170 



VERTEBRATA : AVES OR BIRDS. 



and from the level of the sea to the cold heights of the 

 Andes. Everything in their organization contributes to 

 give them great power and rapidity of flight ; and they 

 are able to balance themselves in the air, or beside a 

 flower, with a facility that is truly wonderful, and which 

 finds a parallel only among some of the insect tribes. 

 Their food consists of insects and honey, which are se- 

 cured by extending the tongue into flowers without open- 

 ing the bill very wide. About four hundred species of 



FIG. 201. 



Toucan Rhamphastos. 



