ON TIIE GENERA.
T h e following osteological characters of this group are taken from Eyton's ' Osteologia
A v i u m ' :—
Cranium more flattened than among t h e Picidce, with which they have been classed; no
foramen in t h e orbital septum, except that through which the optic nerve passes; t he
channel for t h e masseter muscles large, extending to t h e occiput; occipital ridge well
marked.
Sternum broad; fissures on t h e posterior margin very deep, extending for more than half
t h e length of t h e sternum; the anterior edge, behind the junction of the coracoids, very
much prolonged; lateral edges constricted behind t h e articulation of t h e ribs, which is very
far forwards; keel very shallow; inferior edge quite straight; anterior edge also straight,
produced nearly to t h e end of t h e manubrial process. Pelvis with t h e ischium slanting
very much outwards, t h e line of demarcation along the j u n c t i o n of the ilium with i t nearly
obliterated: two spines are apparent on its posterior margin, one on its inner edge, t he
other near the centre; obturator foramen similar to that of t h e Picidce, but narrower;
ischiadic foramen also smaller. Ribs narrow; styliform process very broad; coracoids longer
t h a n among t h e Picidcv; furculum weak, t h e rami merely united by a ligament. Wing- and
leg-bones similar to those of t h e Picidce.
The following details of t h e soft anatomy were entirely taken from t h e manuscript notes
of Mr. Brian Hodgson, and, t h o u g h referring only to North Indian species, a r e probably
characteristic of t h e whole group.
The stomach is of median subequal thickness, rather muscular, and gizzard-like in form;
t h e intestinal canal is rather short, very capacious and subequal throughout; there are no
caeca, and t h e general formation of t h e intestines seems more adapted for vegetable than
animal food. The i n n e r coat of t h e stomach is t o u g h and grooved in t h e a d u l t bird. The
orbits are nude, and t h e r e i s n o membrane over t h e nostril.
A. POGONORnYNCHINJi.
This subfamily lias t h e strong characteristic of toothed bills, which feature makes i t easy
for a naturalist to distinguish species belonging to i t a t once. Two genera a r e found in
Africa; and t h e t h i rd was discovered, about fifteen years ago, in South America. The former
have the upper mandible toothed, and t h e latter t h e lower one at tip.
A. Rostro dentato.
A'. Maxilla dentata.
A". Pcctorc setis nigris ornato Tricho/cema.
B". Pectore setis haud ornato Pogonorhynchus.
B'. Mandibulaj apice bifurcato Telragonops.
1. Genus TRICIIOL.EMA.
Characteristics.—The distinguishing feature on which this genus was separated from
Pocjonorhynchus by Vcrreaux is t h e long, fine, black bristles, which arc formed by t h e pro-
ON THE GENERA. xxm
longation of the shafts of t h e breast-feathers: as this is a point which could not well be
overlooked, and which appears to warrant a higher than a specific separation, we have
retained the genus. The bill is black, the culmen rounded and inflated at the base, a nd
arched slightly towards t h e t i p ; the upper mandible is furnished with one well-defined and
one rudimentary tooth, t h e rictal bristles are black, coarse, and long. Wings moderate in
length, fourth and fifth quills longest; tail rather short; legs and feet similar to those of
Pocjonorhynchus.
There is only one species known of this genus, which comes from the west coast of Africa.
Verreaux made two species; but his T. flavipunctata is clearly only t h e immature bird of
T. hirsuta. They are found in pairs in t h e great forest of Gaboon, and feed on insects,
which they find in t h e crevices of bark. They build in holes of trees.
A". Pectore setis nigris ornato.
a. Supra nigra flavipunctata T. hirsuta.
2. Genus POGONORHYNCHUS.
Characteristics.—Bill as long as or a little longer than the head, culmen rounded and
arched, and deeply grooved in two species; upper mandible furnished with one or two powerful
teeth, inflated at t h e base, and slightly compressed towards the t i p ; nostrils rounded
and basal; rictal bristles numerous, coarse, and black (except in P. leucocephalus, which are
white); plumage soft and loose; wing moderate in length, third, fourth, and fifth quills
subequal and longest; tail medium length, being about one-third shorter than the wing,
and consisting of t en feathers; legs somewhat longer than in t h e Megalcemince; the feet are
powerful, the exterior toes being much longer than the interior ones.
. We propose, for t h e sake of simplifying identification, to divide t h em into two subgenera.
The first includes the larger species, with yellow bills, more powerful teeth, and coarser
bristles. Three of them (P. dubius, P. rolleti, and P. bidentatus) are much alike, having
the upper plumage black and t h e underparts red and black, with white flanks and r u m p :
the fourth species (P. melanopterus) differs in colouring; but t h e above-mentioned characteristics
will serve to distinguish it. The second contains all t h e remaining species; they
are smaller birds, with black bills, and t h e second tooth is rudimentary or wanting; t he
bristles are also less developed.
Their food consists of wild fruits, berries, and insects and their larva}. It is difficult to
say what use t h e t e e th are p u t to. Mr. Monteiro suggests that they may be for stripping
off bark, as h e found t h e stomachs of some full of green bark. They nestle in holes of t r e e s;
t h e n eggs are white. They have a loud, ringing, but monotonous note, which is generally
repeated quickly several times, while they bow t h e head from side to side. They are
usually found in the depth of the forests among the higher branches of t h e t r e e s ; but
Mr. Ussher, t h e Governor of Fantee, mentions finding them in low t h o r n bushes (they most
probably had descended in search of food). The young appear to remain with their parents
until old enough to pair.