216 Birds of Colorado 
the Long-crested Jay. E. L. Barthoud, however, informed Coues that 
he had seen the Parrot on several occasions in the early sixties, at 
Golden, close to Denver, on the Little Thompson, and also near Fort 
Lyon. These are the only notices of its occurrence in Colorado, and 
it is now doubtless extinct in the State. 
ORDER COCCYGES. 
This order, containing the Cuckoos, Trogons and 
Kingfishers, is very difficult to diagnose by external 
characters, but the bill is without cere, and is never 
hooked or chisel-shaped; the tail-feathers are never 
stiff or sharp-pointed, and the toes are either arranged 
two in front and two behind; or if three in front, the 
third and fourth are bound together for half their length, 
ie. syndactylous. 
Key oF THE FAMILIES AND GENERA. 
A. ‘Toes, two in front and two behind (Cuculide). 
w. Wing short, ¢ the length of tail; head crested. 
Geococcyx, p. 216. 
b. Wing longer, about equal to tail; head not crested. 
Coccyzus, p. 218. 
B. Toes three in front, one behind; the third and fourth bound 
together for half their length (Alcedinide). Ceryle, p. 221. 
Family CUCULIDZ. 
Toes arranged with two—the second and third—in 
front and two—the first and fourth—behind ; tail with 
ten rectrices in all North American forms. 
Genus GEOCOCCYX. 
Terrestrial Cuckoos with crested head and a small bare, space round 
the eye; bill long, rather slender and downcurved towards the tip ; 
wings very short, rounded and concave, less than ? length of tail, 
which consists of ten long, tapering feathers, and is very much 
graduated ; legs stout and adapted to walking; the tarsus scutellate 
before and behind. 
The genus contains two species only, one from the United States 
and one from Mexico. 
