CUCULIDiE, CUCKOOS. GEN. 12G, 127. 189 



Svbfamihj CROTOPnAGINJE. Anis. 



Tail of eight feathers, graduated, longer than the rounded wings. Bill exceed- 

 ingly compressed, the upper mandible rising into a thin vertical crest, the sides 

 usually sulcate, the tip deflected. Plumage unilbrm (black), lustrous, the feathers 

 of the head and neck lengthened, lanceolate, distinct, with scale-like margins ; face 

 naked. Terrestrial. Nest in bushes. One geuus, and two or three species, of the 

 A\'armer parts of America. 



126. Genus CEOTOPHAGA Linnseus. 



_2.5'- Ani. About u foot long; wing 6; tail 8. Florida (and Gidf?) coast, 

 southward ; accidental north to Philadelphia. O. ani and C. rufjlrosiris 

 Bd., 71, 72 ANI. 



Suhfamihj SAUROTIIERIN^^. Ground CucImos. 



Tail of ten feathers, graduated, longer than the short, rounded, concave wings. 

 Bill about as long as the head, compressed, straight at base, tapering, with deflected 

 tip, gently curved culmen, and ample rictus. Feet large and strong, in adaptation 

 to terrestrial life ; tarsus longer than the toes, scutellate before and behind. One 

 West Indian genus, ScmrojjJiaga, with three or four species, and the following, 

 with one or two : — 



127. Genus GEOCOCCYX Wagler. 



Ti 1^. >■! Groimd CucJcoo. Chaparral Code. Road Runner. tSnaJce Killer. 

 Paisano. Most of the feathers of the head and neck bristle-tipped; a naked 

 area around eye ; crown crested ; plumage coarse. Above, lustrous bronzy 

 green, the crest dark blue, everywhere sharply 

 streaked with whitish or lawny brown ; sides and 

 front of the neck tawny, with sharp black streaks ; 

 other under parts dirty Avhite ; quills and tail 

 feathers much edged with white ; central rectrices 

 like the back, others darker green, violet, etc., with 

 broad Avhite tips. Nearl}^ 2 feet long ; tail a foot or 

 more; wing 6-7 inches; tarsus 2; bill 1§. Sexes 

 nearly alike. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Cali- \ijl-^y-^^'/Jj'^ 

 fornia and southwaixl. A bird of remarkaljle ^' ^-' '^'"""'^rurkoo. 

 aspect, noted for its swiftness of foot ; aided by its wings held as outrigofers, 

 it taxes the horse in a race ; feeds on reptiles, insects and laud mollusks. 

 Cass., 111. 213, pi. 30; Bd., 73; Coor., 363 californianus. 



Suhfumiihj COCCYZIN^JE. Americcm Cuclcoos. 



Tail of ten soft feathers, much graduated, little longer than the wings, -which 



are somewhat p)ointed, although the first and second (iiiills are shortened. Bill 



■ about equalling or rather shorter than the head, stout at base, then much compressed, 



curved throughout, tapering to a rather acute tip ; nostrils basal, inferior, exposed, 



elliptical ; feet comparatively small, the tarsus naked, not longer than the toes. 



