6 THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 



Barbet of Eastern Asia [Cyanops asiatica) is at all 

 well known as a cage-bird. This has laid eggs in 

 an aviary in England. It is about the size of a 

 thrush, green with red cap, as well as blue throat. 

 Distribution and Important Species. — Warm regions 

 all round the giobe^ except the Australian region. 

 There are about a hundred species altogether. In 

 India the most familiar is the Coppersmith 

 [XantholcBma hcBmatocephala) , a small bird about as 

 large as a sparrow, green with red-and-yellow head 

 and red feet ; it has its name from its metallic 

 note, like the Tinker (Barbatula pusilla), a very 

 small black, yellow, and white species, with red 

 cap, found in South Africa. 



Bee-eaters {Meropidce). 



Diagnosis. — Perching birds, with long, thin, downwardly- 

 curved hills and short feet with four toes, the three 

 front ones more or less united. 



Size. — From that of a dove to that of a swallow. 



Form. — Bill long, thin, curved downwards, corner of 

 mouth below eye ; feet with very short shanks, 

 three front toes more or less united, hind-toe 

 smallest ; wings usually long, sometimes medium 

 or short ; tail rather long, square, or slightly forked, 

 usually with middle pair of feathers much the 

 longest. 



Plumage. — Brilliant, usually showing much bright 

 green ; blue, red and yellow are also common. No 

 seasonal change or sexual difference, and young 

 not very different from parents. 



Young. — Naked and helpless, fed by the parents. 



Nest. — A burrow made in the ground, usually in a bank 

 or cliff, by the birds themselves. 



Eggs. — Several, roundish, pure glossy white. 



