CVCULIDJE. 271 



Order COCCYGES. — The Cuckoos, etc. 



Families. 

 Toes 2 before, 2 behind. 



6 1 . Bill as long as head, compressed, with cutting-edges smooth ; nostrils ex- 

 posed ; no distinct rictal bristles ; tarsus nearly or quite as long as longest 

 anterior toe (sometimes longer), naked for greater part of its length ; 

 anterior toes separated to extreme base; plumage without bright or 



metallic colors. (Suborder Guculi.) Cuculidae. (Page 271.) 



b 2 . Bill much shorter than head, thick and broad at base, with cutting-edges 

 serrated ; nostrils concealed by antrorse bristles ; gape with strong bris- 

 tles ; tarsus much shorter than longest anterior toe, chiefly or entirely 

 feathered ; anterior toes united for basal half; plumage with bright or 

 metallic colors (except in young). (Suborder Trogones.) 



Trogonidae. (Page 275.) 

 Toes 3 before, 1 behind. (Suborder Alcyones.) 



b 1 . Bill not longer than head, the culmen gently but decidedly curved, the cut- 

 ting-edges serrated; tail (in typical genus) much longer than wing, with 

 middle pair of feathers much longer than the rest, and usually with the 

 webs interrupted near end ; tarsus longer than middle toe. 



Momotidse. (Page 277.) 



6*. Bill longer than head, with straight outlines, the cutting-edges smooth (in 



all American species); tail much shorter than wing, with middle feathers 



(in American species) not longer than the rest ; tarsus only about half as 



long as middle toe Alcedinidse. (Page 278.) 



Family CUCULIDiE.— The Cuckoos, Anis, etc. (Page 271.) 



Genera. 



Tail-feathers 8 ; bill nearly as deep as long, the culmen elevated into a much 

 compressed convex crest ; plumage (in typical genus) uniform blackish. 



(Subfamily Crotophagince.) Crotophaga. (Page 272.) 



Tail-feathers 10 ; bill less than half as deep as long, the culmen not elevated nor 



compressed ; plumage more or less varied. (Subfamily Coccygince.) 



b 1 . Bill longer than head, straight to near the rather abruptly decurved tip ; 



loral feathers stiff, bristly, and plumage generally coarse or harsh ; tarsus 



much longer than outer anterior toe, with claw ; very large (wing more 



than 6.00, tail 12.00 or more), and plumage much striped. 



Geococcyx. (Page 272.) 



b'. Bill not longer than head, the culmen gently curved for the greater part of 



its length ; loral feathers and general plumage soft and blended ; tarsus 



