MOMOTUS. 



space of an inch, and about the same length from the extremity, are in 

 many specimens entirely devoid of the web : this is common through the 

 whole species, and by some is thought to arise from age, by others that the 

 bird only of the first year has them entire. We have seen specimens in 

 every other respect carrying the adult plumage, and are at a loss how to 

 account for the change taking place : we have seen it partially stript from 

 only one side of the feather ; and in a specimen of M. Ruficapillus now 

 before us, the third feather from the outside, and on one side only, exhi- 

 bits exactly the appearance generally thought to be confined to those in 

 the centre. 



All the species inhabit the thick forests of South America. They feed 

 principally on fruits, but occasionally plunder the nests of other birds of 

 their young, and appear to resemble the RamphastidtB considerably both 

 in this and in their general manners. They breed either in holes in the 

 ground, most probably the forsaken burrows of some animal, or in old hol- 

 low trees. 



SYNOPSIS SPECIERUM. 



MOMOTUS. 



1. M. momota. — M. corpore flavescente-viridi, vertice aterrimo, coeruleo splendente circumdato, 

 auriculis nigris postice attenuates. 



Momotus, Briss. Syn. Method, ii. p. 175. 



Ramphastos momota, Linn. Syst. Nat. ed. 13. i. p. 357. 



Momotus Brasiliensis, Lath. Ind. Ornith. i. p. 140. — Sham, Gen. Zool. vol. viii. p. 42. 



Brazilian saw-billed Roller, Edwards, Glean, iii. p. 251. 



Long. 16'— 18 pollices. 



Hab. In America meridionali. 



In museis plerisque. 



Q. M. ruficapillus. — M. supra viridi-flavescens, pileo castaneo, gula juguloque flavescentibus, au- 

 riculis orbitas loramque antice complectentibus aterrimis, postice rotundatis. 

 Baryphonus ruficapillus, Vieill. Gall, des Oiseaux. 



Long. 1-1— 16 pollices. 



Hab. In America meridionali. 



In museis plerisque. 



3. M. Martii. — M. supra viridi-flavescens, capite colloque dilute castaneis, malis cceruleis, subtus 

 viridi coerulescens, auriculis nigris postice attenuatis. 

 Prionites Martii, Spix § Martius, Nov. Spec. Av. Brasil. Part i. p. 63. tab. lx. 



Long. 12 pollices. 

 Hab. In Brasilia. 

 In museis Gulielmi Jardine, Baronetti, et Dom. Leadbeater. 



