

Order II. PASSERES. 



Tribe II. Fissieostres Diursle. 



Family III. Coraciam:. 



The second Subfamily, 



TODINiE, or Todies, 



have the Bill lengthened, much depressed, and slightly compressed towards the tip, which is rounded or 

 pointed : the gonys long, slightly ascending, and rounded beneath; the Nostrils lateral, with the opening- 

 anterior and exposed : the Wings short and rounded ; the Tail moderate, and rather emarginated : the 

 Tarsi moderate and slender : the Toes unequal ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and both more or 

 less united at the base ; the hind toe short : the Claws small. 



Todus Linn.* 



Bill longer than the head, broad at the base, and much depressed throughout its length, with the 

 eulmen slightly curved, and the sides gradually compressed to the tip, which is rounded or rather pointed ; 

 the lateral margins straight, and finely serrated ; the gonys lengthened and straight ; the gape furnished 

 with short bristles ; the nostrils lateral, and placed in a broad and rather short groove, with the opening 

 large, rounded, and placed anteriorly in the groove. Wings short and rounded: with the fourth, fifth, 

 and sixth quills equal and longest. Tail moderate, broad, and slightly emarginated. Tarsi as long- 

 as the middle toe, slender, and covered with an entire scale in front. Toes unequal and slender ; the 

 middle toe long ; the outer toe longer than the inner, and united as far as the second joint ; the inner 

 united as far as the first joint ; the hind toe rather short ; the claws short, compressed, and curved. 



The species are found in the tropical parts of America, and the various islands of the West Indies. They are usually 

 seen singly, in lone parts and moist places, sitting in a crouched manner on the branches, with the head drawn in 

 between the shoulders, and are so dull and stupid that they are easily approached sufficiently near to be caught with 

 the hand. When they spy an orthopterous or other insect approaching, they instantly secure and feed on it. The nest 

 is said to be formed in a hole of the ground, and made of dry grass and moss, lined with feathers and other soft materials. 

 Prince Neuwied states that these birds form a conical bag-shaped nest, composed of wool, with a narrow entrance on the 

 side. The eggs are three or four in number. 



1. T. viridis Linn. PI. enl. 585. f. 1. 2., Swains. Zool. 111. n. 5. 

 pi. 96., Vieill. Ois. d'Amer. Sept. t. 56. 



2. T. mexicanus Less. Ann. Sci. Nat. 1838. p. 167-— Todus vi- 

 ridis Diet. Sci. Nat. t. 32. f. 1. 



3. T. portoriceusis Less. Ann. Sci. Nat. 1838. p. 167. — Todus 

 viridis Vigors, Zool. Journ. ii. 426. ; T. multicolor Gould, Icon. 

 Av. pi., Voy. l'Isle de Cuba, Ois. t. 22. 



4. T. subulatus Gould. 



-I" 



* Established by Brisson in 1760, and adopted by Linnaeus in 1766. 



April, 1847- 



