VE11TEBRATA : AVES OR BIRDS. 



The European Cuckoo is noted on account of its habit 

 of depositing its eggs in the nests of other birds. 



The Kingfishers or Alcedinida3 have a very long and 

 acute bill, very short tarsi, and small, syndactyle feet ; 

 that is, two of their toes the third and fourth are much 

 united. Ponds and slow streams are their favorite resorts, 



FIG. 203. 



Belted Kingfisher, Ceryle alcyon, Boie. 



near which they sit on a branch or decayed limb, and 

 watch for fish, which constitute their food. At the 

 proper moment the Kingfisher plunges headlong into the 

 water, seizes the fish, flies to the nearest tree, and swallows 

 its victim in a moment, and is immediately on the watch 

 for another. The Belted Kingfisher is about thirteen 

 inches in length. 



The Woodpeckers or Picid?e have a straight, rigid, and 

 sharp bill, which is specially adapted to cutting into bark 



