XXX ON THE GENERA.
6. Genus GYMNOBUCCO.
Characteristics.—Bill with margin smooth; both mandibles curved in t h e same degree;
culmen acute and inflated at base, but much compressed towards t h e t i p ; a bunch of
stubby yellowish brown bristles over each nostril, one at each side of t h e base of t h e lower
mandible, and a small one on t h e chin. Head more or less bare. Wings longer than in
Megala>ma in proportion to i t s size. Tail rather short. Plumage brown, washed with
olive-yellow. The exterior front toe, with the claw, is longer than the tarsus, inner hind
t o e moderate.
This genus was first separated by Bonaparte. There are two species, both from Western
Africa, one with t h e h e a d bare, and one with t h e h e a d feathered, but b o t h very similar in
colour, and having t h e same peculiar bristles. The females, strange to say, want t h e bristles
over t h e n o s t r i l s ; and in t h e other places they are feebly developed. According to Verreaux,
they feed on insects and their larva?, and migrate during the winter.
There is a t h i rd species recorded, G. peli; but after a careful comparison of t h e type with
G. calvus, we came to t h e conclusion t h a t they were not specifically different. The former
name, therefore, sinks into a synonym.
D'. Capite calvo; vel summo plumato; sctis densis post narcs flavescentibrunneis.
a. Capite calvo G. calvus.
b. Capite summo plumato G. bonapartei.
C. CAPITONIN^E.
This third and last subfamily, according to our classification, has representatives in a l l
three continents. Their distinctive characters are:—the smooth bill, which separates them
from the Pogonorhynchina;; the rictal bristles (which are few and short, or entirely wanting)
and t h e form of t h e bill (which has a curved tip slightly extending beyond the t ip of t h e
mandible): the latter features distinguish them from t h e Megalatminas. The bill is somewhat
shorter than the head, rather broader than high at t h e b a s e ; the culmen is raised between
t h e nostrils and compressed towards t h e t i p ; nostrils rounded, basal. Wings rounded and
of moderate length. (This differs in some of t h e genera, as also does the length of t h e tail.)
The tarsus is of t h e same length as t h e exterior front toe.
We propose t o divide t h em into t h e following g e n e r a :—
C. Rostro lrevi, sctis rictalibus minimis vel deficientibus, ct maxilla
incurva apice ultra mandibulam protenso.
A / n„..AA 1 s —i—-• ' --• * • A'. Caudâ longâ ; culmine orbiculato Trachyphonus.
B'. Caudâ brevi.
A". Culmine simo . . . . , Capito_
B". Culmine acuto compresso Caloramphus.
C". Culmine acuto inflato Stactoloema.
ON THE GENERA. xxxi
1. Genus CAPITO.
Charactenstics.—Bill compressed, inflated at t h e b a s e ; gonys slightly raised towards t he
t i p ; culmen flat; rictal bristles few and feeble; nostrils rounded and basal. Wings
rounded and moderate in l e n g t h ; fourth and fifth quills longest. Tail about one-third less
than the wing in length. Legs and feet similar in structure to t h e other subfamilies'.
Tarsus about the same length as t h e exterior front toe. According to Mr. Sclater, t he
Barbets occupy but a limited area in South America, compared with many other of i ts
peculiar families. Not one of them has yet been found to t h e n o r th of t h e Isthmus of
Panama, or south of t h e basin of t h e Amazon; and t h e species are chiefly confined t o t h e
countries traversed by t h e upper branches of this river and to t h e mountain-valleys of New
Granada, Ecuador, and Peru *. We have few details recorded concerning their habits; b u t
they are said to b e seen generally in t h e fruit-trees, feeding on t h e fruit and hopping from
branch to branch like the Toucans.
Mr. Bartlett, who had great opportunities of noticing t h e habits of this genus, says that
they perch on t h e tree-tops, and bow the head and raise t h e tail as they utter their call.
He considers that their movements greatly resemble those of t h e llamphastidx.
All the species of this genus have this peculiarity, which exists in no other, namely that
t h e sexes differ in a most wonderful manner: for many years t h e small green ones were all
considered good species, until Mr. Salvin discovered that they were only females of t h e redones.
A". Cauda brevi; culmine simo.
a. Majores, rostro plumbeo.
a'. Supra niger immaculatus C. maculicoronatus.
U. Supra aurovirens C. aurovirens.
c1. Supra niger flavo variegati.
a". Gutture rubro, fronte rubra C. niger.
b". Gutture aurantiaco, fronte viridescenti-sulphurea . . . C. auratus.
c". Gutture albo, fronte nigra C. quinticolor.
b. Minorcs, rostro flavesccntc, supra virides.
a'. Pileo coccineo.
a". Mystacibus coccineis C. bourcieri.
b". Mystacibus flavis C. glaucogularis.
c". Mystacibus glauco-cperulcis C. versicolor.
V. Pilco saturate sanguineo.
a". Vitta cervicali postica cinerascenti-casrulei C. richardsoni.
b". Vitta cervicali postica clare flavicanti-viridi C. aurantiicollis.
2. Genus TRACIIYPHONUS.
Characteristics.—Bill compressed towards the t i p , and inflated at t h e base, of a greenish
yellow colour; culmen rounded and elevated above the nostrils, which are rounded and
basal; the upper mandible is curved towards the t i p , and slightly overhangs the lower one.
* Since Mr. Sclater wroto the above in 1861, two species have been discovered north of the Isthmus.