XX 
ON THE GENERA. 
2nd. Picidce, or Woodpeckers, present many characteristics, the stiff serrated tail and 
hard wedge-shaped beak being the most conspicuous, which are wanting in Capitonidce : a 
very close approach between the families, however, is made by the Picumnince on the one 
hand, and the genus Barbatula on the other; the wedge-shaped stiff tail has disappeared 
in the former, giving place to the soft, rounded tail of the Barbets; they may, however, 
be still distinguished by the tongue, which is extensile in Picumnus as in true Pious , and 
short and cartilaginous in Capitonidce. 
3rd. Cicculidce, or Cuckoos, may be distinguished by the outer toe, which is versatile in 
them, and turned completely backward in Capitonidce ; further their comparatively small 
beak, long tail, sombre plumage, and many other minor points exhibit their dissimilarity. 
The genus Chrjjsococcyx, or Emerald Cuckoos, are an exception in colour of plumage, but 
present the same differences in form. The approach would appear to be between Coccystes, 
or Crested Cuckoos, on the one hand, and the African genus Trachyphonus on the other, 
though even here the difference in formation of the feet and arrangement of the toes holds 
good. Lastly, in the Cuculidce the humerus always exceeds the ulna in length, while in 
the Capitonidce the reverse is the case, the nearest approach being still in Trachyphonus. 
4th. The Psittacidce, or Parrots, all possess the well-known form of strongly hooked upper 
and truncated lower mandible, making the bill higher at base than it is long, a form to 
which there is hardly any approach among the Capitonidce. 
The genus Indicator is closely allied to the Barbets, but may be distinguished by the bill, 
which is smaller and truncated. Besides these there are no families sufficiently analogous to 
require notice here. 
ON THE GENERA. 
In this chapter we have divided the family, primarily, into three subfamilies, and, secon- 
darily, into thirteen genera, at the same time noting the most prominent characteristics of 
each genus ; and, thirdly, we have endeavoured to define the distinguishing colorization of 
each species, so as to enable the reader to identify any particular bird belonging to this 
family without difficulty. 
We propose to divide the Capitonidce into three great subfamilies as follows : — 
A. Rostro dentato Pogonorhynchince. 
B. Rostro lsevi, setis rictalibus longis, vel post nares densis, m axil lie 
mandibulseque apice aequo Megalaemina. 
C. Rostro laevi, setis rictalibus minimis vel deficientibus, maxilla 
incurva apice ultra mandibulam breviter protenso Capitonince. 
The scansorial Barbets are a group of birds inhabiting suitable localities throughout the 
tropical regions of Asia, Africa, and America. They are unknown in Australia and Europe. 
Though strictly arboreal in their habits, and living only in forest districts or open countries 
