7 





Order II. PASSERES. Tribe II. Fissirostres Diurn;e. 



The fifth Family, 



ALCEDINID^E, or Kingfishers, 



have the Bill more or less lengthened, generally straight, and broad at the base, with the tips of both 

 mandibles usually acute ; the Nostrils lateral ; the Wings more or less long and rounded ; the Tail mostly 

 short, and rounded on the sides ; the Tarsi short and strong ; the Toes long, sometimes three before and 

 one behind, and sometimes two and two, and of various lengths. 



The first Subfamily, 



BUCCONIN^E, or Puffbirds, 



have the Bill of various lengths, elevated and broad at the base, with the tip curved and sometimes 

 hooked over that of the lower mandible ; the Nostrils lateral, basal, and hidden by the frontal plumes and 

 bristles ; the Wings more or less long, with the third to the fifth quills usually the longest ; the Tail 

 mostly of moderate length ; the Tarsi short and robust, with the Toes two before and two behind, and 

 of various lengths, the outer anterior toe the longest. 



Bucco Linn.* 



Bill more or less long, elevated, and very broad at the base, with the culmen sloping, and suddenly 

 curved at the tip, which is more or less hooked, and sometimes bifid at the extreme end ; the sides much 

 compressed towards the tip, the lateral margins straight, and the gonys very long and curved upwards ; 

 the nostrils lateral, and sunk in a short membranous groove, with the opening anterior, somewhat 

 rounded, and concealed by the projecting plumes and bristles. Wings moderate and rounded, with the 

 first quill short, and the fourth the longest. Tail long, broad, even, and rounded on the sides. Tarsi 

 shorter than the middle toe, strong, and covered in front with transverse scales. Toes of various length, 

 the outer anterior longer than the outer posterior toe ; the claws long, compressed, and acute. 



* LimifEus established this genus in 1766. Tamatia of Cuvier (1817), Capito of M. Temminck (1820), Cyphos of Spix (1824), Chaim- 

 ornis of G. R. Gray (1841), and Nyctactes of Mr. Strickland (1841) are synonymous. 



