294 Fasseres. BIRDS. Coraciab.®:. 
in the island whose name it bears, has the liead and 
neck above chestnut-brown; the back black, with a 
yellow stripe down its centre, becoming expanded into 
a large spot on the upper tail-coverts ; the wings are 
black, edged with yellow from the wrist downwards, 
and with a yellow mark on the outer web of each 
secondary feather; the whole forming a broad yellow 
band near the apex of the wing when closed. The 
scapularies, which are elongated, are also yellow ; the 
feathers of the tail are black, with a white spot near 
the tip of each, except the two middle ones ; the lower 
surface is wine-red, purplish on the throat, below which 
is a narrow black transverse line, followed by an olive 
band of a somewhat crescent shape. The bill is very 
broad, strong, hooked at the tip, and greenish-blue. 
The whole length of the bird is about nine inehes. 
Nothing is known of the habits of this bird. Dr. 
Horsfield simply says of it — “ I discovered this species 
in one of tlie most distant and inaccessible parts of 
Java, covered with extensive forests, and abounding 
with rivers and marshes.” From the shortness of its 
wings, it is probably only adapted for short flights 
amongst the branches of the trees, in pursuit of cater- 
pillars and other sluggish insects. It is found not 
only in Java, but also in the Malayan peninsula as far 
as Tenasserim, and in the great island of Borneo. 
THE FRILLED INDIAN TODY (Serilophus lunafus), 
which is nearly allied to the jireceding, has hitherto 
only been met with in the Tenasserim provinces. It is 
about eight inches in length ; the plumage of the head 
and back is of different shades of brown, becoming, 
rich chestnut towards the rump ; the head is adorned 
with a crest, and marked with a black line running up 
from the base of the bill over the eye to tlie nape ; the 
lower surface is of a delicate grey, and on each side of 
the neck is a beautiful crescent-shaped mark, composed 
of silvery white feathers. The wings are black, with a 
large blue patch or broad band across the middle ; the 
tail is also black, with the three outer feathers on each 
side tipped with white ; the bill is greenish-blue. 
This beautiful little bird is found in the thickest 
jungles, and according to Major Godfrey, “ its food was 
found, upon minute investigation, to consist entirely of 
berries and fruits.” Dr. Heifer once observed them in 
societies of thirty or forty sitting on the loftiest trees in 
the forest ; he- says they were so fearless that the 
whole flock might be shot one after the other. 
THE GREAT-BILLED INDIAN TODY {CynMrhynchus 
macrorhynchns). This remarkable bird, which is also 
a near relative of the preceding, is met with from the 
Tenasserim provinces and Jlalacca to the island of 
Sumatra. The plumage of the head, back, wings, and 
tail, together with tlie chin, and a band roimd the 
throat, is black ; the rump and the whole lower surface 
of the body deep crimson ; the three outer tail feathers 
on each side are spotted with white, and the scapularies, 
which are very long and slender, are also white. The 
bill, which is very broad and stout, is of a beautiful 
blue colour. The length of the bird is about ten inches. 
This beautiful bird frequents the banks of rivers and 
^ lakes, and other marshy and watery situations, where 
it finds an abundance of the insects and worms which 
constitute its food. It builds a nearly globular pen- 
dent nest, composed of small twigs, which it attaches 
to the branches of trees growing out of the water. 
The eggs are four in number, and of a pale blue colour, 
without spots. 
THE GREEN TODY {Todus viridis). The Rollers 
are represented in Amei'ica by two small groups of 
birds to which the names of Todies and Motmots have 
been given. The Todies are distinguished by having 
an elongated bill, which is exceedingly broad and de- 
pressed towards the base, so that it acquires a tongue- 
like shape. The margins of both mandibles are finely 
denticulated. The outer toe is nearly as long as the 
middle one, to which it is united for three-fourths of its 
length ; the inner toe, which is considerably shorter, is 
also united to the middle one for half its length. Of 
these birds only four species are known ; they are all 
inhabitants of tropical America and the West Indies. 
We have cited the Green Tody as being the best 
known species; indeed, until a comparatively recent 
period, the others were often confounded with it. The 
Green Tody is a very small bird, being little bigger 
than a wren; the whole upper surface is of a vivid 
green colour ; the throat is brilliant crimson, and the 
remainder of the plumage of the lower surface white. 
This bird is exceedingly common in all parts of 
Jamaica, which appears to be its head-quarters; it 
feeds exclusively upon insects, which it usually captures 
while hopping about upon the twigs of trees. It is 
bold, allowing a person to approach it very closely, and 
if disturbed usually flies off to another twig only a few 
yards distant. Its brilliant green plumage, and crim- 
son throat, render it the admiration of all visitors to 
Jamaica. The nest is formed in a burrow excavated 
in a dry bank, to a depth of about a foot, entirely bj; 
the agency of the bird’s bill and feet; its course is 
somewhat tortuous, and at its extremity is a large 
chamber, which the bird lines with the dry fibres of 
plants, moss, and cotton, for the reception of its eggs. 
The latter are four or five in number, of a grey colour 
spotted with brown. 
THE BRAZILIAN MOTMOT (Momotus hrasiliensis). 
The Motmots are considerably more numerous than 
the Todies, in conjunction with which they represent 
the Roller family in South America and its islands. 
They are distinguished by having the margins of the 
mandibles, which are much stronger than in the Todies, 
distinctly notched or serrated for a considerable por- 
tion of their length. They also possess a pectinated 
tongue. The tail in these birds is long, and the 
feathers gradually increase towards the middle; but it 
is remarkable that in nearly all specimens the shafts of 
the two middle (longest) feathers are entirely bare of 
barbs for a considerable portion of their apical half — 
the base is furnished with barbs, then follows the bare 
portion, and the tip again presents the ordinary appear- 
ance of a feather. It is supposed that the birds must 
pick off the barbs of this portion of the tail feathers. 
The name of Motmot is said to be derived from the 
peculiar note of these birds, which is described as 
resembling those syllables slowly repeated. According 
to other writers, however, the cry of the Motmot is 
comparable to the syllables toutou. The Brazilian 
Motmot, which is not uncommon in several districts of 
