PUFF-BIRDS. 
193 
Mr. Swainson has thus graphically described the habits of 
one of the South American Barbets^ which belongs to the 
family AlcedinidcB, and which Mr. G. Gray has named 
Bucco Swainsoni in honour of him : — 
There is something very grotesque in the appearance of 
all the Puff-birds ; and their habits^ in a state of nature, are 
no less singular. They frequent open cultivated spots, near 
habitations, always perching on the withered branches of a 
low tree, where they will sit nearly motionless for hours ; 
unless, indeed, they descry some luckless insect passing near 
them, at which they immediately dart, returning again to 
the identical twig they had just left, and which they will 
sometimes frequent for months. At such times the dispro- 
portionate size of the head is rendered more conspicuous by 
the bird raising its feathers, so as to appear not unlike a 
puff-ball ; hence the general name they have received from 
the English residents in Brazil, of which vast country all 
the species, I believe, are natives. When frightened^ their 
form is suddenly changed by the feathers lying quite flat. 
They are very confiding, and will often take their station 
within a few yards of the window. The two sexes are gene- 
rally near each other, often on the same tree"^."*^ 
* Swainson, 'Zoological Illustrations/ pi. xcix. vol. ii. (1820-22.) 
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