394 



NATURAL HISTORY OF BIRDS. 



Fro. I',t4.— I'ulutcof Colhi.i ; 

 iiixjf, i)i:ixillo-j)uliitiiies ; 

 pt, pulalities. 



tendons, C'oliits, although so j)cculiar ami unci'rtaiii in the manner in whicli it employs 

 its toes, exactly resembles the feeble-footed Alcedinidae, and hardly differs from- the 

 Coraciadoe, Meropida?, BucerotidiP, and C'a])riniulf;id!e. I oouM tiiid no trace of intes- 

 tinal cajca. IS'itzsch has shown that the oil gland is tufted, and 

 that there are ten rectrices." Only the left carotid is ])resent, 

 and the syrinx is most nearly related to that of Ceri/le among 

 the kingfishers. I'rofessur Garrod sums \\\i thus: "From what 

 has been said above, it is evident that Colius must be included 

 among the Piciforines, and near those of this division with a 

 left carotid only, a four-nolchi'd sternum, and a blended plantar- 

 tendon arrangement. No other jiiciform bird, however, com- 

 bines these characters. Consequently, the fact that the combi- 

 nation of characters is unique juslilies us in retaining the Coliidso 

 in a sep.arate family, related on one hand to the Picida>, and on 

 the other to the Alcedinida^ an<l IJucerotida;." 



Very interesting is the construction of the foot, which is 

 ]iam])rodactylous, that is, all toes turn forwanls, even the first 

 one, though it seems as if the latter is reversatile. Dr. Murie 

 compares the foot " to a human hand strongly clawed, which, 

 by a kind of grijiing or s(|uci'zing of the digits, securely fastens 

 to the slightest inei|ua]ities <il" surface." It seems, however, as 

 if the colics are able also to direct the fdurtli loo mure or less b.'ickwards, thus some- 

 times grnspintr thin twigs in a way Bimilar to the ydke-toed birds. 



Only one i;enus, CdUks, requires recognition. It is stiictly confined to the Ethi- 

 o])ian region, except Madagascar, and the southern and eastern jiortions seem to be 

 the richest in species. There are not many known yet, for in the latest review of 

 this genus (July, 188!")), Cajit. (i. E. Shelley only enumerates eight species, besides 

 three geographical races. He gives the following condensed account of their 

 habits : — 



" The colics are all fruit-eater.s, live in small bands, frequent thick bushes, and, 

 ■when disturlied, fly straight to some iieighlMiring covert. Owing to their ])eculiar 

 structure, they jtlace themselves in the iiKist extraordinary attitudes when they rest or 

 scramble amongst the boughs, and they roost at night in thickly packed comjianies 

 for warmth, generally, if not always, with their feet above th*'ir heads. Their 

 nests are cup-slia]>e(l, and jilaced in lliickish bushes at a few feet from the ground, 

 and some, if not all, of the species frequently add green leaves to the interior of 

 their ne.sts during incubation. The eggs are rougli, rather obtuse ovals, and generally 

 white. 



" There are now examples of three s))ecies of this genus living in tlie Zoological 

 Society's Gardens [London]. They are admir.ably adapted for cage-birds, being 

 active, bold, and apparently hardy, and the quainlne.ss of their attitudes is interesting 

 to watch." 



The species figured is C. macronriis, which inh.abits northeastern, eastern, and 

 western Africa. Its bill is red at base, black at tip, in strong contrast, feet cor.al red. 

 The general color is gray, more isabella-colored underneath, ami a )i:itch of pure sky- 

 blue on the na])e. The ^ Jliiis-vof/d'' of the boers in South Africa ( Colius colius) is 

 distinguished by having the lower and middle back black, with a broad white baud 

 down the centre. 



