BIRDS — CUCULIDAE — CROTOPHAGA RUGIROSTRIS. 71 



Family CUCULIDAE. The Cuckoos. 



Bill compressed, gently curved, eometimes attenuated, and generally lengthened. A few bristles at the base of the bill or 

 none. Tarsi lengthened ; toes rather short. Tail long and soft, of 8 to 12 feathers. 



The preceding diagnosis covers a great variety of forms, although those found within the 

 United States emhrace but three genera, which may be indicated as follows, each forming the 

 type of a sub-family : 



A. Tail feathers eight ; face naked. 



Crotophaga. — Bill shorter than the head. Very high, and much compressed. 



B. Tail feathers ten ; face covered with feathers. 



Geococctx. — Bill longer than the head. Loral feathers stiff, bristly. Tarsi much longer 



than the toes. Live on the ground. 

 CoccTGUS. — Bill not as long as the head. Loral feathers soft. Tarsi shorter than the 



toes. Live on trees. 



CROTOPHAGA, LirniKus. 



Crotophaga, LinNjEcs, Systema Naturce, 1756. 



Bill as long as the head, very much compressed ; the culmen elevated into a high crest, extending above the level of the 

 forehead. Nostrils exposed, elongated. Point of bill much decurved. Wings lengthened, extending beyond the base of the 

 tail, the fourth or fifth quill longest. Tail lengthened, of eight graduated feathers. Toes long, with well developed claws. 



The feathers in this genus are entirely black ; those on the head and neck with a peculiar 

 stiffened, metallic or scale-like border. The species are not numerous^ and are entirely confined 

 to America. 



For a number of years the occurrence of specimens of Crotophaga at various points on our 

 sea border has been recorded, but the genus has never been formally introduced into our fauna. 

 There is, however, no reason to doubt its existence as a regular summer visitor on the keys 

 and shores of Florida, as well as at various points on the Gulf of Mexico. In the following 

 pages I describe two species, and it is quite possible that others may occasionally occur within 

 our limits. 



CROTOPHAGA RUGIEOSTRIS, S w . 



Ani; Black Fitrrot, (Florida.) 



CrotapKaga ritgirostra, Sw. 2J^ Cent, in Anim. in Menag. 1838, 321, fig; 65, b. (bill ;) — " Jaudine & Selbt, III. 



Dm. pi. 41." 

 Crotophaga rugirostris, Burmeister, Thiere Bras. II, Vogel, 1856, 255. 



Bill with faint wrinkles transverse to the culmen, which is gently decurved from a point above, or a littlo posterior to the 

 nostrils. The highest portion of the crest obtusely angular, rounded ; no'portion parallel to the commissure. Nostrils situated 

 nearly in the middle of the lower half of the lateral outline of the upper mandible. Color black, with-bluish reflections above. 

 Pointed feathers of the head and neck with a bronzed metallic border. Length about 15 inches ; wing, 6 ; tail, 8. 



Hab. — Florida to Brazil. 



Bill at the nostrils nearly twice as high as broad ; the nostrils elliptical , a little oblique, 

 situated in the middle of the lower half of the upper mandible. Gonys nearly straight. In- 

 dications of faint transverse wrinkles along the upper portion of the bill, nearly perpendicular 

 to the culmen. Legs stout ; tarsus longer than middle toe, with seven broad scutellae anteriorly 



