THE SEARCHERS. 



97 



associating even in small parties, and still more rarely venturing near the dwelling-place of man. 

 Like the Jacamars, these birds are remarkable for their indolence, and the quietude of their manner 

 of life, as they obtain their msect-prey ivithout even leaving the branch on which they are perched. 

 The eggs of some species are deposited in holes excavated by the parents ; but, beyond this fact, 

 we are without particulars as to their mode of mcubation. 



The SLEEPERS {Nystaliis) possess a powerful, straight beak — almost as long as the large, thick 

 head — compressed at its sides, and slightly hooked at the projecting upper mandible. The short. 



THE GREEN JACAMAR {Galbula viridis). 



thick foot and backs of the toes (the latter not placed in pairs) are covered with large, smooth scales •, 

 the wings are short and slender, the tail of medium length, and composed of narrow feathers of almost 

 equal size, if we except the short exterior pair. 



THE TSCHAKURU, 

 The TscHAKURU {Ny status Chacunt) is of a reddish brown on the top of the head, back, and 

 wings, striped with a blackish shade, the under side is white, a band around the head and the broad 

 cheek-stripes are pure white, the region of the cheek is black, the quills greyish brown, those at the 

 exterior edged and spotted with rust-red ; the blackish brown tail-feathers are marked with small, 

 yellowish red spots at the edge. The eye is chestnut-brown, the beak dull cinnabar-red, with deep 

 yellowish base, and greyish black culmen and tip ; the foot is greyish brown. This species is eight 

 (according to Ratterer nine) inches and a half long, and eleven inches and three-quarters broad ; the 

 wing measures three inches, and the tail two inches and three-quarters. 



VOL. III. — 92 



