channelled in the interior, and often bifid at the extremity. The
plumage is black and white, varied with brown, and generally
with bars or spots upon the breast. In the first sections of the
genus the Bill is excessively dilated laterally at the-base; in the
latter section in several species, on the other hand, much compressed.
In the next genus, Malacoptila, the gonys is nearly straight,
with a slight curve downwards at the extremity. The upper
mandible is gradually curved into a point over the under, and
has not the fierce hook observable in the former genus. I am
acquainted with eleven species of this genua ;, the additional one
here given (the inomata of Du Bus) may possibly be the same
as one of the others. The plumage is generally brown, more or
less striated with lighter shades, and frequently with a gular or
super-pectoral uniform patch. The rictal and mental, bristles
are strong and largely developed, the latter forming a striking
character in several spéciés.
The third genus, Monasa, with four species a t present known,
contains the largest birds in the family. The plumage is dull
lead-coloured or blackish, the bill bright red or yellow. The
upper and under mandibles are regularly curved-downwards.
The tail is much lengthened. The spiny processes at the carpal
joint, which are present, I believe, all through this family, are
principally noticeable (as being most developed) in the genus
Monasa.
In the fourth and last genus, 'Chelidoptera, the wings are much
longer than in the preceding genera, and are evidently formed
for rapid flight. The tail is quite short and nearly square. The
plumage is ilfonasa-like,. but relieved by a brown patch oh the
belly. ' _
I may observe that I have , worked into the present synopsis
all the synonyms I have been able to discover as having been applied
to members of the present family, except one, to wit Capita
senilis *, Tschudi, Av. Consp. 301, et Fauna Per. p. 259, founded
on Bucco senilis, Poppig, a MS. name in the Leipsic Museum.
As no description has "ever been published of^ this species, the
name is of no authority, and heed not be noticed. Indeed I
hardly know whether the bird referred to belongs to this family
or the Cdpitonidee. -
*~Dr. Hartlaub has lately been so good as to send me the following
description of this type, frömlwhïëh it would appear to be nearly allied to,
if not identical with, Malacoptila rufa (Spix).
Capito senilis, Poppig, in-Mus. Leipsiano.
Ferrugineus, abdomine imo in cinereum transeunte : pileo obscure cine-
reoj plumulis frontalibus et supra-ocularibus scapis albidis: macula inter
rictum et nares rufa: jugulaxi macula majore semilunari alba, subtus nigro-
marginata: rostro et pedibus nigris. Long, circa 7-y poll. Hab. Maynas.
Genus I. Bucco.
A. Bucco, Linn.
1. Bucco collaris, Lath.
Bucco, Brisson, Om. iv. p. 92.
■ Bucco capensis, Linn. S. N. i. 168; Gm. S. N. i. 406.
----- collaris, Lath. Ind. Om. i. 202; Yieill. Enc. Meth. p. 1420; Gray’s
Gen. p. -74; List of B. M. pt. 2. sect. 1. p. 47.
Capito collaris, Temm. Tabl. Meth. p. 41; Wagler, Syst. Av. sp. 3; Tsch.
Av. Consp. p. 300; Tsch. F. P. p. 259 ; Bp. Consp. p. 146.
Tamatia collaris, Hahn, Ausl. Tog. Lief, iii. t. 5; Less. Man. d’Orn. p. 167.
Le Tamatia ä collier de Cayenne, PI. Enl. 395.
Le Tamatia a collier noir, Le Vail. Ois. de Par. ii. t. 42.
B. supra ferrugineus, tehuissime nigro lineatus: vitta dorsali
^ nigra, supra ochfacea märginata : subtus albescens; vitta pec-
torali nigra; ventre fulvescentiore: rostro rubro, culmine nigro:
pedibus flavidis.
Long, tota 7*0; alee 3*1; caudse 3*5.
Hab. in Cayerma; Guiana (Le Vail.); Rio Negro (Wallace);
Peruv. feg. sylv. (Tsch.); Quixos rep. Equat.
This wèll-known bird is, as I have mentioned before, the only
species of Linnaeuses genus Bucco. I t w;as erroneously called capensis
by him, which renders it necessary fjo adopt for its name
Latham’s appellation' collaris., Cayenne specimens occur in most
collections. Le Vaillant says it is also,to be found in Guiana,
though Richard Schomburgk doés not include it in his catalogue
of birds in the third volume of his ( Reisen in Britisch Guiana/
It extends'-aCroSs the branches of the Rio Negro (whence examples
were brought b y Mr. Wallace) into the wood region of
the' Peruvian provinces bordering on Brazil, where it was found
by Dr. Tschudi.
B. Tamatia, Cuv.
2. Bucco macrorhynghus, Gm.
Barbu h gros bee de Cayenne, Buff. PI. Enl. 689.
Bucco macrorhyncJms, Gm?, S7N. i. 406; Lath. Ind. Om. i. p. 203; Yieill.
"Noüv. Diet, d’ltv N. iii. 240; Vieill. Enc. Meth. p. 1420; Schomb.
, Reisen, iii. 719,; Gray’s Gen. p. 74; Gray’s List of B. M. p. 47.
Capito macrorhyncJms, Wagl. Syst. Av. sp. 1; Tsch. Av. Consp. p. 300; Tsch.
F. P. p. 259; Bp." Consp. p. 146.
Cyphos macrorhynchus, Strickl. Ann. Nat. Hist. vi. 418.
Tamatia ä plastron noir, Le Vail. Ois. de Par. ii. t. 39. ,
B, Supra niger, torque, collari et fronte latissime albis : subtus
albus; vitta lata pectqräli nigra; ventris lateribus nigro con-
ferte-radiatis; rostro pedibusque nigris.
Long, tota 10*0 ; alse 4r,5; caudse 3’5.
Hab. in Cayenna, Surinamo (Le Vail.); Guiana (Schomb.); Para,
fl. Amazon, Rio Negro (Wallace); Honduras (Dyson); Peruv.
. • reg. sylv. (Tsch.); Quixos rep. Equat.