G8 SCANSORES. CLIMBERS. 



and its ejaithelium hard and longitudinally rugous ; the intes- 

 tine of moderate length, and rather wide, without any traces 

 of coeca, and the cloaca enormously large. See Plate XIV, 

 Figs. 4, 5, 6. 



They cling to the bark of trees by means of their strong 

 curved and acute claws, ascend vertically or obliquely, fix 

 themselves against the surface by their claws, tap the loose 

 bark of decayed trees with their bill, or detach it in frag- 

 ments, or break up the rotten wood, to obtain the larvae and 

 insects which shelter there. They nestle in holes bored by 

 themselves in decayed trees, are generally of solitary habits, 

 and reside at all seasons in woods and forests. Their food is 

 not entirely composed of insects and larva*, for berries and 

 other soft fruits, as well as seeds, are greedily devoured by them. 



The Scansores thus characterized, are composed of three 

 families ; the Picinse or Woodpeckers, Rhamphastinre or Tou- 

 cans, and Bucconinae or Barbets. They are connected with 

 the Cuculinse by the Wrynecks, which have the digestive or- 

 gans and tongue similar to those of the Woodpeckers, but in 

 most other respects agree with the Cuckoos. The Jacamars 

 seem to connect them with the Kingsfishers, while the Trogo- 

 niuse and Bucconinae are in some measure intermediate between 

 them and the Parrots. 



The great differences in the organization, habits, food, and 

 distribution of the birds forming the order Scansores of authors, 

 seem clearly to indicate that the zygodactylous foot is not a 

 feature of primary importance, and that consequently the cha- 

 racters of the orders or larger groups must be derived from some 

 more essential circumstance. 



