48 Synopsis of the Birds 



rarely somewhat curved at tip ; lower nearly straight, a 

 little recurved at tip : nostrils basal, approximated, oblong, 

 oblique, more than half closed by a naked membrane : tongue 

 very short, fleshy, depressed, narrowed and acute at tip. 

 Feet robust ; tarsus one half shorter than the middle toe, 

 which is nearly equal to the outer ; inner considerably short- 

 er than the middle one, rarely wanting ; hind toe wide at 

 base, nearly equal to the inner : nails incurved, compress- 

 ed, channelled beneath, that of the middle toe largest and di- 

 lated interiorly. Wings rather short ; first and second prima- 

 ries a little -shorter than the third, which is longest. 



Body thick, compact ; head large, elongated : plumage 

 close, glossy. Moult annually. 



Solitary.. Abstemious : feed on insects, Crustacea, mollusca, 

 and principally small fishes, which they watch for from a 

 perch, catch with admirable dexterity and swallow entire, 

 afterwards casting up the scales and other indigestible parts 

 in the form of pellets. Fly with celerity short distances, 

 skimming the surface of the water or land. 



Spread all over the globe, abounding most in warm cli- 

 mates ; one species in Europe, and one in the United States. 



47. Alcedo alcton, L. Created ; bluish-slate ; breast with a 

 ferruginous band ; spot before and behind the eyes, a large 

 collar round the neck, and the vent, white. 



Belted King -faker, Alcedo Alcyon, Wils. Am. Orn. Hi. 



p. 59. pi. 2S.fig.\. 



Inhabits common from Hudson's Bay to the equator, and 

 probably still farther south : migrating in cold and temperate 

 regions. 



FAMILY VII. GREGARH. 



Gregarii, Coraces, HI. Conirostres, Cuv. Latr. Textores, 

 Lemonites, Coraces, Caruncufati, Paradisei, / vill. Ifunti, 

 J\'htrioramji, Plereoramfa Ram. Order Omnivores, Temm. 



BiL!. moderate, hard, robust, straight, acuminate, acute, 

 forming a sinus in the frontal feathers or cultrate; edges 



