105 



CUCULINtE. 



CUCKOOS AND ALLIED SPECIES. 



Of the extensive series of zygodactylous birds, the most 

 isolated groups seem to be the Parrots and Woodpeckers, 

 which might therefore be considered as forming two distinct 

 orders. Feet of this kind are not necessarily scansorial, and 

 we have seen that the more or less syndactylous feet of Creepers 

 and Nuthatches are as well adapted for climbing as those of 

 Woodpeckers ; large, well-curved, much compressed, and ex- 

 tremely acute, short-tipped claws, whether two only or three 

 of the toes be directed forwards, forming the essential charac- 

 teristic of a scandent foot. Now many of the zygodactylous 



Fig. 208. 



birds have the feet somewhat differently formed from those of 

 the AV^oodpeckers, inasmuch as the toes are very broad and flat 

 beneath, so as evidently to be formed for grasping a branch or 

 twig with security, while the claws are not very different from 

 those of the Vagatores and other perching birds ; and in some 

 the toes and tarsi are so very small and feeble that they could 

 not support a bird in climbing. These latter, such as the 



