of the United States. 47 



Picus hirsutus Vieill. Ois. pi. 124. adult male. 



Inhabits high northern latitudes of both continents ; rarely 

 seen in the United States. Unlike other northern birds, not 

 extending so far south in America as in Europe. (0) 



TRIBE II. AMBULATORES. 



Anisodactyli, Vieill. Order Ambidatores, III. Order Pas- 

 seres, Cuv. Ranz. Orders Omnivores, Insectivores, Grani- 

 vores, Anisodactyli, Aleyoncs, Chelidones, Columbte, Temm. 

 Orders Passeres, Passer igalli, Latr. 



Toes 3 — 1, none of the anterior versatile: very rarely 

 2 — 1, the inner wanting. 



FAMILY VI. ANGULIROSTRES. 



Angidirostres, III. Syndactyli, Cuv. Latr. ' (not III. nor 

 Ranz.) Pelmatodes, Vieill. Ranz. Order Alcyones, Temm. 



Bill elongated, acute, angulated: tongue short, simple. 

 Feet very short ; tibia? partly naked ; tarsi reticulated : 

 middle toe united to the outer, at least to the second joint, 

 and to the inner to the first ; the latter rarely wanting. 



Female and young hardly differing from the adult male. 



Reside near water. Fly remarkably well ; rest on trees 

 or on stones, hardly ever on the ground ; feet too short for 

 walking or leaping. Feed on insects which they take on the 

 wing, or on fishes, which they seize near the surface of the 

 water. Breed in holes on the banks of streams: eggs nume- 

 rous. Voice harsh. Not easily tamed. 



7. ALCEDO. 



Alcedo, L. Gm. Lath. III. Cuv. Vieill. Ranz. 



Ispida, Briss. Alcedo, Ceix, Lacep. Alcedo, Dacelo, Leach. 

 Temm. 



Bill elongated, cleft to the eyes, robust, straight, tetra- 

 gonal, compressed, acute ; margins finely crenate-fimbriate ; 

 upper mandible but little longer than the lower, carinate. 



