&7 



Order II. PASSERES. Tribe II. Fissirostkes Diurioe. Family III. Coraciad^e. 



The fourth Subfamily, 



MOMOTINiE, or MOTMOTS, 



have the Bill rather long, more or less elevated and broad at the base, the sides compressed, and the 

 lateral margins more or less strongly serrated : the Wings rather short, and rounded : the Tail 

 lengthened, graduated, and the two middle feathers usually longer than the others : the Tarsi short, 

 and scutellated : the Toes unequal ; the outer toe longer than the inner one, and united at the base as 

 far as the second joint of the middle toe ; the hind toe rather short and weak. 



Momotus Briss* 



Bill rather long, straight, more or less elevated and broad at the base, with the sides compressed 

 to the tip, which is slightly hooked and obtuse ; the lateral margins more or less strongly serrated ; the 

 gonys long and slightly ascending ; the nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening small and rounded. 

 Wings moderate and rounded ; with the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail 

 lengthened and graduated, with the two middle feathers usually longer than the others. Tarsi as long 

 as the middle toe, and covered in front with narrow transverse scales. Toes Unequal ; the outer toe 

 nearly as long as the middle one, and united at the base as far as the second joint; the inner toe short, 

 and slightly united ; the hind toe rather short and weak ; the claws moderate, much compressed 

 and curved. 



The species of this genus are peculiar to the tropical parts of America and to some of the West Indian Islands. 

 They seem to prefer the deep shades of the forests, or the dark recesses of ancient buildings. They usually perch 

 solitary on a branch, or on some projection of a building, with the head drawn into the shoulders, with a solemn still 

 expression, uttering at the same time a melancholy croak. Early in the morning and in the dusk of the evening they 

 appear more lively, watching for any passing insect, which may approach sufficiently near for them to dart after in a 

 short flight. They likewise feed on fruits, lizards, and snakes ; these are taken by the point of the bill, and, with a 

 toss of the head, as it were, pitched into the throat and swallowed. The eggs of birds also form a portion of their food. 

 The nest of one species is stated by Sir W. Jardine to be formed in a bank of marl, with an entrance of two inches 

 and a half in width, and running five feet in a direct line and then five feet more in a direct angle into the ground, 

 with the end enlarged ; and in this enlargement were found three young, huddled up on the top of a moving mountain 

 of maggots, and claws and remains of beetles and various other insects. 



* Established by Brisson in 1?6'0. Merula of Mcehring ? (1752), Prionites of Illiger (1811), and Baryphonus of Vieillot (1816) are 

 synonymous. It embraces Crypticus of Mr. Swainson (1837), with which Hylomanes of Prof. Lichtenstein (1838) is coequal. 



