PASSERES. 
Tribe II. Fissirostres Diurnal 
Family III. Coraciad^e. 
Order II. 
The 
f°urth Subfamily, 
MOMOTINAE, or MOTMOTS, 
ha 
latere] 1 ^ rat ^ ler i° n g) more or less elevated and broad at the base, the sides compressed, and the 
length Uir,y ' llS rnore or less strongly serrated : the Wings rather short, and rounded : the Tail 
and s T ra duated, and the two middle feathers usually longer than the others : the Tarsi short, 
far ag t j a * e< ^ : ff |e Toes unequal ; the outer toe longer than the inner one, and united at the base as 
J second joint of the middle toe ; the hind toe rather short and weak. 
Momotus Briss.* 
Sill 
1° the t^ Gl ^° n ^’ s f ra 'ght, more or less elevated and broad at the base, with the sides compressed 
gory s | ( ^ ’ " Is slightly hooked and obtuse ; the lateral margins more or less strongly serrated ; the 
^ing s n ° aU ^ sU § ht ly ascending ; the nostrils basal and lateral, with the opening small and rounded, 
^gthened Gla ^ e an< ^ roun ded ; Avith the fourth, fifth, and sixth quills nearly equal and longest. Tail 
as Tlr ^ 8 1 a( l uated, with the two middle feathers usually longer than the others. Tarsi as long 
nearly ag j ^ oe ’ an< f covered in front with narrow transverse scales. Toes unequal ; the outer toe 
an cl b as f^ e uiiddle one, and united at the base as far as the second joint; the inner toe short, 
a nd 
sli ghtl 
curve lll| Acd ; the hind toe rather short and weak; the claws moderate, much compressed 
s ,! <:y 8e eia to S cnus are peculiar to the tropical parts of America and to some ot the West Indian. Islands. 
e tar y on a t * ie deep shades of the forests, or the dark recesses of ancient buildings. They usually perch 
j x Pres8i 0tlj ^ | c J ’ or on some projection of a building, with the head drawn into the shoulders, with a solemn still 
J f e<u ’ more ]; !° same time a melancholy croak. Early in the morning and in the dusk of the evening they 
. flight. r pi ' ’ Watching for any passing insect, which may approach sufficiently near for them to dart after in a 
y, ' 01 the l 10a j f " V likewise feed on fruits, lizards, and snakes ; these are taken by the point of the bill, and, with a 
6 a e st of ’ as 11 were, pitched into the throat and swallowed. The eggs of birds also form a portion of their food. 
J, a h alf i n . 6 ®T ecies is stated by Sir W. Jardine to be formed in a bank of marl, with an entrance of two inches 
of l h r] ‘c eud . and running five feet in a direct line and then five feet more in a direct angle into, the ground, 
nd §got 8) an< ‘ i n this enlargement were found three young, huddled up on the top of a moving mountain 
ws and remains of beetles and various other insects. 
b y Bi t 
embraceVW ' IW ‘ Me ™la of Moehring ? (1752), Priorities of llliger (181 1 ), and Baryphonus of Vieillot (181(3) ; 
- Crypt, CMS of Mr. Swainson (1837), with which Hytomanes of Prof. Lichtenstein (1838) is coequal. 
IOUs - It lf lSSOn in 1760. 
