516 BUCCO^^ID^. 



of these bir'ds in the British Museum. These seven species are spread over nearly the 

 same area as the members of Bucco, and extend from Eastern Guatemala to South- 

 eastern Brazil. They are inhabitants of the hot forests of the lowlands wherever they 

 are found. 



The bill in Malacoptila is much more slender than in Bucco, the culmen gradually 

 curved for most of its length, but rather more abruptly towards the tip ; there is no 

 hook nor any notch at the end of the tomia in either maxilla or mandible. The nostrils 

 are open but deeply sunken and overhung by long curved bristle-like feathers ; the 

 rictal bristles are strong and long ; the feathers from the rictus are long and pendent, 

 and often conspicuous from their white colour. The wings are short and rounded, the 

 tail moderate and rounded, the feet feeble. In several species, notably those of 

 Central America, there is a marked difference of colour between the sexes, the males 

 being of a ferruginous tint, the females greyer. Moreover there seems to be a 

 considerable amount of local and individual variation. Of the two species found 

 within our limits, M. inornata marks the northern extension of the genus, and spreads 

 from Guatemala to Nicaragua on the eastern side of those countries ; M. panamensis 

 takes its place in Costa Eica, and is found thence as far south as Venezuela, Ecuador, 

 and Peru. 



]. Malacoptila panamensis. 



Malacoptila panamensis, Lafr. Rev. Zool. 1847, p. 79 ' ; Scl. P. Z. S. 1855, p. 196"; Mon. Jacamars 

 and Puff-birds, p. 119, t. 40'; Cat. Birds Brit. Mus. xix. p. 196*; Cassin, Pr. Ac. Phil. 

 1860, p. 134°; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. vii. p. 290°; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, p. 363 ^ 

 1879, p. 536'; Salv. P. Z. S. 1870, p. 201 °; Boucard, P. Z. S. 1878, p. 47"; Zeledon, 

 An. Mus. Nac. Costa Rica, 1887, p. 119". 



Malacoptila costaricensis, Cab. J. f. Orn. 1862, p. 172"; Cab. & Heine, Mus. Hein. iv. Heft 1, 

 p. 135"; Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 118 "; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 312 '\ 



Malacoptila inornata, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. viii. p. 4 " ; ix. p. 118 " ; Scl. & Salv. P. Z. S. 1864, 

 p. 363 " ; V. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 311 ". 



Malacoptila vermpacis, Lawr. Ann. Lye. N. Y. ix. p. 118"; v. Frantz. J. f. Orn. 1869, p. 311 '\ 



Supra ferrug^nea, interscapulio et teotricibus alarum fulvo punctatis, capitis lateribus indistincte fulvo striatis : 

 subtus plumis mystacalibns albidis, gutture toto ferrugineo, pectore imo et hypochondriis fulvis nigricant* 

 striolatis, abdomine medio albicante, tectricibus subcaudaUbus pallide fulvis ; alis Higricanti-fuscis, intns 

 Isete cinnamomeis ; Cauda et uropygio rufo-ferrugineis ; rostro corneo, mandibula infra albida ; pedibus 

 corylinis. Long, tota 7'0, alae 3'4, caudae 3-2, rostri a rictu 1*4, tarsi 0'7. 

 5 supra omnino grisescentior, distincte punctata, fronte et loris albo variegatis, capitis lateribus distincte 

 cervino striolatis, gutture medio cervino, pectore imo et hypochondriis distincte iiigro striatis, abdomine 

 medio albido. (Descr. maris et feminse ex Liou HUI, Panama. Mus. nostr.) 



Hah. Costa Rica {v. Frantzius ^^ ^^ ^^), San Mateo {v. Frantzius ^^, J. Cooper ^^\ GuaitU, 

 Angostura {v. Frantzius ^^, Carmiol ^' 2°, Zeledon 1^), Pacuare {v. Frantzius '^^, 

 Carmiol 2°), Las Trojas, Pozo Azul de Pirris, Jimenez [Zeledon ^i), Dota Mts. 1^, 

 Peje {Carmiol), San Carlos {Boucard 1°) ; Panama {Belattre i), Volcan de Chiriqui, 



