168 BRANCH VERTEBRATA. 



between its mandibles. After each sally for food, it 



usually returns to the same perch. 



The King-fishers* have a long, 

 pointed beak, and the outer and 

 middle toes united as far as the last 

 joint. For nesting, they dig holes 

 ten to fifteen feet deep in a sand- 

 bank. 



ORDER PASSERES (pas'ser ez). 



The Passeres always have the 

 four toes on nearly the same level, 

 with the hind one exactly opposite 

 the others, giving great facility in 

 perching, f They excel in vivacity 

 and song, and stand highest in the order of classification. 

 The Fly-catchers are American, though comparatively 

 few of the genera belong 

 to North America. They 

 are not strictly insectivor- 

 ous, but in general are in- 

 dispensable to the farmer. 

 The Great-crested Fly- 

 catcher is extending its 

 habitat northward and 

 eastward to localities where 

 it was unknown at the be- 

 ginning of the century. 



Cer'i/le al'cj/on. 

 Belted King-fisher, ( 



'FiG. 286. 



My i ar' chus cri ni' tus. 

 Great-crested Fly-catcher. (J.) 



It makes its nest in hollow 



* They always bring the fish out of the water seized near the tail. If small, 

 it is swallowed immediately, head foremost; if large, it is carried to a rock or 

 stump and thrashed till dead. 



t They are therefore known also as Insessores, or Perchers. Some authors 

 have subdivided this order into Os' cm es, songsters, and Clam a td' res, screamers. 

 Amid such diversity, any tabulation into families would be unsatisfactory. 



