PASSERINE BIRDS. 



431 



Fig. 359— hoopoe. 



The Hoopoes {Upiqxi) have an ornament on ihe head fonned of a 

 double row of feathers that they can erect at will. 



Family of Syndactyl^e.* 



The birds belonging to tliis family are recognisable 

 by having the external toe almost as long as the 

 middle one, to Avhich it is joined by a membrane that 

 reaches as far as the last joint but one. The prin- 

 cipal genera are the Kingfishers, the Bee-eaters, and 

 the HornbilJs, all readily distinguishable by the struc- 

 ture of the beak. 



The Bee-eaters (Merops) have the bill of moderate size, cutting, 

 pomted, and slightly curved, without any notch at the end. The 

 Common European Bee-eater {Merops apiaster) : the only one found 

 in Europe has a fawn-coloured back, a deep blue front, and a yellow 

 throat, surmounted with black. It lives upon insects, particularly 



* aw, syn, together ivith ; Scckti/Aos, dactylos, a finger or toe— i.e. 

 having conjoined toes. 



