GALBULA CEYCOIDES, Such. 

 Three-toed Jacamar. 



PLATE XXII. 



G. supra viridi-atra, pectore abdomineque medio albis, capite gulaque nigro- 

 brunneis, ochraceo-lineatis ; pedibus tridactylis. 



Galbula ce} r coides, Dr. Such, Zool. Journ. No. v. p. 112. 



J_ his curious species, one of the late acquisitions from Brazil, occupies a 

 station in the long chain of affinities by which birds, as well as other or- 

 ganised creatures, are gradually though inseparably connected, which sets 

 at rest that variety of opinion regarding the proper station of the Jacaraars 

 in our systems, Among the true scansorial birds, the feet are generally 

 remarkable for their strength, and are adopted for that leading character 

 of the group indicated by the title applied to them. The genus Galbula 

 was placed by several of the older ornithologists in the natural division of 

 the Scansores, to which it was allied only, by having the toes placed two 

 before and two behind : in other respects, the legs and feet are very weak, 

 and formed as in the Halcyonida, and in the genus Merops. In the pre- 

 sent species, we entirely lose the zygodactyle structure, and find them si- 

 milar to the three-toed King-fishers, thus beautifully forming a fink of 

 union between them. 



This species is by no means common in Brazil : not more than five or 

 six specimens have yet reached this country ; and we have not observed it 

 in the French or Dutch museums. It was first noticed by Dr Such, and 

 is described by him in the Zoological Journal. The following description 

 is chiefly taken from specimens lately received from Dr Such, and differ- 

 ing in no respect from that described by himself. 



The total length of the skin is seven inches and a half, that of the bill 

 nearly one inch and three quarters. The head and cheeks are covered 

 with long, pointed blackish- brown feathers, the tips of which are ochre- 



H 



