XXVlll 
ON THE GENEEA. 
short blunt bill and small squat bodies from M. australis and M. duvaucelii (then earest 
allied species of Megalcema), we have thought it preferable to follow Bonaparte, and retain 
the genus, 
B". Rostro brevi, lato et ohtuso. 
a. Subter striata. 
a'. Gutture sulpbureo X. hcsmacephala. 
V. Grutture coccineo X rosea. 
b. Subter baud striata. 
a'. Gutture aurantiaco X rubricapilla. 
b'. Gutture rubro, aurantiaco marginato X. malabarica. 
3. Genus Xylobucco. 
Characteristics. — Rictal bristles black, strongly developed ; culmen acute and defined and 
nearly straight; the gonys curves very much upwards towards the tip, which gives the 
appearance of the bill being upside down. Nostrils round and basal. Plumage very soft 
and loose. Wings of moderate length ; third, fourth, and fifth quills subequal and longest. 
Tail very short. Tarsus longer than exterior front toe with its claw ; inner hind toe very 
minute. 
This genus is very closely allied to Megalcema and Barhatula ; from the former we have 
separated it on account of its acute culmen, and from the latter, which it much resembles, 
by its straight culmen and very curved gonys. There are only two species as yet known, 
one of which {X. duchaillui) was the type of Buccanodon. We could not find the smallest 
generic difference between it and X. scolopaceus ; and as no reason was given by the pro- 
poser of the genus, we have been unable to separate them, and therefore have placed them 
together under the oldest generic head. They are both found in Africa; Duchaillu, the 
discoverer of the one named after him, gives the following interesting note on the nidifica- 
tion of this genus : — 
" These singular little birds make their nests with great pains in the wood of dead trees. 
The male and female settle upon a tree which seems to have been dead a sufficient time to 
soften the wood a little, and then, going to work with their little bills, peck out a circular 
opening two inches in diameter, and perhaps two inches deep. This done, they dig per- 
pendicularly down for about four inches. The cavity thus made is their nest. Of course, 
as they are small birds, it takes them a long time to perform this piece of carpentering— 
often two or three weeks. Then it is lined softly, and the female lays her eggs and hatches 
them in security." 
A". Mandibula valde curvata ad apicem. 
a. Major, suprk niger flavipunctatus X. duchaillui. 
b. Minor, supr^ terricolor flavipunctatus X. scolopaceus. 
