( 40 ) 
the face is pale velvety blue colour. In length 4ceros is about 4 
feet; male has bright rufous on the head, neck and breast; black 
on the back also the wings, which are tipped with white; greater 
part of tail white, upper part black; under parts of the body more 
or less chesnut. 
This brings us to the end of Fissirostres. The next tribe Scan- 
sores has many typical groups. These comprise, the climbing birds, 
which have their toes in pairs, two in front and two behind. The 
Zygoactyli of wot a few naturalists. Outer toe is turned )hack- 
wards or at right angles. As might be expected these birds are 
arboreal in habits, most of them live exclusively on insects, some 
few on fruit. ‘They build their nests in holes of trees and lay glossy 
white eggs, excepting Cuculidae. They consist of the following 
families :— 
I, PSITTACIDAt Ay sit anos. 
IJ. PICIDA: ‘us ... Woodpeckers. 
Ill. MEGALAIMIDAL ... .... Barbets. 
IV. CUCULIDAL fc ... Cuckoos. 
I. Farry PSITTACIDAK (Parrots) 
These birds are sometimes called the monkeys of Bird-land. 
They comprise: I. The True Parrots, II. Parrakeets, III. Lories. 
Maccaws and Cockatoos are not found in India, nor the first group— 
True Parrots. 
Sup-FamMity PALASORNIN ZB ( Parrakeets) 
Have several representatives in Sikkim and lower elevations in 
the district, chiefly found in more wooded parts near big rivers. 
It seems hardly necessary to dwell at any length, on these well- 
known birds, for field observations. They give us however a con- 
venient introduction into this interesting tribe. The peculiarities 
of bill are familiar to all; it is short, thick and strong, upper 
mandible much curved and hooked, lower mandible having a sharp 
tip; tail of Parrakeets is long and wedge shaped, feathers of which 
