OXYKUNCUS. 



239 



Family OXYEUNCID.E. 



This family, which consists of one genus and four species only, 

 is represented in British Guiana by one of the species, which 

 appears to be rare, and restricted to the higher altitudes in the 

 western portion of the Colony. 



Genus OXYRUNCUS Temm. 



Oxyruncus Temm, Man. d'Orn. i. p. Ixxx, 1820. Type O. cristatus 

 (Temm.). 





Fig. 97. — Oxyruncus Jiypoglmicus. 



Fig. 98. 



Section of outer primary-quill to 

 show the hooked barbs on the 

 outer web. 



In this, the only genus of the family, the head is crested with 

 narrow and brightly coloured feathers. The bill is proportionately 

 long, narrow, and sharply pointed but not hooked. The wing is 

 rounded, the second, third, and fourth primaries longest and 

 equal, and the first about equal in length to the fifth. The tail is 

 square at the tip, the feathers ten in number, and its length about 

 two-thirds that of the wing. The tarsus is about equal to the 

 exposed culmen in length, and the hind toe and claw about equul 

 in length to the middle toe and claw. Coloration : male and 

 female similHl'. 



