 
the extremities, gives to the whole a singular appearance. They fly 
badly, are solitary, build in holes, feed on insects, and’even on small 
4 
birds.(2) * : Py * v 
Aucepo, Lin. ) , 
7 ¢ 
The Kingfishers have shorter feet than the Bee- -eaters, and the 
beak much longer, which is straight, angular, and pointed; the | 
tongue and tail are yery short. There are two emarginations in their ee 
sternum, as in those of the Bee-eaters and the Rollers. They feed 
on small fish which they capture by precipitating themselves into” 
the water from some branch where they have remained perched, 
watching for their prey. Their stomach is a membranous sac. They 
nestle like Bee-eaters in holes on the banks of streams, and are found 
in both continents. The European species, : 
A. ispida; Enl. 77; Naum. 144. The size of a Finch; sreenioh 
; ‘a @ 
garrulus, fasciculatus, carunculatus, of Lath. appear to us to be Philedons; we have 
even ascertained this to be the fact with respect to most of them;—the M. cine- 
reus, Seb. XXXI, 10, is along tailed Cinnyris or Sowi-manga. 
(1) The Promerops moqueur, Vaill. Prom. 1, 2, and 4 (Upupa erythrorhynchos, — 
Lath.). The young bird has a black beak.—The Prom. namaquois, Vaill. 5 and 6, 
or Falein.. cyanomelas, Vieill. 
(2) The Blue-headed Motmot, or the Houtou sot Guyana, Guira, guaynumbi of - 
the Brazilians, according to Marcgrave (Ramphastos momota, Gm.); or Pr. brasiliz 
ensis, Wig. Enl. 370; Vaill. Ois.. de Par. &c. I, pl. xxxvii and xxxvili;—the Motmot 
a tete rousse or of Peru;,Motmot dombey, Vaill. loc. cit. pl. xxxix, and Vieill. Gal. 
pl. exe;—Pr, Marcii, Spix, 9;—the T'utre of Paraguay, Azz. No. 52, ate, to say the 
least, closely allied to it. ip 
Motmot, according to Fernandez, is the Méxican name of the first. Prionitis, 
from 7eiay, saw, a name Biv en by Illiger. Me Vieillot has changed it into Barr- 
PHONUS. 
* 
