FAM. TODID& 
BY P. WYTSMAN 
<a HE type of this small platyrostral family, Todus viridis, was known since Linnzus, 

p. 333 (1892) placed the family between the Momotid@ and the Coliid@, in his Hand-List of the 
Genera and Species of Birds, Vol. 2, p. 78 (1900) between the Momotide and the Caprimulgide 
and Alphonse Dubois in his Syvvzopsis Avium Vol. 1, p. 95 (1899-1902) between the Momotide 
and the Meropide. Other authors have placed it otherwise, but all the ornithologists are at 
present in accord to consider these beautiful species or subspecies of the genus Todus as 
forming a special and distinct family. 
If we admit the oldest species known, the Todus viridis of Linnzeus, as the type of the 
family and if we examine carefully the other forms described since, it is evident that the three 
species described under the names of T. subulatus, T. multicolor and T. hypochondriacus agree 
in their main features and that the characteristics which distinguish them from 7. viridis are 
not very important ones, so that we may consider them as subspecies or local varieties of the 
type T. viridis, as they strictly represent the latter geographically. 
Todus pulcherrimus described by R, Bowdler Sharpe (The Ibis p. 353, pl. 3, fig. 3 (1874); 
id. Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. Vol. 17, p. 336 (1892), does not seem to have sufficient characters to 
constitute a different species or variety and I quite agree with Dr. E. Hartert, of Tring, who 
infoms me that he considers it merely an individual aberration of 7. viridis hypochondriacus. Wf 
it actually came from Jamaica, it must have been brought there from St. Domingo. 
