PUFF-BIRDS. 



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of the forests, where they choose some branch upon which they 

 perch for a long time, with their large head resting upon their 

 shoulders ; they are, however, soon called into activity by the 

 appearance of some coleopterous insect, after which they dart, 

 and having secured it, return to the same perch, which they are 

 said to frequent for months. They make their nests in the holes 

 of trees. 



The best-known species is — 



Fig. 118.— The Variegated Puff-Bird {Bucco versicolor). 



The Greater Pied Barbet {Bucco inacrorhyncJius). In shape these birds 

 bear a close resemblance to the kingfishers. Their food consists chiefly of 

 insects, which they procure much after the manner of the woodpeckers, prying 

 into the hollows of trees, and striking away the bark in their endeavours lo 

 secure the concealed prey. They can cling to the perpendicular trunk of a tree, 

 and support themselves by the pft-essure of their short stiff tails against the 

 bark. They also possess some of the habits that belong to the flycatchers, 

 and, taking their perch upon a twig, will wait patiently until an unfortunate 

 insect passes within a short distance, when they launch themselves on the 

 devoted creature, and return to the twig from which they started. 



" There is something very grotesque," says Mr. Swainson, " in the appear- 

 ance of all the puff-birds, and their habits in a state of nature are no less 

 singular. They frequent open cultivated spots near habitations, always perch- 

 ing on the withered branches of a low tree, where they will sit nearly motion- 

 less for hours, unless, indeed, they descry some luckless insect passing near 



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