THE WORLD'S BIRDS. 69 



Plumage and Colouration. — Feathering soft and lax, 

 but, nevertheless, usually with rich metallic bronze- 

 green gloss ; a small sex -difference, the male's 

 throat being usually white ; no seasonal change. 



Young. — Presumably helpless. 



Nest. — A hole in a bank, sometimes dug out by the 

 birds. 



Eggs. — White. 



Food. — Insects, captured on the wing. 



Gait. — ^They seem to sit perched most of the time, 

 not to hop or walk about. 



Flight. — Quick, but spasmodic. 



Note. — They seem to be generally silent, but one sings. 



Disposition and General Habits. — They are solitary 

 and sluggish birds. 



Economic Qualities. — They are presumably of use as 

 insect-destroyers. 



Captivity. — I know of no record of any being kept, 

 but as one was once shot at large in England, it 

 must have been brought over, as it can hardly have 

 arrived naturally. 



Distribution. — Warm parts of America, frequenting 

 forests, near streams. There are about a score of 

 species, not very familiar birds, but one, the Great 

 Jayamar [Jacamerops grandis), the largest of all 

 and the only one with a curved bill, deserves notice. 



J asanas [ParridcB). 



Diagnosis. — Medium-sized marsh birds, with enor- 

 mously long toes and claws, the latter straight. 



Size. — From that of a turtle-dove to that of a skylark. 



Form. — Bill somewhat pigeon-like, but with no bare 

 swollen skin above nostrils, and corner of mouth 

 not reaching back beyond forehead ; feet with 

 long shanks, legs bare above hock, and toes very 

 long, with no webs at base, and with very long 



