332 ANNUAL. REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1923 



Passing through the bird house one may be suddenly startled by 

 a loud, rapidly executed, and prolonged cackling laugh. This is 

 from the throat of the giant kingfisher, or laughing jackass (Dacelo 

 gigas), an Australian bird related to our common American king- 

 fisher, but of a decidedly greater size. Near by are representatives of 

 the horhbill family, found in the forests of Africa, India, and many 

 of the eastern islands, where they are hunted for food by the natives 

 of some districts. In many regions, however, these grotesque birds 

 are regarded with considerable superstitution and are rarely mo- 

 lested. These remarkable birds have a most curious nesting habit. 

 A large cavity in a tree is selected for the nest and the female horn- 

 bill is confined therein by a plaster wall, both birds apparently tak- 

 ing part in the process of masonry, which makes her a prisoner until 

 the young are hatched. During the incubation period she is fed by 

 the male through a small hole left in the wall, but is said to come 

 forth in a much emaciated and dung-bespattered condition. 



In an inclosure near the big flight cage are some 15 specimens 

 of the great horned owl (Bubo virginianus) , one of the largest of 

 the American birds of prey, as well as one of the most destructive 

 to smaller birds. Other owls, including the highly beneficial species 

 known as the screech owl (Otus asio), the barred owl (Strix varia), 

 and the barn owl {Tyto perlata pratincola) are also shown in large 

 cages. One of the handsomest of all owls is the great white, or 

 snowy owl (Nyctea nyctea). This is a diurnal species of the far 

 North, where it inhabits the open country of both continents. It 

 is expert in catching fish and feeds also on birds and mammals. 

 The snowy owl spends much of its time on the ground. During 

 severe winters numbers of snowy owls visit the northern United 

 States. 



The toucans, large and sometimes brilliantly colored birds of 

 tropical America, are remarkable for their large bills. These are 

 not at all unwieldy, however, since they are very light in structure. 

 Toucans feed chiefly upon fruits, but also eat insects and the eggs 

 and young of other birds. Numerous species are known, some of the 

 most showy of which often reach the bird dealers, since toucans are 

 commonly taken by the natives as pets. 



THE PERCHING BIRDS 



More than half of all the species of birds known in the world be- 

 long to the order Passeriformes, frequently called the "perching 

 birds," and typified by the sparrows. There are numerous families 

 and the vast majority of species are small or medium sized birds; 

 the largest North American species are the crow and raven. 



