PASSERES. 265 



they remain )>y preference on trees and in bushe*. They an- usually 

 divided according to their vocal apparatus into two orders the sing- 

 ing birds or Oscines, and the shrieking birds or Clamatores ; a 

 division which seems the more artificial because the same types of 

 form of beak and of the whole structure of the body are repeated in 

 the two groups. An arrangement based on the form of the beak 

 might lead to less artificial groups. By far the greater number of 

 Passeres live in monogamy, often united in large flocks. Many of 

 them build skilfully-constructed nests, and are migratory. 



Tribe 1. Levirostres. ('lamatores, with large, but light beak, short, 

 weak legs, and gressorial or fissate feet, which are adapted for cling- 

 ing to branches. 



Fam. Buceridae (Hovnbills). Raven-like birds, of considerable size, with 

 colossal, but always light, dentnted. and downwardly-curved beak and horn-like 

 head-dress at the base of the upper beak. Ihtcorr/ix ttki/xx/niriix Urn.; Jiiicrri'x 

 /Ji'nHH'cros L.. Sumatra. 



Fam. Halcyonidae (Kingfishers). Pawn-n. with large head and long, keeled, 

 angular beak, relatively short wings and short tail. Metatarsus short ; feet 

 gressorial. Ala-do isj>irfo L.. Europe : fi'i-i/ic rurfix L., Black and white King- 

 fisher. Africa ; Dan'fn fj/i'/ttx (.-flog., Australia. 



Fam. Meropidae. Bee-eaters. The beak is compressed and gently curved 

 downwards. The plumage is variegated : the legs are weak. The wings arc- 

 pointed, with long coverts. Mernjix uiiinxti'r L.. South Europe. 



Fam. Coracidae. Rollers. Large, beautifully coloured birds, with deeply-cleft 

 beak with sharp edges and recurved extremity. The wings are long and the 

 feet cloven Q*. ft.?*/'). fiir/tr/ax </<i rrulii L.. Eoller. 



Tribe 2. Tenuirostres. Cln/natores and Oscines with long, thin 

 beak and ambulatory or cloven feet (p. ambulalorii or fissi), with 

 long hind toe. 



Fam. TJpupidse. Hoopoes. Beautifully coloured Clamatores with long. 

 laterally compressed beak : short, triangular tongue and long, strongly rounded 

 wings. f~i>iijiit rj>n_i>x L., Hoopoe. 



Fam. Trochilidae. Humming birds. The smallest nf all birds. Variegated 

 plumage with metallic lustre. Slender feet (}>. <t tabulator// t>r .AW). The 

 long, awl-shaped beak has, in consequence of the projecting edges of the upprr 

 beak, the form of a tube, from which the long tongue, which is cleft up to the 

 root, can be rapidly projected, liliuiiijilnnlnii n r/i/x Lc-<.. Brazil : Phattlionti* 

 xiqierrilitixiix Sws.. Brazil : Trm-Jiiinx culubrtx L. : LopJiornis ntat/nijii-u Pp., 

 Brazil. 



Fam. Meliphagidse. Honey su<-kers. Small. Ic.-autifully eolmuvd birds, of 

 stout build, with muscular vocal apparatus with long gently-curved beak, Ion-- 

 metatarsus, wings of medium length and long tail. Mi'ltplniijit aiiriromix S\v>.. 

 Australia : yrrtariniu funinxit 111.; X. (Chnu/r/x') spli'inTidn < 'uv., South Africa. 



Fam. Certhiidae. Tree-creepers. Oxcinrx with long, slightly-curved beak, 

 pointed, horny tongue, metatarsus covered with scales, and long hind toe with 

 a sharp claw. Certhia fa/miliaris L.. Common creeper: TicJunl numi 

 111.. Wall creeper. 



